Pre internet I used to use my LBS for all repairs and a new bike about every 5 years. As I’ve learned more and I suppose become an enthusiast, I do all my own repairs and order most things from SJS/Spa/wiggle. I do try to use the LBS every so often but the service is pretty poor. Id prefer to buy things like helmets and shoes in person from them but they have very limited options. Most of the time they just direct me to their online shop, Leisure Lakes.
Bike shops discouraging new cyclists ?
- Thread starter MidnightRider
- Start date
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ebikeerwidnes
Guru
- Location
- Z’ha’dum
Last few times I have wanted my LBS to do something for me they have needed me to make an appointment
nothing too precise - just "sometime on Tuesday" or similar
I asked last Friday and it was "any time you want - seems to be quiet at the moment" - which is a bad sign!
use them or loose them
on a slightly different topic
if you have a decent ebike - well - Bosch anyway - only proper dealers can check the electronic and do updates to the software
Of course you could question whether or not you "need" the software updates but Bosch do seem keel that they are done!
nothing too precise - just "sometime on Tuesday" or similar
I asked last Friday and it was "any time you want - seems to be quiet at the moment" - which is a bad sign!
use them or loose them
on a slightly different topic
if you have a decent ebike - well - Bosch anyway - only proper dealers can check the electronic and do updates to the software
Of course you could question whether or not you "need" the software updates but Bosch do seem keel that they are done!
Slick
Guru
I reckon we are all a bit guilty of expecting too much from certain businesses with bike shops and golf clubs generating comments from all that use them.
My experiences are mixed, with a really positive experience in one shop from the owner when I was buying a bike, but left totally enraged by my eventual treatment by staff, who to be fair to them did try and justify their actions, but I wasn't in the mood for listening and never went back.
I visited a couple of different ones, and got ripped off more than once with the worst trying to put my bike back that had new rotors fitted by me just a few weeks previously with old rusty things a mechanic swapped on his mates bike. They were eventually replaced, but I never went back.
I eventually found a cracking boy, who was young and in to racing himself, but he wasn't interested in selling me anything other than a good service package and the bike always came out like new whichever service I chose. Unfortunately, he closed for a while and whilst his website said he would reopen on an ever unattainable date, he never has and my LBS owner is almost definitely one of those being discussed that's only interested if you are buying a bike and I wouldn't use him if he paid me.
Mrs Slick isn't as particular with bike shops as I am, and pretty much reports 100% satisfaction from her interactions with them, which is positive.
My experiences are mixed, with a really positive experience in one shop from the owner when I was buying a bike, but left totally enraged by my eventual treatment by staff, who to be fair to them did try and justify their actions, but I wasn't in the mood for listening and never went back.
I visited a couple of different ones, and got ripped off more than once with the worst trying to put my bike back that had new rotors fitted by me just a few weeks previously with old rusty things a mechanic swapped on his mates bike. They were eventually replaced, but I never went back.
I eventually found a cracking boy, who was young and in to racing himself, but he wasn't interested in selling me anything other than a good service package and the bike always came out like new whichever service I chose. Unfortunately, he closed for a while and whilst his website said he would reopen on an ever unattainable date, he never has and my LBS owner is almost definitely one of those being discussed that's only interested if you are buying a bike and I wouldn't use him if he paid me.
Mrs Slick isn't as particular with bike shops as I am, and pretty much reports 100% satisfaction from her interactions with them, which is positive.
Fastpedaller
Senior Member
I'm horrified at the service in most 'specialist' shops. An example.... at a local store with household goods we asked for some guidance about a vacuum cleaner and the guy just read the features off the side of the box and clearly had no other product or knowledge to offer. In the end (after listening to him v.e.r.y. s.l.o.w.l.y. reading off the box for a couple of minutes) my Wife said 'ok, thanks, I think we'll just read the boxes ourselves'. Another example..... a few years ago I went into a LBS to see if they stocked a close-ratio Shimano cassette and was told 'You don't want a close ratio one, there are some hills around here' (Norfolk, and yes it does have some, contrary to popular belief). I said to him "I've got a triple chainset with 28/38/48 rings, so I can get up any hill in Norfolk in 28 x 21, probably almost all in England. He insisted a close ratio was something I didn't need. I left the shop and never returned - it closed a couple of years after (I'm sure not due to my lack of custom though 
)
I begin to think I'm plain awkward, but we also have some local shops where service, empathy and pleasant experiences still exist.
