Should you support your local bike shop?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 26 ส.ค. 2024
- Some people refuse to go to bike shops, and others will shame you for buying online. Where's the middle ground? In this video, I hope to bring some sensible moderation to the issue.
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The bike shop "stink eye" is what keeps me away from most local shops. I just love feeling uncomfortable and looked down on when I walk into your establishment. Somehow this is NOT a rare thing. The shops that treat people right will always win, because we will always need them!
This!
Very true.
What`s the stink eye?
This is why I drive 30 out of my way to go a specific shop instead of the one closest to me. Atmosphere is everything to me.
this is the exact experience that i have with most of the shops in my area. i have only found one that i like.
Problem with local bike shops is the infamous "bike shop stare down" where the bike shop employee's size you up or think they're better than you... I see it at a lot of bike shops and it drives me crazy. Wanted to make a video about it actually haha
MTB yumyum you should. see im new to biking i just got a bike to ride back and forth to work amd im really enjoying it. but seeing these comments make me want to avoid bikeshops which sucks because i am uneducated in this area
That sucks man. I like to walk in and be treated with a smile and a how you doing today man. Love my shops.
my bike shop has a manager that doesn't understand the idea of lower tire pressures for mtb and messes up my setup then they look at me like i don't know anything
I mean what are you riding a huffy?...
Some have no clue or say things are impossible, or they would have to special order and that would take long, some times they trow you out by the silly stuff they say. Or reccomendations the make are absurd.
Meanwhile at Halfords
"Hey can I get my brake adjusted please"
"Yeah sure that'll be £80"
"Can you tighten my headset?"
"Sure"
Comes back loose asf
“Hi can you please give me suggestions on a new bike?”
“Yeah sure, do you want a shite carrera?”
"HEY IM LOOKING FOR A BIKE FOR MY 8 YEAR OLD"
*SOLD A 29 INCH*
"Can you refit new brake cables on my bmx"
"thats no problem"
I couldn't get my wheel off
*Gives it back with sketchy gears and loose brakes*
A good shop, no matter what type, has one or more dogs.:D
This claim is false And I can scientifically prove it.................
Mine has a cat...
You can't trust a cat
My local bike shop has a dog, always puts a smile on your face.
@@rhythmic6753 We have a fish store by us that has a cat named mouse. lol
I know that not all shops are as good as Squatch, but keep looking and I promise you’ll find one. Just try. I’m expecting some pretty interesting discussions below…
My gran lives VERY close to a shop that I visit quite often. It's called pedal power and it's the biggest in Scotland. Very helpful staff and great products, would recommend
Nice vid keep it up
Love your fid's your my favourite youtuber
i have an problen with my bike it creaks loud near the linkage bearing i have a specialized enduro 2008 can you please help
I dont even have a local bike shop!! 😂😂
This week my local bike shop here in Rockford Illinois wanted $49.99 for a 180mm front rotor. Came to Performance Bikes in Downers Grove Illinois close to work and got the rotor brake replaced, wheels trued, and derailleur tuned all for $62.58 after taxes. Unfortunately not all local bike shops are friendly as the guys at Performance Bikes were. They treated me with professionalism and the most important part....with a smile on their faces. I am a father of 5 and don't have the luxury of spending extra money as my local shop charges more per hour than our local car shop. Not a advertisement here just a honest comment.
I loved working at perfomance. We were least elitist ever! Now I own my own mobile bike shop and take that sense with me
Was the Trek or Specialized?
remember how snotty record store employees use to be back in the day... apparently they all work at bike stores now..
local shop have more frequently than not messed up a simple task.. charge $15 to fix brake squeak.. brakes still squeak .. pay to have wheels set up for tubeless.. front tire mounted backwards... meh..
I'll support them when they don't make more of a mess of a simple task than I do....
Every time over charged or offered to up grade in all ! On top of the way they look at you ! most are stuck up little boys !
There’s still snotty independent record shops; believe me!
Our local shop ran the breaks on my dad's bike wrong, like you sold us the bike it should be built right.
I’ve had some pretty disheartening experiences in bike shops when I was looking for a bike to buy. Most of the stores I went into didn’t even acknowledge me until I came in with my male friend. I’ve found a killer LBS now and am about to start working there. A lot of shops need to move from “superiority” to community!! Love the video Seth. Squatch has it nailed 🙌🏽
my local bike shop's hourly rate is higher than my local BMW mechanic. :(
that cannot be possibly true.
maybe a huffy.
BMW charges well more than $120 hr. Mechanics work on flat rate. If they say a job takes 5 hours, that's because the book says it's 5 hours. It really only takes 2 -3 hours, and they still charge you for 5.
And a BMW shop probably charges $99-$119 per flat rate hour, depending on the market. Either way, you are probably paying closer to $150-200 per hour for labor.
that depends, does your BMW mechanic work on BMW Cars, or BMW Motorcycles?
@@digitalrailroader haha
This is a great video. It’s awesome that someone with your reach is shining some light on the hard working guys that provide an invaluable service to riders. It’s easy to only look at the cost but many shops will go above and beyond to make customers happy, Amazon won’t do that. 5 smashes on the like button.
Then you haven't dealt with Amazon customer service. Or I'll say, your experience with Amazon is as different from mine as my experience with local shops is to yours. Amazon treats me WAY better than any local bike shop ever has.
You are WAY off with "many shops will go above and beyond". I've been to at least 20 shops and none of them are the "go above and beyond" variety. I might get "do only the minimum" if I'm lucky. You get above and beyond treatment because you're Jeff Lenosky.
My father, a retired Air Force Sgt., was asked to leave one the longest tenured and well known shops in my area because he brought in a department store Schwinn he wanted repaired.
"That's not a bike, we only work on REAL bikes. Get that thing out of here, we have real bikes to work on." That's literally what they told him.
Some shops will, not all though. I pass 3 to get to mine.
Q Daddy This so much.
I have a high end bike and used to go to the local bike shop closest to my house, I always thought and believed they were very nice people and actually recommended the shop to my friends and family because of how well the job on my bike was done and how nice they seemed. Until one day I went with a friend of mine who had a much cheaper bike than mine (better than a department store bike but still low end and a little old) and they told us that they could but the bike just wasn't worth their time. I never went there again.
Now I service my bikes myself for little stuff and a big brand bike shop in the city for the stuff that's too complicated for me, they are not friendly, they work mostly like a big department store or supermarket and they are slowly ruining small local bike shops but they get the job done and as long as you pay them they will do exactly what you asked, no more no less, on any bike.
