My retired uncle's garage wood-shop in a ghetto neighborhood fronted on the street. It had an air hose by the door, where the neighborhood kids could air up their bike tires, and a wrench and oil can they could use, also. His shop became a neighborhood tool library, helped kids learn skills, and fostered good relations around the 'hood...
I own a small bike shop in Elk Grove Ca. We are 100% a no judgement zone. We are here to help and get you riding. The majority of bikes we sell are comfort bikes for the family rides or e-bikes. I would say 5% of our clientele are "cyclists". You are absolutely correct in that our customer service is what brings people back. We have an excellent mechanic and we're all just happy you are here. I hear the complaints about other shops almost daily. We serviced almost 1000 bikes this year and sold 350 bikes. Not bad for 1100sqft and our first year in business. Soooo, the point is, you are spot on and thanks!
When I started riding and then little later racing, bike shop , bike people were magnetic, wanted to be there be around.. many bike shops now are sterilized..Trek Super shop in San Diego is too big, too impersonal by design, supposed to be in shock and awe of all the stuff, just mass . And owner of shop knows when to charge and for what.. have got air, lube loaned Allen wrench and given a wave that it's free of charge, so I am going back..tubes , patches, CO2 cylinders are little bit cheaper on internet but what is the real cost if you put local shop under? And with bikes going over @$10,000+ do you really want to hope headset is seated right? Are you feeling lucky that your invention to remove stuck bottom bracket will do both things. Remove stuck part and not permanently damage your bike? Why? Need medical attention see a doctor, dental see a dentist, legal see a lawyer, bike issue go to bike shop
Years ago, I went to my local bike shop and purchased my first mountain bike. I had the bike for a couple of years and got in much better shape and went back to the shop and bought a much higher quality mountain bike. Later that year, I got interested in watching the Tour de France and decided to get a nice road bike and again visited the same bike dealer. At the time, the shop owner had a very trick road bike hanging from his ceiling over the top of all his new high-end road bikes. The suspended cycle had these solid disc wheel covers, and I have never seen them before. I reached up with one finger and touched the disc wheel wondering if it was carbon fiber. Just then, the owner screamed across his shop and told me not to touch his bike. It caught me so off guard that I quickly mumbled an apology and excited the store. I never went back there again and a few years later he was out of business.
Elitism is killing the industry. Look at most landing pages for major bike brands. Either there's an elite athlete, or a race start lineup and even worse someone dropping off a cliff. Where's the market?
@@petergibson7287Maybe he was only one of the many customer who was treated badly by that owner. Think about that, if one customer is treated badly by the owner or a shop assistant because of a very minor misunderstanding then quite probably all the other customers were treated similarly.
I live in Raleigh NC and we have Oak City cycling. I love that place because is a no-judgment zone. They help every the same and they don't make new cyclists feel stupid. The last time I was in there, a homeless dude needed help with his bike and they fixed him up and treated him the same way they treat me. The shop is a bit less convenient for me, but I go anyway.
This is so true. As a teenager, I remember admiring the Campag parts in my local bike shop window, here in the UK. And then, one day, I had saved up enough from my paper round to buy a few Campag parts. And you know what the lady behind the counter said? "Those parts are not for the likes of you". I remembered that. I also remember visiting another shop, where I was engaged in conversation with the shop owner, but my conversation was cut short when that owner saw a well known rider enter the store. Finally, in another local bike store, the owner stopped serving me, in order to chat to a bike rep; almost as if I didn't exist. Looking back, I get the impression that many bike shops are indeed elitist.
As someone who considers myself a businessman first and a bike guy second, it blows my mind the number of examples in the industry where a shop operator quite literally tells their paying customer no, and all for some self-serving story that they're part of some exclusive club. It's funny and also not funny 🤣
…… we always purchased CAMPY and worked on our own stuff - one local store hated that we come in because he mainly sold SHIMANO groups and American bikes …… after that treatment we never went back
Completely agree! I went to my LBS 2 times. The 1st time I told them I was interested in getting a single speed mountain bike. The guy rolled his eyes, laughed at me and said “no you don’t”, then walked me over to look at a 12 speed enduro bike. I left without a bike or ordering a bike from them and felt a little embarrassed as I was planing on getting or ordering a bike that day. The 2nd time I went back (after riding my new single speed that I ordered on-line a year ago now) and asked if they had any flats bike shoes. A different guy this time rolled his eyes at me and said with a lot of sarcasm in his voice (oh we don’t sell much of “that kind of stuff” so we don’t stock it) and kinda had this “please leave the store” attitude. So again I left without shoes or ordering shoes and feeling a little embarrassed again lol! The place is in Maryville Tn and I will get no joy in seeing them or any LBS go out of business so maybe I’ll give them another try and see if they have nicer people working there now.
Should have told him he's a loser working a in a bike shop and to check the attitude, that's my go to move if I'm in the bike shop with the fixed gear.
Bravo! I have seen this far too many times. We just experienced this when picking up a brand new $3500 bike. The snooty, lazy shop employee could hardly be bothered to adjust the saddle height. It was almost as if he felt like this bike was beneath his caring, only $8000 bikes or above merited his superior intellect.
💯I worked in the industry for 12 years and all through the '90s. This included time in manufacturing, customer support, shop wrench and sales. A tendency toward elitism by many in the industry is why I left.
Watching this while too scared to even start biking For me it’s a combo of lack of safe infrastructure, previous bike accident, and absolutely a trepidation about dealing with bike people. I feel so outta my depth trying to get into biking, but just KNOW I’d love it! If only I could get my bike fixed or buy that ebike that’s been haunting my waking thoughts! But hey, you’re giving me the courage to apply to some local bike shops and see if I can be that enthusiast non-biker they need! Maybe that’ll help get me to start biking, too.
It's easy to feel overwhelmed with the level of choice out there! We have a local running store nearby and I sometimes I'm jealous of how easy it must be to explain shoes to customers versus bikes. Definitely apply to multiple shops and don't be shy about stopping in to introduce yourself! I know that's old-timey advice but it goes really far with employers in small retail.
Sure, some cyclists can be snobby, but most want to share their love of cycling. My suggestion is to join a bike club. You will be welcomed and suddenly you'll have many new best friends. Good luck!
@@ReCyclesBikes_ haha yeah! there’s too much to fit into one shop convo other than “here’s some bikes that might fit, try them out!” thanks for the advice, man!
Formerly a corporate Trainer ( BMW of Am and M-B of No Am, Volvo Motors of No Am) specializing in customer service, I suggest this : As a retailer, sales person, bike mechanic, shop owner etc.. when you address a customer you have 30 seconds to convey the most important thing you have to do today is attend to them. Your full attention, no distractions.
I agree with you. I have worked on bikes as a hobby since a boy in the 70's. I took a wheel set to a LBS to get some tight tire on the tube less rims. The owner said they were cheap and a good wheel set costs $800. He failed to get a tire on an punctured holes in my Ryde Trace 25 double walled rim with a metal tire lever. He didn't tell me he did this and I found out after I got home. I gave a negative review on Google and he deleted it. FnA Outdoors in New Lenox, IL I repaired rim with JB Weld and have the tire tube less now.
Thank you for this content. I hope it moves the needle. Twenty year bike commuter here. I’ve never felt like “one of the tribe” for exactly the reasons you describe.
I'm about to start a shop in my small town that will certainly be serving a majority of ppl who aren't big cyclists, and focusing on used bikes and service. I really appreciate this take. I'm gonna watch your other videos today and get a better sense of how your shop works. thanks for sharing your perspective.
Happy to have you around! This is a spanking new channel but we will have daily uploads through January and February to get ourselves a nice backlog of content
I agree, Elitism is so childish and crass in any industry. We all get into hobbies from a starting point, I don't understand why some people refuse to acknowledge that.
I went to my local bike shop in the late 80's with $1000 burning a hole in my pocket (well over $3000 today). The techies in the back were just all around pissed off that I interrupted them. I bought from a shop one town over.
It's an amazing problem to have enough customers that you feel tired of them. But the sneaky problem is you'll lose those customers precipitously at some point
Sadly, this sense of elitism also trickles into the broader cycling community - not just the local shops. It’s not as bad as some other sports/activities but it’s still there and always bothered me. Thanks for your video!
I was away from bicycles since 13 year old til I turned out 38 so I had a 25 years abscense and gap in technologies. I started watching hundreds of hours of videos in YT to catch up and learned as much as possible to do everything myself even before buying my road bike and I tend to leave very little stuff like internal cabling and brake bleeding leave it to my local shop and I can say that indeed those concept stores are yes indeed a monstruosity and makes people stay away from cycling. All what matters there is if one brings a credit card they will sell you anything. What you said here of: "Dont let your passion turn into a tribalistic mindset that allienates people" ...absolutely right. I love going to a small bike shop is just different, the smell of getting in the rubber of tires and the sensation of not being just ripped off. This while I got a pretty fancy Tarmac but still prefer smaller shops. Cheers
This is such good advice. Lifelong urban biker I've just stopped going to my local bike shop. They just aren't interested in a normal rider who buys a normal bike every 2-3 years and a full service tune up every year.
In 1997 I bought a new Bontrager Privateer Comp XT mountain bike and rode it hard. 30 years later, I pulled it out of my tool shed and decided to do a full restoration of it. I did most of the work (aside from creating exact copies of the decals) but did take the wheels in to be rebuilt and for new bearing to be installed in the frame. No one seemed to understand what I wanted. Repeatedly I had to explain that the bike was going to be "restored" and that I had "no intention of modifying it in any way". Despite this I ended up with black spokes laced to the stock OEM polished hubs (yuck) and a black headset. When questioned he said "that's the way I build my wheels". Restoration isn't a difficult word to understand. When you "restore" a creek, a home, a wetland or an old car, you put it back to the way it was. You don't modify the heck out of it and update it! In the end, I told him to pull the spokes out and replace them with the right spokes (I paid for it both times). Long after the bills are forgotten, the bike I remembered so fondly is back.
100% agree. Meet people where they are at. Don’t be a jerk. Shop employees need to be welcoming and NOT LOOK DOWN OR TAKK ONLY ABOUT YOURSELF. Be cool and inviting.
