Mirysien

with my new LBS!

Ok, it's not quite L, being 1.5 hour drive away .. but it's to a city I go at least weekly, so it counts.

Picture this... new (and fat) biker walking in, gazing around .. listening to the staff interact with the customers and bravely ignoring the HoMeMaDe oatmeal raisin cookies set out on the counter for the bikers! ...

When asked what they could help me with, I say .. umm .. I'm a newbie who has gotten the biking bug at which point their smile brighten the room and is matched by their eyes and I have a few questions .. dumb ones ...and they say that's what we're here for

So, I feel totally welcomed and proceed to ask my dumb questions -- which he not only answers but SHOWS me the things (e.g., clipless thing-ma-bobs)

Then I say, well .. I'd like one of those gizmo's that tells you how many miles you've gone and will you install it for me? He *hears* me, doesn't bat an eye and says, "they're called computers" and here's the selection (takes me over to the case) - sees I'm baffled, chooses out a perfectly wonderful li'l gizmo for me .. decent price .. and viola - I'm COMPUTERIZED! (and here, all along when reading about the computers on this site - I thought there were computerized bikes people were talking about like when they can't read their computer

So, I say to the guy (who is taking his time, I don't feel rushed, I feel valued and safe) "Well I started biking this month and I went for a 10mile ride last week - not only did he not laugh - he was as pleased almost as me for that accomplishment.

His genuiness really sold me .. I'm going next week for their free maintenance class

AND I'm going in a few more weeks to buy my "real" bike there! I noticed their prices were much more reasonable than the other LBS (the one that is literally 1 block away from me) --

I'm in looooooooove, I tell ya...

Plus I said .. oh yea, I found a biking site called "Bike Forums" and it is great .. He nodded sagely and said, "Yes, it is!"

ahhhhhhhh.... the difference is incredible!

NoNaYet

My choices are about a 2 mile drive for the closet LBS, or a 120 mile round trip for MY LBS. My main issue is they are actually competent to work on my trike, but all the other things you said apply.

Today while I picked up a part for the trike I got to watch a salesman teach a 5 year old how to ride her new two wheeler. That was fun.

mirage1

That's great! I feel much the same way...I just went to SouthWest Bicycles here in Phoenix and they were very helpful, didn't make me feel like a doofus for not being able to explain my dilemma in technical terms, and were friendly. Gotta love that.

Porten2

Can you give me a hint? I've yet to find a favorite, and I'm looking for a maintenance class.

Mirysien

It's North Central Cyclery in DeKalb https://northcentralcyclery.com/