A couple of years ago I saw a mature cyclist (similar age to myself) at Lidl parking his carbon pride & joy, and I stopped to admire it. He told me the only thing he couldn't get on with were the pedals and shoes (SPD-SL). I suggested to him that SPD 2-bolt may be more suitable and that I use them and it also means I can walk easily in the shoes. He said he'd asked about them at the shop that sold him the bike and they said he had to have SPD-SL because it wasn't a mountain bike!
)I begin to think I'm plain awkward, but we also have some local shops where service, empathy and pleasant experiences still exist.
A couple of years ago I saw a mature cyclist (similar age to myself) at Lidl parking his carbon pride & joy, and I stopped to admire it. He told me the only thing he couldn't get on with were the pedals and shoes (SPD-SL). I suggested to him that SPD 2-bolt may be more suitable and that I use them and it also means I can walk easily in the shoes. He said he'd asked about them at the shop that sold him the bike and they said he had to have SPD-SL because it wasn't a mountain bike!
Fastpedaller
Senior Member
OP - I'm pleased you found some good service in Cheltenham. Looking at the areas in your profile..... have you tried St John Street Cycles? I've not used them myself, but from reports I've seen they may well be the sort of place to be helpful.
Ming the Merciless
There is no mercy
- Location
- Inside my skull
Did not know you could get cassettes with a max of 21 teeth. Live and learn…
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Fastpedaller
Senior Member
7 speed (this is a few years ago) 13,14, 15,16, 17,19,21. I believe that's the closest to 'corncob' that Shimano offered. I still have a few in my 'collection' and some 8-speed ones to use 7 from 8. ISRT the 8th one is 23.
Just read this thread with interest and it got me thinking to how bike shops where when I was a youngster.
Back in the early 80s when I was barely a teenager I used to enjoy visiting the local bike shops around town.The guy on the market had a bike shop and sold Townsend bikes of all different styles and had a nice selection of accessories.He knew I only came armed with some saved up pocket money,but he would always give me the time of day and useful free advice on cycling matters of my time trailing days.
If I was stuck and short of a couple of quid for a new tyre ect he would simply say " pay it next time your in"
The other bike shop was equally good to..The owner there sold more upmarket bikes and undertook repairs and always looked harassed because he was overrun with work, but again he would always stop and give out his time to help whilst covered in dirty oil.
Halfords back then where small street shops instead of the superstores they are now and ours in my town was great.
Each shop would sell decent bikes at reasonable prices back then.Yes they were heavy by today's standards being broadly made of gas pipe tubing and basic components,but they were built to last if looked after, and they where in the reach of most people's budget.
My Halfords bought Peugeot Equipe is now 41 year's old.Its a heavy steel carbolite frame with basic Simplex gear's but still runs like clockwork and propelled me from the one side of Wales to the other faultlessly the other year.There was no bike snobbery or cliche amongst themselves either.
Nowadays I feel like I am the poor window shopper when I visit a bike shop.The shops seem to be draped with expensive advertising backdrops such as £6000 MTB's balanced precariously on fibreglassed fake rocks and an overpriced coffee shop where you sign your life away whilst sorting out the financial burden of paying for it on the drip.
I'm glad I bought my decent Specialized road bike second hand and that I can do all the maintenance myself ,as in all honesty I couldn't afford what these new bike shops sell nowadays plus I feel uncomfortable visiting them too as I feel like a pauper when I'm in one.
Back in the early 80s when I was barely a teenager I used to enjoy visiting the local bike shops around town.The guy on the market had a bike shop and sold Townsend bikes of all different styles and had a nice selection of accessories.He knew I only came armed with some saved up pocket money,but he would always give me the time of day and useful free advice on cycling matters of my time trailing days.
