IanT
http://www.sprocketwaffle.co.uk
After a couple of months of deliberation, I decided to take the plunge this afternoon and splash some serious (for me, at least) cash on a better road bike.
Having visited a branch of a local small-chain (no pun intended) bike retailer on Sunday, I actually booked an appointment with them for this afternoon to have a proper fitting and discuss the various choices. So, like a kid at Christmas, I booked a couple of hours off work this afternoon, jumped on my current steed, arriving promptly as arranged at 3 o-clock.
I knew something was up as soon as I walked through the door - and then all became apparent, when I was greeted with, "Oh, sorry, I'm on my own today, so I can't really fit you in!!!". To be fair, it sounds like someone had phoned in sick - but it would have been nice to have got a call to let me know (the guy did even, on reflection, admit that he should have called).
Anyway, I hung around for about 15 minutes to see if he could find the time - but a string of punters buying accessories seemed to get in the way. I know when I'm beat - so I left.
My route home takes me right past a local bike shop with a good reputation. As it happens, they are a Trek dealer - and a Trek 1.5 had been on the shortlist so I popped in. To be honest, I've always imagined that they would be a bit pricey - and that's kind of made me gravitate toward the big 'sheds' etc.
Long story short - even though this guy was also working single-handed, he managed to find the perfect bike, sort the fit and even sorted a slight buckle in the wheel of my current ride for free!!! What's better, he did me a deal that I could not believe on a Trek 2.3 (I bike that I had thought would be out of my price range) - happy, happy, happy!!!
Can't wait to pick the Trek up - got to wait until Monday so don't think I'll sleep all weekend!!!
Having visited a branch of a local small-chain (no pun intended) bike retailer on Sunday, I actually booked an appointment with them for this afternoon to have a proper fitting and discuss the various choices. So, like a kid at Christmas, I booked a couple of hours off work this afternoon, jumped on my current steed, arriving promptly as arranged at 3 o-clock.
I knew something was up as soon as I walked through the door - and then all became apparent, when I was greeted with, "Oh, sorry, I'm on my own today, so I can't really fit you in!!!". To be fair, it sounds like someone had phoned in sick - but it would have been nice to have got a call to let me know (the guy did even, on reflection, admit that he should have called).
Anyway, I hung around for about 15 minutes to see if he could find the time - but a string of punters buying accessories seemed to get in the way. I know when I'm beat - so I left.
My route home takes me right past a local bike shop with a good reputation. As it happens, they are a Trek dealer - and a Trek 1.5 had been on the shortlist so I popped in. To be honest, I've always imagined that they would be a bit pricey - and that's kind of made me gravitate toward the big 'sheds' etc.
Long story short - even though this guy was also working single-handed, he managed to find the perfect bike, sort the fit and even sorted a slight buckle in the wheel of my current ride for free!!! What's better, he did me a deal that I could not believe on a Trek 2.3 (I bike that I had thought would be out of my price range) - happy, happy, happy!!!
Can't wait to pick the Trek up - got to wait until Monday so don't think I'll sleep all weekend!!!