Love for the LBS Guys
A couple weeks ago, The Runner and I went on a road ride: up to the summit of the Alpine, down to Cascade Springs, and back home. With — I think — about 5000+ feet of climbing, this is always a great ride, but it’s extra awesome in the short period between when the snow melts and when the gates are opened so cars can drive the roads.
Because for that short week or two, roadies can use both sides of the road, bombing the downhills like we wish we could the rest of the year.
There is one little problem on the road, though: scree. Oh, and there’s usually pine cones, pine needles, and other tree-related debris.
Which means, I guess, that if you want to get fussy about it, there’s more than one problem on the road.
Though I assert that, collectively, it’s still just one problem: stuff that gets in the way of your ride and can potentially wipe you out or at least give you a flat.
By now, you’re probably wondering why I’m arguing like this, when nobody was counter-arguing. You are probably not wondering, however, whether someone got a flat, because otherwise I wouldn’t have spent four paragraphs going on about this.
By the way, it was The Runner who got the flat.
The Runner’s saddle bag had everything she needed to fix the flat: tube, CO2 cartridge, adapter and tire lever. We took care of the flat in a few minutes and finished the ride.
As we swapped in the new tube, though, It was obvious that it was time for a new tire.
The next day, The Runner brought her bike into Racer’s Cycle Service, asking Racer — yes, that’s his actual first name — to put a new tire on. And of course, he did.
And that should be the end of the story, which would not be my best or most interesting blog post of all time (not the worst, either, but perhaps a little more mundane than most).
But there’s a little more to the story.
Surprise Inside
The Runner and I planned to go on a longish road ride on Saturday — Over Suncrest, along Wasatch Blvd, up Little Cottonwood to Alta ski resort and back home — about sixty miles, with about 7000 feet of climbing.
As I was getting our bikes ready (I often do pre-ride bike prep on The Runner’s bike, because in addition to being remarkably handsome and athletic, I am also very chivalrous), it occurred to me: The Runner’s saddle bag was — and had been, for her most recent two rides — strictly ornamental. No tube, No CO2 cartridge.
Relieved that The Runner hadn’t found out about my negligence the hard way, I went and got a tube and a cartridge, then unzipped the saddle bag.
But there was already a new tube and CO2 cartridge in there.
But not the brand of tube or CO2 cartridge I currently keep in my garage.
Instantly, I realized what had happened: knowing that The Runner had used up her tube and CO2 on the flat, Racer had replaced them when he put on the new tire.
And then hadn’t said anything about it.
Yeah.
Racer Rules
So you can kind of see why I travel the extra distance to go to Racer’s. Why I’ve been going to Racer’s since it’s existed. And why I went to the bike shop Racer worked at before he got his own place. It’s because, in addition to being a great mechanic, Racer is just a genuinely good guy.
And I expect that there are a lot of great guys (and I mean the inclusive-of-all-genders version of “guys”) — local bike shop owners and mechanics — out there just like Racer. Guys who love riding, who know their bikes, and who take care of their customers.
Guys who make it possible for people like me to spend our bike time riding, instead of tweaking.
Tell me about them.
Comment by Alan | 06.7.2010 | 8:57 am
I bought an Ibis Hakkalügi because of you, and I bought it through my LBS, Uptown Bikes (www.uptownbikes.com). They’re a gritty, city commuter bike shop, yet they chose to become an Ibis dealer just to get me the bike I wanted (there are no Ibis dealers that were close enough for me to go to, just one in the greater Chicago area, and not convenient to me). I’ve actually had to force money on them in the past because they fixed something and didn’t feel like it was worth charging me. It doesn’t matter if I take in my wife’s commuter bike, one of my ‘cross bikes or my steel road bike, they’re always happy to see me, and always passionate about making the bikes the best they can be. Special shouts out to John the head mechanic, who happens to have a Phd, and the other John who is an awesome wealth of knowledge beyond his years.
Comment by josh | 06.7.2010 | 9:02 am
Mike, Ben, Harry, and the guys at Revolution Cycle and Ski in St. Cloud MN are the same way. Great mechanics but even better people. They are quick with advice on riding and maintenance. Wouldn’t think of taking my bike to anyone else. Support your LBS!
Comment by Lauren | 06.7.2010 | 9:03 am
This sounds exactly like my favorite mechanic. A brand new bike shop in New York was opened by Al – a super nice guy, great mechanic, who always takes the extra time to make sure everything is done correctly. He has even given me a seat post and a bottom bracket from his own bike. His shop is awesome – and you can often find his wife and adorable daughter in there too. http://alscyclesolutions.com/
Al’s Cycle Solutions
693 10th Avenue
New York, NY 10036
(212) 247-3300
Comment by Noodle | 06.7.2010 | 9:07 am
Support your LBS! When I got back to NYC, I emailed a guy at my LBS know about my embarrassing and demoralizing crash. He called to check on me, then without me even asking, said they’d come pick up the bike so they could check everything on it so I can get back on the road when I’m ready. Precious now sits somewhere in the bowels of the shop being assessed. I can only assume they feel somehow invested in the journey, since they fitted me and sold me the bike, plus gave me a crash (pardon the pun) course in bike monkeying before I went. When you find a good local, stick to it.
Comment by jason t | 06.7.2010 | 9:08 am
Performance Bikes is by no means a LBS, but have some good guys working in the one I frequent (Roswell, GA). I went to a recent seminar there and ended up being the only one who attended. This was a week before the MS150 in Texas a couple months ago. He spent the hour one-on-one’ing with me, giving me all kinds of good pointers for long road rides and roadside repairs I hadn’t encountered and tips and tricks beyond the usual flat repair. Free of course. They’re good people.
Comment by Ashley | 06.7.2010 | 9:25 am
Beverly Cycles, hands down.
http://beverlycycles.com
132 Dodge St
Beverly, MA
Comment by DallasBikr | 06.7.2010 | 9:28 am
Richardson Bike Mart – 3 stores in the DFW area.
Richardson store – Jack and Steve have saved many a ride and fixed a ton of weird issues for me over the years.
Frisco store – Johnny glues my tubies, Tom and Rodney rock the rest of my rides.
Fantastic shops in an area loaded with great LBSs.
http://www.bikemart.com
Comment by Brandon | 06.7.2010 | 9:34 am
I agree. Racer’s Cycle Service is the only place I take my bikes.
Comment by Neil | 06.7.2010 | 9:37 am
Still trying to find one… I live in Fort Worth if anybody has any suggestions.
Comment by Grizzly Adam | 06.7.2010 | 9:44 am
That is a fantastic photo. I wonder who took it.