Perhaps I can count really good Bike Shops with my hands. I've been in many, also I bought my bikes new from a LBS. But, in my experience I help my friends (for free) to fix their bikes instead to go a LBS, no problems so far. Once (when I was new in this sport) I took my specialized Hardrock 29er for a cracking noise coming for the crankset to other LBS, they checked the bike, they said: yes it's your bottom bracket, that's gonna be $30 replaced and installed. I said ok. Then they called me because my bike needed a tune up. I said OK. When I picked up my bike, I got a bill for $180.00. Other bike shop: Took my Giant trance 29er to change the shifter hoses (just for different color), only $45 ok, no problem so far. They call me; "you need a new chain" , ok do it. final bill: $135. And I keep hearing: SUPPORT YOUR LBS.
@@thatguythatdoesstuff7448 I think he meant many as many in the world, which is true. There are alot of bad shops, idiots, rude, mean, people, but also smart experienced people, also staying up to date with the basic stuff is a must which some shops lack.
A well articulated argument, full of good points from both sides, that reflects the modern era we live in.
**Cracks rootbeer** ...The comment section should be gold.
Want some popcorn with that?
@@boomerangfreak yes please
After the Quarantine i will visit this bike shop and rent a bike to ride some trails. Maybe ill buy the bike ;D
Rents cost how much for how much of bike
Man bike renting has become impossible because of the shortage
I almost never comment on TH-cam videos, but this time I must as it is near and dear to me. I was a big supporter of the local bike shop here in Colorado. That was when I never looked at prices, etc. But when I started buying items for my bike, I saw that the shop was pricing things ABOVE MSRP. Ok, everyone needs to make money, but when I started shopping these things on the net, I noticed the delta in prices were so great, that I just started ordering these things myself. 40% markup? That's insane. Thanks to Park Tool's excellent videos as well as nearly every other awesome video on TH-cam, I learned to order parts and fix things myself. I now own more than $1000 in bike tools and do nearly every type of maintenance or fix on a bike. I have probably saved $1000s in maintaining my own bikes.
The second reason I started fixing my own bikes is a number of times, I took my bike into my local bike shop and it came back with something wrong. Grips put on backwards, rotors not properly tightened, cables routed wrong, etc. My "certified" bike mechanics seemed to think that they did the best job. The quote of the day from my bike shop is "I don't need a torque wrench, I can feel the right torque"... and I wonder why my rotor screws keep coming off. I have taken my bike in for a brake bleed and they do it in 10 minutes. 2 weeks later I notice the brakes are spongy and don't work as well. I spend a solid hour bleeding my brakes being careful to get every single bubble out, and they work flawlessly for months (if not a year) without problems.
The third reason is attitude. When I go into my bike shop, the mechanics (except for one) have this "holier than thou" attitude when talking to you unless you are a pro-rider or riding on the $10K Yeti TR build. No "hello" when you enter looking to buy something or asking about fixing something. I personally own a Yeti which I bought from my LBS, and they have 1 mechanic who does nothing but complain about about how crappy Yetis are and how the switch infinity is a nightmare to maintain and is full of problems. Yes, he did this 1 week after I bought my Yeti. That surely made me feel good about my purchase - drop 5K on a bike and afterwards the mechanic throws that bike under the bus. Thankfully, my Yeti has been nothing short of awesome and I think this is a just a guy who doesn't like his job or maintaining them.
The fourth reason is the wait. My son races and there are times we need a quick fix (maybe a broken derailleur or something whereby we don't have time to wait for an internet purchase). We go in and are almost always quoted a 4 day wait. "Oh, just leave it here and we can get to it on Friday". My best experience has been with bike shops in Moab where they say "Bring it over, I will look at it right away" (Mad props to Double Down Bike shop and Dustin and his crew). But my LBS always has a long delay... so much so that I don't even try to take in.
So for these reasons, I just do everything myself. I have learned that doing it myself offers the best job. Anything from bending a derailleur to repacking bearings, its not rocket science. Its all about just being methodical and complete in what you do, while not rushing to get it done.
I'm all about supporting my LBS, but it just isn't in the cards, and I am better just avoiding them all together. I wish it was different. :-(
If they earn it, I will always support..... I drive 93 miles - one way, to Worldwide Cyclery because they've earned it.
Damn they've got free shipping tho
@@brauljo ikr
Have you met Jeff?
@@vdel7418 Yes. Jared and Liam are who I usually deal with, but Jeff has always been super welcoming the times he's been there.
Always great to see friends out at the shop! Thanks for swinging by for this video Seth!!! I have read a lot of the comments, good and bad, and I’m sorry some are still get a bad feeling from local shops. This is a portion of why I opened Squatch bikes. I wanted a local bike shop where all are welcome and all are treated the same. We don’t care if a person is a pro, a novice or somewhere in between. All customers should feel confident and never be put down or talked down upon. Rather, we should lift others, inspire them and give them the service they deserve. Our customers spend hard earned money on bikes and bike service. In return they should receive quality work, care and products. For those who choose to buy online, they are always welcome in our shop. At the end of the day, a local bike shop is a great place to meet new people, riding buddies and you can get some awesome fringe benefits by supporting them. Thanks again Seth!
James
Your shop came across nicely in that video. Would have loved it if my 1st experience with a bike shop was as per this video. I am still unsure of local bike shops where I am east coast Australia. Currently riding a GT hard tail and new from the shop the limit screws on both derailers had not been set. Both front and rear the chain was coming off both ends of the derailer travel. The front derailer was not tight on the frame. The left crank arm had not been secured properly and came off. After coming from a crappy kmart bike and thinking a bike shop was the way to go that did leave me a tad unimpressed.
Have also had a good experience when it was all sorted and have been happy with the bike since. Still a bit wary at the moment. Starting to think a bike shop is a like car mechanic. Once you find a good one you hope they never retire.
My local shop is 🤙🏻 I purchased my last bike there and it recently suffered a manufacturing defect. Something that would have taken me hours on the phone to remedy ended up being a 5 minute conversation with the shop. They took care of the whole process and ended up getting the entire bike replaced!! Something I would not have been able to do on my own. So +1 for seeking out your quality local shop, and 🤘🏻video as always Seth
Great video! Always important to support your LBS :) Squatch looks top notch. I think where people are confused is that it isn't "LBS vs. The Internet". The internet has great places to buy stuff and learn stuff and it's just a complement to anyone who rides and enjoys bikes. Just like any good, well run LBS is. There is bad information and crappy retailers on the internet just like there are bad LBS's. But there are also great places online and great LBS's. It's about the quality of the business operation, not its methods of sale.
IMHO LBS provides an extra support that the online businesses don't. If you buy something from your LBS and breaks you take your bike and they fix it for you, in the other hand if you buy something online and it breaks, you have to send the item back, wait until they receive it, send you another one, install it yourself... you got the idea.
So far I actually have only bought my bikes from several local shops, just the extra ease of mind you get buying a bike local. Surely you can likely find them cheaper online but would you also have as easy a time resolving warranty issues? I broke a tooth on my GX eagle cassette somewhile ago and today I received my cassette free of charge, just went to the LBS with my old cassette and got the new 1 on my bike already.