I used to buy a brand-new bike every 2 to 3 years. I stopped buying new when the prices on bikes and gear exploded, I strictly buy used now. For example, 200.00 for shorts! 7000.00 plus for a bike! and forget about what they charge now a days for a little tune up work on a bike! If you have an electric bike, they up charge the same part because its going on an electric bike! that's B.S.! Thank you for this message, I wish you were local to me I would buy a bike from you!
My local bike shop did fuck up my bike because they didn't know what they were doing with the internal gear hub and pedal back breaks. But because their custerm service was so good (fixed their fuckup no extra charge, very friendly) I'd still recommend them to my friends. Also they have a cute shop dog which is like an extra 10 points for sure.
Sometimes you're selling your smile just as much as you're selling your expertise! At any level of experience bike shops will make mistakes but the most important part is how they deal with them
important part of being a good mechanic is acknowledging when you run into something you are not good with. Coaster brake bikes used to be scary, now its simple. Let the customer know you level of knowledge and see if they'll work with you. IGH is still one I won't open up, I want someone that knows what their doing to teach me those.
I totally agree with your premise for this video. There are some bike shops in my town that I refuse to patronize because they have this "we're better than you" attitude.
Regarding the bikes, breakdowns like flats and an uncomfortable saddle affect how much riding people do and if they give up sooner than later. Ultra low maintenance bikes and emphasizing a comfortable saddle can help. Recognizing these issues instead of saying you just need to get used to it is part of customer service.
on local bike forum, last year a number of bike shop owners and employees got into a discussion that led to them pretty much calling all costumers dumb.
From the shop owner side I can understand a feeling of burnout at times but at the end of the day you get into this business to bring smiles on two wheels for people. I'm not sure where shop owners get the idea they're going to only converse with bike affectionatos like themselves. I believe keeping that perspective not only makes your customers happier but you happier as well
The greatest failure of the shop owners and employees is that they called their potential customer a "C O N S U M E R" . Instant fail. Attitude says it all.
I cycle at least a couple of hours every day weather permitting and go for cycling holidays three or four times a year. I’ve toured most countries in Western Europe as well as Australia and New Zealand and I’ve plenty of money - but I’m an old guy, short and stout, and most shops are a humiliating experience, when they don’t treat me as if I were invisible they are condescending so I avoid them like the plague. My other tip would be to find out something about your customer, don’t make assumptions.
Have worked in 3 bike shops over the decades......Employing a few people that are not "passionate" about bikes is a winner. They will help your company in so many ways......unless its YOU that's the issue.
This right here. We took a "risk" by hiring someone with zero bike knowledge and they have turned into our best sales person. Relatability is the underrated attribute in the industry
it really is , my lbs is large enough to have 2 teams working on shifts , the one guy is an eletist know it all snob and the other , while also being younger is much more approachable and willing to inform customers , ive been a noob for the last 8 years , just love wrenching on my own mountain bike when i am able (im slowly building up my own collection of tools)
- Bring people into the fold, I think having a good adults Bike 101 class in the late spring would be helpful for a local bike shop. Also a really honest, non-judgmental questionnaire about what kind of biking they want to do would help people understand that they don't need a $1K pro bike that they will resent you for selling them because it's the wrong machine for who it's for. - Building community through Group Rides offers a lot of possibilities: Kid/Family Ride days, teaching bike safety, could sell a bunch of kids bikes, helmets, training wheels and bells. Street Rides to a local cafe could help foster a good relationship with other local businesses. Destination rides on a Local Trail could show people the possibilities of places and perspectives they've never seen if they've never been, townies and newcomers alike. Getting someone into biking could get them to bring a parent, sibling, spouse or friend into biking and you've just sold another bike, and the possibility of future sales and service.
Subscribed, thank you for posting this! My two local neighborhood bike shops (both of which are out of business now) drove me to learn everything possible so that I may maintain and repair bikes myself. Their snobbery and elitism did me a favor long-term while driving them out of business. There are eleven bikes in my neighborhood-riding (no racing, thanks) fleet now. They all work and they're all stored inside to help them last forever.
90% of the public will never ride the quality of the bike a Shop Employee rides. Every shop should really think about that for a minute. Most of their customers do NOT want what they ride. What the industry needs to do is get back to getting people out riding for family fun and recreation. Nobody cares about Strava KOM's. Just go pedal and have fun. Commute, ride with friends or family. Just pedal. Don't worry about today's technology. If you feel you aren't fit enough, then consider an ebike. But don't worry about how far you ride. Just get out there and pedal some fun into your life.
In Germany many children and students have to reach their schools and universities by bike since decades and many employees ride their bike to their workplace as well. Biking is not seen as just a hobby although for many people it is actually rather a hobby or a way to stay in shape somewhat.
I remember about 30-odd years ago having a Marin Pine Mountain. I was interested in upgrading to a Rocky Mountain e -stay bike (can't remember the model), but the guy in the shop was so sniffy about my existing bike that I thought better of doing a deal with him - I sold the Marin privately, and bought a Klein (which I've still got).
Wow, maybe I got lucky. I'm in WA state, and the only bike shop I ever went to was Recycled Cycles. I wonder if shops that sell used bikes are much less likely to be judgemental. I've only ever brought Walmart bikes to be serviced (some of them way worse rummage sale bikes) and I never heard a negative thing about it. They were so kind that I only realized in the past few years that many bicyclists laugh at the kinds of bikes I ride (if I've paid more than 20 dollars for my bike, I've overpaid). I moved to eastern WA and my local bike shop was just as kind.
The shop sounds like it could be a cousin of ours! I believe there is a correlation, used bike shops tend to cater more to everyday people, and so there is less of an air of snobbery
I spent $3000 only to realize that I didn't need a 16-pound race bike for commuting. It was used, but I bought it thinking that I needed the lightest and fastest. In reality, I bought what was pushed by a few of the mainstream RUclips channels. I later bought a gravel bike, which has been the best all-around bike I have ever owned. I have it serviced locally by a mom and pop bike shop. Could I service my own bike? Yes, but I want a local shop in my neighborhood.
I’m fortunate that my LBS is awesome and down to earth. My problem was with the local bike club. After two seasons of group rides, I’d had enough. Those were the elitists. Even though I was riding with the “slow” group, it was hammering down and non stop. If you had a puncture or any sort of emergency, you’d be left behind. No one talked, it was just ride until the next rest stop, fuel up and then go. Luckily, I have a group of like-minded friends that I ride with. It’s way more relaxed and it’s just guys acting like guys and having fun. Great testimony, btw. Good luck with your business!
Oh yeah, I had similar experiences with 2 clubs. One road the other off road. I never went back. I much.much prefer riding with my wife or a friend or two who have similar goals in mind.
I ride solo because I only have so much time to ride and my long rides are always fitness rides. Maybe if there where bike paths I'd be down for casual riding, but on the road I want to be on point and paying attention to cars. So when I ride with others on the road, there isn't much talking.
@@kevinroebke8050and it wasn’t just the general ride situation-it was the prevalence of snobbery. Not everyone, obviously, but enough to push new riders and club members away. A lot of overweight MAMILs with overpriced kit. Not gonna lie-I have some very nice, valuable bikes, but I also own straight up beaters that I’ve built up, hand painted and love to ride. The scene just wasn’t for me. And don’t get me started on the “fast group”-that’s a completely different monster.
I don't really talk when biking, i don't see the point. It messes up with my breathing, and takes attention away from the road. Out of the bike, that's when i talk.
Sounds like there was absolutely nothing wrong with that bike group. The problem was with you. You need to join a group that fits your needs and just because that one didn't, you labeled them elitist. You have to realize not everyone is like you and the people in that group probably loved it.
Wow, thank you for saying this! I can't tell you the number of times I have been looked down on at bike shops because I am not part of the right tribe. From grommets at bmx shops who scoff at my 24 inch wheel bmx cruiser to grommets at mtn bike shops who scoff at a vintage 26er, I have seen it all. When I got my professional mechanics certification from United Bicycle Institute 21 years ago, the central thing the instructors stressed was not being a snob. The other thing is, from a customers perspective, find a shop that is your style and appreciates you as an individual rider. If the mechanic at one lbs can't understand why you want flex in a titanium stem on a rigid bike, go to a shop that gets your style.
The last time I tried to support my lbs this is how it went: I needed a part (front chain ring) so , I got the part number off their website and called them. The first person I talked to was unable to find the part. He transferred me, and the second guy found the part, but said they didn't stock it and would take 2 weeks to get it. I told him to order it for me. He said it would be better if I just ordered it myself off their website. I ended ordering it from Jenson USA, and the same part at the same price was delivered to my door in 3 days. I want to support local businesses, but they don't give me any reason to.
i'll tell customers its faster to order it themselves if they want it right away, but i'll always order if thats what they want. I have no problem doing that.
You are spot on with todays bicycle shops. They act as if you are on a DUI bike if you did not buy it from them and don't even go to a local shop for E-bike assistance... Oh the Gods!!! Had one shop owner get pissed rode one to his shop and he was not the only one plus now they no longer sell fun bikes like BMX, Kates, Cruiser and so on just high end track bikes you are not selling a family 3 or 4 of them for their summer vacation fun but WalMart will. I know for a fact the first use and design for the bicycle was easy way to travel and haul without a horse not exercise, not racing but transportation. My passion for bikes excludes no bike.
All the bike shops i been to around me have all been nice except for 1 employee at rock and road cyclery in mission viejo. I just asked if he could recommend some mtb tires for local trails in my area. He asked me what brand my is bike. He never heard of my bike brand and he refused to recommend tires when I mentioned it was an ebike. I come back another time with a bearing to see if they had the sane one, but in a sealed bearing & a mechanic started searching, then here comes that employee that didn't want to help me the first time & he whispered something to the guy who was helping me & the search ended. Nope, we don't have those. Ebikes are bikes with motors & this bike snob refuses my business?? That's what some of these people are, BIKE SNOBS.
Lots of LBS 's in Edmonton that are great, welcoming and appreciative..only one that is by appointment only and my experiences in that shop is that I am an inconvenience and not welcome at all.
