I am fortunate. I have a great local bike shop. The owner has real chops. Serious riding chops. He could by all measure act like an ass and a part of me would say “Well, at least the guy is a baller,” but something magical happens when I enter his shop. He doesn’t act like an ass. He KNOWS I’m a dipshit when it comes to bikes. He KNOWS with certainty, but he doesn’t treat me like the dipshit I am. When it comes to me and bikes, I’m exactly like the Tom Cruise character in Days of Thunder when he looks at the Robert Duvall character and says “Ain’t nothing I can’t do in a race car.” Does he know how to work on the car? No, not even close. But he can drive. That’s me on a bike. Any bike. I’m no pro, but I can ride.
When I need assistance, I have the local shop, and I know I can trust the shop to do right by me.
I can also use the shop as a way to better understand cycling in general. I can find other riders who enjoy the same types of riding I do, and I can also use the shop to learn about routes and other happenings in the local scene. As Arleigh explains so well in this film, we need shops for culture and community, but most shops have a LONG way to go when it comes to ensuring their survival. As I mentioned before, I’m fortunate because I still have a great bike shop, but Santa Fe just lost one of our longest running outfits and rumor has it another might be on thin ice. There is a crisis happening.
I know Arleigh, at least a little bit, and I feel just as she does when it comes to the experience of visiting most shops in North America. I should feel fantastic when I get a chance to visit a bike shop, but most of the time there is a specific flavor of condescension, ego, lack of product knowledge, and sales folks scrolling bike born on Instagram. You might hit a downhill shop, a mountain shop or a gravel shop, and if you aren’t down with the specific kind of bike the salesperson likes, well, out of luck.
I’ve also had bike shop owners blatantly lie to my face in an attempt to sell me a bike in the wrong size, with the wrong components, and then promise me they could modify the bike in the way I wanted, not knowing I had already reached out to the brand to see if this scenario was possible. (It wasn’t.) The same shop then stole parts of another bike during assembly, and on my first ride the rear wheel fell off. When I heard about the beginnings of a bike shop crisis, my first thought was “What took so long?” However, do not for one minute think I am seriously down on bike shops. We need them and we need more people on bikes. If you want horrible customer service and sales just go to ANY car dealership. They make bike shops look like five star trips to Tahiti. Or try a motorcycle dealer. Or off road shop. Again, I always wonder how these places stay in business.
Just today I was walking to a meeting and was thinking about what it would be like to venture out on a long, slow bike tour. I know my future, at least for the next two years, and there is no time for anything like a bike tour, but that’s the price for doing what I do. I’m not complaining. I get in what I can, and dreaming about potential future “things,” is a lot of fun. Bikes are something I can do for the rest of my life, and I plan on doing so.
Arleigh also points out the self-inflicted wounds that brands inspire all by themselves. I have to agree with this, although I would never call myself an expert. A few years ago I reached out to the brand that my fav endurance cyclist rides. They were horrible people. All of them. From the people at the brand to the sales people I spoke with. They were mean, arrogant, unhelpful and the entire experience felt like something The Onion would have dreamed up. It so turned me off to the brand that I made a point of steering as many people away from that brand as possible, including some family members who were ready to purchase one of their models. I kept thinking “How are you still in business?” I feel like these brands do so much for pros, making films, hosting events, etc, but when it comes to dealing with minions like us, well, no time.
But I have hope. One of the brands I ride has done so many kind things that I will always speak highly of them, and I’ve sent countless people in their direction. Dear cycling brands, it makes a HUGE difference. When you burn someone in the Communication Age, you are going to feel the pain. (Subaru burned me, so I burned them.) I have hope. I do. Things will get better. We might sink some ships in the process, but ultimately bikes will prevail. Okay, not here in North America, at least until gas hits $10 a gallon and our politicians figure out a way to personally profit from bike infrastructure. But I digress. Bicycles are strategic and they are a blast. Onward.
One of the trickiest things about society today is that you can’t make someone care. There has to be an innate motivation, and a lot of folks don’t seem to have it. If you are a salesperson and you don’t want to know every single thing about every single thing on your showroom, well, that means you are part of the high-turnover workforce. Come in, do the minimum, make some money, leave. I always tell people, there is no separation between my private life and my professional life. There are no days of the week scenarios meaning each day of the week is the exact same as the next. If I need to work Saturday and Sunday I do. So brands and shops have a real challenge on their hands, which is another reason why I’m not entirely down on them. Finding stellar staff is damn difficult.