If I was stuck and short of a couple of quid for a new tyre ect he would simply say " pay it next time your in"
The other bike shop was equally good to..The owner there sold more upmarket bikes and undertook repairs and always looked harassed because he was overrun with work, but again he would always stop and give out his time to help whilst covered in dirty oil.
Halfords back then where small street shops instead of the superstores they are now and ours in my town was great.
Each shop would sell decent bikes at reasonable prices back then.Yes they were heavy by today's standards being broadly made of gas pipe tubing and basic components,but they were built to last if looked after, and they where in the reach of most people's budget.
My Halfords bought Peugeot Equipe is now 41 year's old.Its a heavy steel carbolite frame with basic Simplex gear's but still runs like clockwork and propelled me from the one side of Wales to the other faultlessly the other year.There was no bike snobbery or cliche amongst themselves either.
Nowadays I feel like I am the poor window shopper when I visit a bike shop.The shops seem to be draped with expensive advertising backdrops such as £6000 MTB's balanced precariously on fibreglassed fake rocks and an overpriced coffee shop where you sign your life away whilst sorting out the financial burden of paying for it on the drip.
I'm glad I bought my decent Specialized road bike second hand and that I can do all the maintenance myself ,as in all honesty I couldn't afford what these new bike shops sell nowadays plus I feel uncomfortable visiting them too as I feel like a pauper when I'm in one.
Time Waster
Veteran
When I was 17 I had the money from a summer job at a large engineering company with good money burning a hole in my pocket. My old dawes bike first ridden by me when 9 years old, and promptly fell off on my first ride as it was too big and I scratched the frame. I'm still scarred by that upset!
Anyway, I had a decent amount of money for a kid and could afford what was then known as entry level race bike. Reynolds steel, gearing a few steps up the shimano levels, etc. I went round a few local shops including Ribble that was a local shop in Preston back then. Snooty staff and I was talked down to, talked to like I shouldn't be there, etc. Oh and don't forget they said I needed to get more money to get a bike worth having.
I went to warlands in Blackburn and got a nice friendly guy listening to what I wanted to do and ride. He gave me options but also told me that I didn't need to spend more than the bottom of the range of Raleigh mtrax Road bikes for my needs. I bought that bike and I've still got it. My favourite bike but it needs work to get back on the road,
Now I went into the largest bike shop in the UK recently looking at what bike to get my son. He's at the age that frog isn't a good option anymore but adult bikes in small are. Walking from the cheapest trek mtb to the hybrid and gravel bikes I saw a strange chain line on a full susser that I've never seen before. A high pivot suspension for high travel at the rear. I'd never seen one before, are they recent development btw? Anyway it was obvious how it works but I got a comment from the assistant that I didn't like. He basically asked if I wanted him to explain it to me. I took it the wrong way and looked at him in disgust. I'm thought he was patronising me but my partner thought he was very good and friendly. Complete opposite. People can sometimes take things the wrong way. I don't know if that was me or my partner in this case but I've had patronising from this shop before so was possibly expecting it.
BTW I sometimes play dumb in outdoor gear shops. I like to here the bs first before I let on that I know more than they thought at first. It's fun watching a back pedal from a rip off recommendation to something I knew was right for me.
Anyway, I had a decent amount of money for a kid and could afford what was then known as entry level race bike. Reynolds steel, gearing a few steps up the shimano levels, etc. I went round a few local shops including Ribble that was a local shop in Preston back then. Snooty staff and I was talked down to, talked to like I shouldn't be there, etc. Oh and don't forget they said I needed to get more money to get a bike worth having.