I have had that happen to a few LBS’s. One here in Mississippi said he would not sell me a lair of Sidi insoles because the shipping was too high, even though I had paid for a high-end tuneup ($$$) for my custom Pelizzoli road bike. Told one employee I wanted some easy-to-clean white synthetic bar tape. His response was: “Yeah, you want black.” Kid would not even entertain the thought of my request, so I never went back and told the owner why I wouldn't be back. Be careful whom you allow to be the face of your business.
Pretty sure they just didn't want to do your stinky sweaty bar tape that day, haha. That's more of a do it yourself job, the stuff under the tape is gross if you are an out of shape rider that sweats all over the bars.
@@beerenmusli8220 Fred comment, learn to ride 20MPH in Zone 2, get in shape, stop sweating all over the bars stop making the shop do smelly tasks they don't wanna do. Pros get their tape changed after every race, top level Fred comment right here.
This is so true. When you show up in a shop where every employee looks like a NYC bike messenger who might understand gearing ratios, but nothing about sales. Intimidating. I live my life by not buying anything from Jack wads.
Service department are also a huge problem. No-parts repair lead times are out of control in my area. Zero reason to have a bike for a week for general service requiring no parts just because it’s the norm at most shops. Owned moto shops for a couple of decades and was consistently rank in the top 1% in csi in both sale and service due to quick turn around and friendly all inclusive atmosphere. It’s not hard.
I have a future video on this concept that may prove controversial. I believe shops largely undercharge for their labor (even though it's getting so darn expensive) the supply-demand curve is out of whack from lack of mechanics, but shops are afraid to charge what they need to in order to lower lead times. We control our service volume through price, It's a strange situation for sure, as even I am surprised what we charge, but it allows us to keep lead times low, otherwise the service department would quickly overwhelm us. We will see how I fair in the comments section of that video...
I just got into cycling and experienced this way more than I thought I would in different bike shops here in south Florida. I’ve even been in the shop and witnessed a store manager giving the same treatment I would get and they do it with no shame.. I feel that some ppl after they able to afford certain things their humbleness starts to fade away and it converts into elitism. So far I hated most my experiences at bike shops
all I can add is that when it comes to servicing you should tell customers the official intervals but offer them unofficial depending on usage more realistic intervals because when I hear "you should service your fox fork every 70 miles for 250$" all I think is "never" I've seen all the parts inside I know it's a 1-2 hours jobs requiring like 50 gaskets but you need to be realist on the miles/cost ratio you know how many rides it took me to do 70miles on my new e-bike ? 2 so no I'm not going to bring my bike for a 250 or 500$ service every 2 rides be serious..if you tell me once a year it becomes a "maybe" or even "sure" if you don't have expensive top of the line suspension telling a customer irrealistic servicing intervals is making sure that he will never do them, I rode 8y without making one until my freewheel hub seized i replaced the entire wheel it cost me 90$ a good customer experience should be your no1 priority or no one is going to pay you
I remember when I was a newbie to biking, with my first road bike. I felt like I had to do a ton of research before I could even enter a shop and ask about a part, a repair, or an upgrade. I was so anxious about some salesman/mechanic being condescending to me because I didn’t know the latest tech or why a certain item wouldn’t work with my bike. Way too many hours of unnecessary anxiety.
Most people don't care about carbon fiber racing bikes or Lycra. They just wanna ride and be healthy. And they don't see the value in a five figure bike. The industry has lost its marbles. Bikes costing more than a small car or motorcycle is the pinnacle of hubris. Well done video.
Great video 👍 liked & subbed. The elitism has gotten worse here in the UK, if you aren’t on Strava, riding Discs, compact set up not running Shimano, 28+ tyres under inflated then “the NEW elite” don’t consider you in their community. I am about to build a Black Carbon TT frameset with rim brakes, Campagnolo RB Centaur Triple groupset, my money, my choice, I have not cycled for few years due to health issues, hence the Granny ring, I could’ve gone Compact but I’d rather have a gearing I understand & have since the 80’s. I’m 55 and feel that extra ring that suits me now will make me head towards the hills again. Too many LBS / Chainstores in & around London ( UK ) do have that attitude… didn’t buy here we don’t need your business. Edit here I am lucky I know an ex mechanic does servicing from his home. Hounslow Bike. Very nice guy.
Yeah, I had a funny thing where I went to two different bike shops in my town to get my daughter a bike and I couldn’t even get anyone to talk to me. I couldn’t even figure out how to get anyone to talk to me. They just told me they were busy with customers and then I looked around and they just let me walk out of there without even talking to me. It was so interesting. Anyhow, I found this video randomly, but it’s the very least they should’ve given me a number told me who I was gonna talk to you or something, but I thought it was so interesting because I was ready to buy a bike.
Men in full Lycra on drop bar bikes are the worst, I’ve a hybrid bike and I’ve lost count of how many of them have a pedal/shoe/gear/ garment problem that makes them look down when they’re approaching me while I’m out on a ride, just so they don’t have to acknowledge a non drop bar bike rider It’s not just bikes that are elitist, I’m a birdwatcher as well, if I’m doing the full day out my expensive optics come with me, if I’m in the works van on my dinner I take the cheap pair, couple of times I’ve met the same person who spoke to me with my expensive kit, then blanked me with my cheap kit, did ask why he wasn’t talking to me today like on say Saturday? His reply was I didn’t see you there as he’s walked into the hide I was sitting in.
Elitism is a business model, for some bike shops, because they strive to make a $7K sale on a new bike. Often these shops are owned or staffed by athletes, which is really the worst type of person you want for this position. This is because top athletes are very much individualists. They focus on themselves to train hard and win. They don't care about others they leave behind, and that is the thinking that allows them to win. Unfortunately, because they are not used to interacting with others or understanding other points of view, they don't make good customer service representatives. If I had a bike shop, I'd look for employees who have good interpersonal skills (including knowing several languages), who like to learn about new products and are interested in the people who come to the shop, in order that they build customer affinity. This is just the opposite of elitism, because I believe that learning enough about bikes to properly serve customers can be learned quite easily.
This can be true, I have no doubts there are shops out there that have carved out there niche by being elitist. Hey if it works at works, I just see a low hanging fruit with regular old people being largely ignored. It's funny, you can start a family-oriented bike shop and get swarmed with customers because all the other shops don't want to cater to them
Here's the thing, a bike like the Cycrusher Kommoda (apart from the frame) is just made out of standard bike parts. Any bike shop should be happy to fix or service one.
I try my best not to scoff at things I don't like. Everyone is different. I work on any bike from wal mart bikes to high end madone's. Its hard not to sound like an elitist when trying to explain why their 100 dollar bike is having problems. It took me a few years to get it down.
It really is an art form, I can understand where the burnt out feelings come from on the side of shop employees. It's created a strange scenario of low-hanging fruit for shops that focus on providing friendly service
Ah yes. It's been awhile since I've been in a bike shop, but I do well remember a slight air of snobbiness that sometimes floated around the two bike shops I frequented as a kid in my hometown... it tended to vary depending on the particular employee you were speaking with. My thoughts: You can be helpful and accommodating to customers without pissing in the Wheaties of the 80% who purchased their bicycles at Walmart. For some, said cheap bike is plenty good enough for their needs, but for others... they may well choose to step up a notch or two when the time comes for a new one, and you'll give them all that much more reason to consider your wares if you treat them well and they are returning to your store. Some customers are willing and want to learn, and there is also a way to point out the differences between a big box store bicycle and your brand(s) without being condescending... a good time to do that is when customer brings their bike in for repairs, questioning how and why it broke. Sure, you'll never up-sell to each and every person who comes in, but your quality of service might lead a customer's friends through your doorway... word of mouth is a powerful tool.
Gone are the days of the local mom and pop bike shop, a plethora of specialist purpose bikes, propriety parts and equipment all available at a premium price from brand name franchise boutique outlets. If i need only one single cotter pin, reflector, bolt or inner tube valve, i'm not the kind of customer they cater to, not many bike shops left that would.
It has permeated more than the shops. I quit road biking after I was on a group ride and made it back before another guy on his $6K carbon road bike who thought he was Lance Armstrong, he chewed me out and said I didn't lead the group and should not be allowed to be first back to the parking area. I laughed and looked at him in disbelief. It was a group A/B ride and not the tour de France. My LBS has zero parts on hand for BMX and they order them from the same place I could. Why would I order them there?
My bike is older, but was high end for 15 years ago. I keep it tuned from the same shop, and it suits me fine. Every time I bring it in for a tune, it's the same snarky comment: "bruh, I can't believe you are still running the SRAM 2x12...." I'm getting real tired of it.
Well said....And remember it's bicycles not Rocket Science.....Many people possibly have more experience and skills fixing bikes then the people in the shops but now have careers and families and don't have time to service their own bikes.....so watch those attitudes or that demographic just won't be bothered to have to deal with the nonsense.
I often say bike store employees seem to have gone to the same "finishing school" as golf course pros. A certain air of elitism and arrogance they both seem to exhibit. My issue is i ride nice bikes and do my own wrenching but sometimes the tooling is just too much for me to purchase for just one job (facing, presses, etc.). Trying to talk to any LBS about a job is impossible. Do they have the tools or are they going to use hammers and files? God forbid i ask anything about their mechanics.
As someone who played golf in high school and previously worked at a fancy golf club I couldn't agree more. There's such a strange overlap between those cultures. I'm of the unpopular bike shop owner opinion that bikes are toys and fixing them is a hobby
So we go to the local bike shop for a repair of my vintage mountain bike. We got into a discussion to reveal they don't care about us or the community, just money. Never went back.
All small businesses have to balance being capitalistic with being socialistic. Yes businesses are there in order to make a profit, but they have to provide value and service as well. It's a two-way street!
I totally agree! There are 2 reasons for me not to come back to a bike shop, and they are: 1: the work/repairs are just not done well 2: elitism There is one bike shop in the town I grew up in that I love so much and get along with the owner so well that I will very occasionally go out of my way to travel back to my home town to go to that shop. Super friendly and always willing to help. As a broke student the owner also helped me get small parts I needed for my bikes and was always honest about when I didn't need to replace something yet.