And finally, we are to blame here. Cyclists can be geeky and tribe-like. Roadies don’t deal with downhillers who don’t deal with cargo bike riders who don’t deal with recumbent riders. Young gravel riders refuse to wave and say hello. Mountain bikers drive way too fast on their way up the mountain. Roadies ride entitled from time to time. (This will surely spawn the lunatic comments from people who hate bikes.) We need to think about “us” instead of thinking about “I.” Anyone on a bike is legit. It’s that simple. ANYONE, for ANY REASON. If we want the bike shop crisis to disappear we need to get more people on bikes. Bikes need to become the default not the exception. Do I have hope this will happen in my lifetime? No. In the United States? No chance. We continually shoot ourselves in the foot when it comes to anything pertaining to this issue, but elsewhere, maybe there is a chance.
Comments 24
I just recently bought myself a new gravel bike after months (years?) of putting it off. Also, thanks to your encouragement from a previous video comment you made to me.
I wholly love the experience of riding a bike and feeling like a little kid again only in adult form.
I for one could not have done it without my local bike shop and others like it. These people have experience far beyond the average bike rider and I know I’m going to keep going back to them when I need help.
Bike culture is a strange thing. We all want it, yet we are so divided by our groups like you alluded to. When one is threatened (eg. bike lane removal) the others don’t necessarily step in to support. “It only affects the roadies, and not me, Mr. Mountain Biker”.
It’s true, we need to really see biking as the norm and not the exception. Here’s to a better (and safer) riding future.
Author
Well done lad. Gravel is a blast. Just make sure to wave to people. Makes a huge difference. 20-something’s on gravel bikes won’t wave back as they spend most of their time watching films on YT. Very serious, these folks.
Not in Canada either. Too much winter. Right now there is so much ice and snow and frozen slop on the roads and bike paths that even with the electrically assisted fat bike studded tires it’s near suicidal. That’s to say nothing of the current driver climate here, that seems to see bike lanes as a particularly pernicious form of woke-ism. (I don’t know what their definition of woke is, other than anything they don’t like.) Some of the local city councillors are promising to tear out every bike lane in the city.
You’re right about bike culture. When I was out on the nice road bike, the roadies would condescend to wave, though I was painfully slow by their standards. Unless I was wearing a triathlon related shirt. Then I was invisible at best.
Author
Anytime I hear this I think of those Fins riding in mid winter. I’m a total wuss, so there are days when I think “Nope, not today,” but most of the time I’ll give it a go. Head, feet, hands. My brother and I used to ride with no helmets. Roadies would yell at us the entire time.
Man, you are so right. When I was heavy into biking, participating in my local bike club even to the point of acting as president for one year… my god… the egos. The bullshit. I’d show up for rides on my city bike or my steel touring bike and so many of my fellow bikers would look at me and my bikes like I was insane and/or stupid. Advocacy for trying to make biking safer… god forbid. We used to have a fella here who owned a shop and he was the only one who didn’t treat me as less than because I wanted a bike rack installed so I could actually use my bike for silly things like going to the grocery store. He died a few years ago so now we’re left with one bike shop. All they sell are road bike and lycra. I don’t even bother going in there.
ps: What did Subaru do to piss you off? I drive a Forester and love it. But I bought it used after doing a shit ton of research because I am particular about my cars and had a specific list of features that I wasn’t willing to compromise on, down to the color. I knew everything about it before I even approached a dealership. The sales person was useless. But I haven’t had experience with an actual Subaru dealership so I am curious.
Author
You have a lot of men who watch a lot of videos and a lot of cycling races and they take themselves WAY too seriously. And if you aren’t in their little click they have no time for you. I’ve even seen this spill over into our cycling sisters. A bit of machismo that isn’t great. I did see one face plant a while back. They ride in packs and also refuse to wave because I might be a creep that wants something from them.
I benefit from a local bike shop that is an integral part of the cycling scene and an indie bookshop where I can have conversations with the staff about Kafka. Sure you might not get your bike fixed in an hour or your special order book in a day, but you do get better service from knowledgeable people. Part of the problem rests with customers who now expect instant gratification that local shops can’t fulfill. We live by the motto made famous by the Dead Kennedys “give me convenience or give me death.”