Comment by Alison | 06.7.2010 | 9:46 am
La Bicicletta in Vancouver – a couple of years ago I went in to see if I could get replacement parts for a rear-mounted bottle cage (I had lost one cage and it’s mounting bracket). They had no spare parts and the guy helping me tried to sell me a whole new set up, which I didn’t want.
As I was about to leave in frustration, he offered to fix the remaining cage and bracket. He then spent twenty minutes fixing it and refused to let me pay him. I was very impressed and have been back many times since.
Comment by Tom S. | 06.7.2010 | 9:48 am
I think Omaha, NE is blessed to have a couple of very good LBSs. Every one of the shops I go to are kind courteous and knowledgeable. My favorite is “THE Bike Way”, they are an awesome group of guys that love bicycling and everything about it. Every time I have an issue with any of my bikes(I have 3) I go to these guys. I can not say enough good about them!
Comment by brian | 06.7.2010 | 9:56 am
I love Fezzari!
They have bent over backwards a thousand ways to take care of me. It’s nice to know they are always going to go out of their way to take care of me – it seems like their goal is to get me out of there with what I need spending as little money as possible – instead spending as much as possible like most other shops. John, Tyler and all the rest are awesome.
Comment by RunningWalker | 06.7.2010 | 9:58 am
A Huge shout out to Kerry, Sam and all the people at Action Sports in Bakersfield, CA. They will bend over backwards to help educate/fit/train/etc… They stage the best events in Central California and are hugely involved in this community. The model for what a bike shop should be.
Comment by HB Jeff | 06.7.2010 | 9:59 am
Leo and Cyrus at Contender Bikes, these guys rule!
Comment by brian | 06.7.2010 | 10:00 am
I suppose I should give a specific Fezzari example – there are lots.
The most recent is that they sold me a used trunk bike rack for a heavily discounted price. When I got home I realized that there was a strap missing. I give them a call and they apologized. Instead of replacing the strap, they gave me a brand new bike rack at the discounted price! At the same time I had taken my daughter’s bike in for a repair and even though they had told me to expect 2-3 days, they had it done the next day.
Comment by Adam | 06.7.2010 | 10:01 am
My fiancee’s brother and a friend of his are biking across the country, from NC to OR. Her brother has a Long Haul Trucker, and his friend is riding a refurbished something-or-another from the 80s. They stopped at three bike shops between NC and Indiana, where we live, and none of them could get his friend’s rear canti brakes adjusted correctly. Effectively, he rode a fully loaded touring bike over the Appalachians with only a front brake.
When they got to our house, I took them to my LBS, Bikesmiths. They were convinced they’d need to buy a new set of brakes, which they didn’t really have money to buy. The mechanic there had the brakes adjusted and fully functional in ten minutes and didn’t charge them anything.
http://www.bikesmiths.net/
Comment by bikemike | 06.7.2010 | 10:07 am
As a manager of one of the LBS in town, we like to do little things like this for our customers. It shows out appreciation for their patronage and is the best advertising i can think of.
Thanks to all of you fine people who make it possible for us to work in the bike biz. We’ll never get rich from it nor do i think i’ll ever be able to retire. I do, however, get to ride bikes and talk to people about riding bikes for a living (i stole this phrasing from Giant Bicycles) so, my stress level for life is probably lower than most and i think it would be very hard to put a price on that.
So, again, thanks for the love. We’ll return it whenever possible.
Comment by Ken | 06.7.2010 | 10:09 am
Just bought a new trail bike yesterday, at Sunflower Outdoor and Bike in Lawrence, KS. The guy I worked with was very helpful and had me try a couple of different frame sizes as I was having a problem with stand-over. I spent almost three hours trying 4 different bikes, finally settling on a very comfortable Specialized Rockhopper.
Had my old bike-shop Mongoose worked on there and I bought my bike sandals there as well. Never felt out of place and they have a store cat. Just a really great LBS.
http://sunfloweroutdoorandbike.com/
Comment by Lucas | 06.7.2010 | 10:19 am
The shop along my commute — the “guys” at Cambridge Bike (Cambridge, MA) have been nothing but helpful and considerate despite my lack of tattoos and wearing of tight black t-shirts and jeans… I tend to only go there with “urgent” needs since it’s right on my commuting route — but even so, I have always been met with courtesy and helpfulness even if it is only for a tube, a spoke, or a dry place to change a flat in the rain… nothin but good things to say about them.
Comment by Dsquared | 06.7.2010 | 10:22 am
Great tribute post to the Local Bike Shop. I have a similar tale of a shop that is not my LBS.
Two years ago my brother and I were on the last day of a four day self supported trip from Pittsburgh, PA to Washington, DC along the Great Alleghany Passage and the C&O Canal on the Memorial Day weekend, when I had a stick take out a pair of spokes on my front tire. After applying some duct tape and zip ties and asking the locals for directions we limped into the closest town with a trail accessible bicycle shop which was across the Potomac River in Leesburg, VA. Where, much to my dismay, the town bike shop – Plum Grove Cyclery was closed for the holiday. However, my karma must have been aligned just right that day because Tom Stokes (the owner) had just returned from his daily ride and was in the shop relaxing just a moment before he would head home. For whatever reason Tom answered the door, to which I am forever thankful, even though it was clearly posted that the shop was closed for the day and saved the rest of our ride into DC. He provided two new spokes, trued my wheel and proceeded to refuse payment for his services. I am guessing that he:
a) enjoyed the story about our trip or;
b) took pity on us with our reverse road grime racoon eyes and vent spike hair or;
c) took more pity on us for each riding with two full panniers of gear and food or;
d) he was just feeling generous that day.
No matter his reasons, I still feel that the case of a favorite beer delivered to the shop the next day on my way back to Pittsburgh was just the smallest token of gratitude that I could give back to Tom for his awesomeness.
Comment by Mike Roadie | 06.7.2010 | 10:27 am
No, my LBS doesn’t do things like replace your necessities for free, but I do love and support them all the same. Actually, several different shops. They all do excellent work and are trustworthy.
I would want them to help me over “the other guy”, so why would I use “the other guy” (like mail orders) over going to them.
Z’s, Alex’s, Bike America—you guys rock!
Comment by Cyclin' Missy | 06.7.2010 | 10:34 am
I’m a fan of the Village Bike Shops in the Grand Rapids, MI area. On several occasions, they’ve replaced a part (like a quick release skewer) or helped me with a service (getting a tire on the rim, wrapping a new set of handlebars, fitting a bike I didn’t buy there) at no charge. They gave me a free bottle of chain lube simply because it was a kind I’d never tried before. They remember my name when I come in (which might have something to do with the fact that I paid them nearly a grand to fix my bike after a crash…) and are always friendly and helpful. Go VBS!