And if you have a web site don't show you have a bike in stock when it isn't then leave the customer hanging with no idea when it can be picked up. Communicate with them let them know what is happening.
This is something I've noticed as well, I've seen websites with sophisticated e-commerce platforms for displaying drop shippable accessory items, but no easy to navigate current bicycle inventory. Seems like a missing element to me
A shout out for Bike Farmer name drop. I've seen how small shops have held themselves back for precisely all the reasons you've stated. You're right, its a game of numbers. Doing a basic 5 minute service or flat tire repair while they wait can make all the difference to your future success.
So true. Bike snobs are the worst ! I walked out of local shop when owner turned his nose up at me walked straight out same Guy refused to fix friends electric bike cos it was too cheap! I told many people and so did friend . Word of mouth is so important to small local businesses .
Very true points well made. Over in the UK I just walked due to terrible treatment in one shop. Bought a high end MTB from the next shop I tried that was cool with me. I get I am 54 but a little less judgy and a bit more chat and you find I rode since I could walk…
Entered local (Specialized) shop (Albuquerque, NM) asking for reflective tape. They laughed and said that's what lights are for! At another local shop (Trek) my Campagnolo Bullet wheels were "weird". 56 years of riding and It's just easier now to order and not deal with the punk attitudes. At Spokes bicycle shop in the 80s.(Alexandria, VA), we were much more welcoming and customer-centered, not self-centered. Not sure what happened.
The local Trek shop was good when it first opened as a company store. I bought a hardtail and a road bike from them. On the latter, the sales guy tried to talk me to a Madone, because it was a couple pounds lighter. I slapped my gut and said I carried more excess weight on my frame and the heavier bike would help me lose it. He laughed and sold me the bike I originally wanted. A few years later, after the store was sold to a local bike snob, I could feel the attitude of the mechanics and salespeople had changed. I bought a dual sport anyway because I like the posture of a flat bar hardtail and wanted gearing that would allow me to ride at higher speeds on roads. Well, there was a clicking sound and sensation from the bottom bracket. First, they claimed it was the seatpost clamp. Nope. Then they claimed it was the pedals, so they sold me a “new” set that turned out to be 1) used and 2) damaged (the spindle on one was bent). When I complained to them, the owner happens to be there, who said they wouldn’t refund the price for the pedals, the issue couldn’t be the bottom bracket, and generally treated me like shit. Needless to say, I never went back and caution anyone who asks me for local bike shop recommendations about them. Though I’ve never bought a “fancy”bike, I’ve purchased [way too] many, so they shafted themselves out of multiple sales of bikes, accessories, service. Fortunately for me, there is a local bike shop whose staff isn’t judgmental and is willing to work on any bike. They won’t touch electronics on e-bike brands they don’t sell, but will work on the mechanical components of any brand. I have given them all my service and in-person purchases for at least the last decade, and highly recommend them to friends and acquaintances. After my last move, I am lucky enough I live close enough to ride or walk there, so I don’t even have to drive to get work done on my bikes, but I do have to cross a dodgy intersection and roads.
My advice to bike shop owners. LEARN how to repair E Bikes. Learn how to find parts for E Bikes. Stock some affordable E bikes for entry level bike enthusiasts so you can sell them a bike when their Amazon bike bites the big one soon enough. I know you don't want to see it happen but LOOK AROUND your neighborhood, these bikes are taking over and you can either ride the wave or drown in the water.
@@romanmentor9238 not at all. E-bikes can be a gateway to mobility for people without the means to ride analog bikes. My wife went from a commuter e-bike (low fitness condition) to getting a used analog gravel bike later this year. Several e-bike shops appeal to people of all body types and fitness levels for recreation and transport.
Oh the irony; I got out out of bike shops because of many reasons, and the arrival of ebikes is definitely one of them. As for drowning, I got into distribution of medical devices for the treatment of cardio vascular disease, renal disease and cancer. There's an a never ending supply of customers because 99% of everyone is fat, lazy and whinging about whatever underpaid retail store employee hurt their feelings. So, I'm riding a never ending wave, rather than drowning.
I've watched my local bike shop slowly turn "elitist" 😞 They used to be a good all around shop, but they've slowly shifted focus to just people with super expensive carbon fiber type stuff. I ride just about every day for transportation, and they manage to make me feel like I don't really belong and they rarely have the type of bike components I need. I'm sad to say I used to go out of my way to stop there even if I could order the same part online, but that's no longer true; I rarely go there anymore.😢 I think the breaking point for me was when I tried to get them to look at one of my hydraulic disk brakes that had a leak and they just kept saying it must be crappy and low end because they didn't recognize the name (it was manufactured in the Netherlands and imported).
There's a good Seth Godin quote about businesses that grow too large... "eventually we won't care, because we won't have to" not sure that's the quote word for word, but you get the idea. I think if businesses can resist this temptation they can enjoy a long healthy lifespan
Agree on a bunch of this but I am not down with working on dept store bikes. I would never call anyone stupid but those bikes need more work just to be safe (as most are built by some kid with 3 tools total) than they cost to purchase and no matter how much you tune and adjust the customer is left with a marginal at best bike
Funny, I dont see anything wrong with department store bikes if it gets you riding, and that's all you can afford, so be it. More bike shops should welcome department store bikes for tuneups and repairs. The parts are dirt cheep from china and the margins are huge for repairs. I have been riding mtb for 32 years. I always laugh when I see a young kid or teen killing it on a department store bike leaving guys in there late 20s early 30s on 10 000 doller bikes in the dust or having the balls to try bigger and longer hits. While the guy with the expensive bike just putters along. It's not the bike it's the balls to try and ones skill set. I forget who it was, maybe Mattalier, but he did one of the most brutal North Shore BC freeride single tracks on a carbon fully ridged gravel bike on gravel road tires. It was his skillset that allowed him to clear it like a champ. Anyone else would have eaten major shit leaving in an ambulance while the bike was in a few pieces. I have seen countless youtube videos of pros or good riders testing out the limits of department store bikes on very hard pounding technical trails. They do just fine. Yes, the odd crash occurs, usually the cheap fork or bb exploads. But most do just fine because most of them are chromoly frames. In my humble opinion. Aluminum and carbon frames have no business in mtb. It should all be chromoly and titanium for the weight wennies. Department store bikes have their important place to get someone into the sport. All my kids started on department store bikes to see if they wanted to stick with it. Then I bought them 600 to 1000 dollar proper bikes from an LBS. To me, seeing HTs and FS bikes marketed for 1000 to 4000 dollars for under 10 year olds is stupid and the parents that shell out that much are financial morons in my opinion. The first decent bike for a child should be for a kid in their early teens when they have learned to take care of and value something and to stick with something. Rant over.
@@PeterCPRail8748nice rant. ALL bikes are made from cheap parts from China, first of all. So? Second, again department store bikes are built by idiots mostly and when actually ridden they are destroyed through use when not properly assembled. Fixing those issues and proper assembly cost as much or more than was paid for the bike...thank you and have a nice day!
As far as gravel bikes go, I own an Ozark Trail G.1. from Wal-Mart and love it! I would love ro be able to afford awesome expensive bikes, but I will never be able to spend that kind of money on a bike. So I buy the best cheap bike I can buy, and have to be happy with that. That's fine because there are some awesome cheap bikes out there if you do research and know what to look at, including a few Wal-Mart bikes.
Im not your average bike consumer either..."I just want something to go for a ride on" and if it breaks, it won't cost me an arm and a leg to fix. I don't care about racing, or competition bikes, or what brakes are on it and I don't follow trends. I am a taller rider and it is almost impossible to find a bike to fit me comfortably. 😎
The elitism of many bike shops here in Colorado is the reason I shop online and learned to do my own work.
My retired uncle's garage wood-shop in a ghetto neighborhood fronted on the street. It had an air hose by the door,
where the neighborhood kids could air up their bike tires, and a wrench and oil can they could use, also.
His shop became a neighborhood tool library, helped kids learn skills, and fostered good relations around the 'hood...
A valuable message that cannot be said enough across all, especially small, businesses. Don’t bite the hand that feeds you.
I own a small bike shop in Elk Grove Ca. We are 100% a no judgement zone. We are here to help and get you riding. The majority of bikes we sell are comfort bikes for the family rides or e-bikes. I would say 5% of our clientele are "cyclists". You are absolutely correct in that our customer service is what brings people back. We have an excellent mechanic and we're all just happy you are here. I hear the complaints about other shops almost daily. We serviced almost 1000 bikes this year and sold 350 bikes. Not bad for 1100sqft and our first year in business. Soooo, the point is, you are spot on and thanks!
What’s the name of your shop? I live in Elk Grove.
Bike Hause or Kinetic is the shop that i go to. The one on E.Stockton kept my bike for 4 days and didn’t service it and charged me for it.
@@Candlestick_Wick I like BikeHause on Elk Grove Blvd. Actually, I recently purchased an e-bike from them. I like them.
Those are impressive numbers first year open! Congratulations, I'm sure you're looking at that many years of success 🙌
When I started riding and then little later racing, bike shop , bike people were magnetic, wanted to be there be around.. many bike shops now are sterilized..Trek Super shop in San Diego is too big, too impersonal by design, supposed to be in shock and awe of all the stuff, just mass . And owner of shop knows when to charge and for what.. have got air, lube loaned Allen wrench and given a wave that it's free of charge, so I am going back..tubes , patches, CO2 cylinders are little bit cheaper on internet but what is the real cost if you put local shop under? And with bikes going over @$10,000+ do you really want to hope headset is seated right? Are you feeling lucky that your invention to remove stuck bottom bracket will do both things. Remove stuck part and not permanently damage your bike? Why? Need medical attention see a doctor, dental see a dentist, legal see a lawyer, bike issue go to bike shop
Years ago, I went to my local bike shop and purchased my first mountain bike. I had the bike for a couple of years and got in much better shape and went back to the shop and bought a much higher quality mountain bike. Later that year, I got interested in watching the Tour de France and decided to get a nice road bike and again visited the same bike dealer. At the time, the shop owner had a very trick road bike hanging from his ceiling over the top of all his new high-end road bikes. The suspended cycle had these solid disc wheel covers, and I have never seen them before. I reached up with one finger and touched the disc wheel wondering if it was carbon fiber. Just then, the owner screamed across his shop and told me not to touch his bike. It caught me so off guard that I quickly mumbled an apology and excited the store. I never went back there again and a few years later he was out of business.
