bakerjw

When I am traveling and see a bike shop, it is almost mandatory to stop in and look around. They always have something that I can use.

burnthesheep

A competent person can probably assemble and ride off starting with a bare frame in under an hour.

Ever rebuilt an interference fit cylinder head for a drag car? One with hydraulic cam adjustment? Then installed it back to the engine and timed it up and turned the key over? That's a butt pucker moment for sure.

Every time someone tries to tout the complexity of bike repair I find it laughable. Here, I'm going to give you a $5000 cylinder head that's going onto a $10000 engine. You screw up, you're done the second you turn the key over.

The competent and experienced bike tech can and do save inexperienced individuals lots of time, hassle, and money. But don't make it out to be more than it is, a bike.

FWIW, I build my own stuff and do carbon repair. And guess what, I learned how to do it from..........the internet.

I-Like-To-Bike

Doubling down much on irony, whinging about other posters' alleged posting transgressions?

Note for more appreciation: cited "dead link" isn't dead.

livedarklions

Well, it was when I wrote that. Don't know if it got edited or what. What's hilarious is it's a link to a thread about a single bike store closing, as if that proves anything.

And if I'm whinging, I wouldn't even know what to call the histrionic, obnoxious ranting you do on this subject. You can't let a single positive statement about any LBS go unanswered.

Seriously, how many posts do you need to say that you think it's outrageous that bike techs might expect to get tipped? You might be in the triple digits by now.

I suspect you could actually be a good poster with a perspective that's underrepresented in BF. Talk about why you "like to bike" on the types of bikes the "bike snobs" look down on. Post good info on how to keep them running without going to the bike shop. Do something besides wax indignant--that schtick is old and stale.

indyfabz

Uh...I think you should read my posts in that thread. That closing has nothing to do with lack of business. The owners are quite old and want to move on. Moreover, and I as I note, D&Q is likely more of a winter sports shop than a bicycle shop.

The same was the case with Wayne of Thetouringstore.com, the details of which I also mention. He had a great run, was wildly popular with many, many touring folks (When someone asked where to get Ortlieb panniers and Tubus Racks, lots of people, including myself would recommend Wayne) and wanted to enjoy his golden years.

indyfabz

Don't know if you read the thread before I edited my last post in it. You are almost correct. D&Q's closing proves nothing other than the fact that aging, successful business owners want to retire. Wouldn't surprise me in the least if someone buys the business which, as I note, has a strong on-line presence, as well as a brick and mortar store, and is far more than a LBS. Having patronized the shop BITD, I can say the shop is much more than bikes. Winter sports is a huge part of its business.

BTW...A local bike shop here in Philly that has been around for a while is opening a second location.

livedarklions

Right, there's always been turnover in small retail. I remember when the biggest bike store in Minneapolis went out of business in the 1970s.

Citing that thread to show some sort of "trend" would be like saying the collapse of ASI was evidence that online bike retail was dying.

indyfabz

Especially when the owners are in their 60s, 70s and 80s. Joe Vitale, who is mentioned in the article I linked to, is the guy who sold me my Cannondale. He was probably in his mid to late 40s when he sold me that bike more than 20 years ago.

Meanwhile, this place in Minneapolis is alive and well, and has been since 1974:

ALTBIKEBOARD.COM

They gave me a tune up and new tires back in '99 when we were in town for a few days while riding across the country.

radroad

....says the OCD guy with over two dozen posts in this thread LMAO!. Project much?

jefnvk

I was once offered a bike mechanic job, upon the revelation I had completely rebuilt a bike. Unfortunately they were looking for full time, not a night and weekend guy, and weren't willing to even come close to my auto engineering wages, so I turned them down.

The difference between the average bike mechanic and me? They can turn around bikes quicker than me. Then again, I generally have no incentive to get done as quickly as possible either, so count that as a pro or con as you will.

I'm sure there are some great ones out there, and I'm sure there are some that make wages commensurate with their experience, but beyond those that own their own shop there are seemingly scant few of those by me. The bulk are college aged kids working a seasonal summer job.

And yes, all the above applies FOR ME. Just like the rather lack of skill requiring jobs folks are working at the instant oil change place, the jobs exist because there are plenty of folks uninterested in doing the work themselves. That doesn't mean it is hard or difficult work, just that other folks are willing to pay to not do it. Nothing wrong with that at all.

livedarklions

You're counting posts and I'm the one with OCD? Haha!

You have posted small variations on the same post over and over again in multiple threads, so much that you're now telling people to look at those other threads out of a weird combination of compulsion and laziness , I guess.

Maybe you should watch a video on how to have an adult conversation.

John_V 

188 posts to determine if an LBS is of any value or not. Really?

radroad

LOL, I have an obsessed stalker on my hands. But yeah, bike shops are going out of business. No amount of OCD trolling on your part will change this reality. Sorry I hurt your feelings with the facts, snowflake. :-)

livedarklions

/ignore

badger1

A wise decision.

veganbikes

@radroad: Yes you did read the forum we are both on, good job : ) Reading is an important skill and in this technological era it can get lost.

Businesses close sometimes it happens, in this case it does suck but again it happens. One shop closing is not a sign of delusion nor does it prove any of your points, it is just a small fact that means nothing in this case. Plenty of great shops are still open with no plans to close. We are vastly expanding our service center and building out a brand new fit studio. However just like your fact of one shop closing my fact of one shop expanding doesn't prove it either but is a good sign.

Also it should be noted in the case of D&Q the shop mentioned in your link closed due to the people who owned it being older and wanting to retire. I don't see that as bad business or scamsters who couldn't fix your bike but as people wanting to retire which oddly enough happens. Surprisingly some people don't want to work till they die. It is odd, surely everyone wants to work till they die and not enjoy some of their life.

GrizzlyPeaks

Narf

I've never built a drag car motor, but I worked as a mechanic for a number of years. I hear ya. Once you've R&Rd engines, nothing on a bike is hard. There are a few special tools and a few new parts to learn about, but that's pretty much it. 🚴