Comment by AngieG | 06.7.2010 | 10:42 am
I love my LBS!!!! Dave’s Bike Shop in Ukiah,Ca. http://www.davesbikeshop.com/
They are always available to fix anything, provide advice and support our community. I was contemplating new wheels. Dave gave me the wheels off his bike to try. I was struggling with the climbs, our neck of Northern California is quite hilly, he regeared my triple so I could climb just about anything. He then went on a ride with me on one of our longer climbs and gave me suggestions along the way.
I can call with a problem and drop my bike off, and it will be ready as soon as I need it.
Dave, Neco, John and Darwin are the most amazingly, awesome bike dudes!!
Comment by skippy | 06.7.2010 | 10:44 am
Fatty knows what it is to be famous! Riding around europe these past 1sons i have been the “victim” of so much kindness i couldn’t even begin to start reporting the names, rank & serial no. of the various road race teams, cycle shops where i try to do my own work and the occasional “cycle tour co. mechanic ” who has pulled over to help!
GREAT BIG THANKYOU TO ALL THESE OUTSTANDING PEOPLE, & thanks Fatty for the forum to be able to give respect to those who have helped me.
Even today i replaced the ballbearings in my “Rolf Vector front wheel” as i will be at the “Dauphinee” tuesday and TDF after, suffice to say that the LBS sorted the issues causing my effort to not function as well as i would have liked!
During the next month even one person who has helped me, seeing this post will confirm my confidence in this Blog as a contact point!
Comment by Paul Guyot | 06.7.2010 | 10:45 am
My brother is a cycling coach in AZ, and this past Christmas gave me a Specialized road bike. I live 1500 miles away from AZ.
There are only two Specialized dealers around here. One is six miles away, the other is 23 miles away.
I went to the six-mile-away one and had a very bad experience. So bad I called Specialized HQ and told them of it. They suggested I go to the 33-miles-away shop.
But I’m lazy and so one day I drove over to an LBS that is less than a mile from my home. They do not sell Specialized. They sell Trek and Orbea and Litespeed, and frankly, I was fearful they would all mock me and my entry-level Specialized.
But instead they treated me like I’d spent ten grand in their place. They even went so far as to say that, even though I didn’t buy the bike there, they would still give me the free adjustments, etc. for the first year just like they provide for Trekkies and Orbies.
The owner is Lance Armstrong’s Doppleganger, and he treats me with the same respect and enthusiasm I see him treat svelte, shaved, Madone 6 riding fighter pilots.
The entire staff is also incredibly patient with all my newbie questions and are kind enough to wait until I have left the shop before laughing and ridiculing everything about my Clydesdale butt and silly triple crank.
Warranty work be damned, I will never, ever go to another LBS. The shop?
GHISALLO OF ST. LOUIS.
The best LBS (with the worst web site)…
http://goghisallo.com/
Comment by skippy | 06.7.2010 | 10:47 am
Fatty knows what it is to be famous! Riding around europe these past 13 seasons i have been the “victim” of so much kindness i couldn’t even begin to start reporting the names, rank & serial no. of the various road race teams, cycle shops where i try to do my own work and the occasional “cycle tour co. mechanic ” who has pulled over to help!
GREAT BIG THANKYOU TO ALL THESE OUTSTANDING PEOPLE, & thanks Fatty for the forum to be able to give respect to those who have helped me.
Even today i replaced the ballbearings in my “Rolf Vector front wheel” as i will be at the “Dauphinee” tuesday and TDS & TDF after, suffice to say that the LBS sorted the issues causing my effort to not function as well as i would have liked!
During the next month even one person who has helped me, seeing this post will confirm my confidence in this Blog as a contact point! Wish my Computer signal carrier was quicker than “pigeon post(B/band is 20bit/sec most times)!
Comment by Keighty | 06.7.2010 | 10:48 am
I’m partial to the boys at the Provo Binghams, like Scott and Marty (and Brock, but he’s not there anymore). They genuinely take the time to know the people they work with beyond that of simply professional-customer relationships.
Comment by Zernie | 06.7.2010 | 10:51 am
The Hot Kyle and Pablo at Outdoor Adventures in Las Cruces NM, my old LBS, are absolutely the greatest. Super nice guys that make you want to give all your money to them and then ask them to date your sister (that is if I had a sister). I live in Beaverton OR, but if I get the chance I’ll still buy all my gear from NM.
Comment by mark | 06.7.2010 | 10:55 am
Gauntlet, hard AF ride, AF on single speed, then Little Cottonwood from home? Um, you may want to consider planning some recovery time into your training. Just sayin’.
Comment by Stephanie | 06.7.2010 | 10:58 am
You are so right Fatty! If you are EVER in the Albuquerque area of New Mexico, High Desert Bicycle is the place to go! Jeff, Jesse and Steinar are the shizzzzz. They really take care of this girl!
http://www.highdesertbicycles.com/
Comment by Geo | 06.7.2010 | 11:00 am
Having recently moved I’m trying a few locals to see where I end up going regularly but I may have found one when I went in to find a mount for my Edge computer to put on a second bike. The store had no extras in stock but simply pulled the mount out of a new Edge 700 box and said they would replace that later. Not bad service there.
Comment by Carl | 06.7.2010 | 11:08 am
My LBS in the Youngstown, Ohio area is Austintown Glenwood Cycle. Donny & Chris Johnson have helped me out many times over the years. Last year I took my bike in right before LIVESTRONG Philly for a tuneup and tires. When I picked it up, everything had been adjusted and it had two Michelin ProRace 3’s on it. When I tried to pay, they wouldn’t take any money and said it was their donation to LIVESTRONG!!! That was somewhere around a $160 donation.
Comment by Haven (KT) | 06.7.2010 | 11:09 am
JasonT, I agree with you on Performance Bike.
My local PB store down in Lake Grove (between Rivergrove and Lake Oswego) has the best guys working there. They don’t talk down to me, they put up with my questions, and even though it’s part of the deal with buying a bike there, I can take my bike in and they’ll fix a tire with a slow leak, adjust the brakes and the rear derailleur, check my brake pads– all with a smile and for free. They’re friendly and like to talk about rides they’ve done and rides they’re planning and really seem interested in what I’m doing.
Plus, they let me watch while repairing my bike, and tell me what they are doing, which is cool.