Elitism is killing the industry. Look at most landing pages for major bike brands. Either there's an elite athlete, or a race start lineup and even worse someone dropping off a cliff. Where's the market?
It's called Karma.
I feel like this shouldn't make me laugh 😂 it's all just silly, some out there and take themselves too seriously
What!? He went out of business because you exited the store and never went back?
I don't believe that at all!
@@petergibson7287Maybe he was only one of the many customer who was treated badly by that owner. Think about that, if one customer is treated badly by the owner or a shop assistant because of a very minor misunderstanding then quite probably all the other customers were treated similarly.
I live in Raleigh NC and we have Oak City cycling. I love that place because is a no-judgment zone. They help every the same and they don't make new cyclists feel stupid. The last time I was in there, a homeless dude needed help with his bike and they fixed him up and treated him the same way they treat me. The shop is a bit less convenient for me, but I go anyway.
This is so true.
As a teenager, I remember admiring the Campag parts in my local bike shop window, here in the UK.
And then, one day, I had saved up enough from my paper round to buy a few Campag parts.
And you know what the lady behind the counter said?
"Those parts are not for the likes of you".
I remembered that.
I also remember visiting another shop, where I was engaged in conversation with the shop owner, but my conversation was cut short when that owner saw a well known rider enter the store.
Finally, in another local bike store, the owner stopped serving me, in order to chat to a bike rep; almost as if I didn't exist.
Looking back, I get the impression that many bike shops are indeed elitist.
As someone who considers myself a businessman first and a bike guy second, it blows my mind the number of examples in the industry where a shop operator quite literally tells their paying customer no, and all for some self-serving story that they're part of some exclusive club. It's funny and also not funny 🤣
Should you have worn a yellow jersey ?
…… we always purchased CAMPY and worked on our own stuff - one local store hated that we come in because he mainly sold SHIMANO groups and American bikes …… after that treatment we never went back
Important lessons that apply even beyond cycling.
In a world moving online, I believe this applies to all retail
Completely agree! I went to my LBS 2 times. The 1st time I told them I was interested in getting a single speed mountain bike. The guy rolled his eyes, laughed at me and said “no you don’t”, then walked me over to look at a 12 speed enduro bike. I left without a bike or ordering a bike from them and felt a little embarrassed as I was planing on getting or ordering a bike that day. The 2nd time I went back (after riding my new single speed that I ordered on-line a year ago now) and asked if they had any flats bike shoes. A different guy this time rolled his eyes at me and said with a lot of sarcasm in his voice (oh we don’t sell much of “that kind of stuff” so we don’t stock it) and kinda had this “please leave the store” attitude. So again I left without shoes or ordering shoes and feeling a little embarrassed again lol! The place is in Maryville Tn and I will get no joy in seeing them or any LBS go out of business so maybe I’ll give them another try and see if they have nicer people working there now.
Should have told him he's a loser working a in a bike shop and to check the attitude, that's my go to move if I'm in the bike shop with the fixed gear.
Cycology??? We’ve always had a great experience with them.
Elitist have one common fatal flaw - they can not do math.
Bravo! I have seen this far too many times. We just experienced this when picking up a brand new $3500 bike. The snooty, lazy shop employee could hardly be bothered to adjust the saddle height. It was almost as if he felt like this bike was beneath his caring, only $8000 bikes or above merited his superior intellect.
💯I worked in the industry for 12 years and all through the '90s. This included time in manufacturing, customer support, shop wrench and sales. A tendency toward elitism by many in the industry is why I left.
Watching this while too scared to even start biking For me it’s a combo of lack of safe infrastructure, previous bike accident, and absolutely a trepidation about dealing with bike people. I feel so outta my depth trying to get into biking, but just KNOW I’d love it! If only I could get my bike fixed or buy that ebike that’s been haunting my waking thoughts!
But hey, you’re giving me the courage to apply to some local bike shops and see if I can be that enthusiast non-biker they need! Maybe that’ll help get me to start biking, too.
It's easy to feel overwhelmed with the level of choice out there! We have a local running store nearby and I sometimes I'm jealous of how easy it must be to explain shoes to customers versus bikes. Definitely apply to multiple shops and don't be shy about stopping in to introduce yourself! I know that's old-timey advice but it goes really far with employers in small retail.
Sure, some cyclists can be snobby, but most want to share their love of cycling. My suggestion is to join a bike club. You will be welcomed and suddenly you'll have many new best friends. Good luck!
@@ReCyclesBikes_ haha yeah! there’s too much to fit into one shop convo other than “here’s some bikes that might fit, try them out!” thanks for the advice, man!
@@stevebreeden582 sounds terrifying!! but maybe you’re right. I’ll look into it, thanks for the suggestion!
@@4tarobyte Just bike and don't worry about the bike people. Bike people are all weirdos
Formerly a corporate Trainer ( BMW of Am and M-B of No Am, Volvo Motors of No Am) specializing in customer service, I suggest this :
As a retailer, sales person, bike mechanic, shop owner etc.. when you address a customer you have 30 seconds to convey the most important thing you have to do today is attend to them.
Your full attention, no distractions.
Without customers there is no business. My corporate experience led me to undestand the primary motivation is to generate income regardless.
@@cayminlast You worked for Chrysler ?
Great vid!
Hey! I'm honored, huge fan of your channel
@ let’s do a podcast!
Absolutely! Let's set it up! matt@recyclesbikes.com
@@ReCyclesBikes_yeah I’d like to see this video. I remember the days of you selling bikes off of Craigslist!
I agree with you. I have worked on bikes as a hobby since a boy in the 70's. I took a wheel set to a LBS to get some tight tire on the tube less rims. The owner said they were cheap and a good wheel set costs $800. He failed to get a tire on an punctured holes in my Ryde Trace 25 double walled rim with a metal tire lever. He didn't tell me he did this and I found out after I got home. I gave a negative review on Google and he deleted it. FnA Outdoors in New Lenox, IL I repaired rim with JB Weld and have the tire tube less now.
Thank you for this content. I hope it moves the needle. Twenty year bike commuter here. I’ve never felt like “one of the tribe” for exactly the reasons you describe.
I'm about to start a shop in my small town that will certainly be serving a majority of ppl who aren't big cyclists, and focusing on used bikes and service. I really appreciate this take. I'm gonna watch your other videos today and get a better sense of how your shop works.
thanks for sharing your perspective.
Happy to have you around! This is a spanking new channel but we will have daily uploads through January and February to get ourselves a nice backlog of content
I agree,
Elitism is so childish and crass in any industry.
We all get into hobbies from a starting point, I don't understand why some people refuse to acknowledge that.
I went to my local bike shop in the late 80's with $1000 burning a hole in my pocket (well over $3000 today).
The techies in the back were just all around pissed off that I interrupted them. I bought from a shop one town over.
It's an amazing problem to have enough customers that you feel tired of them. But the sneaky problem is you'll lose those customers precipitously at some point
Sadly, this sense of elitism also trickles into the broader cycling community - not just the local shops. It’s not as bad as some other sports/activities but it’s still there and always bothered me. Thanks for your video!
@@davidwargin1766 Very true!
I was away from bicycles since 13 year old til I turned out 38 so I had a 25 years abscense and gap in technologies.
I started watching hundreds of hours of videos in YT to catch up and learned as much as possible to do everything myself even before buying my road bike and I tend to leave very little stuff like internal cabling and brake bleeding leave it to my local shop and I can say that indeed those concept stores are yes indeed a monstruosity and makes people stay away from cycling.
All what matters there is if one brings a credit card they will sell you anything.
What you said here of:
"Dont let your passion turn into a tribalistic mindset that allienates people"
...absolutely right.
I love going to a small bike shop is just different, the smell of getting in the rubber of tires and the sensation of not being just ripped off.
This while I got a pretty fancy Tarmac but still prefer smaller shops.
Cheers
That just may be the perfect one sentence synopsis of this video. Thanks for watching!
This is such good advice. Lifelong urban biker I've just stopped going to my local bike shop. They just aren't interested in a normal rider who buys a normal bike every 2-3 years and a full service tune up every year.
In 1997 I bought a new Bontrager Privateer Comp XT mountain bike and rode it hard. 30 years later, I pulled it out of my tool shed and decided to do a full restoration of it. I did most of the work (aside from creating exact copies of the decals) but did take the wheels in to be rebuilt and for new bearing to be installed in the frame. No one seemed to understand what I wanted. Repeatedly I had to explain that the bike was going to be "restored" and that I had "no intention of modifying it in any way".
Despite this I ended up with black spokes laced to the stock OEM polished hubs (yuck) and a black headset. When questioned he said "that's the way I build my wheels". Restoration isn't a difficult word to understand. When you "restore" a creek, a home, a wetland or an old car, you put it back to the way it was. You don't modify the heck out of it and update it!
In the end, I told him to pull the spokes out and replace them with the right spokes (I paid for it both times). Long after the bills are forgotten, the bike I remembered so fondly is back.
There were a couple of bike shops where I used to live that I was actually too scared to go in.
100% agree. Meet people where they are at. Don’t be a jerk. Shop employees need to be welcoming and NOT LOOK DOWN OR TAKK ONLY ABOUT YOURSELF. Be cool and inviting.
I used to buy a brand-new bike every 2 to 3 years. I stopped buying new when the prices on bikes and gear exploded, I strictly buy used now. For example, 200.00 for shorts! 7000.00 plus for a bike! and forget about what they charge now a days for a little tune up work on a bike! If you have an electric bike, they up charge the same part because its going on an electric bike! that's B.S.! Thank you for this message, I wish you were local to me I would buy a bike from you!
My local bike shop did fuck up my bike because they didn't know what they were doing with the internal gear hub and pedal back breaks. But because their custerm service was so good (fixed their fuckup no extra charge, very friendly) I'd still recommend them to my friends.
Also they have a cute shop dog which is like an extra 10 points for sure.
