Cannondale Synapses are for fat Americans . . .

[JMAG]

I went to my local Evans store the other day and was looking at the Synapse as I've been contemplating something along those lines (Spesh Roubaix, Felt Z series etc.).

So up walks a member of staff offering assistance. Stating the obvious, I said I was looking at the Synapse hoping he would free the bike from bondage so I could sit on it. He informed me that it wouldn't be suitable for me as Cannondale designed the Synapse for fat Americans and I would be better off looking at a SuperSix! Flattered as I was (I wasn't even sucking my stomach in), I suppressed my laughter and explained that I don't get on with an aggressive geometry and a relaxed geometry would be fine.

People knock Halfords for the ineptitude of some of their staff, but you can find these sorts anywhere. What's the funniest thing you've heard from cycle staff?

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

£3 to pump tyres up to 100psi, each

 

[JMAG]

I was told in an LBS that I would be better suited to a 58cm Felt Z3 than a 56cm because I have long legs. Never mind that I'm 5'10" and that model was £700 over my £1000 budget. Funnily enough they had one in stock.

 

[vernon]

What's the funniest thing you've heard from cycle staff?

"You'll have no problems cycling through the Rockies."

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

"You'll have no problems cycling through the Rockies."

Have you found that tunnel yet @vernon ?

Me - i'd like to cycle over them - the scenery would be so much better

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

I was told in an LBS that I would be better suited to a 58cm Felt Z3 than a 56cm because I have long legs. Never mind that I'm 5'10" and that model was £700 over my £1000 budget. Funnily enough they had one in stock.

Similarly. A LBS told me that since I'm a leggy, short bodied,long armed 6ft3 that their 61cm frame would be perfect. Many years and many bike sizes later I'm happily riding 54cm** frames with none of the excrutiating back pain their advice caused.

** I had identical bikes in 54 and 56cm respectively and found the 54 marginally nicer to ride so all my bike sizing starts there.

 

[ayceejay]

Not bike related but a similar thing.
"You won't like Japanese speakers sir you need the English ones"
"Why is that?" I ask
"Because Japanese are shorter than you, their ears are closer to the ground," the lad said
"What about when I am sitting down?"
I won't bore you with the 'technical' details that followed.

 

[Hill Wimp]

Yesterday in Evans

I bought a new front light and a new rear light of different makes.

It would be better if you bought the same make.

Why i asked.

Well then they will run out together as they are USB chargeable so will get the same charge.

 

[ayceejay]

Because why has a long tale Hilly.
I used to have the visit of sales reps to deal with on a regular basis and a lot of them would arrive with a pre-prepared speech and if you stopped them to ask a question they would lose the plot. When a sales assistant tries to sell you on an idea that they don't themselves understand it can be hilarious and a simple "Why" is the trigger.

 

[Fnaar]

£3 to pump tyres up to 100psi, each

That's inflation for you!

 

[Jayaly]

When mentioning an annoying tick from a Pashley Penny I was test riding, I was kindly informed that "all Sturmey Archers do that". When I said that I really couldn't consider buying a bike which was guaranteed to make a sound that irritating, they tried it out themselves, looked again and located where the chain case was catching the chain, once per revolution. I suppose it's possible that a poor lady buyer might not recognise normal bike sounds when she heard them....

To be fair, though, very nice bunch of lads in every other way, and I would still have bought a bike from them. Didn't like the bike, though.

 

[Deleted member 23692]

" Shimano's trickle down means that this year's Sora is better than a 2 year old Ultegra groupset"

 

[jefmcg]

When I went into (more than one) bike shops, looking for "a drop bar commuter" while dressed for the office, I was immediately steered** towards flat bar bikes.

I only had one thing specified in my description, and they decided to ignore it. OK, I guess they could have said "are you sure you want to go to work on it?" or "are you really sure a bicycle is what you need?"

**pun not intended.

 

[PK99]

When I went into (more than one) bike shops, looking for "a drop bar commuter" while dressed for the office, I was immediately steered** towards flat bar bikes.

I only had one thing specified in my description, and they decided to ignore it. OK, I guess they could have said "are you sure you want to go to work on it?" or "are you really sure a bicycle is what you need?"

**pun not intended.

surely you specified two things, Drop bar and Commuter?

Google Commuter bikes and you come up with eg http://www.cyclesurgery.com/commuting/bikes/fcp-category/home , where there aint no drop bar bikes. or http://www.wiggle.co.uk/commuter-urban-bikes/



Now, if you had asked for a robust drop bar bike I can use for commuting.....

 

[Oldbloke]

The manager of a Halfords store tried to pass off an obviously well used Boardman as new when I went to collect it.

I pointed out scratches, marks and other signs of use which he claimed were done in their storeroom!

After pointing out to him that he was taking the proverbial, he offered to reduce the price by one third...I declined, should have reported him to his boss.