Comment by Kevin | 06.7.2010 | 11:15 am
I know many bike shops that would NOT go that far, but one that would is:
Danville Bike
175 Hartz Ave
Danville CA 94526
Jose Guiterrez
925)837-0966
He’s really great and so is his staff.
Also Livermore Cyclery
San Ramon Road
Dublin CA
Comment by Dan O | 06.7.2010 | 11:29 am
That’s exacty why I drive all the from my place in Central Denver out to Pedal Pusher’s in Golden for my bike stuff. They used to be about a mile from my house, now they’re 20 and well worth the trip. So if you are in the please pay Jason and Eric a visit.
life is good
Comment by Steve the BigRide | 06.7.2010 | 11:33 am
Walking into many shops you just know when you hit it right. I won’t issue any Big Wheel Cycles shameless plug because they are above any Big Wheel Cycles shameless plugs I could give. Now I will give a shameless shout out to my man Richard who works at above said shop- Big Wheel Cycles. The dude knows what you want before you walk in, it’s uncanny. The only thing he can’t figure out is if I’ve been riding. Same question, “Hey Steve, Been riding?, Here’s your (fill in the blank).” Go figure. Did I mention Big Wheel Cycles?
Comment by MOCougFan | 06.7.2010 | 11:38 am
FreeRide in Warrensburg MO. Small place. But big enough. Wes and Levi always know my name and always take good care of my 3 bikes. I agree, it is nice to have guys you can trust, and like to talk about biking as much as you do.
Comment by Alex | 06.7.2010 | 11:42 am
A great LBS is like your favorite t-shirt or a comfy pair of shoes, you hold on to it forever!
My LBS is Sharp Bicycles in Roseville, CA. These guys are amazing with bikes and even better with their customers. I went in the other day after work to buy some misc. stuff (tubes, co2, etc.) and as I was chatting with one of the Mechanics, I mentioned that I had only lived in the area for a few months and didn’t know the local trails very well. He immediately invited me to join him on a ride he had planned with another Mechanic at the shop later that evening. He even offered to come pick me up on his way out. They took me out and gave me a tour of the local awesome-ness and offered to have me join on other rides so they could show me more.
I can’t even begin to say how refreshing it is to be the new guy at a shop and be welcomed like you’ve been coming there all your life. These guys go above and beyond the call of duty!
701 Pleasant Grove Boulevard
Roseville, CA 95678-6171
916.797.8894
Monday-Saturday 10 to 6 :: Sunday 11 to 5
Comment by prodigalcyclist | 06.7.2010 | 11:58 am
I knew Racer before he was Racer – when he raced for me at the LBS I used to manage (mid 90’s). A genuinely great guy who loves bikes. Glad to see him getting the props he deserves – cause he’d NEVER promote himself or seek out any mention/attention like this (he’s probably somewhat embarrassed by this post).
Comment by Brandy | 06.7.2010 | 12:03 pm
My LBS is Velo Wrench in Vacaville CA. Vince (aka Vinny the Wrench) goes above and beyond for his customers. Riders who purchase a new bike get free lifetime brake and derailer adjustments, they get a 45 day check up and 1 free full tune up. He does customer bikes, which he has a sizercycle so you get a full fit so you are sure to get the right size bike for you!! He sponsors a local race team (Grass Roots Race Team) sponsors a rest stop for the local century ride, provides SAG also. He leads a Saturday beginner rides, and soon he will offer Park Tool School classes out of the shop.
Vinny is honest and fun, I highly recommend Velo Wrench in Vacaville CA!
1011 Mason St #5, Vacaville, CA 95688, 707-451-4706 He loves bikes!
Comment by Alice | 06.7.2010 | 12:12 pm
I love my LBS mechanic so much, that I got him to live with me! What kind of cyclist wouldn’t want 25 years of professional bike mechanic experience under their own roof?
Seriously, though… Milwaukee has a few nice LBSes. But, I gotta pimp the Bikesmiths on the east side:
http://thebikesmiths.com
A nice shop, great personal service, and they’ll treat you right – whether you’re riding around the block, or riding across the country. They’ll get you what you need. Just don’t get too friendly with the head mechanic. ;)
Comment by Andrew Oakland | 06.7.2010 | 12:18 pm
Montano Velo on Piedmont Avenue in Oakland is the jam!
Aside from being all around great guys who love bikes, they will crank Paint It Black while the shop dog (Chip) goes to town ripping apart cardboard shipping boxes.
Comment by Mikeonhisbike | 06.7.2010 | 12:26 pm
I took a bunch of scouts on a 50 mile bike ride to finish up their cycling merit badge last year. One of the scouts was having problems with a crank coming loose. When we took it to a bike shop (they will remain nameless) off of the burke gilman trail they charged this kid $7 to tighten down a single bolt that took all of 5 seconds to do. He was bewildered and everyone had to chip in for his over priced repair. I’ve never set foot in that place again.
Now on to the best shop around. Snohomish Bicycles is the complete opposite of the first story. The owner adjusted my wife’s rear derailleur and at the same time gave her a little clinic on how to do it herself at the same time. When he was finished making all of his adjustments there was no charge. I will forever takes my bikes there. If you’re in the area you should check them out. A really class act. http://www.snohomishbicycles.com/
Comment by Matt Codina | 06.7.2010 | 12:41 pm
I dont go anywhere but racers too. Mad Dogs, Provo, is great and I love the the guys there but nothing beats Racers service and friendlyness haha. Ill never stop going there.
Comment by Ed L. | 06.7.2010 | 12:45 pm
I’ll add in another great Chicago bike shop: Roscoe Village Bikes (http://www.roscoevillagebikes.com/). I am lucky enough to live nearby, but would travel across the city if need be to support these guys. Alex and his wife Lesley have put together a great, friendly community bike shop that carries everything from fixies to urban dutch-style bikes and caters to racers, commuters, utility cyclists, bike-path warriors and kids in training wheels with aplomb.
(Alex is also an awesome wheel builder. A good resource to have for us clydes.)
Comment by jarviscera | 06.7.2010 | 1:08 pm
Racer deserves the love 100%! He is a quality guy.
Comment by Steve | 06.7.2010 | 1:16 pm
Smiley at R&E Bicycles in Seattle. He’s great. Enthusiastic, funny, and knows what he’s talking about.
He also treats everyone who walks through the door like they’re his most important customer. My wife and sister-in-law have both bought new bikes from him because he was able to listen to what they wanted. It sounds simple but I think we can all remember bike shop experiences where this wasn’t the case.
