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View Full Version : Bike Shop Hospitatlity - A great Rant


funky-funky-chicken
04-21-2004, 01:01 PM
The rant was posted the other day by the good folks at One On One Bicycle Studio (http://www.oneononebike.com/home.php) I laughed histerically while reading.... Perhaps it's the inner-understanding because I work part time at a shop.

I went in yesterday to provide my cudos to Reed and to check out the great new Spot wool jerseys. I bought a new long sleeve and even went back when I discovered that I had been under-charged. I wore the new jersey on the commute home... sweet.:banana: An instant favorite new cycling garment.

Unfortunately, the positive carma gained by being honest and paying more for my jersey didn't pay off (or at least hasn't yet.) Not only was it raining, but I also flatted.

If you find the time, read the Dirt Rag article too. Here in hopes of not violating any copy right infringements is the great rant:

There is a magazine called Dirt Rag (http://www.dirtragmag.com/articles/article.php?ID=632&category=features?PHPSESSID=917146307a6ba3ca2199fc b785c4ea53) It is what cycling is all about. Check it. I had a nice little drive this weekend down to southwest MN. Yes, I do enjoy driving fine autos like the Mercedes E430 I was motoring in. It's just that a lot of people DO NOT KNOW HOW TO DRIVE! that drives me to hate drivers. I am now seeing this with bicycle riders. STAY OFF THE F*#%*! SIDEWALKS! Around 200+ bicycles go by the studio every day. At least 25 of them go by on the sidewalk in front of the studio. Sidewalks are for walking, right? Do people do this because they are scared of riding in traffic? or is it because they do not know how to ride in traffic? Here is another reason for people to get all up in arms about bicycles. It's bad enough that the drivers don't like us, now we are going to have the peds on our case. While I am at it, why do some types of bicycle riders always bring their bicycles into the store? You don't drive your car into the store do you? Of course not, you park in the parking spot. We have a bike rack, but those certain types have to park their jewel either right next to the door, in the door or just bring it right in and lean it on the showcase glass. Bring a lock or disable your bike so somebody does not ride off with it. I've got more rants, but that is for another time. Now it's Reed's turn. have you ever wondered why bike shop people seem so crabby? here are a few possibilities that seem to be unique to the bicycle industry. have you ever announced to the cashier at the grocery store that "i spend a lot of money here! can't you give me a discount?". probably not, but maybe at the bike shop, huh? or "i want to buy a gallon of milk, but i only want to spend fifty cents" ? or to the car salesperson "i want to buy that 2005 <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:City><st1:place>toyota</st1:place></st1:City> landrunner, but i'm a poor college student so i only have $100 to spend." ok, news flash: I'M A POOR BIKESHOP EMPLOYEE. i'll feel your pain if you'll feel mine! it's not easy to control the urge to go on a killing spree after listening to this for the bajillionth time: "i want to buy a bike/wheel/crankset/etc but i want it to be really light, really durable, able to leap tall buildings, and it's got to be free." well, no ****!!!! i was under the impression that you wanted to spend all of your money and possibly rack up a little extra credit card debt on a bike that was heavy, flimsy, fragile, defective, the wrong color, and costs as much as a Tyco birthday party. when i buy anything, i generally insist on being ripped off, so i assumed you did, too. the truth is, we don't sell anything good! we hoard all the good stuff for ourselves! so screw you! "the shop across town/on the web/mailorder has that tire for $12.95, but you sell it for $14.95. fine! drive your Excursion across town at $1.79/gallon and $240/hour in lost client billing. and "save" $2. please! please go! before i go ubercrabby on your pudgy backside! beeyotch! i almost forgot.... make sure you pay overnite freight for all your mailorder purchases, then take the part to your local shop where they have all $800 worth of tools to install it, and then complain about the $20 labor charge. and if you work on your own bike, and are unable to remove that stuck stem or seatpost from your bike, do not leave the shop without complaining about the labor charge. remember, we can always jam it back in somewhere. here's lube in your eye! love, reed

jaybird
04-21-2004, 02:38 PM
You really can't say that it was that far off base. Especially the comments about a labor charge to repair a part someone didn't even buy from the LBS. If you were too cheap to pay a $2 mark-up, but did pay the $16.95 for overnight shipping from some web site, then too @#$@#$ bad about a small labor charge.

It's called loyality and it works both ways. You support the LBS and they'll be there to support you!!! :fool:

nigel
04-21-2004, 03:13 PM
I love it, I feel it!

D

TML
04-21-2004, 03:15 PM
Read that the other day. It's always entertaining to check the One on One blog. Thanks, Gene et al. . .

BADEXPRESSO
04-21-2004, 03:41 PM
Ahh too true and funny.



"Now that is some funny poop"

bradpartyka
04-21-2004, 03:56 PM
Too funny!!!

I tried to purchase a copy of Dirtrag before and can't find it any where. Their website shows that Erik's sells it, but the store I went to didn't even know what it was.:eyeroll:

noise_is_life
04-21-2004, 03:58 PM
I tried to purchase a copy of Dirtrag before and can't find it any where. Their website shows that Erik's sells it, but the store I went to didn't even know what it was.:eyeroll:
You can get it at Borders or Barnes and Noble too. Or just go to their web site (http://www.dirtragmag.com/home.php)and subscribe, you won't be dissappointed.

ryno lite
04-22-2004, 12:57 AM
REI usually has it. Take a look, you'll love it! You may as well just order a subscription, it's definetely worth the price!