A LBS shouldn't shun online sales they should try to embrace it. I know a LBS that says canyon bikes are bad bike, basically just cause they are bought online and not trough them.
Boomerangfrank I'm pretty sure the ones that are buying direct-to-consumer don't want to spend the money and/or could not afford a Shram eagle cassette. Unless they got it in the deal online.
Well that's oddly specific but even online these cassettes still aren't cheap.
I'd say it's not always as much about price as it is about popularity and choice, if people want a canyon bike they'll get a canyon bike. If they want a scott they'll get a scott and so on, if their local shop can't get them the bike they want they will very most likely find it online somewhere.
@@boomerangfreak I'm saying direct to consumer brands can put on the high quality parts without the price due to cutting out the middle man. Now in store brands (ie Trek, Santa Cruz, Giant) is going to be close in price weather online or in store.
I went in a local bike shop to find a handful of parts and tools to finish up my BMX build. They had some kind of attitude with me there for whatever reason. The guy caught himself a couple of times and tried to come off as "cool to the customers" but still reverted back to his standoff attitude. I looked them up online before I went in (to see if they would stock parts I need) and they are involved in the biking community and even sponsor riders, but I guess you have to be the right type of people.
Things weren't always like this. I remember being a kid going to the local bike shops in the 80's through the 90's and never felt I was given some kind of attitude. Even though we would buy something low-priced (being a kid with no job) they would always interact us with no attitude.
People weren't generally such assholes in the 80's and 90's.
My local bike shop is fantastic! I broke a spoke on my commuter bike one day so I took it in on my way home from work, mechanic stopped what he was working on and had my wheel fixed in about 20 mins and didn't even charge me for the spoke just the wheel true! I shop there all the time because they actually try to keep prices close to Internet prices as well as have a lot in stock. They also do free same day installation on ordered parts. Plus they are the biggest money contributor to our local trails!
You have an AWESOME LBS then - absolutely support them however you can. They see what value they provide - instant gratification / quick service turn around.
Being honest here a spoke is dirtcheap anyway, 1 standard spoke is like 50cents or something? So they probably just take that into the price of the truing.
But finding a bike shop that is willing to do it on the spot is good, but don't expect all mechanics to make time for you and put everyone else already waiting on the backburner ;)
I'm aware, I use to be a bike mechanic myself, just don't have the specialty tools to do wheels and such anymore. They usually charge 70¢ per spoke. The jester was nice and they always are very fast on turnaround for repairs anyway, I'm just a regular there so that's probably why he helped me out real quick in that particular situation.
Sign of a good shop is doing exactly what happened here.... if they are working on a bike with lots of stuff to do and the owner isn't even picking it up until much later that day, then there is no reason at all not to jump on quick job while the customer is there.
My local shop is the same way!
As a summer employee at a bike shop I understand some people’s problems that they brought up regarding attitude and price. However I’ve also experienced the other side of it where customers come in and try to tell you how to do a job or how much something should cost, or what you should carry. Not only are those customers making the employees job way more difficult but there is a reason things cost what they do. And, as unprofessional as it is, if you are that kind of customer the shop guys are probably gonna do the bare minimum to complete your work order. However if you come in, are friendly and understanding you are likely to get a better quality of work at a lower price.
Most shop owners are stuck up arrogant know it alls with no quality control or manners ! Just as bad as the car industry take the cash tell them what ever and then you have to come back or go some were else ! Just finished with one of these top shops ! Fair trading (government) involved 3 months of BS ! On a custom built dualy worth $7000 ! The shop didn't want to honor warranty , faulty front hub, to long brakes and pads all had to be changed hub ! Cranks crooked ? WTF ? Only had the bike 3 months then this ! In Australia their all parasites !
People are assholes. Cyclists included.
My local shop (chainline in El Cajon CA) is pretty good. I was in there when a guy was getting a quick fix on a super low end Walmart style bike and another guy was getting some new very expensive carbon wheels installed. Both guys where treated with equal respect. I was treated good as well even though I do not go in very often. Good people for sure.
Here in Vancouver BC we are lucky to have several service-only shops. They offer competitive prices and do top notch mechanic work fast (they have to provide quality service since they don't sell bikes/apparel!). They are more than happy to work on direct sales bikes and are top notch guys.
You're making a valid Point but my local Bikeshop is just too expensive... Getting an Innertube installed is 40$ without the Tube...
Keep it up and shred hard
??? seriously?
Seriously? I got a random flat the other day. Couldn't figure it out, no hole in tube, no broken valve (tossed in a new one just in case), no thorn or debris, So I pumped it up and got it checked out. No charge outside for the new tube (I wanted a couple anyway). 18 bucks + tax for 2 tubes.
Lies
My local bike shop is Scotty cranmers. No joke
John Mom BK everyday
Thomas John Solidum big boy = god
Your lucky bro
That is awesome !
So lucky!
I live in Colorado Springs, and if you don't go into any of the bike shops here looking to buy the lastest a greatest most expensive bikes or parts they look down at you. When I first started looking into getting a MTB the guy basically said if I didn't get the bike he was trying to sell me I was going to be no good. Why would I support a shop like that, this was two years ago, and now they are closed. Can't say I'm surprised.
DRC holy shit same.. criteriumtried to get help setting up tubeless, nope buy these 800 dollar rims then we will try. Bicycle village “oh yeah we will try for 300 bucks”. Strangely REI was the only place willing to try for cheap and succeeded
Thats the same shit here in Boulder...
I went to Absolute in Salida, they were very friendly and helpful.
I bought two mudguards at my local shop for $26 a few weeks ago, and they treated me like a regular. They can have my money anytime. :)
@@10--50 40 year old "ex-pros" making $15/hr and somehow living in Boulder and traveling all winter lol!
My Local shop charging $150 for a $95 part on Jenson... need i say more
Haven't wasted much time commenting on videos, but this one brings up an idea I HAVE passed around from time to time. Shade tree mechanics, home improvement guys STILL buy a lot of product at the local auto parts, hardware, or other outlet. Most offer online ordering and can check stock. Suppose a favorite continent-wide bike supply warehouse offered a franchise opportunity and overnight or 2-day delivery of needed supplies to us "locals"...that we picked up at the shop (who gets a cut)
I began online ordering of bike parts when I couldn't get the exact item I wanted at the local shop...I'm price conscious, but also want what I want, not "close enough".
This fellow as 'Squatch sound like a sharp cookie.