Comment by Eric | 06.7.2010 | 1:28 pm
Crank Daddy’s in Milwaukee WI. The shop manager Andy is great, along with the rest of the staff. They spent time to figure out what I wanted and which bike would be best when I was looking for my first road bike, and didn’t try to sell me something that I didn’t need. Andy also spent an hour making sure the bike fit was correct, something that a my riding buddies who bought at a bigger shop didn’t get. Recently, my saddle started cracking and they got it replaced under warranty no questions asked even though it was past one year. Great service from a great staff.
Comment by Jarrett | 06.7.2010 | 1:34 pm
Check out A1 Cyclery in Indianapolis, IN. They’re a great help, they really know their bikes, and the service department is great. My bride and I have bought 4 bikes from them in the last 3 years.
http://a1cyclery.com/
Comment by kenny | 06.7.2010 | 1:35 pm
I feel like Norm at Cheers when I go to Racer’s.
Comment by Clydesteve | 06.7.2010 | 1:37 pm
My LBS is Steves garage. He has all the tools for just about any bike repair job, and I never charges me.
Too bad I am such a grouch, or I would hire me more often.
Comment by Bill | 06.7.2010 | 1:39 pm
Funny, I just wrote a short post about my LBS this weekend…Trek Portsmouth is a great shop that services my Orbea (even though they are a Trek shop :)
The post is here http://projektyle.blogspot.com/2010/06/word-from-our-non-sponsor.html
Comment by Bee | 06.7.2010 | 1:44 pm
I have great love for both Spokes Etc in Alexandria VA and for Papillion on Columbia Pike, Arlington, VA. Spokes sold me my first grown-up bike and did the maintenance/tune up thing for it (and did a GREAT job helping me find parts on sale- a bonus when I was in grad school!), and Papillion was just a total sweetheart. As a new biker, I got a flat on the trail and was walking a long walk back. I saw the shop, stopped in to ask what went wrong, and he not only checked it out, but he taught me how to check a tire, how to fix it, and threw in the tube and the repair free of charge. I bought all my tubes and a bunch of other stuff from him my whole time in Arlington.
Here in CT, I currently feel the love for Benidorm, who were mechanic-ing a trail ride on Saturday. They checked my back tire and even complimented my installation of my bike computer, even as they fixed it a little to make it better. It takes talent to fix something on someone else’s bike and still make them feel smart and cool.
Comment by Iain | 06.7.2010 | 1:57 pm
The guys at Bike Barn in Houston are awesome! Especially my local store at Champions. Took huge amounts of time to fit my son and I for bikes. Everytime you go in you feel welcome and no question is too stupid… All the staff are willing to help and the store rides are great too. Kudos to Curt and his team.
Comment by Arizona Guy | 06.7.2010 | 2:18 pm
I have to give props to Duane at Boulder Cycle Sport. I bought my tri bike there 3 years ago (and got a screaming deal on it BTW) and Duane (who crews for local pro teams ) greets me with a big grin every time I come in with one of my shadetree mechanic mishaps.
The unltimate was when I came in with a Shimano bar-end shifter in pieces after I had ‘loosend’ a few screws in pursuit of a rattle. Those shifters would make a Swiss watchmaker cry. Duane fiddled with the damn thing for almost an hour, but got it back together (without the rattle) and refused to take any money. I manage to stuff a 20 in his apron every now and then …but he’ll never write up a ticket for me.
Comment by Ol Gal Chris | 06.7.2010 | 2:41 pm
Gils Bikes in Lancaster CA. Purchased my Masi there and they always take excellent care of me, including things like adding a brake to my fixie for free. They also go above and beyond biking needs. When I broke my ankle in a car accident and went in to whine about not being able to ride for several months the wrench Chad hooked up my crutches with a bottle cage!!!!
I was the envy of all the gimps in my area thanks to him!!!
They have my bike as I type this to change the gearing in anticipation of being back in the saddle in a few weeks. They get all of my business.
Comment by Mary | 06.7.2010 | 2:44 pm
I live in Largo, Florida and LOVE Ride and Roll Cyclery. Josh, the absolute best mechanic ever, is constantly trying to “teach” me how to fix the things that I mess up on my bike…When I go to the shop, I realize that great customer service still exists.
Comment by SoCal Guy | 06.7.2010 | 2:46 pm
I love Racer. I drove from SoCal to Provo, Utah just so I could buy matching his and hers cyclocross bikes from Racer because he is such an awesome guy with such a great shop. He volunteers at the local animal shelter and serves as a foster home for Malamutes. He fixes homeless people’s bikes free of charge. I saw him fix a wheelchair cyclists’ handcycle once who told him in advance he couldn’t pay him. He’s that kind of guy. http://racerscycleservice.com/
Comment by B. Erath | 06.7.2010 | 2:48 pm
Having lived in Utah when Racer was just getting started, I can attest that in all the places I’ve lived I’ve never found another person that provides the same level of service in such a helpful, friendly manner.
There were numerous occasions where he showed me, a poor starving college student at the time, the same benevolent treatment.
Comment by Tom | 06.7.2010 | 3:01 pm
Yeah, I love this kind of stuff, especially because when it happens it’s such a surprise.
I took my CX into a LBS (Spokes, spokesbikes.com) in Naperville, IL (on Washington, just north of 87th st) for a tune up.
I don’t really even like the owner, but the kid who worked on my bike (Kyle) really went beyond what I expected. He didn’t just clean the parts he was adjusting, which is what I expected. He 1. Cleaned the entire bike. 2. Wiped down my mini-pump. 3. Took time to notice the particulars of my bike’s setup and talk to me about potential concerns and then made additional adjustments, again going beyond the normal tune up.
I work in a service related job and I understand that great service is often more a function of the individual doing the work than it is about the company. So I really appreciate that the place has a guy like Kyle working for them. Regardless of my dislike for the owner, I’ll take my bike back to Kyle again . . . and again . . . and . . .
Comment by Anonymous | 06.7.2010 | 3:06 pm
A Tale of Two Shops.
The first shop is where I bought my bike. I knew nothing and relied on their advice. They would sell you anything. One time I asked if a small tube of expensive grease was for the chain. “Yes, you can use it on that.”
After I learned something about cycling I went to another shop and was actually talked out of buying
some stuff that I didn’t need. And they were right.
I don’t go to the first shop anymore.
Comment by aussie kev | 06.7.2010 | 3:19 pm
http://m1cycles.blogspot.com/
M1 cycles Gladstone Australia – awesome shop and an awesome guy running it.
