scattered73

I went to a local performance bike shop and was surprised they didn't have a bike rack out front to lock your bike up to. When asked why they said I could bring it in instead but this store was lacking space on the inside I would hate to knock over one of their shiny new bikes. I just found that ironic. The twisted side of me is waiting for a nasty rainy day to go buy one single tube. Then another shop in town has a rack but its secured using a ulock to the building way to close to the wall so you have to really fuss with it to get your bike on securely. Both these places really disappoint me and it says a lot of what kind of customers they cater to despite the fact both sell commuter equip and bikes. Sorry just had to rant.

wirehead

I dono. I do find that I'm sufficiently uncomfortable with bike lock security (given that my last bike was stolen after a mere few months... and it wasn't even an expensive bike) that I like to have my ride with me while I shop. Especially because I'm usually looking to see if some item I wish to purchase will fit gracefully on my bike....

dynodonn 

The LBS that I frequent has two bike racks in front of their store, but no one uses them. They are the old front wheel bender type, and are mainly used to display the LBS's used bikes. Since the LBS has big front door and enough empty floor space, I just wheel my bike in, no need to lock it up, and the LBS is more than happy to accommodate my bike.

beingtxstate

Maybe the LBS is giving them away alla Kickstand Cyclery?

scattered73

The more I think about it there are at least two more shops I have been to that don't have racks, I really find it strange. Maybe it's just me.

cyclezealot

Sometimes trees can be a substitute.. It'd be a sign that maybe one should pedal on by.

daibutsu

I've noticed a lack of racks at bike shops and all over here in the DC area. I won't patronize a store that doesn't provide suitable racks. I even changed my bank because of it (Eagle Bank.) My mother's retirement home didn't provide a rack so I'd just wheel my bike into their office!! When questioned I said "You'd think any professional (air quotes) healthcare facility (air quotes, again) would promote bike riding, wouldn't you?" They never said anything again, nevertheless we've since moved her to one that does.

cyclezealot

Daibutsu.. We've moved her to one that does.. I like your spunk...

I-Like-To-Bike

Are you saying you uprooted your mother from her retirement home solely because of your annoyance at them for not providing a bike rack for you use? Your mother have any say in this? No one would brag about forcing their aged mother to relocate for such a nitpick reason. Somehow I believe you/she had other reasons.

daibutsu

Oh sure, she's in a far better place. Not that far, better yet. LOL. It just set the stage; It really does reflect concern and professionalism just like the bike shops ought to.

Roody

My LBS is like the OP's--no bike rack in nice weather, when they have used bikes and rentals occupying. I take my bike in, but there's no good place to lean it. I'm always afraid that I'm going to knock over a whole row of their brand new bikes and scratch up a couple of them.

gosmsgo

See! This is why the government needs to take over the bicycle shops and run them.

Rise up comrades!!!!

dynodonn 

Maybe that's why my LBS's help doesn't have a look horror on their faces when I happen to drop down my kickstand.

knobster

The Performance Bike in Greensboro, NC didn't have a rack either and when I asked they told me the same thing that they told the OP. I don't have a problem with that. The other shops there had racks though. So far, the shops in the Portland, OR area all have racks. Like the OP, I don't feel comfortable locking my bike up outside.

hockey4mnhs

My bike shop has litte bike rack just inside the door that i put my bike in. I dont have to lock it since i can see it while shoping.

Roody

The funny thing isn't that some LBSs don't have racks--it's that almost none of them do have racks.

The owner of my LBS said they don't need a rack because very few customers actually ride a bike to the shop. 99 % drive there! Fewer people ride to a bike shop than ride to the average coffee shop. The owner also told me that they don't need a rack because they have no problem with people bringing bikes into the shop, even though it's small and crowded.

One time we had a little fun with them. I was on a ride with three friends and I wanted to pick up an inner tube. Nobody wanted to stay outside to guard the bikes, so I said, "We'll all go in--he told me it's OK." They sure freaked when all four of us walked in with our bikes!

Roody

That's what my shop needs. Then I wouldn't have to worry about knocking over the brand new display models.

BTW, welcome to the forum. It's nice to have you here!

gerv 

My LBS has a rack for its used models and I just lock up there, unless I am getting work done on the bike. In which case I would roll it into the shop.

If there weren't a rack, I would quickly point out to the owner that he could say a bundle of maintenance on his flooring if he spent $500 buck on a rack.

I actually see a fair number of people who bike to the LBS... but yes.. most people drive in.

tsl

Of the dozen or so shops in my area, I use four.

The first is downtown and caters to commuters and car-free types. It has an old wheel-bender out front, but they encourage people to just ride in through the service entrance in the back. Fixie kids have put skid marks in the carpet.

The second is also in the city (but not downtown) the oldest and largest shop in the area. They have a wheel-bender out front, and another one just inside the door, where they put bikes waiting for service or to be picked-up. I use the inside rack but don't lock to it.

The third is a suburban shop right on the Erie Canalway. They have two wheel-benders out front that they typically use for new bike display, much like a car dealer. You can see the shop and all the shiny new bikes as you ride by. I lock to the end of one of the racks. I figure a brand new unlocked bike is more likely to be taken than my used locked one.

The fourth shop I use is a high-end suburban one. The suburb they're in is high-end too. They put out a small, light-weight vestigial bike rack useful purely as decoration. I take my bike inside and lean it against a display, being careful not to scratch my bike. (Who cares about the display?)

blue steal

My LBS has an old rack right outside the front door. It always has one or two bikes in there, used for sale. Funny, at the pool I use, it has a bike rack that holds maybe 40-50 bikes, but I have never seen not one bike in them. I bring my inside the pool area.

bhchdh 

The owner of one of the LBS that I frequent gets downright upset if you don't bring your bike inside.

Roody

That's a nice attitude. I would want to shop there as much as possible.

JeffS

Maybe if more people expressed their concern to the shops they would rethink things.

JeffS

His post does not imply that the bike rack had anything to do with the move -- just that the new location has one.

scattered73

Probably true, but I bet what a previous poster said about almost all customers driving to the shop is true. When I really think about it the majority of cycling world is recreational not transportational. I just checked road cycling forum has 238 viewing lcf has 6 viewing. We are a crazy minority I guess. The shops I frequent with racks never have another bike on rack when I lock mine up now that I think about it.