Txvintage,
Jack told me that someone came in recently and bought up most of the old campy stock.

I don't head down the the Richardson store much anymore, only time I do is if I have a really
obscure question for Jack ( for the rest of y'all who may not know, Jack is THE vintage wrench), or I need something that Frisco can't do (like frame alignment or dropout repair).
I don't spend huge amounts of money in the Frisco store, I buy tools, tape, glue, and parts
for repair, but I get treated like I buy a new I.F. custom frame weekly.
If you've had less than stellar experience at Richardson or Dallas store, try Frisco, it's a whole different
experience.

marty

What he siad, lol.

Interesting about the old Campy stock. That was a valueable NOS resource.

How many of these LBS's have a place to lock up your bike while you're there? The LBS in my neighborhood doesn't have any place to wrap a chain around something. Gotta constantly look out the window when I'm there, but I don't stop in there much when I'm on the bike for that reason.

I can understand the OPs thoughts. Like many of you I've had mixed results there. I still drive all the way across the metroplex to visit sometimes since it is the biggest LBS I've ever seen. To be honest, there isn't a LBS in the area that I am crazy about. I'm closest to Bikes Inc in Keller, but never leave there happy. Either they are out of what I need, or have to wait forever for help. I spend most of my money on line now. It's sad, as I feel like I ought to support the LBS, especially since they are so good about supporting local rides, but it is a frustrating experience.

They won't let you bring your bike inside? I might expect that at my LGS (Local Grocery Store) but not at a bike shop.

The one I'm thinking of - there isn't a good place to "put it", but I guess I could. It's a little crowded in there, especially around the front door.

Yea, it's almost a Bike Mall more than a Bike Mart. It's a fun place to just wander around and come up with alternative ways to spend the kid's college fund.

The more I think about it, I have to agree about going in non peak hours. I work deep nights and my best experiences in there have been early in the day during the week.

If you are talking about the one on 3040 I have been told twice to get my bike out when I rode there, unless it needed service. The store was empty at the time! I've mentioned a rack to them once or twice when we stopped by after getting something near there and got completely ignored not even a polite oh I'll have to mention that or something. I hear they have a really good wrench though.

I mainly go to bluebonnet but this and a zillion other reasons is why I always take the long haul over to bluebonnet even though I pass that lbs on 3040 10 times a week at least. Bluebonnet has a lame rack up front which is pitiful but they do have a big metal tube thing you can lock up to by the regular entrance. I usually don't lock up there anymore since it is off the service road and there is only bicycle shop traffic. The place on 3040 is pretty high traffic with cicis, chiles and all the other stuff so I always worry about people messing with my bike.

Bike Mart is a catrike dealer and the only reason I want to deal with them. RBM does occasionaly get a nice used bike back in their used bike section such as my fit like a glove road bike I picked up there.

I agree with a lot of the posts here--RBM is sometimes a crap shoot on customer service. For the most part I am pretty happy. There are a couple sales dolts that I try to avoid but there are a couple that we are happy to see. Glenn is EXCELLENT! He is a big part of how we got into biking. We were losing weight and called, thinking we were still too fat for a bike, but Glenn encouraged us to come in. He took 2 hours with us on a busy Sunday afternoon and fit us on bikes that were just right for us.
It would be nice if their prices were a little lower but I am committed to spend my cash locally. I never see any of the internet stores providing sag wagon / mechanical crews for the local charity rides. I am willing to spend a bit more for that kind of cycling community support.

My sons elementary school has an annual bike rodeo. RBM Richardson sends over a mechanic to work on the kids bikes gratis every year. They line up to get their bikes checked over adjusted, etc. I have been shopping there since I was kid (three locations ago, heck I used to eat in their second location when it was a cafeteria before they moved there) and will shop there until I die. Things change, that is inevitable, but it is cool to see a small business grow and give bike to the community like RBM and the Hoyt's have done.

One comment about the Richadson store:

It's really funny when the wife and I walk in and Jim Hoyt says "Hi Kids, whats up?"
haven't been a kid since the nixon era. . .

marty

Well I just want to give a thumbs up for the South Bikemart store. This is my LBS and you still get the small bike shop feel and service. They just did work for me on a bike and did a great job.