Comment by Tina Z | 06.7.2010 | 3:30 pm
Mike at Smart Cycles in Norwalk (http://www.smartcycles.com/) always goes above and beyond. I bought a Giant Alliance from him at last year and was treated very well. That wasn’t even the best part. He later retrofitted my husband to his road bike which was he didn’t buy there, for free. All he bought that day were new shoes. In fact, every time we go in Mike and his crew help make our bikes more awesome. And he talks us down from buying overpriced stuff we don’t need, which he sells. I plan on buying my next mtn bike from him even though I’m moving to the south next month. Go Mike!!!
Comment by Lorie | 06.7.2010 | 3:44 pm
Route 66 Bicycles in Rolla, MO! http://www.route66bicycles.com LOVE DANNO AND ALL THE GUYS! Only shop I know of that WON’T sell you stuff you don’t need and all the guys are honest. Besides, he keeps pink bike stuff around just for me! ;) Lorie
Comment by roan | 06.7.2010 | 4:00 pm
I recently did the Montcello Century out of Vacaville CA. I was riding with another guy when we came across a rider with stuff spread across the shoulder trying to repair a flat (very tight fit and he had blown out the new tube and no patch kit). I started the patching and the other guy checked over the bike & tire. In the end we got the guy moving with lots of info on needed things to do and a new tube, too. Never did the other rider mention he works as a bike mechanic at B&L in Davis.
I carry a floor pump ands spare tubes in my car and actually have made quite a few stops to help cyclists. When you haul out a floor pump their eyes light up. A free tube is gravy.
Fatty, one route I ride is East Lake Sammamish and have fixed flats on two occasions on bikes that cost 10-12 times my used Debarnardi…ahhh microsoftees…wo a motherboard (calling home for a pickup).
Comment by roan | 06.7.2010 | 4:19 pm
Paul Guyot (above) mentioned a doppleganger of Lance Armstrong at his LBS.
B & L bike shop in Davis, CA has a bike mechanic doppleganger of George Hincapie…goes by the name of Adam.
Comment by Bryan (not that one) | 06.7.2010 | 4:24 pm
I wish I had a good LBS repair/maintenance story. Unfortunately all the ones I’ve dealt with I had bad experiences — stuff I didn’t need or overcharging.
On the bright side, I now have a healthy supply of Park Tools, Zinn books, knowledge and experience to do about anything I want on my bike.
My favorite LBS is only for bikes, accessories, and clothing. I am my own mechanic.
Comment by Triflefat | 06.7.2010 | 5:15 pm
Note to Racer. Despite this shameless attempt by Fatty to pump up your tyres, make sure you charge him full retail to build that beautiful SS Fattyfly! Two reasons.
1. Everyone else here is already green with envy at the sweet deal he’s getting, so you don’t need to gild the lily for him.
2. You have to earn enough to keep the door open for all the other devotees of your wonderful bike shop (Kenny, Mark etc.)
Comment by Trevor Christensen | 06.7.2010 | 5:43 pm
That rules. I’m a Provo guy and I’ve never been to Racer’s. Time to change that.
Comment by Gordon In Melb, Australia | 06.7.2010 | 6:31 pm
Montmorency in suburban Melbourne. Marcus of Walkers Wheels is absolutely good for nothing…..and he would be dissapointed if I said anything else.
Poor range of bike and especially poor service, what he really needs is a new location with a Faema coffee machine……and he could also stop annoying the regulars by introducing them to other sad sack collectors.
Comment by Barbara | 06.7.2010 | 6:33 pm
Whenever people ask me what kind of bike they should buy for recreational riding, I tell them to pick a LBS where they will want to take the bike and develop a relationship, and start there with shopping whatever 2-3 brands they carry – pretty good chance they’ll find soemthing that works for them. For most of us (recreational cyclists – as opposed to people like Fatty who buy bikes like some women buy shoes), we won’t notice the difference between a Trek or a Specialized or a Fuji as long as it fits. But developing a relationship with the LBS will make all the difference.
Mine is High Road Cycles in Wayne PA. They take good care of my bikes and are always great to talk biking with.
Comment by WheelDancer | 06.7.2010 | 6:39 pm
There are a ton of great shops here in the Minneapolis area along with a couple of chain stores that are often a letdown. A few weeks back we had great experiences with two of them and since there’s a Fatty connection, it’s a good story to share here.
We rented a tandem from one shop, picking it up on Friday night with the plan to keep it for the weekend. We show up at a ride on Saturday that happens to start from another shop and go to make some sizing adjustments only to find the seat-post clamp on the pilot’s saddle (and the stoker’s handlebars!) had stripped bolts and couldn’t be tightened. We run into the shop to see if they could make it rideable and after much hunting and pecking came up with the parts needed and sent us on our way refusing any payment for the parts.
Turns out there were some other issues with the bike, mostly that it wasn’t up to our snobbish standards so we return it Saturday night, a day early. The shop we rented it from was very apologetic that it wasn’t right and even though we did have if for the full 24 hours and got in a fair number of miles were willing to knock 25% off our rental of just the one day though we had signed up for two. When he brought the receipt for me to sign it was 50% off and when I pointed out his mistake, he pointed at my Fat Cyclist jersey and said “I can tell you’re a good guy so that’s all I’m charging.”
A good deed from another friend of Fatty!
The shops were
FreeWheelBike http://freewheelbike.com/
and
Tonka Cycle and Ski http://tonkacycleandski.com/
Just two of the great shops around this part of the world.
Comment by HeidiR | 06.7.2010 | 7:12 pm
My favorite LBS is Grafton Ski and Cycle in Grafton, Wisconsin. It’s a relatively small shop, since they carry lots of skiing and snowboarding gear as well. I was sold on the shop when I purchased a new pair of X-C skis there last winter. I went back this spring for a new Trek road bike, and the owner (Bill) showed me the entry-level Trek based on what I told him I wanted. After hours of questions that Bill very patiently answered, I ended up buying a much better model. Never once did he try to push me on the higher model, he just answered my questions. Given that I despise high-pressure sales, it was perfect for me. All the guys (and gals!) there are great. After a nasty fall, they trued my wheel, and checked over everything to make sure I hadn’t done any other damage – no charge. I love these guys so much that I went back and bought my two teenage boys new bikes from them…and more spandex than I ever imagined I would own, because I’m cycling so much now!
Comment by ckcycling | 06.7.2010 | 8:22 pm
I’m a junior road racer and let me tell you something. Junior gearing restrictions SUCK! My first few races ever I passed roll-out, but one race I failed ( I had passed within inches before). The next day I stopped in at my LBS and asked the owner to help me set up junior gears. Ten minutes later after tips on everthings from climbing to how to talk to riders while racing so they’ll be more likely to pull you during a race he was done. I slapped a ten on the counter and he said that I’m all set and not to pay.