I like your&the shops attitude. I get annoyed by shops saying "We don't install parts you bought elsewhere" usually followed by something "they can sell cheaper because blabla". Well if you can't make money of installing parts the customer brings to you, your rates are too low. You can still offer a discount for people buying parts in-house, but not buying in-house shouldn't be a dealbraker. Bikeshops should see themselves as service providers, not as retailers. And don't get me started on delivery times in shops if you need something they haven't stocked.
klugshicer took I needed bearing cone for my cheap front wheel, went to the bike shop and ordered them, didn’t hear from them for a week called and they had forgot to order, I forgot about them for a while then a month after that I get a call telling me they arrived. I go to the shop and they tell me it was 40$ despite having told me 13$ a month before
McCoy Model Cars I had a similar problem with a Di2 wire. Took the LBS three weeks to get it, and 15 minutes to install and test it. Why? 1) bought wire, installed on somebody else's bike 2) FedEx broke the package (containing my Di2 wire, a brooks Cambium saddle, and solvent) 3) got wire installed it. Worked.
I could have ordered the wire from Amazon in two days, and another chain LBS actually had it in stock. I told the shop owner (whom I know pretty well), that if it happened again, I would ask for the list of parts to order, buy online, and pay to have them installed. It's BS that it took 3 weeks to do what should have taken about 2 days.
In the era of the internet, you are right. What I think most LBS's don't get is that their value is in instant gratification / tourists, and SERVICE. I'd happily pay a higher labor rate for the knowledge, tools, and expertise of a pro, and lower parts pricing. A number seem to think that they are still the only source of "proper"/"good" bike parts. In reality, that's no longer the case. It's why Velofix seems to do so well. Their entire business model is around instant gratification service. They know you can buy stuff as well as they can, if not better.
Well there are truly legitimate reasons why a LBS can't offer the same price as online retailers in most cases.
But yes they shouldn't stay away from people doing business online, surely they would make more money if the customer bought trough them BUT if you got the time in your schedule and aren't flooded with work, something easy like a fork swap is something you can do fastly, cleanly, easily and still ask a fair hourly wage for. The way I look at it that's free money.
@@boomerangfreak bs every one of my local shops are priced exactly the same as online
I bought the tools and learnt how to work on my own bike because of the shit attitude I'm met with 9 times out of 10 when I walk into a bike shop. It's a different story if you know someone that works at a shop and then you've got an "in". Suspension is the only thing I pay someone to do and even then it's way overpriced.
Love this guys attitude on customer service!
Bought my first entry level mountain bike at a lbs about 20 years ago. I asked many questions, and brought it back to them after every other ride to look at. I'm sure I was a complete pain in the ass and they must have cringed every time I showed up. However, they never let on that this was the case. I was always treated with respect, and learned something new about the bike every time I visited. Since then I have personally bought another 3 bikes and referred at least a dozen others who have bought one or more bikes there. The lesson is that it is good business to be patient and understanding with your customers. Any time you think you "wasted" may pay incredible dividends down the road. Turning off even one customer could result in the loss of many future customers.
He’s right I wouldn’t have started mountain biking if it wasn’t for direct to consumer
I was even one step further. I started on a used DTC bike. I was broke AF, but that was 16 years ago. Now I have more means, and I remember which shops were cool with a kid rolling in a random DTC Frankenstein-bike, and which weren’t.
I haven’t found a LBS in my area I really like yet, every one I go to I feel like I am being judged so hard, and I see Shawn in there!! Glad his leg is doing better!
Good video as usual, man. I do all of my assembly, maintenance, and repairs simply because I feel more confident in my own abilities than that of someone else. As the old adage says "if you want something done right, do it yourself". I also try to keep my bikes in top condition at all times, and if I'm heading out in that all-important ride or lengthy backcountry adventure I try to be prepared and pack all the repair parts & supplies I think I could possibly need (within reason of course). That being said, if I'm away on an important ride, bikepacking adventure, or otherwise and run into a situation where I need my bike repaired or serviced, I'll gladly support any nearby competent shop, as there isn't much of a choice if I need something done that is more complex than a common flat or chain repair.
"...I try to be prepared and pack all the repair parts & supplies I think I could possibly need..."
Aaaah someone to my heart, bringing an entire spare bike along on their back, I mean what better way to bring all spares huh? :P
Haha.. no, I don't bring an entire spare bike. But I do bring stuff like spare tubes; chain links, derailleur hangar, spokes, multitools, etc. If you saw the kind of rides I did and the places I go you would understand why.
I am fortunate to have two great shops and an awesome guy that specializes in vintage restoration. The popular shop is great--the attitude and respect from the employees is outstanding. That being said, the prices and repair turn-around are high. The only time I use a shop for repairs now is if I need headset cups pressed or a crown race swapped to a new fork or if I just don't want to deal with cabling. A second shop opened about a year ago and the owner and mechanics are very impressive. The repair charges are very reasonable and they are meticulous. Brought my carbon bike running dura-ace in because I had changed out the cables and simply could not get it to shift properly. After ten or so minutes of looking into it, he figured out I had simply clamped the rear derailleur cable in the wrong spot so the pull ratio was off. Did a frame swap last week on my gravel bike and decided to let him do the cables because it was nearly 20 feet of housing (all cables are fully housed running under the downtube). He ran new cables, housing, adjusted the mechs and disk brakes and wrapped the bars with new tape. Total cost was only $73, including tax. An outstanding deal which saved me the hassle of dealing with full housing headaches!
I don't like going anywhere where if I don't give away my hard earned money and buy whatever they want me to buy i'm not considered "cool". I got sick of bike shops several years back after too many of these types of experiences. I decided to learn to do everything so I could work on my bike myself. It was a little rough at times and I was tempted to go to the shop in a few situations, but now I pretty much know how to do everything. Now I can buy parts online for much less, and I don't charge myself for labor... I've literally saved thousands just in the last 5 or 6 years or so. At one point I was keeping track and I was over $3,000 dollars saved buying parts online and doing my own work - by now it's a lot higher..
I love the owners vision, however like you said not all owners/ staff share this view.
Not to say all are like that.
Just a comparison I fly fish, you can go out and spend thousands stand in a stream and catch nothing. Us locals with patched waders, rods built with our own hands( cheaper) and reels held together with hope and prayer, out fish you? Dang!
I have that feeling when I walk into fly shops, and bike shops. They take one look at you and size you up. I put miles on my bike it's not a 7k fully, but I ride, back flip no I am almost 50 so I am mortal now.
I live with by this code, you can learn something from everyone you meet, if you choose. Love this guys attitude hope his business flourishes!!
My family has a reputation at my local shop. Me and my dad and my brother always go to their community rides. And my cousin is known there as “dust bowl Dylan” because how much he is there from breaking something
The locals around Dallas really love condescending to anyone who is not buying local. But the fact of the matter is that I got my brand new Intense Carbine 29 for 46% off. I still use my LBS for any service issues that I can't perform. As far as I see it, my money, my choice as to where I spend it. And yes, I do love the guys are the 2 LBS that I frequent, but I also love saving money :)
I love having a great bike shops I can count on especially to help keep my loved ones bikes running safe and smoothly when I’m out of town. They know me and the bikes I bring in and have a record of everything that they have done for me. They are always friendly and worth every penny!
