Shop Assistants in Cycle Shops

[KneesUp]

That counts as a girly colour, as I intend to point out to any Man City fans I encounter in the next hour. I might have to reconsider in the couple of hours that follow.

City fan here. You rang?

(Enjoying proceedings at Anfield immensely at the moment ...)

 

[KneesUp]

Girly colour.

At this moment, I couldn't care less

 

[SomethingLikeThat]

I volunteer in a charity shop and I often cringe at my past interactions, not because I was trying to be rude, but because when I first started I was so nervous.

 

[mb_333]

Bicycle shops have changed a lot since I last frequented them. The local independent one I used to use in Manchester was run by the man that owned it, and was a treasure trove of bits and bikes - and smelled of inner tubes and grease. I loved it in there. Some of my mates used to wear his jerseys in races in exchange for a good discount and use of the workshop out of hours. It was brilliant in there.

I bought my bike / service it in Edinburgh Cycles Manchester due to a recommendation from cyclist at work. Can't fault them and am a huge fan of their relaxed no pressure sales.

Which independent store do you use, i may pop in

 

[Donger]

Bike shops have come in for a bit of a slagging here so, in defence of my LBS, I feel compelled to take the other side in this discussion. It seems to me that it is mostly the big chain stores (Halfords, Evans etc) that are coming in for a caning, not the small local operators. I use a local shop called "Striking Bikes" in Bristol Road, Gloucester, who does not deserve to be tarred with the same brush, and I have nothing but praise for Paul, the proprietor.

The first time I met him, I was walking along the side of a very quiet rural lane, miles from home and pushing a bike with a broken chain, feeling very sorry for myself. A van went past a junction behind me, and I heard it stop, reverse, and then go out of its way to come and help me. Pulling up in front of me, he leapt out cheerily, asked if I needed help, spotted the trouble, and had a chain splitter and new link out of his tool box in seconds. Not only did he immediately repair my chain at the roadside, but he handed me a babywipe to clean my hands and sped off refusing any payment for the assistance.

A year or so later, I identified the bike I wanted to buy on the internet, and went into Striking Bikes to check out anything else they might have. I ended up buying that same model from Paul, at the same price as the Internet, with a whole bunch of extras thrown in free and the bike fully set up correctly for me. He has since done a full wheel re-build for me (as he had done on my previous bike) and has proved himself to be a genius at that dying skill. His prices are always very reasonable.

Whilst I do often use internet sites to buy bike stuff, I now always make a point of having my bike serviced every year at Striking Bikes, and always buy some small item or other when I am there. The guy lives, eats and breathes cycIing, and he is always willing to give advice or swap anecdotes, based on years of racing and bike factory experience. Every year he donates his time to provide free roadside service at the BHF Cotswold Bike Ride. I believe it is important to keep people like Paul in business, serving the cycling community in the way they deserve. If anyone is looking to buy a Ridgeback or a Bianchi, Striking Bikes has a nice looking collection of them, and you'll have the best customer service possible.

 

[Cycleops]

Nice story @Donger , particularly like the baby wipe touch! If I needed a service or a bike I would be heading to Gloucester straight away. Good service needs to applauded. Here's a link to the shop http://www.striking-bikes.co.uk

 

[jefmcg]

(back to complaining)

When I was buying my first road bike, I visited quite a few bike shops. My response to the question "Can I help you?" was "I'm looking for a dropbar commuter". IE I gave them a single requirement. At 3 stores, they immediately tried to steer me towards flat barred bikes.

I assumed it was sexism, this fairly patronising assertion that I don't know what I want. I went elsewhere to purchase.

 

[snorri]

I was forced into buying new panniers when my original cheap and nasty pair failed while passing through Kent. I made my selection at an lbs and asked the assistant to help me fit them as I was on tour and it was important that they were fit for service as I left the shop. I could see by the manner in which he disposed of the packing and fitting instructions that he was not a happy chappy. After failing to fit the panniers securely he informed me that I would have to get securing straps to finish the job. These were apparently "readily available anywhere"........ except in his shop! He lost that sale
.

 

[Boo]

Another 'in defence of bike shops' post!
I recently decided to get back into cycling after a long time away, and a couple of friends recommended Evans at Crouch End. I've been in and out of there several times over the past month, and I have nothing but praise for the staff in there. They were happy to spend plenty of time talking to me, and explaining what was what, even when I made it clear I was 'just thinking about it', and more importantly, at no point did anyone talk down to me, just because I didn't know what a cassette was, or the difference between a Presta and a Schrader valve.
In the end, while I probably could have saved a few pounds by buying the bike online, I bought it from Evans. I used to be very into hi-fi, and dealt with a local hi-fi shop. It cost a bit more up front, but it paid dividends in getting to know the staff, getting good advice etc etc. The same, I suspect, goes for bike shops.

 

[screenman]

Is there a connection with peanuts going on.

 

[Mr Haematocrit]

My LBS Is awesome they do business on nothing more a handshake, they are all passionate cyclists and have permitted me to take bikes for a weekend to test.
They really know their stuff and care passionately about giving me a great cycling experience.
They have given me free jerseys and shorts along with many other things.
They reccomended some tires to me which I did not like and they changed them for me without question or issue. I can trust them to do the right thing.
They order stuff for me without requiring a deposit.. The service I get is simply second to none.

 

[vickster]

Yes, but how much have you spent with them in the last 3 years say

I expect someone who bought a bike and now buys the odd tube or gets a service may not be able to take a multi thousand pound bike out for the weekend

 

[EltonFrog]

I went into Evans in Reading today, I wanted some new gloves and a couple of crud catchers. The store was quite busy, so I just sorted myself out made my choices amd went to pay. No one was at the two tills. Me and another customer waited to be serves, no one acknowledged us, I waited for about five minutes, still no service, left the stuff on the counter and walked out.

I noticed on the window on the way out they are looking for staff. I might apply for the job.

 

[KneesUp]

I bought my bike / service it in Edinburgh Cycles Manchester due to a recommendation from cyclist at work. Can't fault them and am a huge fan of their relaxed no pressure sales.

Which independent store do you use, i may pop in

I used to use Neil Walton in Didsbury. It's not there anymore sadly.

 

[Banjo]

My local Halfords Is awesome they do business on nothing more a handshake, they are all passionate cyclists and have permitted me to take bikes for a weekend to test.
They really know their stuff and care passionately about giving me a great cycling experience.
They have given me free jerseys and shorts along with many other things.
They reccomended some tires to me which I did not like and they changed them for me without question or issue. I can trust them to do the right thing.
They order stuff for me without requiring a deposit.. The service I get is simply second to none.

cor who would have thought it