Mr. Poldolski of New Horizons Sports in Westfield, Ma is the coolest shop owner ever.
Comment by Sue | 06.7.2010 | 8:28 pm
Scott’s Cycle and Sports in Hermiston, OR and Kennewick, WA. Scott and his sons Steven and Brian and their crew are the best!
Comment by Miles Archer | 06.7.2010 | 8:43 pm
Second on Danville Bike. It’s not my shop but the guy there let me use a floor pump when I needed it.
My shop is Traction Bikes. http://tractionbikes.com/
Used to be Mike’s Bikes in Pleasant Hill until another Mike in the area started a chain.
He fixed my ancient Cannondale when it spit up the rear derailleur out of the used parts bin for about $5.
Peformance Bikes is closer and Sports Basement is cheaper, but for most stuff, I go to Traction.
Comment by Liz | 06.7.2010 | 9:10 pm
Plano Cycling & Fitness in Plano TX. The service I’ve received there was as good the first time I walked into the store as it is now that I know most of the staff by name. I drive past another store, where you seem to have to know somebody to get treated well, to get to PCF.
http://planocycling.com/
Comment by Greg | 06.7.2010 | 9:22 pm
Hellgate Cyclery in Missoula, MT rocks.
Comment by AK Chick | 06.7.2010 | 10:39 pm
My favorite bike shop is Speedway Cycles in Anchorage, AK. I have shopped at other bike stores and have never felt very comfortable. I went into one shop when I was looking for mountain bike shoes and they never said one word to me.
I recently discovered Speedway over the winter. The staff are always nice and helpful. They treat me like a friend or family. I feel comfortable in their shop. I asked about bike tune-ups recently and was told they are $50. Dropped my bike off and we asked about the handlebar tape my hubby had put on for me. They explained how to finish off the end and offered to fix that part, but that the rest looked pretty good (it was his first attempt at handlebar tape, but he is a pretty meticulous person and I had no doubt he’d do a great job the first time).
The store where I bought my bike did the warranty tune-up last year. I was having problems shifting from the small chainring to the middle one. I told them about it and they didn’t fix it. They messed up the adjustment on my brakes. Pew! Took my bike to Speedway for the $50 tune-up and low and behold I no longer have problems shifting. Hmmmm. I didn’t tell them about it. Figured it was me. I love their shop and I’ll continue taking my bike(s) there in future.
For my money, Speedway Cycles in Alaska is the way to go!
Comment by Jeremy | 06.7.2010 | 11:12 pm
I am a tinkerer at heart, so I do the vast majority of my own work on my bike. I enjoy the poking, prodding and moments of frustration working on my bikes provide. I’m also a cheap S.O.B. and have bought exactly two new bikes in my entire life.
Our 3 bike shops downtown are all top notch with cool folks. The Bike Peddler (http://www.bikepeddler.net/) helped me out with a fundraising project for the Seattle Challenge last year and are my choice for shoes and clothes.
My favorite go hang out and scrounge parts LBS, Scott’s Cycle (http://www.scottscycle.com/), is my go-to shop for my self-created “Oh, no!” moments and all my used (and sometimes new) parts at surprisingly reasonable prices.
My best case in point happens to be the 272.8 Miles of Nowhere in May. My Garmin speed and cadence sensor stopped reading speed less that 20 miles in. I pulled the bike off the trainer and rode the block from the park I was at to the shop. They dropped everything to help me troubleshoot the sensor then sold me the only one left in town at a discount and installed it right then, no additional charge, to get me back on my way. They made the 100 Miles of Nowhere event happen for me this year.
Comment by Team Coffee Nook | 06.7.2010 | 11:14 pm
Team Coffee Nook loves Kennewick Cycle in Kennewick, WA. Aaron is our bike guy and Tony is our master mechanic. They understand we want to actually ride our bikes and so the work is usually done in a day or two; that is unless they tell you to just wait a minute and fix it while you stand there.
Comment by AK Chick | 06.7.2010 | 11:14 pm
Forgot to include Speedway’s URL: http://speedwaycyclesak.com/
Comment by Mrs Brooks | 06.7.2010 | 11:36 pm
My husband, Lan, is my bike hero. He got me started but he also keeps me going. He was a certified coach and mechanic so I never have to worry about anything. Yesterday I noticed the brakes were rubbing, he found a broken spoke so he replaced the little thingy at the end and made it ‘true’ (is that the right word?) and he checked a couple other things and we were off. He also got me interested in triathlons too and I have now completed 4 with 2 more on my agenda for the summer, so far. I love my husband, he watches out for me.
Comment by Randall | 06.8.2010 | 2:51 am
If you are in the Washington DC or Northern VIrginia area, Conte’s of Arlington is terrific! If you are interested in a shop where they have in stock the best bikes (love my Cervelo) and components and you want for your bicycle to fit perfectly when you leave the store, Conte’s is your shop. Big shout out to Jason Walder and Clovis Anderson who have taken very good care of me and my daughter when we come in the store. They never charge me for minor repairs and adjustments and are a joy to deal with.
http://contesbikestores.com/articles/contes-of-arlington-va-pg614.htm
Comment by Tank_Engine | 06.8.2010 | 6:16 am
There is a local bike store that is rather small and doesn’t have a lot of flash like the nearby bigger bike stores but it has an owner like your Racer.
I have a first year Trek Madone 5.9SL that came with a compact crank. The front D never shifted well. I had numerous people look at adjustment and it never worked well. Finally the front D broke due to stress on the cage. I went to this little shop and the owner took one look at the hanger and exclaimed, “No wonder you never got it working that hanger slot is too high.”.
Everyone else just fiddled with the thing he fixed it. He took the hanger off the bike and brought out a dremel tool and carefully lengthened the hole. He then used shims to get the cage alignment perfect. It now shifts like butter.
Thanks Gerry at Trek Stop Grafton
Comment by jodi | 06.8.2010 | 7:05 am
Chris Sheehan and Robin Farina @ Uptown Cycles in Charlotte, NC always go out of their way for me. A quick gear adjustment here and there, or some quick coaching advice or just a cup of coffee – it’s the little things that I don’t expect but really appreciate.