This is beautiful ! I'm super passionate about supporting my LBS... Even though I sometimes purchase some things from elsewhere... They're always just super stoked to have me in the door.... Too bad not all LBSs can be as good as mine and yours...
I'm the same way.
Go where is best for you. I really liked your comment that bike shops needs to earn your money and trust. Recently I got verbally attacked because I mentioned that in trail emergencies I go to Walmart. I love my LBS but in a pinch, I go where I get help fast. I usually dont comment on vids but this one was a good one.
This is right where I'm at. Dead broke and nothing on my bikes is brand new, but I work at a local community bike center in Albuquerque.
I build my own bikes with what I can manage to find and refurbish and I get to do what I love, build bikes all day.
The predominant patrons that come to my shop are folks who don't have much money, or are flat out homeless. Being able to send them out with a functional bike is community support at the geound level and I'm proud to say that even being flat broke.
Support how you can, when you can and I promise that it makes a difference.
Great guys at Squatch. My friends and I had a really good visit with them when riding in Pisgah for the first time.
"Support your local shop" with the added caveat of "IF they know what their doing" I've seen plenty of things over the years come back from supposed "repair shops" that came back in worse states than what they went out, hence why i fix all my own shit.
I know a few truly great wrenches, Ive moved my regular shop when they have changed where they work. I trust them and their knowledge and enjoy detailed discussion about bike setup and design with them. I have experienced the "stink eye" that BKXC was speaking about but that has almost always been in chain stores or by young inexperienced yet highly opinionated staff.
I've got one LBS that i absolutely love. The employees are friendly and helpful, and after buying one bike from them, they've taken care of every issue I've had, legit warranty problem or not, quickly and happily. I have a second bike on order with them right now.
There's another LBS that sells the same brands, and stocks plenty of parts, but every time i go in there i get the sense that they feel like I'm just interrupting them, and just want me to get my stuff and go away. I only shop there when i desperately need something right now, and can't source it elsewhere.
In this day of "anything you want, cheaper, from the internet," what local shops really have to offer is customer service. They nail that, and i will go way out of my way to support them.
Preach!
My friend use to work down in a bike shop down in FL, whenever she promoted a sale, I asked if they would ship an item I need, ex floor pump tyres, etc. Her boss response to my inquiry was, " Go support your LBS... " Earlier this year I found out her boss close down shop and left FL.
BikemanforU closed down his Long Island shop, because his man source of revenue was the Summer weekend rider and the tourist rental bike... I live on LI and you really can't ride 5 months of the year unless you want to eat pavement from black ice.
And most LI LBS customers drive to the shop, rather than ride their bikes too... Number one compliant "Your store doesn't have enough car parking..."
My friend who rides in NYC, he supports the tiny hole in the wall mechanic shops that don't even have a google map listing. These are the guys who will get you back on the road until you can afford a new wheel, not push you to buy a new wheel. " You got maybe 3 months tops before it fails... ride it until it breaks and come back..." We both had the same experience trying to buy small bits that were insanely over priced at the big shops in NYC $8.00 for just one Shimano stainless MTB cable, $10 for a 700 c tube( no installation) But the common line is , "it's NYC prices they have to pay the rent..."
Squatch has a great shop marketing model and location to ride too.
How to find the ideal shop: Call around asking to see if they have any bike boxes lying around that you can have... if the response is "Sure that'll be $10" then go somewhere else :-P
I think this not only applies for bikes shops, but a lot of other shops as well. Internet really killed stores. Shopping online is convenient however it is nice when you can see and touch the product. The biggest problem is when you do end up going to a store, or bike shop and want to get something they don't have it. "Oh we can order it for you." Well, I can do that at home. That is why I'm going to the store, so that I can purchase it immediately. Again this applies to majority of stores nowadays. Oh Yeah and then there is the work some bikes shops do...Terrible.
Yep.... same around here.. "We can order it for you"... I recently bought a new bike and I tried to check out the local shops and view some bikes, none of them had much of anything in stock. It was a damn joke!! I found a way better bike online then anything the dealers were selling. Come on... I couldn't even F'n view bikes in person at a damn dealer. If I have to do all the work online anyway, might as well get the better deal while I'm at it.
It is understandable they can't keep much in stock. Maybe they should track which bikes and sizes sell the most and keep those on hand. Just like when you're buying a car. There is always plenty of models on the lot just not the one you want. Great story though and I feel their pain.
@@sandykavor8434 A good shop should, at the end of every season I go back through my sales and count up which bikes sold throughout the year, then I compare it to the end year trends and the tech coming out to order stock for the next season. A lot of it still comes down to and educated guess, you don't know for sure what people are going to buy but you can get a rough idea and hope for the best.
The big thing that I have to order in my shop is small odd parts. I have 1/4 million in accessories and parts and there will always be someone that wants something that just doesn't sell or something totally obscure, like a very specific work station, or tool set.
But even then I order new stock every Friday, and if a customer needs it right away, we'll overnight it as our distributors warehouse is only 150 miles away.
We drove from Louisville to Brevard to ride. Broke my spoke on Black mountain less than a mile into the ride. Called up Squatch. Went there and they custom cut a new spoke and installed it while I enjoyed a brew. They saved the day and worked late to make sure I got back on the trail the next morning. Kudos guys.
A few years ago I was doing a frame swap. (my frame cracked and the mfgr sent me a new warranty replacement). I did the entire job myself (as I always do). The frame had a tapered 1-1/8 - 1.5 head tube. I had headset installation & removal tools, but the headset cup remover I had at the time only worked on 1-1/8 and smaller. The headset cup press I had would work fine for installation, but the remover was too small for 1.5. So I took the old frame to a nearby shop (a large established organization, mind you) to have the lower headset cup removed, thinking that they had the proper and exact tools to do the job. I was pretty miffed when I saw the mechanic take out a length of steel rebar and a hammer and use that to remove the cup on my $160 Chris King headset. I was even more miffed when he charged be $30 for something that took him less than 8-10 minutes. I should have just stayed home and figured out what I could use to get the job done myself. Never again.
That's how you get it out 💀
Even for people who have a decent amount of knowledge and can spin wheels around their bike's maintenance cycle, there are always things your LBS can do more efficiently than you. Most of what a shop deals with is eliminating issues at the source, even if it is to do with issues with frame work that may require machining, and they have access to tools that most average joe riders don't, mainly because of cost, which for the price you pay for service is more than a fair value.