Sometimes you're selling your smile just as much as you're selling your expertise! At any level of experience bike shops will make mistakes but the most important part is how they deal with them
important part of being a good mechanic is acknowledging when you run into something you are not good with. Coaster brake bikes used to be scary, now its simple. Let the customer know you level of knowledge and see if they'll work with you. IGH is still one I won't open up, I want someone that knows what their doing to teach me those.
I totally agree with your premise for this video. There are some bike shops in my town that I refuse to patronize because they have this "we're better than you" attitude.
Regarding the bikes, breakdowns like flats and an uncomfortable saddle affect how much riding people do and if they give up sooner than later.
Ultra low maintenance bikes and emphasizing a comfortable saddle can help. Recognizing these issues instead of saying you just need to get used to it is part of customer service.
on local bike forum, last year a number of bike shop owners and employees got into a discussion that led to them pretty much calling all costumers dumb.
"I hate customers...Hey...where are all the customers?"
From the shop owner side I can understand a feeling of burnout at times but at the end of the day you get into this business to bring smiles on two wheels for people. I'm not sure where shop owners get the idea they're going to only converse with bike affectionatos like themselves. I believe keeping that perspective not only makes your customers happier but you happier as well
Well they're not wrong. I think you mean customers.
The greatest failure of the shop owners and employees is that they called their potential customer a "C O N S U M E R" . Instant fail. Attitude says it all.
Hmmm sounds like a recent election.
Pro tip: Talk shit about your customers after they leave.
I cycle at least a couple of hours every day weather permitting and go for cycling holidays three or four times a year. I’ve toured most countries in Western Europe as well as Australia and New Zealand and I’ve plenty of money - but I’m an old guy, short and stout, and most shops are a humiliating experience, when they don’t treat me as if I were invisible they are condescending so I avoid them like the plague.
My other tip would be to find out something about your customer, don’t make assumptions.
I love a good bike tour, I rode NZ myself a few years back. It's amazing to me these experiences are prevalent even with experienced riders
Have worked in 3 bike shops over the decades......Employing a few people that are not "passionate" about bikes is a winner. They will help your company in so many ways......unless its YOU that's the issue.
This right here. We took a "risk" by hiring someone with zero bike knowledge and they have turned into our best sales person. Relatability is the underrated attribute in the industry
it really is , my lbs is large enough to have 2 teams working on shifts , the one guy is an eletist know it all snob and the other , while also being younger is much more approachable and willing to inform customers , ive been a noob for the last 8 years , just love wrenching on my own mountain bike when i am able (im slowly building up my own collection of tools)
- Bring people into the fold, I think having a good adults Bike 101 class in the late spring would be helpful for a local bike shop. Also a really honest, non-judgmental questionnaire about what kind of biking they want to do would help people understand that they don't need a $1K pro bike that they will resent you for selling them because it's the wrong machine for who it's for.
- Building community through Group Rides offers a lot of possibilities: Kid/Family Ride days, teaching bike safety, could sell a bunch of kids bikes, helmets, training wheels and bells. Street Rides to a local cafe could help foster a good relationship with other local businesses. Destination rides on a Local Trail could show people the possibilities of places and perspectives they've never seen if they've never been, townies and newcomers alike. Getting someone into biking could get them to bring a parent, sibling, spouse or friend into biking and you've just sold another bike, and the possibility of future sales and service.
Spot on message my friend 🙌🙌🙌
Thanks Friend! I'm a fan of your channel 🙌
@@ReCyclesBikes_ Awesome, thanks. Keep up the good work.
Subscribed, thank you for posting this! My two local neighborhood bike shops (both of which are out of business now) drove me to learn everything possible so that I may maintain and repair bikes myself. Their snobbery and elitism did me a favor long-term while driving them out of business. There are eleven bikes in my neighborhood-riding (no racing, thanks) fleet now. They all work and they're all stored inside to help them last forever.
Quite a fleet! I always joke that once you have a bike for each day of the week, you know you have a problem 😁 You have that beat!
Thank you for this video, I hope eventually more customers get treated well
I believe their is a growing movement in everyday bikes for everyday people :)
90% of the public will never ride the quality of the bike a Shop Employee rides. Every shop should really think about that for a minute. Most of their customers do NOT want what they ride.
What the industry needs to do is get back to getting people out riding for family fun and recreation. Nobody cares about Strava KOM's. Just go pedal and have fun. Commute, ride with friends or family. Just pedal. Don't worry about today's technology. If you feel you aren't fit enough, then consider an ebike. But don't worry about how far you ride. Just get out there and pedal some fun into your life.
I stopped using Strava and it has improved my ride, good points!
In Germany many children and students have to reach their schools and universities by bike since decades and many employees ride their bike to their workplace as well. Biking is not seen as just a hobby although for many people it is actually rather a hobby or a way to stay in shape somewhat.
This is advice the local, high street bike shop where I live (Tonbridge, UK) should take onboard ...
I remember about 30-odd years ago having a Marin Pine Mountain. I was interested in upgrading to a Rocky Mountain e -stay bike (can't remember the model), but the guy in the shop was so sniffy about my existing bike that I thought better of doing a deal with him - I sold the Marin privately, and bought a Klein (which I've still got).
You are 100% right. Great video.
The customer is always right in matters of taste. As a retailer, you love what they love, and you support their devotion to whatever that is.
Wow, maybe I got lucky. I'm in WA state, and the only bike shop I ever went to was Recycled Cycles. I wonder if shops that sell used bikes are much less likely to be judgemental. I've only ever brought Walmart bikes to be serviced (some of them way worse rummage sale bikes) and I never heard a negative thing about it. They were so kind that I only realized in the past few years that many bicyclists laugh at the kinds of bikes I ride (if I've paid more than 20 dollars for my bike, I've overpaid). I moved to eastern WA and my local bike shop was just as kind.
The shop sounds like it could be a cousin of ours! I believe there is a correlation, used bike shops tend to cater more to everyday people, and so there is less of an air of snobbery
I spent $3000 only to realize that I didn't need a 16-pound race bike for commuting. It was used, but I bought it thinking that I needed the lightest and fastest. In reality, I bought what was pushed by a few of the mainstream RUclips channels. I later bought a gravel bike, which has been the best all-around bike I have ever owned. I have it serviced locally by a mom and pop bike shop. Could I service my own bike? Yes, but I want a local shop in my neighborhood.
I’m fortunate that my LBS is awesome and down to earth. My problem was with the local bike club. After two seasons of group rides, I’d had enough. Those were the elitists. Even though I was riding with the “slow” group, it was hammering down and non stop. If you had a puncture or any sort of emergency, you’d be left behind. No one talked, it was just ride until the next rest stop, fuel up and then go. Luckily, I have a group of like-minded friends that I ride with. It’s way more relaxed and it’s just guys acting like guys and having fun.
Great testimony, btw. Good luck with your business!
Oh yeah, I had similar experiences with 2 clubs. One road the other off road. I never went back. I much.much prefer riding with my wife or a friend or two who have similar goals in mind.
I ride solo because I only have so much time to ride and my long rides are always fitness rides. Maybe if there where bike paths I'd be down for casual riding, but on the road I want to be on point and paying attention to cars. So when I ride with others on the road, there isn't much talking.
@@kevinroebke8050and it wasn’t just the general ride situation-it was the prevalence of snobbery. Not everyone, obviously, but enough to push new riders and club members away. A lot of overweight MAMILs with overpriced kit. Not gonna lie-I have some very nice, valuable bikes, but I also own straight up beaters that I’ve built up, hand painted and love to ride. The scene just wasn’t for me. And don’t get me started on the “fast group”-that’s a completely different monster.
I don't really talk when biking, i don't see the point. It messes up with my breathing, and takes attention away from the road.
Out of the bike, that's when i talk.
Sounds like there was absolutely nothing wrong with that bike group. The problem was with you. You need to join a group that fits your needs and just because that one didn't, you labeled them elitist. You have to realize not everyone is like you and the people in that group probably loved it.
Enjoyed your video. You are doing a great job filling a need in the community. The more people who have access to bikes the better
Wow, thank you for saying this! I can't tell you the number of times I have been looked down on at bike shops because I am not part of the right tribe. From grommets at bmx shops who scoff at my 24 inch wheel bmx cruiser to grommets at mtn bike shops who scoff at a vintage 26er, I have seen it all. When I got my professional mechanics certification from United Bicycle Institute 21 years ago, the central thing the instructors stressed was not being a snob. The other thing is, from a customers perspective, find a shop that is your style and appreciates you as an individual rider. If the mechanic at one lbs can't understand why you want flex in a titanium stem on a rigid bike, go to a shop that gets your style.
The last time I tried to support my lbs this is how it went: I needed a part (front chain ring) so , I got the part number off their website and called them. The first person I talked to was unable to find the part. He transferred me, and the second guy found the part, but said they didn't stock it and would take 2 weeks to get it. I told him to order it for me. He said it would be better if I just ordered it myself off their website. I ended ordering it from Jenson USA, and the same part at the same price was delivered to my door in 3 days. I want to support local businesses, but they don't give me any reason to.
i'll tell customers its faster to order it themselves if they want it right away, but i'll always order if thats what they want. I have no problem doing that.
@Adventures4vida that proves my point that bike shops are kind of useless, especially if you are capable of doing your own maintenance.
People should support local shops for providing value, not out of charity
You are spot on with todays bicycle shops. They act as if you are on a DUI bike if you did not buy it from them and don't even go to a local shop for E-bike assistance... Oh the Gods!!! Had one shop owner get pissed rode one to his shop and he was not the only one plus now they no longer sell fun bikes like BMX, Kates, Cruiser and so on just high end track bikes you are not selling a family 3 or 4 of them for their summer vacation fun but WalMart will. I know for a fact the first use and design for the bicycle was easy way to travel and haul without a horse not exercise, not racing but transportation. My passion for bikes excludes no bike.
Really good, a bike is a toy that I use to commute but the bike shops are very elite driven environment.