I can't give an opinion on the North store, since I don't go in there too much since they moved off of coit years ago, but I do love to browse when I'm in the mega store.

Also, Bluebonnet for those up North is another good shop.

Jim sold my wife and I a trailer by finding Wade wandering the store, putting him in a trailer, and taking him for a ride. :D Sneaky man that Jim. :thumb:

I agree nothing but praise for them. I wont step foot in Bikemart any more after dealing with BlueBonnet

Is David still at Blue Bonnet? he sold us my wife's Bianchi.
I like Blue Bonnet, agree with everything you've said. only 2 knocks I can
give is they're not too convient to me, and relatively small stock, and those are
hardly knocks.

Marty

I went in to RBM in need of a replacement rear BB for my 1982 Santana tandem. OK, this is a long obsolete and esoteric item, since it requires TA tapers for the old Cyclotourist tandem crankset on the bike, but RBM does claim to be the oldest and largest Santana dealer in the southwest. I was stunned when the parts guy didn't even try, just shrugged and said "Try ebay."

Plano Cycling sourced a suitable NOS BB for me in ten days.

Since RBM service department's self proclaimed ace wheel builder built a wheel for me that started losing spokes on the second ride, I've pretty much written them off.

tcs

whats he look like? I'm terrible with names

Probably gonna get flamed, but I'm gonna plug Sun and Ski Sports in Arlington, Customer service is unsurpassed, the service manager is Scott and he is great, knows what he's talking about and won't try to upsell you the most expensive thing in the store, in fact if he thinks something less expensive will work better for you he'll let you know. Also they have a good selection and a good shop portion also. As for bikes inc. I've experienced very terrible service at the Arlington location, so for me it's all Sun and ski. I wish they carried Trek or specialized stuff, but I've found some Scott and Marin bikes that I like also so I'll be buying one from them in the not too distant future.

is this the David you are looking for?
http://irestidelcarlino.files.wordpr...selhoff-07.jpg

uh, no.

about 5'8" short dark hair, smiles alot and last I knew was riding an Orbea.

While I'm delighted with RBM I'm wanting to check out Felt road bikes which they do not carry. I've called several of the Felt dealers whose names I found on the Felt site only to be told they do not carry their road bikes. Can someone recommend a Felt dealer in Dallas, or nearby? Preferably one who keeps their road bikes in stock?

And from what I can tell Felt had an enormous price increase from 08 to 09, at least the prices on their website suggest this. I might have to try and sniff out a used 08 or 07.

Cheers

Chris

I've had great experience with Sun & Ski Sports ever since I bought my Raliegh MTB on Greenville Ave. back about '94. I go into the one at Grapevine Mills a lot now and have bought lots of stuff from them. Good service and they don't try to upsell.

BTW, I was wandering around in a Dick's Sporting Goods the other day and found a 6' "OnGuard" brand cable lock - price was half what I paid the day before from Bicycles Inc. in Hurst. Aggravating!

Chris, you might try Rockwall Cycling. They're a new shop, and I've seen a good number of Felt roadies in there. Can't say if they have any '07s though.

Steve

Thanks Steve, I'll check them out.

Chris

Just wanted to say again I heart RBM in Richardson. I was there today at noon (Sunday) and wanted some new handlebars for my wife's Specialized and the gears were all wanked and a few other assorted tidbits. The wrench I dealt with was a very nice guy named Mark who did a fabulous job, was very friendly and informative, and kept steering me in directions that saved me money. I was astonished at how much I got for very little. I was there about 2 hours and had no less than 10 different sales guys/gals approach me and asked if I needed any help. I shot the sh** with a few of them a while, just chatting about bikes and brands and all. Learned a thing or two. I must have rode 6 bikes in the store while I was waiting.

I was also told that noon on Sunday is often a very good time to come by.

I shop at other stores but RBM will likely always get 75% or more of my bike related purchases.

Best of all my wife now digs her bike.

Chris