Author
Local is the best. Dying on the vine here in the old US. Most people, even the flag wavers, will choose cheap Chinese over American.
O man …a Kafka and Dead Kennedy’s reference …I am not alobe!
Author
You are not alone!
Aww Keith come on man… I am live in Winnipeg and I cycle year round. I have embraced bicycle advocacy as my 40 year long photography career is seeing the end in sight. There is no bad weather just woeful infrastructure and the wrong layers.
Bike Shop Girl is amazing and she loves to call it as it truly is.
Another good one, BikeFarmer’s “Top 10 Reasons Bicycle Mechanics are A$$HOLES!” He’s a good one, Milnor you will like this guy!
https://youtu.be/lJxxph5pQEg?si=6tBilCn7b0rdjFCH
Author
That sounds magical. And anyone with Farmer in the name is cool. Thank you.
Hi Ian, most of the time I would agree with you. There’s lots of people here that cycle year round, or nearly so. It’s not the cold. It’s only -5 C or so here, and as you say it’s a matter of dressing right. It’s the condition of the roads. First real snow of the year, with some melt and freeze and more snow. We’ve got crusty ice buildup, ruts, snow covering smooth and slick ice, and most people are trying to remember how to cope.
Author
I’m an expert. Just double your speed.
Totalling 350000 bike km’s in my lifetime I estimated tonight. And for almost 20+ years I buy all my bikes and parts in my local bike shop. Whatever brand they are selling I follow them with my money. So many brands have been under my feet and hands. Why? Because I buy a service from them, not a bike or a part. Whatever problem ever occurred, during this period, they solved it. All of them, always. That’s why I don’t buy on the net(exception was CV19 lockdown). For a few dollars, euros or yens less you could be on a path of horror. So my message is: talk to the people and hopefully you find some shop owner who talks and acts in the way I described above. When not, leave and choose the next one until you find him, her or them. It’s not about the product in this shitty economy, it’s about care and service. Cars, camera’s, computers, bikes, motorcycles, etc. if it needs care after purchasing, the service will define it’s name and fame.
Author
You don’t count. That’s too many K’s, which are a sure sign you are a communist. We use MILES Reiner. Great advice. And on a serious note, can’t wait to ride with you some day.
🙂
35 years x 10000km/year=350000km’s /1,6093= 217485 miles
Oh, and we own a car which totals 10000km/yr, which is way to much but life without a car got veto’d by the misses 😉
Author
That is a lot of movement, and I like it. Don’t forget the trains…
There’s a bike shop near me run by one mechanic. I swear he’s one of the best bike mechanics in the whole of Japan, but his customer care skills are some of the worst I’ve ever known. Locals have always put up with him because he is that good, but I can’t see him lasting nowadays with the younger crowd and the fancy Trek shops that offer free coffee and spotlessly clean work stations. I eventually stopped going because it wasn’t worth the hassle. He also had a mentally sick pet monkey in a cage – in the shop – that was always disturbing.
All he needs (needed) to do was hire a weekend assistant that could smile, and he’d be fine.
Author
That is the best story I’ve ever heard. Now I want to go to that shop just to see the monkey. You gave me nightmares and for this, I thank you.
We have one great bike shop in town …super helpful people ; have ancient spare parts for sale under the counter, know everything inside and out. Most people though head to the Big Box stores and buy a bike from a part time sales person who learned their “trade” from 5 minute corporate training videos they watched during their coffee break.
Another issue is used bikes …no one wants them and no one wants to fix them … the metal recycling bins are full of old bikes.it’s tragic..I ride a 1973 aluminum framed Apollo I bought from Value Village for $12 …I’m back on the road to and from work come May (sorry, Dan … I live at 54′ 40″. )
Author
You are spot on. So many great used bikes. And some “used” bikes are a year old super bikes discarded by owners when the new model arrives. Incredible deals out there.
Hi there.
I think you might like the book Catfish and Mandala, Vietnamese guy returning to his country in the nineties and traveling by bicycle. This is in return for The Moth and the Mountain recommendation 😉
If you ever have the chance, give yourself a gift and travel by bicycle through a non highly developed country for a while, I think you are the kind of guy who could enjoy that, I can’t recommend it enough to every person I meat. The bicycle generates an amazing connection with locals and it becomes a nice addiction.
Author
You are the second person to recommend that! I’m on it. Thank you.