I'm somewhat a new subscriber and viewer of you, Seth and certainly first time commenter to your videos but this one really hit me because I've just been dealing with a local bike shop.. More specifically about the forward thinking part: I've been out of cycling overall for over 10 years now and interested in mountain biking again (with background in light, casual mountain biking and some BMX as a kid). When I started looking into bikes, I got in contact with the shop my father used to buy my BMX, mtb and his bikes and got some really good advice and actually some discount for my "first comeback"-bike as I told them that all my past bikes as a kid were from their shop. Not only that, but as my bike buying is likely to be during the winter (I live in Finland, fyi), they also promised to get some suitable wheels for my bike and make sure it's ready to ride straight out of shop and that alone is enough for me to stick with that very same shop as my father did back in the day, even if said service isn't really out of their pocket. I will certainly recommend them in the future as well, so some friendly and cost-efficient customer service goes a long way, at least in my case.
That being said, I really enjoy your videos and will be keeping my eye on the channel for sure!
This has got to be my favorite vid. I knew a guy for over 2 years and he took me on my first trail and most of my first rides this year I out grew a bike and could not afford a new one but he got donations and built me a full sus out of donated parts and the shop near his did a full tune on it
Now that's awesome.
For sure support your local bike shop, my local shop I was hesitant to support them but they were really good to us and made sure we were happy.
The only time I go to a shop is if I broke a spoke and need it replaced right away. Otherwise, a lot of the time, the mechanics always act like they are doing you a huge favor when they charge you $30 for a 15min job.
Jane Leelavathi but how long would it take you to do that job x what do you value your free time or work pay at? Those skills take a long time to develop to get fast. It might take the mechanic 15 minutes, but it would take you 2.5 or more hours.
Fraser Davidson You cannot just compare your hourly rate to LBS $ for $. Take time off from work, drive to the bike shop to drop the bike there, take time off from work again and go to pick it up... Depending on how far you live from the LBS it can be significant time and money.
You dont have to exaggerate but you dont just pay the mechanic. You also pay the shops rent, electricity, gas, heating, tools and taxes. Something you also shouldnt forget is that the mechanic had to aquire their knowledge at some point, so thats also something you pay for.
Tamas Varga it’s called opportunity cost, and yes you can. Unless your driving more than 40 minutes in something that gets half decent fuel economy, your probably still coming out ahead. Not to mention most customers will pickup and drop off on their way to work if they can, negating fuel costs, and making use of time that would other wise not be used. Now if your driving as a separate trip there is time lost, but you can make that trip more economical by accomplishing other tasks, and not being frustrated that you can’t adjust your rear derailleur because the hanger is slightly bent and you cables are full of crud. Now, if you value your free time at next to nothing, and your shop is a long drive away, sure, it might be cheaper at home. I’m willing to bet most of the time
It isn’t.
@@yuuki_32 I have worked in a bike shop. We charged 55€/h and repairs still werent very profitable. Pretty much all the money we made came from selling new bikes.
Joel's Bike shop in Coachella Valley is a good one. And they sell Diamondback. Maybe the only DB dealer in this area. That's where I found a Mission Pro for $2500
The same 2 owners have owned my local bike shop since 1978 , they are the best ! When I was a kid they would let me work in the bike shop for parts and repairs . I still get the I know the owner discount :)
I travel all over the Southeast for work & to ride mtb (to include Brevard, N.C.) I've been in Squatch, awesome guys who are there to help you and felt no judgment walking out with nothing more than a t-shirt & information about local trails. I'll be back & theyll get my business because of their approach & attitude with their customers . I got the feeling of community you should get when dealing with a lbs at Squatch. I however can relate to alot of the negative comments too, which is funny because LBS with a negative reputation will not get positive feedback by word of mouth. Their local competition will either get their business or folks will buy from web. Great video as usual Seth!!!
I only have one lbs in my area. Feel like I’m intruding every time I’m in there. It’s a no brainer, not gonna spend my money there unless I absolutely have to!
We have some great local shops here in South Florida. I am torn because I love working on my bike. I always wind up buying pressure gauges and t-shirts.
I would support my LBS's if any were remotely decent! I traveled 45 minutes to buy my road bike! I purchased my MTB locally and I wish I hadn't. I asked the guy if he was going to fit me to the bike and his response was, nah you should be good, we're about the same height and close in weight you should be good! this was after spending $3499 on a bike! paid in FULL up front since he had to order it. Then on my first ride my chain would skip gears when I shifted and I kept hearing a clicking noise when I pedaled. the rear mech wasn't tuned correctly and the clicking sound was the front shifter cable that was to long and hitting my crank. Plus their selection of parts i.e tires are almost nil. I went to another bike shop again close to an hour away and their prices were crazy. Charged me MSRP for pedals! Found them on eBay for $100 less.
I don’t own a bike but I enjoyed the van build so much that I now watch all 3 of you guys! You made a really good argument pros and cons that makes so much sense about local bike shops. Also like the fact that you are in NC like me! Still working my way through the older clips get them coming.
The bike shops in my area do nothing but lie and try to make you think your bike is junk so they can run your bill up so they can take your stuff from you and double charge for parts you can get cheaper online...so now I'm using a do it yourself book and doing the build at home...so support your local bike shop...um no thanks😬😬😬😬
Its cool saying, but i hear it most often from bike shops that are not worth support.
There is great suspension mechanic, wonderful welder in my town
and they dont ask to support them. Its just obvious to do that, because they provide value. And i don't see that value when local bike shop charge me with 200% margin with that stinky eye BKXC was writing about.
Great take and a well balanced look. At the end when you talked about getting a video out.....you'd rather pay a shop. Remember: "What's your time worth?!?" Always know what your hour is worth. It might $12/hr it might be $120/hr..... or somewhere in between. Great guide to live by.
Great piece. I have found a few great shops, during my 30 years in cycling, and they all have one thing in common, down home and genuine staff. The people make the place. Having a great attitude and the same passion that I have, as a customer, is second to none. Want me to come back and support you, then treat me with respect and value my business. Want me to not come back, arrogantly assume that I am ignorant when it comes to cycling. Elitists kill me and ruin the sport for new comers. Stay humble. Squatch sounds like a great brand.
I inspired My 15 Year old friend to Mountainbike. He bought Himself a Helmet and a backpack for it. His bike was a little bit older and the gears were out. I He had so much Convidence and he rode every day on and on and took good care of the bike. Wen i Turned 15 i grabbed all of my paper route money and savings from chores and work at local bike shop (Like brooming and switching tires) i bought his dream bike at that shop. The Owner just smiled at me did a blanket over the bike and as soon as we got at the shop he took the blanket of and i said: "Here is your new bike, take as good care as it as your old one!"
The owner even gave me 10% off (the bike was $1.900 and he gave it to me for $1.710) He cried tears of joy and rides every day until now!
I live in denver and i thought i would support the local bike shop that was most famous for working on dh bikes and sure it wasnt as expecive as other stores but everytime i went there they would half ass the work and would ruin my day at the park and also they seemed like they were more interested in helping their friends and hang out with them than helping a customer now i got to the evo shop and never had a problem
Sounds like you're talking about Mojo Wheels or I could be wrong.
@@gregoryvierra6114 lol im guessing you had a similar experience there
glad you found another place worthy of your business!