All the bike shops i been to around me have all been nice except for 1 employee at rock and road cyclery in mission viejo. I just asked if he could recommend some mtb tires for local trails in my area. He asked me what brand my is bike. He never heard of my bike brand and he refused to recommend tires when I mentioned it was an ebike. I come back another time with a bearing to see if they had the sane one, but in a sealed bearing & a mechanic started searching, then here comes that employee that didn't want to help me the first time & he whispered something to the guy who was helping me & the search ended. Nope, we don't have those. Ebikes are bikes with motors & this bike snob refuses my business?? That's what some of these people are, BIKE SNOBS.
Wow you nailed it.
Lots of LBS 's in Edmonton that are great, welcoming and appreciative..only one that is by appointment only and my experiences in that shop is that I am an inconvenience and not welcome at all.
Makes you wonder if that shop is just a "front" for something else...?
Do many winter cycle in Edmonton? Albertams are a tougher breed than I. Beautiful province.
Boy. Spot on. Bike shop in my home town Elko is down to earth. In St George all your points are spot on. I found a great shop in Ivan's called IBB.
I have had that happen to a few LBS’s. One here in Mississippi said he would not sell me a lair of Sidi insoles because the shipping was too high, even though I had paid for a high-end tuneup ($$$) for my custom Pelizzoli road bike. Told one employee I wanted some easy-to-clean white synthetic bar tape. His response was: “Yeah, you want black.” Kid would not even entertain the thought of my request, so I never went back and told the owner why I wouldn't be back. Be careful whom you allow to be the face of your business.
Pretty sure they just didn't want to do your stinky sweaty bar tape that day, haha. That's more of a do it yourself job, the stuff under the tape is gross if you are an out of shape rider that sweats all over the bars.
@@凸Bebo凸 Quite the comment, damn. I'm sure the top level athletes which sweat are acteally out of shape :) /s
@@beerenmusli8220 Fred comment, learn to ride 20MPH in Zone 2, get in shape, stop sweating all over the bars stop making the shop do smelly tasks they don't wanna do. Pros get their tape changed after every race, top level Fred comment right here.
This is so true. When you show up in a shop where every employee looks like a NYC bike messenger who might understand gearing ratios, but nothing about sales. Intimidating. I live my life by not buying anything from Jack wads.
Service department are also a huge problem. No-parts repair lead times are out of control in my area. Zero reason to have a bike for a week for general service requiring no parts just because it’s the norm at most shops.
Owned moto shops for a couple of decades and was consistently rank in the top 1% in csi in both sale and service due to quick turn around and friendly all inclusive atmosphere. It’s not hard.
I have a future video on this concept that may prove controversial. I believe shops largely undercharge for their labor (even though it's getting so darn expensive) the supply-demand curve is out of whack from lack of mechanics, but shops are afraid to charge what they need to in order to lower lead times. We control our service volume through price, It's a strange situation for sure, as even I am surprised what we charge, but it allows us to keep lead times low, otherwise the service department would quickly overwhelm us. We will see how I fair in the comments section of that video...
I just got into cycling and experienced this way more than I thought I would in different bike shops here in south Florida. I’ve even been in the shop and witnessed a store manager giving the same treatment I would get and they do it with no shame.. I feel that some ppl after they able to afford certain things their humbleness starts to fade away and it converts into elitism. So far I hated most my experiences at bike shops
all I can add is that when it comes to servicing you should tell customers the official intervals but offer them unofficial depending on usage more realistic intervals because when I hear "you should service your fox fork every 70 miles for 250$" all I think is "never" I've seen all the parts inside I know it's a 1-2 hours jobs requiring like 50 gaskets but you need to be realist on the miles/cost ratio you know how many rides it took me to do 70miles on my new e-bike ? 2 so no I'm not going to bring my bike for a 250 or 500$ service every 2 rides be serious..if you tell me once a year it becomes a "maybe" or even "sure" if you don't have expensive top of the line suspension telling a customer irrealistic servicing intervals is making sure that he will never do them, I rode 8y without making one until my freewheel hub seized i replaced the entire wheel it cost me 90$ a good customer experience should be your no1 priority or no one is going to pay you
Old age killed my bike shop.
I remember when I was a newbie to biking, with my first road bike. I felt like I had to do a ton of research before I could even enter a shop and ask about a part, a repair, or an upgrade. I was so anxious about some salesman/mechanic being condescending to me because I didn’t know the latest tech or why a certain item wouldn’t work with my bike. Way too many hours of unnecessary anxiety.
This guy knows. It is true there are a lot of arrogant mechanics out there that do make customers feel less than. It's not good for business.
Most people don't care about carbon fiber racing bikes or Lycra. They just wanna ride and be healthy. And they don't see the value in a five figure bike. The industry has lost its marbles. Bikes costing more than a small car or motorcycle is the pinnacle of hubris. Well done video.
Great video 👍 liked & subbed.
The elitism has gotten worse here in the UK, if you aren’t on Strava, riding Discs, compact set up not running Shimano, 28+ tyres under inflated then “the NEW elite” don’t consider you in their community.
I am about to build a Black Carbon TT frameset with rim brakes, Campagnolo RB Centaur Triple groupset, my money, my choice, I have not cycled for few years due to health issues, hence the Granny ring, I could’ve gone Compact but I’d rather have a gearing I understand & have since the 80’s. I’m 55 and feel that extra ring that suits me now will make me head towards the hills again.
Too many LBS / Chainstores in & around London ( UK ) do have that attitude… didn’t buy here we don’t need your business.
Edit here
I am lucky I know an ex mechanic does servicing from his home.
Hounslow Bike. Very nice guy.
Yeah, I had a funny thing where I went to two different bike shops in my town to get my daughter a bike and I couldn’t even get anyone to talk to me. I couldn’t even figure out how to get anyone to talk to me. They just told me they were busy with customers and then I looked around and they just let me walk out of there without even talking to me. It was so interesting. Anyhow, I found this video randomly, but it’s the very least they should’ve given me a number told me who I was gonna talk to you or something, but I thought it was so interesting because I was ready to buy a bike.
Men in full Lycra on drop bar bikes are the worst, I’ve a hybrid bike and I’ve lost count of how many of them have a pedal/shoe/gear/ garment problem that makes them look down when they’re approaching me while I’m out on a ride, just so they don’t have to acknowledge a non drop bar bike rider
It’s not just bikes that are elitist, I’m a birdwatcher as well, if I’m doing the full day out my expensive optics come with me, if I’m in the works van on my dinner I take the cheap pair, couple of times I’ve met the same person who spoke to me with my expensive kit, then blanked me with my cheap kit, did ask why he wasn’t talking to me today like on say Saturday? His reply was I didn’t see you there as he’s walked into the hide I was sitting in.
Elitism is a business model, for some bike shops, because they strive to make a $7K sale on a new bike. Often these shops are owned or staffed by athletes, which is really the worst type of person you want for this position. This is because top athletes are very much individualists. They focus on themselves to train hard and win. They don't care about others they leave behind, and that is the thinking that allows them to win. Unfortunately, because they are not used to interacting with others or understanding other points of view, they don't make good customer service representatives. If I had a bike shop, I'd look for employees who have good interpersonal skills (including knowing several languages), who like to learn about new products and are interested in the people who come to the shop, in order that they build customer affinity. This is just the opposite of elitism, because I believe that learning enough about bikes to properly serve customers can be learned quite easily.
This can be true, I have no doubts there are shops out there that have carved out there niche by being elitist. Hey if it works at works, I just see a low hanging fruit with regular old people being largely ignored. It's funny, you can start a family-oriented bike shop and get swarmed with customers because all the other shops don't want to cater to them
We Produce our own Carbon Road Bikes in the UK, But Love Steel Vintage Road Bikes and always will. 👍👍
Now that's a skillset! Can imagine the equipment and number of design choices involved
Here's the thing, a bike like the Cycrusher Kommoda (apart from the frame) is just made out of standard bike parts. Any bike shop should be happy to fix or service one.
True. I don’t use LBS closest to me because of the arrogance factor.
I try my best not to scoff at things I don't like. Everyone is different. I work on any bike from wal mart bikes to high end madone's. Its hard not to sound like an elitist when trying to explain why their 100 dollar bike is having problems. It took me a few years to get it down.
It really is an art form, I can understand where the burnt out feelings come from on the side of shop employees. It's created a strange scenario of low-hanging fruit for shops that focus on providing friendly service
Ah yes. It's been awhile since I've been in a bike shop, but I do well remember a slight air of snobbiness that sometimes floated around the two bike shops I frequented as a kid in my hometown... it tended to vary depending on the particular employee you were speaking with. My thoughts: You can be helpful and accommodating to customers without pissing in the Wheaties of the 80% who purchased their bicycles at Walmart. For some, said cheap bike is plenty good enough for their needs, but for others... they may well choose to step up a notch or two when the time comes for a new one, and you'll give them all that much more reason to consider your wares if you treat them well and they are returning to your store. Some customers are willing and want to learn, and there is also a way to point out the differences between a big box store bicycle and your brand(s) without being condescending... a good time to do that is when customer brings their bike in for repairs, questioning how and why it broke. Sure, you'll never up-sell to each and every person who comes in, but your quality of service might lead a customer's friends through your doorway... word of mouth is a powerful tool.
Great life lessons altogether
Gone are the days of the local mom and pop bike shop, a plethora of specialist purpose bikes, propriety parts and equipment all available at a premium price from brand name franchise boutique outlets. If i need only one single cotter pin, reflector, bolt or inner tube valve, i'm not the kind of customer they cater to, not many bike shops left that would.
It has permeated more than the shops. I quit road biking after I was on a group ride and made it back before another guy on his $6K carbon road bike who thought he was Lance Armstrong, he chewed me out and said I didn't lead the group and should not be allowed to be first back to the parking area. I laughed and looked at him in disbelief. It was a group A/B ride and not the tour de France. My LBS has zero parts on hand for BMX and they order them from the same place I could. Why would I order them there?
My bike is older, but was high end for 15 years ago. I keep it tuned from the same shop, and it suits me fine. Every time I bring it in for a tune, it's the same snarky comment: "bruh, I can't believe you are still running the SRAM 2x12...." I'm getting real tired of it.