Comment by Swanny | 06.8.2010 | 7:35 am
I went to register and my tire flatted at the table. I was running late , 10 minutes to the race and I wasn’t dressed. I ran my bike over to the bike repair guys, Scott Hodge and Cody of Addictive Cycles. He said I got it, go change. When I got back, Scott changed the flat, fixed the sharp edge that caused it. Then he adjusted my brakes and derailers and all in 5 minutes. Because of his help, I podiumed and had a great race.
Scott Hodge and Cody at Addictive in Braselton GA, are two of my LBS Heroes.
Comment by Boomer | 06.8.2010 | 8:42 am
I got two. Both are professional and very patient with my dumb questions. If I were fiscallt savvy, I’d stay with one but you gotta support your LBSs and both shops are worth the money and they all bend over backwards.
Denis Coyne at The Bike Habitat takes care of my Kona. http://bikehabitat.com/
The Bike Smith in Carson are my Trek guys. I only know Mickey’s name but they’re all great there.
Comment by Boomer | 06.8.2010 | 8:43 am
Whoops – Those LBSs are in or near Carson City, Nevada.
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Comment by Craig Bowman | 06.8.2010 | 9:54 am
In Southern California, the shop to get the best service is easily Sundance Cycles on Kanan Road in Agoura. AJ – Ashton Johnson owner.
Comment by Joe | 06.8.2010 | 10:21 am
Tony Butterworth’s in Sheffield, England. The single greatest shop in the city, perhaps the country.
Comment by Jeff | 06.8.2010 | 10:32 am
Bicycle Sport, Louisville, KY
http://bicyclesportinc.com
Went in there Saturday with an acting up wireless computer. Left there with a new sensor, nothing out of pocket, no questions asked.
Great shop, great guys.
Comment by Jeremiah | 06.8.2010 | 11:34 am
Here’s my story Fatty.
http://teamcarborocket.wordpress.com/2010/06/08/your-lbs-a-response-to-fatty/
Comment by Melanie | 06.8.2010 | 12:44 pm
I got a new LBS earlier this year – one of about a dozen bike shops in York (UK), all but 3 of which are indies.
Jon at Cyclestreet isn’t interested in selling you stuff you don’t need or won’t use – he just wants you to love riding as much as he does. He has incredible patience with my pretty retro-racer (with its non-modern-standard sizing & extra maintenance demands.) He also makes a mean cup of tea!
http://twitter.com/CycleStreet
http://www.jondean.f2s.com/
Comment by Kendra | 06.8.2010 | 1:44 pm
I love Racer’s, he is awesome. Last year for 24 hours of Moab I crashed and was having problems with my bike. Even though Racer was racing he told me to bring my bike over and he fixed it! I could tell many more great stories about Racer’s.
Comment by Davidq | 06.8.2010 | 3:44 pm
Had one in SoCal and now one in Iowa. Time to start searching Indianapolis/Southern IN (moving again).
Open Road Bicycle Shop in Pasadena. you will either love it or hate it. Steve is an incredible mechanic who simply amazes me. He designs new parts (created Side-Mount-Pedals) and has a new stem and wheel design coming out. If you want a meticulously organized shop, this is not for you. A little chaos goes a long way in his shop. He knows where everything is. Spend 10 minutes and you will get a good handle on where everything is. No URL for his shop that I know of.
In Iowa, Kyle’s Bikes is my local favorite. May not always recall my name (heck, “I” struggle with that) but my face they know. Blew a wheel on a stretching ride, and no one in town had a spoke. Kyle found a way to get me to my race that day. This shop is organized and meticulous. The service is incredible.
Glad to see the one Indy recommendation.
Comment by MU | 06.8.2010 | 6:52 pm
Josef from http://flyingpigeon-la.com is the man in Los Angeles. He opened up his shop next door to the non-profit bike collective he also founded. And he still spends hours helping people figure out how to rig a unique ride, track down an obscure Dutch part, or lobby their local city councilman to put in a bike lane. One of biking’s best friends.
Comment by Kathleen@ForgingAhead | 06.9.2010 | 8:57 am
What a great story!
I live in San Francisco (home of a thousand bike shops) but drive to Pt. Reyes to have Mike Varley of Black Mountain Cycles work on my bike. I think he and Racer might be related :-)
Comment by John | 06.9.2010 | 11:34 pm
Racer is the best. I live an hour north of Racer’s shop and often take my bike to him; passing multiple shops along the way.
I’m a nobody with a mid-level bike that I will keep for the next 10 years but he still treats me like I just bought a high-end bike off of him and might buy another in two years. That’s rare.
Comment by Erik | 06.10.2010 | 6:46 am
Glenn, Brian and all the people at Campus Cyclery in Cincinnati!
Always there for me in a pinch. Always willing to help. Great to ride with. Good people.
Comment by Jules | 06.11.2010 | 4:05 pm
I know it’s a little late but I’d be remiss if I didn’t post my fav LBS’ in North Texas. Of course my favorite is my boyfriend. He’s very knowledgeable about all things bike related and helped me get my start in cycling. His knowledge comes from years of tinkering with his own bikes and racing but he also works part-time for The Bicycle Path in Denton, TX. Gary, the owner, and the rest of the crew are awesome and very knowledgeable. Plano Cycling & Fitness is another awesome shop I frequent. I just went there for a fit and now my ride is much more comfortable. They are also one of the sponsors of my racing team, PACC.
Comment by adam | 06.13.2010 | 4:28 am
alas no longer my LBS (now live about 3000 miles away), but Stevie at Specialised Cycles in Connaught Road, Norwich, UK is everything you could want from an LBS guy. Mostly grumpy, but usually entertainingly so, and the most dependable, expert and good value bike shop around. I try to stop by for some abuse (erm, advice )every time i’m in the country.
Comment by Sean | 06.15.2010 | 6:55 pm
Phat Moose Cycles in Ottawa, Canada – Dave and Kent are the owners and while the shop is pretty gritty, they build the best wheels in town. Two examples – Kent lent me his personal DH bike for a friend to ride when he was visiting from BC. Another time, Kent pulled the FOX 36 fork off his personal bike so I could demo it for two weeks.
Comment by Steven | 08.4.2010 | 10:36 am
If you live near Richmond, VA check out Carytown Bike Shop. I (and my buddies) have gone to the larger / sell a ton of bikes just a short trip from my home and each time it’s hit or miss whether good service is offered. So I went to C.B.S. after a tire blowout that sounded like a gun going off beneath me (ripped tire) after going to beforementioned shop without success. The bunch of young guys at Carytown provide great service and good conversation. Keith is quick to provide insight and point me to products that aren’t necessary the most expensive they carry. You can’t beat honest and sincere advice. It’s nice to be respected as a customer.