@Miguel: Similar and then some. The amount of ego and dishonesty in that shop has resulted in me never spending another dime in there. I’m also not shy to share my unfavorable experiences there.
@@gregoryvierra6114 yes i can relate and i definitely warn other people about it beacuase things like that can disappoint a new biker and disincourage them to get im the sport..when trestle bike park its open the bike source there its amazing tho..great friendly service..the guy that owns it andy he is legit ive even taken some laps with the guy
Unfortunately, the shop I have gone to for many years, i.e. bought every bike I have owned, always when to for service and parts and where I turned my Trek FX hybrid into a custom road bike. They have hired an entirely new staff, the techs i used to deal with have left. When I converted my FX, we talked about what all I wanted out of it and what we where going to need for the project. The shop owner even agreed, doing this build was better then buying a new road bike that would fit me. (I'm a small guy as well) All this took place in about 1 hour and no bike was present.
And they are the #1 shop around.
This past spring I stopped in to get my bikes squared away for the season and found just how shitty the staff is now. They won't offer any advise or assistance unless "you bring your bike in". I had new pedals, new shoes, new helmet and was looking for upgrade for my MTB, when I asked a question and they laughed at me... Yeah I walked the F.... Out!
hey man, swing into Carolina Pedal Works just below Boone in Hickory, NC some time when riding Pisgah or something. Its an awesome shop ran by riders/racers with an awesome and skilled staff and even a handful of beers on draft to hang and talk or kill time while waiting on repairs!
I have a friend who went into a trek bike shop and bought some box grips. My friend is Africa America and after he purchased the grips went outside and tried to put the grips on. I was not with his group and was having work done on my bike and a few minutes later he came back in and asked for some water to help the grips slide on to the handle bars and they came back with some rubbing alcohol and told him to make sure he comes back with it and he politely said thanks and left a few seconds after the manager told one of the employees to go outside and make sure he doesn’t steal it and adds he looks like a very scechy boy. II found myself wondering if they had done that because of the color of his skin and It was obvious that they had...
Wow you live in Florida-hurricane, North Carolina-hurricane no luck dude
I support my LBS too :)
Before i always buy stuff on internet and on Second Hand site's, but when i have access to a BS that open close to my house(9km) i started to buy almost everything there, and the best part is that the guy of the store always try to make the best bike for your budget. My current bike has been built in the LBS and for the price it was amazing, plus i never have to pay for the time he spent's with my bike, he is a cool guy and almost every rider goes to that shop to buy bikes or something else.
So, try to support your LBS even if you have to pay something more than buying online.
This is a very touchy subject for me, I feel most LBS's near me are either city bike focused or roady focused. The part of Belgium I'm in there's basically no mountains and MTB trails are few and far between but I feel like so many shops look down on MTBers. Even the shop I worked at for half a year I just didn't really feel at home, so bad I actually just quit because even as a worker there I felt looked down for being a MTBer and not a roady.
Sure there will be A good shop close by but I just haven't found 1 that's both friendly AND actually having a stock for MTB parts that aren't xc/cheap hardtails.
I would so love to have a shop like squatch close by and I would totally apply for a job, I feel half the work of a good bike shop is being friendly and giving loads of advice to newbies and veterans alike. If you are big into MTBs I feel you should also be able to give advice on the big trails close to you, what's good to ride and what kind of gear would suit you and the place you ride.
I just can't seem to find anything here so I will keep searching, maybe even move and start my own bikeshop at 1 point.
Come to the states! Kidding aside, good luck on your search.
lol, I wish I could (to ride at least don't think I'd move XD)
Well, my local bike shop doesnt have the same deals as online
Ofc they don't, it's unfair to expect them to do actually.
... and they also generally do not have enough options.
My local shop has no problem doing a legitament price match.
You know what's funny? A lot of the chain reaction prices claim to be a discount, but depending on where you are in the world the 'discounted' prices can actually be more than msrp
Some shops do but they are both online and local shop, same price.
My local bike shop is a place called Norms. They have all the parts you could ever need. Not too many bikes, but tons of stuff. It’s a really great place with a good vibe.
i always support local bike shop i have my fav. and some will sometimes give you parts that others have left behind for a killer deal or even free
YES! IF you can find a good one. I have yet to find one with a good attitude that did not go out of business within two years. The worst are the snob shops that laught when you ask about something the the 2-3K range. C'mon guys...cut the end user some slack.
I was looking at some $600 bikes and they kept urging me for $1,000 bike they kept saying well if your going to spend that much you might as well get this. I went to another shop
I'll go to a local bike shop if I'm desperate. I'm never desperate.
^^^ THIS.
Word
Squach was awesome and gave me some great info on a quick loop while I was passing through Pisgah. They were fair and sold me a spare tube for a good price before giving me a suggested route for the few hours I had. They gave me a copy of the route on paper so I wouldn't be lost. Good dudes. Support your local shop!
I travelled around and suprisingly the best bike shop is closest to me. Owner personally talked to me discussing chain lubricants and some common things to look out for as a beginner. Thankful she was giving genuine advise and not trying to upsell me a product. Little things like that are the best way to hook a long term customer. Other ones in the area literally had the "stare down" employees... helps to look around. Grateful I did
Bike shops are declining in the U.S. Sign of the times, things change and they have to adapt to the new era. Used to be 5 bike shops in my city, now there are two. Online line hurt them a lot, big box stores too. I like bike shops, but am a dinosaur & most I know who are a lot younger do not. Many cannot afford to buy a good bike either. Have to adapt, things are not going back to 1972!
At least in 1972 a wheel was built to last. I delivered 350 papers for 6 years and never had to touch the wheels. No truing, no broken spokes, nothing. It was an old English Perry bike I bought used for $10. Me and dad disassembled it and greased all the bearings in the very begginning.
With a newer bike you look at a curb and your wheel bends. I spend more time trying to keep track of the names of parts for my current stable of bikes than I'd like to.
This online thing is dumb as hell too though. What ever happened to walking into a store of any sort and being able to shop and look around. Online is just pictures and it never does justice to what the product looks like in person
My local shop is a complete rip off :(
And seems to hate business
same he literally destroyed my bike i dont have a bike anymore
probably cause the owner drives a car and has never ridden a bicycle.. so he doesn't know how to put his self in us bike rider shoes..
@@miciahchamberlain661 My local bike mechanic used to race DH, and did it on a very tight budget, he truly understands what its like to do this sport on a budget and provides a very good service at a very fair price.
Brian said it best. Don’t want to be looked down upon because I’m not in “the club”. I did find that shop in Medford Massachusetts (you know who you are)where they have a similar approach as Squatch bike shop. Super friendly and knowledgeable whether I’m buying something or not 🙏🏼
When I went to MOAB with two good friends, I bent my derailleur up really bad. A local shop fixed it in minutes and got a huge tip for it. Local shops are great, and provide great service
my frame broke once, so I bought a new one in ebay. and visited 3 local bike shops (east Berlin) to migrate all the components from the old frame to the new one and they were asking 300€ to do the job.
bought tools for 10 and did it myself.
for little/cheap things like once every 2 or 3 years... it's ok.
