View Poll Results: What's the last thing you did in a bike shop?
Fondled some carbon fiber
11
21.57%
Enjoyed a stolen glance at some steel
12
23.53%
Incited component lust
5
9.80%
Squeezed a few brake levers
8
15.69%
Changed a gear without thinking, then wondered if it should be changed back
0
0%
Added to my wish list
13
25.49%
Helped another customer; it felt good
4
7.84%
[if you checked the item above] Left wondering if they thought you worked there
0
0%
When offered help by real staff said "No thanks, I'm just looking"
15
29.41%
Expanded your credit limit. The more you buy, the more they'll lend you…
7
13.73%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 51. You may not vote on this poll
Bike shop love
07-05-14, 04:24 PM
#26
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Went into REI the other day to buy a new helmet and walked out with a bike. Oh, and a helmet. Scratch & dent Radonee for a real good price.
"Also need choice - left infuriated because they didn't have part or consumable again, ordered from Interweb."
Unfortunately this happens to me all too often. We can order that - Well so can I, and it comes right to my door without another trip and waiting for someone to call me and say it arrived even though it arrived a day or two earlier or I have to call back and ask about it.
"Also need choice - left infuriated because they didn't have part or consumable again, ordered from Interweb."
Unfortunately this happens to me all too often. We can order that - Well so can I, and it comes right to my door without another trip and waiting for someone to call me and say it arrived even though it arrived a day or two earlier or I have to call back and ask about it.
Last edited by dedhed; 07-05-14 at 04:28 PM.
07-05-14, 09:51 PM
#27
waiting for my name tag
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I served a lot of time in bookshops back in the day, and can remember when we used microfiche to see if the distributor had that copy of The Joy of Sex in Braille in stock.
It's hard not to rhapsodize about consumer choice when all of us here are consumers, though I sympathise with shops having to compete with the likes of Amazon, where I buy my chains because they're almost half the price. Can this cognitive dissonance be cured by retail therapy?
It's hard not to rhapsodize about consumer choice when all of us here are consumers, though I sympathise with shops having to compete with the likes of Amazon, where I buy my chains because they're almost half the price. Can this cognitive dissonance be cured by retail therapy?
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Last edited by 905; 07-05-14 at 10:04 PM. Reason: computer says what are you doing, Dave?
07-05-14, 09:53 PM
#28
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Last time I was in a bike shop I had a headset pressed in. The owner, who has worked on bikes for 35+ years told me that my NOS garage sale find was one of the nicer steel frames he has seen, so I felt pretty chuffed about my score. Also better about the 50 mile drive, as the owner of the local bike shop runs in a wheel all night and eats pellets.
While I was in there, I looked at an old Frejus, came really close to paying far to much for it. SO I guess I would have to say I ogled some steel. Rusty steel.
While I was in there, I looked at an old Frejus, came really close to paying far to much for it. SO I guess I would have to say I ogled some steel. Rusty steel.
07-20-14, 01:47 PM
#29
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Speaking of rust, whoever owns this, which I spotted outside a supermarket today, needs to visit their LBS pronto:
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07-20-14, 01:55 PM
#30
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Originally Posted by BlazingPedals
Am I the exception? All I went in for was a bottle of chain lube. I grabbed it, paid, and left.
12-30-14, 07:26 AM
#31
waiting for my name tag
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The post-Christmas season has me wondering if I should add a poll option: Returns. It's the thought that counts, but you can't exchange or get a refund on thoughts. Have you been gifted anything which is making the trip back to the shop? May include gifts to yourself which you wish you could return.
"Too small."
"I wanted the Tour of Flanders model."
"I've already got one."
"Doesn't go faster than the speed of light, as advertised."
"I'm suspicious it may have been stolen."
"Too small."
"I wanted the Tour of Flanders model."
"I've already got one."
"Doesn't go faster than the speed of light, as advertised."
"I'm suspicious it may have been stolen."
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12-30-14, 12:08 PM
#32
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To give them appraisals on a couple of vintage bikes they had taken on trade, and to pick up some stuff I had special ordered.
Aaron
Aaron
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Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
12-30-14, 09:41 PM
#33
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I went in to the LBS to get some small forgettable item, spent 30 minutes looking around. Had to tell myself that I had too much cycling stuff already and not to waste the money at this time, waste it on a new frame later.
12-31-14, 08:58 AM
#34
Str*t*gic *quivoc*tor
Last thing I did in a bikeshop: rebuilt my commuter from flat bar, back to drop bar, except instead of bar end shifting like I had before, I'm trying STI Brake/Shifters for a change. Test rode plenty, never had them on any of my own bikes. Left the bars unwrapped because I'm checking out some Soma Portola (wide-flare, mtn drops) bars. Might keep them; might go back to a compact drop (Soma Highway One).
Side benefit of working in a bike shop: using the service area for personal use -- stand, tools, small parts...
Side benefit of working in a bike shop: using the service area for personal use -- stand, tools, small parts...
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I know next to nothing. I am frequently wrong.
I know next to nothing. I am frequently wrong.
12-31-14, 06:35 PM
#35
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Originally Posted by linnefaulk
This is the first time I live close to my local bike shop and drive by it often. It is difficult not to stop in everyday.
Originally Posted by Jim from Boston
… I always wondered if the premium prices of CF, which I considered to be about $2000 was worth the presumed enhanced riding experience.
...My trusted mechanic said here’s the bike you want, knowing my riding style. Well the MSRP was $8000, but he got it for me at half off...
...My trusted mechanic said here’s the bike you want, knowing my riding style. Well the MSRP was $8000, but he got it for me at half off...
01-02-15, 11:44 PM
#36
Senior Member
I didn't like the ones where I grew up; when I was younger, I'd only pop in for a bottle of lube when I reeeeeally needed it, maybe. The experience continued to the one by my university. I can't stand it, but it's the only one that sells shot bloks, etc., so I go in just for those. I know what I need, grab it, get out.
But then I was in the market for a bike, so when I went home for winter break I tried a new LBS, one in San Francisco (Contrada). The second I walked in I was like yep, this is where I will be spending all of my disposable income. I think I found my bike shop soul mate, and it feels so good.
But then I was in the market for a bike, so when I went home for winter break I tried a new LBS, one in San Francisco (Contrada). The second I walked in I was like yep, this is where I will be spending all of my disposable income. I think I found my bike shop soul mate, and it feels so good.