I went to warlands in Blackburn and got a nice friendly guy listening to what I wanted to do and ride. He gave me options but also told me that I didn't need to spend more than the bottom of the range of Raleigh mtrax Road bikes for my needs. I bought that bike and I've still got it. My favourite bike but it needs work to get back on the road,
Now I went into the largest bike shop in the UK recently looking at what bike to get my son. He's at the age that frog isn't a good option anymore but adult bikes in small are. Walking from the cheapest trek mtb to the hybrid and gravel bikes I saw a strange chain line on a full susser that I've never seen before. A high pivot suspension for high travel at the rear. I'd never seen one before, are they recent development btw? Anyway it was obvious how it works but I got a comment from the assistant that I didn't like. He basically asked if I wanted him to explain it to me. I took it the wrong way and looked at him in disgust. I'm thought he was patronising me but my partner thought he was very good and friendly. Complete opposite. People can sometimes take things the wrong way. I don't know if that was me or my partner in this case but I've had patronising from this shop before so was possibly expecting it.
BTW I sometimes play dumb in outdoor gear shops. I like to here the bs first before I let on that I know more than they thought at first. It's fun watching a back pedal from a rip off recommendation to something I knew was right for me.
Time Waster
Veteran
To the OP I would say that men get treatment from bike shops at times as bad as women do. Some shops are truly bad.
Anyone been to push cartel in Ambleside? Very boutique. I didn't know about that bike shop so popped in to have a nosey. I was clocked by the shop assistant Straight away who put down his latte and followed me right around the shop like I was a known shoplifter in a department store, I never felt so distrusted in my life. Nose screwed up in undisguised disgust would be the look he had towards me!
Bimetreks in Ings. When first opened it had a wide range of bikes from lower prices to expensive. Staff were friendly and it was a good shop if you wanted the limited range they stocked. Last time I went there they had different staff who kind of weren't interested unless you look like a roadie with a need for a high end bike. I wonder if that's a commission issue going on? Another bike shop I won't go to again.
You do get a feeling about bike shops. When it's good you go back when not you probably won't.
Anyone been to push cartel in Ambleside? Very boutique. I didn't know about that bike shop so popped in to have a nosey. I was clocked by the shop assistant Straight away who put down his latte and followed me right around the shop like I was a known shoplifter in a department store, I never felt so distrusted in my life. Nose screwed up in undisguised disgust would be the look he had towards me!
Bimetreks in Ings. When first opened it had a wide range of bikes from lower prices to expensive. Staff were friendly and it was a good shop if you wanted the limited range they stocked. Last time I went there they had different staff who kind of weren't interested unless you look like a roadie with a need for a high end bike. I wonder if that's a commission issue going on? Another bike shop I won't go to again.
You do get a feeling about bike shops. When it's good you go back when not you probably won't.
Alex321
Veteran
- Location
- South Wales
I was in my LBS (Simon's Cycles in Cowbridge) this afternoon after work, to get a new chain and bell for my bike.
It is not the sort of shop you can go into browse, but the owner is always helpful and will often say "you can probably get it cheaper online than I could get it" if you are after something he doesn't currently have in strock.
It is a small shop, absolutely crammed. Not sure how many of the bikes are for sale, and how many are customer bikes in to be worked on (He has done a few things on mine, always with labour charges that seem too low).
This is the view from just inside the door:
At this point, Simon is finding me a chain from round behind the stand middle left with the basket on it (which is where his stock of bells are). It looks like chaos, but he knows where everything is.
It is not the sort of shop you can go into browse, but the owner is always helpful and will often say "you can probably get it cheaper online than I could get it" if you are after something he doesn't currently have in strock.
It is a small shop, absolutely crammed. Not sure how many of the bikes are for sale, and how many are customer bikes in to be worked on (He has done a few things on mine, always with labour charges that seem too low).
This is the view from just inside the door:
At this point, Simon is finding me a chain from round behind the stand middle left with the basket on it (which is where his stock of bells are). It looks like chaos, but he knows where everything is.
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slowmotion
Quite dreadful
- Location
- lost somewhere
That really is a proper bike shop! Wonderful.
Punkawallah
Über Member
Suntour Super Seven, 12-21, found on the Dawes Imperial 1984 iteration, in a 126mm gap - well dished. The Imperial was their flagship racer, but I suspect aimed at the masochist market with 42/52 on the front. Their Renown had a much more relaxed six speed 14-24 and 40/52. My legs don’t agree with the ‘relaxed’ description, though.