Location makes a difference.
This is probably too late for many to read but I'll share it anyway. Speaking of supporting bike shops I just learned tonight that BikeMan here on YT has closed up shop. He sold great parts - I got a coaster brake wheel from him to build an extra heavy duty cruiser bike specifically for carrying groceries and it had 11 gauge stainless steel spokes. I have since wanted another wheel like that and I can't find one with spokes that thick and extra heavy duty anywhere on the internet. It's truly a shame that so few people understood the value he brought to the bike world.
Also, he seemed like a very down to earth guy. Maybe so much so that he undervalued his services and ran himself right out of the business. His videos on repair were/are incredibly useful. I read he was an airplane mechanic before going into seasonal bike repair. My favorite video of his is about the "IBM" system. He proceeds to bring out this set of 2 by 4s to fix an untruable wheel by ordinary means - something most bike mechanics would sell you another new whole wheel. I mean this guy was generous by being frugal. He even threw a bunch of stickers and a tire gauge in my order for free. I was pretty surprised by that.
They're still here on youtube, BTW. I'm not so fond of the saturday long form but his individual repair videos are the most comprehensive that I have seen on YT besides RJ the bike guy. I'm sad to hear he is out of business. I was looking for his "One Less Car" stickers to put on my latest bike purchase, an aluminum ebike. I've successfully avoided owning a car for over 16 years now.
One of our friends is al bike mechanic. He works in a tiny garage. One part is filled with bikes, and the other is a work bench with half a billion screws, nuts, parts and stuff covering it. He fixes my bikes for next to nothing or even free. Plus he gives me old bike components that I clean and put on my shelf.
love this, so true I always go to my local bike shop for repairs ect. I love your videos they are so inspiring to keep riding and thay will always teach so something. this is why I have just started my own youtube channel, just released a video today. it would be great if I could get some support. thanks and keep making these amazing vids.
well done mate
thanks
I believe in supporting good, ethical local bike shops; however, I've learned to maintain my own bikes (all vintage steel bikes). Instead of paying inflated LBS prices, I have decided to invest that money into my own arsenal of tools, knowledge, and skills.
Overall thats better for the long run when you end up stranded somewhere,I had to do the same.
Bought local, the shop thru in grips, pedals, 2 free bike services, plus they had a holiday special and gave me a free 12in frame bike for my little one.
Local shops are da best
I think one big thing that was kinda touched upon in this video is the community of mountain bikers you meet at a bike shop. Being able to know people in the community is a big part of riding. Being able to hop in on a shop group ride and discover new people and and trails to ride is great. And if you’re stuck on the side of the trail with a flat or something it is more likely that you’ll run across someone you know who can help you. You also get to learn cool tricks. This is why My local bike shop Flagstaff Bike Revolution has a coffee bench in the back and most likely why Sasquatch bikes has a brews section to it as well. It’s to get to meet new people and welcome people into the sport. So even if you’re not supporting them monetarily, it’s great to have a shop that you know you can go to and say hello to the mechanics and that if somebody else breaks something being able to tell them, “Oh hey, there is a great shop not far from here that can fix that for you and the staff is friendly.” That’s all it takes to “Support your local bike shop”
Excellent points. To add to that, if people knew how many people come into a bike shop thinking they want to buy a "mountain bike" just to ride their local paved greenway, because they don't like being "hunched over on a road bike," they would be surprised. They don't even know hybrid bikes exist until they talk to the shop staff.
Without a LBS, a HUGE segment of the population would likely never warm to mountain biking, because they would go to Walmart, buy a bike that would fall apart with no idea how to work on it, and quit the sport. NEW RIDERS need guidance. Our best LBS will actually work on Walmart bikes, because he feels like everyone has to start somewhere. He gently coaches them on the differences between reliable bikes, and after they are in a few times, if they enjoy the trails, they will buy a bike from him.
COMPLIMENT, don't compete. When LBS compliment Online, and Online does the same for LBS, EVERYONE wins!
Jeremy Sweeten As a professional mechanic, I find there is a wide variation of skills and knowledge in customers who bring in internet purchased parts for install. I am happy to thumbnail an explanation about compatibility issues (more widely known with years of experience and technical reading), and build up a relationship where they feel their needs are acknowledged, their requests are heard and their trust established and maintained (just like a bike) in our motivation to affect the best repair, bike build or custom project for their money. We appreciate loyalty and I believe we work to earn it. It takes a few bad turns at any shop for customers to seek out a better option, and I regret when some of our loyal clients have bad work done elsewhere (due to distance or necessity) that means I have to explain the new and more expensive issue that's been created. Simple repairs are definitely good to learn - I love teaching folx to take care of their own flats and brake adjustments - but almost every derailleur replacement (and hanger alignment/replacement) seems related to the bike owner fiddling with limit screws or riding without checking their shifting is AOK at low speeds. Bent and bashed hangers feed those expensive Campy, SRAM and Shimano parts to the Angry Wheel God. Totally avoidable, but not everyone has time to commit to learning how to assess and adjust a bike, AND THAT IS WHY IT IS A SKILLED TRADE. Find a mechanic and shop with whom you can build a good relationship, and your rides will get better, and the costs will be more sensible.
Can you please make a vid on how to earn money as a teen to pay for this hobby
Ask your local bike shop if they can offer you a job if you cast a wide enough net one shop is bound to train you up as an standby mechanic
Lunch money, summer job, weekend job, sell some unused stuff... and stay committed to saving! I just bought some £60 renthals off lunch money alone👍
@@bradleyburns255 I live in South Africa, we don't have cafeterias, we have packed lunches and a tuck shop.... So that's not an option :)
iShroom unfortunately South Africa is a terrible country with a poor economy. I’m not sure if anyone from the US can help you
unless he's a white farm owner his family might have some money. but might be killed out on the trail?
I've gone to several different bike shops (including the one I bought my bike from) and have never experienced the bike shop "stink eye". They just seemed to be super into mountain biking and were happy to help me get the right gear I needed. The one I bought my bike from before I moved would even answer mechanical questions and give advice on repairs knowing they're not gonna make any money on it. They also gave me tips on the best trails in the area when I was starting out years ago.
I've had this conversation in my head -- yes, I purchase online AND LOCAL. Seriously, best advise to a shop -- signage and attitude that says WE DON'T CARE WHERE YOU BOUGHT IT. I've never returned to a local shop that asked me where I purchased it (side-eyed).
uhh no. my local bike shop charges 3x what chain reaction does. overcharge for miniscule adjustments. learn to work on a bike yourself
Chain reaction tunes your bike? Sick!