Ish
04-22-2004, 01:03 PM
I am taking your guys advice and just ordered a subscription.

There is no way it can be worse that MBA:D

bradpartyka
04-22-2004, 02:15 PM
I stopped by Barnes and Nobel and picked up an issue. Haven't read it yet.

I am hoping that if you order a subscription from the cards in the mag it is a better deal than if you order it direct from their website. In most cases it is a better deal.

Barnes and Nobel had a GREAT selection of bike mags. I could have spent a lot!
:crazy2:

seberly
04-22-2004, 02:15 PM
It is absolutely the most entertaining mag - I love it - I don't get any others (oh except for Velo News).

It also doesn't come every month which I think is a good thing - hard enough for me to get through it in time for the next issue.

manual63
04-22-2004, 04:04 PM
I like it, but I might be one to ride by the shop window on the sidewalk. Why? Because of the first comment about how people can't drive......:crazy:.


When riding on the sidewalk, it is key to just cruise at a slow pace and not be haulin'. Anytime I am on the sidewalk in a business district, which is illegal in Minnesota, I cruise at a slow speed and am usually doing it to check things out and not be in traffic hell. As for sidewalks in non-business districts (which is not illegal in Minnesota), like in the suburbs, I usually ride much faster, but give peds the extra room and right-of-way.

So I set a bad example sometimes.....call me selfish if you will.

As for the rest of One on Ones rant, it's great!

fisherbikefreak
04-22-2004, 04:21 PM
I like it, but I might be one to ride by the shop window on the sidewalk. Why? Because of the first comment about how people can't drive......:crazy:.


When riding on the sidewalk, it is key to just cruise at a slow pace and not be haulin'. Anytime I am on the sidewalk in a business district, which is illegal in Minnesota, I cruise at a slow speed and am usually doing it to check things out and not be in traffic hell. As for sidewalks in non-business districts (which is not illegal in Minnesota), like in the suburbs, I usually ride much faster, but give peds the extra room and right-of-way.

So I set a bad example sometimes.....call me selfish if you will.

As for the rest of One on Ones rant, it's great!
I with you Shad. I would rather ride cautiously on the sidewalk minding the peds than riding cautiously on the road not being minded at all.

qheuie
04-23-2004, 12:07 AM
I am with Shad, too. I ride on the road as much as possible, but sometimes resort to the sidewalk. I try to always stay out of the way, I will usually take a driveway to the street if there is an oncoming pedestrian. If the sidewalk is busy, I stay off. I ride a motorcycle almost daily and cages have a VERY hard time seeing and respecting me, I can only imagine how oblivious they are when I am on a pedal bike. Even riding around in the burbs I get buzzed and honked at when there is a ton of room on the road.
Most of the time I try to keep the pedal bike on dirt and the motorbike on asphalt :)

manual63
04-23-2004, 12:10 AM
I am with Shad, too. I ride on the road as much as possible, but sometimes resort to the sidewalk. I try to always stay out of the way, I will usually take a driveway to the street if there is an oncoming pedestrian. If the sidewalk is busy, I stay off. I ride a motorcycle almost daily and cages have a VERY hard time seeing and respecting me, I can only imagine how oblivious they are when I am on a pedal bike. Even riding around in the burbs I get buzzed and honked at when there is a ton of room on the road.
Most of the time I try to keep the pedal bike on dirt and the motorbike on asphalt :)
I hate it when they honk at you....it's like what the F@#$!

I don't think I will ever understand people. Then again, maybe they don't understand me....:scream:.

Ish
04-23-2004, 01:05 PM
Speaking of rants.........


http://www.velonews.com/news/fea/5892.0.html

noise_is_life
04-23-2004, 01:21 PM
Speaking of rants.........


http://www.velonews.com/news/fea/5892.0.html
That's some funny s***

drakh
04-23-2004, 01:26 PM
Speaking of rants.........


http://www.velonews.com/news/fea/5892.0.html


I'm not quite sure what the point was, but it was a good read.
My only rant is when i have to ride on the pedestrian paths because all of the peds are on the bike paths. I guess it's just too much to ask that they walk the extra 50 feet to the other path.

Michael

noise_is_life
04-23-2004, 01:28 PM
I'm not quite sure what the point was, but it was a good read.

It's a rant, a point is not required.

Ish
04-23-2004, 03:16 PM
It's a rant, a point is not required.
Agree - which makes it even funnier :)

bradpartyka
04-23-2004, 03:47 PM
I need to start carrying one of these!!! :crazy:

http://www.velonews.com/images/news/5892.7336.f.jpg
The worst people are the dormant people that come out on the first few nice days of Spring. And when you say on your left they just spin in a circle and look at you like they have never heard that before and don't know what to do, as everyone their with jumps to the right side and leaves them to be road kill.

Standard
04-24-2004, 04:21 AM
Amen to both those rants.

Gotta love how peds walk the bike paths like it's their divine right, but if you wander onto the walking path for even a second with your bike they look at you like you ran over their children.