Imagine running 20 year old tech as a shop owner....oh the comments i get :)
Well said....And remember it's bicycles not Rocket Science.....Many people possibly have more experience and skills fixing bikes then the people in the shops but now have careers and families and don't have time to service their own bikes.....so watch those attitudes or that demographic just won't be bothered to have to deal with the nonsense.
I often say bike store employees seem to have gone to the same "finishing school" as golf course pros. A certain air of elitism and arrogance they both seem to exhibit. My issue is i ride nice bikes and do my own wrenching but sometimes the tooling is just too much for me to purchase for just one job (facing, presses, etc.). Trying to talk to any LBS about a job is impossible. Do they have the tools or are they going to use hammers and files? God forbid i ask anything about their mechanics.
As someone who played golf in high school and previously worked at a fancy golf club I couldn't agree more. There's such a strange overlap between those cultures. I'm of the unpopular bike shop owner opinion that bikes are toys and fixing them is a hobby
You are deserving of a Badge of Courage for telling it how it is.
So we go to the local bike shop for a repair of my vintage mountain bike. We got into a discussion to reveal they don't care about us or the community, just money. Never went back.
All small businesses have to balance being capitalistic with being socialistic. Yes businesses are there in order to make a profit, but they have to provide value and service as well. It's a two-way street!
@ReCyclesBikes_ It had nothing to do with the cost of things in the store.
I totally agree! There are 2 reasons for me not to come back to a bike shop, and they are:
1: the work/repairs are just not done well
2: elitism
There is one bike shop in the town I grew up in that I love so much and get along with the owner so well that I will very occasionally go out of my way to travel back to my home town to go to that shop. Super friendly and always willing to help. As a broke student the owner also helped me get small parts I needed for my bikes and was always honest about when I didn't need to replace something yet.
1 and 2 go hand in hand.
And if you have a web site don't show you have a bike in stock when it isn't then leave the customer hanging with no idea when it can be picked up. Communicate with them let them know what is happening.
This is something I've noticed as well, I've seen websites with sophisticated e-commerce platforms for displaying drop shippable accessory items, but no easy to navigate current bicycle inventory. Seems like a missing element to me
A shout out for Bike Farmer name drop. I've seen how small shops have held themselves back for precisely all the reasons you've stated.
You're right, its a game of numbers. Doing a basic 5 minute service or flat tire repair while they wait can make all the difference to your future success.
Definitely a Bike Farmer fan here 😊 I love the concept of the anti bike shop. Thanks for watching
Somebody had to say it....thanks for doing so. Too many bike shops scare people.
So true. Bike snobs are the worst ! I walked out of local shop when owner turned his nose up at me walked straight out same Guy refused to fix friends electric bike cos it was too cheap! I told many people and so did friend . Word of mouth is so important to small local businesses .
Very true points well made. Over in the UK I just walked due to terrible treatment in one shop. Bought a high end MTB from the next shop I tried that was cool with me. I get I am 54 but a little less judgy and a bit more chat and you find I rode since I could walk…
Entered local (Specialized) shop (Albuquerque, NM) asking for reflective tape. They laughed and said that's what lights are for! At another local shop (Trek) my Campagnolo Bullet wheels were "weird". 56 years of riding and It's just easier now to order and not deal with the punk attitudes. At Spokes bicycle shop in the 80s.(Alexandria, VA), we were much more welcoming and customer-centered, not self-centered. Not sure what happened.
"that's what lights are for!" ah yes, the side mounted series of LED lights so I know I'm visible at all angles.
Look at the pathetic infrastructure in our country. And the danger now worse that ever on the open road!
We are a car dominated culture.
I think this is why gravel biking is taking off, you get the road bike feel while being on your rail trail away from cars
@@ReCyclesBikes_Yes exactly
The local Trek shop was good when it first opened as a company store. I bought a hardtail and a road bike from them. On the latter, the sales guy tried to talk me to a Madone, because it was a couple pounds lighter. I slapped my gut and said I carried more excess weight on my frame and the heavier bike would help me lose it. He laughed and sold me the bike I originally wanted.
A few years later, after the store was sold to a local bike snob, I could feel the attitude of the mechanics and salespeople had changed. I bought a dual sport anyway because I like the posture of a flat bar hardtail and wanted gearing that would allow me to ride at higher speeds on roads. Well, there was a clicking sound and sensation from the bottom bracket. First, they claimed it was the seatpost clamp. Nope. Then they claimed it was the pedals, so they sold me a “new” set that turned out to be 1) used and 2) damaged (the spindle on one was bent). When I complained to them, the owner happens to be there, who said they wouldn’t refund the price for the pedals, the issue couldn’t be the bottom bracket, and generally treated me like shit.
Needless to say, I never went back and caution anyone who asks me for local bike shop recommendations about them.
Though I’ve never bought a “fancy”bike, I’ve purchased [way too] many, so they shafted themselves out of multiple sales of bikes, accessories, service.
Fortunately for me, there is a local bike shop whose staff isn’t judgmental and is willing to work on any bike. They won’t touch electronics on e-bike brands they don’t sell, but will work on the mechanical components of any brand. I have given them all my service and in-person purchases for at least the last decade, and highly recommend them to friends and acquaintances. After my last move, I am lucky enough I live close enough to ride or walk there, so I don’t even have to drive to get work done on my bikes, but I do have to cross a dodgy intersection and roads.
That bicycle is just a training tool for the Dakar , the Baja , the Cannonball
It is not the focus of passion it is just a very cheap training tool
My advice to bike shop owners. LEARN how to repair E Bikes. Learn how to find parts for E Bikes. Stock some affordable E bikes for entry level bike enthusiasts so you can sell them a bike when their Amazon bike bites the big one soon enough. I know you don't want to see it happen but LOOK AROUND your neighborhood, these bikes are taking over and you can either ride the wave or drown in the water.
Pushing ebikes is the same elitist approach.
@@romanmentor9238 not at all. E-bikes can be a gateway to mobility for people without the means to ride analog bikes.
My wife went from a commuter e-bike (low fitness condition) to getting a used analog gravel bike later this year. Several e-bike shops appeal to people of all body types and fitness levels for recreation and transport.
Ah E-Bikes, love to hate them, or hate to love them. I'll definitely be tackling this subject in future video
Oh the irony; I got out out of bike shops because of many reasons, and the arrival of ebikes is definitely one of them.
As for drowning, I got into distribution of medical devices for the treatment of cardio vascular disease, renal disease and cancer. There's an a never ending supply of customers because 99% of everyone is fat, lazy and whinging about whatever underpaid retail store employee hurt their feelings.
So, I'm riding a never ending wave, rather than drowning.
@@romanmentor9238 Amen to that.
You are Soooooo right, brother!
I've watched my local bike shop slowly turn "elitist" 😞 They used to be a good all around shop, but they've slowly shifted focus to just people with super expensive carbon fiber type stuff. I ride just about every day for transportation, and they manage to make me feel like I don't really belong and they rarely have the type of bike components I need. I'm sad to say I used to go out of my way to stop there even if I could order the same part online, but that's no longer true; I rarely go there anymore.😢 I think the breaking point for me was when I tried to get them to look at one of my hydraulic disk brakes that had a leak and they just kept saying it must be crappy and low end because they didn't recognize the name (it was manufactured in the Netherlands and imported).
There's a good Seth Godin quote about businesses that grow too large... "eventually we won't care, because we won't have to" not sure that's the quote word for word, but you get the idea. I think if businesses can resist this temptation they can enjoy a long healthy lifespan
Agree on a bunch of this but I am not down with working on dept store bikes. I would never call anyone stupid but those bikes need more work just to be safe (as most are built by some kid with 3 tools total) than they cost to purchase and no matter how much you tune and adjust the customer is left with a marginal at best bike
Funny, I dont see anything wrong with department store bikes if it gets you riding, and that's all you can afford, so be it. More bike shops should welcome department store bikes for tuneups and repairs. The parts are dirt cheep from china and the margins are huge for repairs.
I have been riding mtb for 32 years. I always laugh when I see a young kid or teen killing it on a department store bike leaving guys in there late 20s early 30s on 10 000 doller bikes in the dust or having the balls to try bigger and longer hits. While the guy with the expensive bike just putters along.
It's not the bike it's the balls to try and ones skill set. I forget who it was, maybe Mattalier, but he did one of the most brutal North Shore BC freeride single tracks on a carbon fully ridged gravel bike on gravel road tires. It was his skillset that allowed him to clear it like a champ. Anyone else would have eaten major shit leaving in an ambulance while the bike was in a few pieces.
I have seen countless youtube videos of pros or good riders testing out the limits of department store bikes on very hard pounding technical trails. They do just fine. Yes, the odd crash occurs, usually the cheap fork or bb exploads. But most do just fine because most of them are chromoly frames.
In my humble opinion. Aluminum and carbon frames have no business in mtb. It should all be chromoly and titanium for the weight wennies.
Department store bikes have their important place to get someone into the sport. All my kids started on department store bikes to see if they wanted to stick with it. Then I bought them 600 to 1000 dollar proper bikes from an LBS. To me, seeing HTs and FS bikes marketed for 1000 to 4000 dollars for under 10 year olds is stupid and the parents that shell out that much are financial morons in my opinion. The first decent bike for a child should be for a kid in their early teens when they have learned to take care of and value something and to stick with something.
Rant over.
@@PeterCPRail8748nice rant. ALL bikes are made from cheap parts from China, first of all. So? Second, again department store bikes are built by idiots mostly and when actually ridden they are destroyed through use when not properly assembled. Fixing those issues and proper assembly cost as much or more than was paid for the bike...thank you and have a nice day!
Great content!
Hey thanks!
As far as gravel bikes go, I own an Ozark Trail G.1. from Wal-Mart and love it! I would love ro be able to afford awesome expensive bikes, but I will never be able to spend that kind of money on a bike. So I buy the best cheap bike I can buy, and have to be happy with that. That's fine because there are some awesome cheap bikes out there if you do research and know what to look at, including a few Wal-Mart bikes.
Im not your average bike consumer either..."I just want something to go for a ride on" and if it breaks, it won't cost me an arm and a leg to fix. I don't care about racing, or competition bikes, or what brakes are on it and I don't follow trends. I am a taller rider and it is almost impossible to find a bike to fit me comfortably. 😎