Shop model, what works for you?

[RDV4ROUBAIX]

Over 20 years in just about every facet of the industry has got me wondering about this. Where do you shop, and why?

 

[steelciocc]

I know what I want and don't need to be "sold" on the latest, greatest marketing marvel from Brand X - Internet only for me.

On the other hand, a shop with a mechanic I trust with my investment will get plenty of service revenue from me. I don't ride the S brands and will only trust someone who has more than casual contact with the quirks of my chosen components.

Although I don't live in Boulder, Vecchio's is my ideal shop. I'd likely buy more from my LBS if it was even close to Vecchio's level of product knowledge and service expertise.

If you don't know what you want go to Trek World or Specialized City - they'll be happy to sell you more bike than you need chock full of their house brand crap...

 

[RDV4ROUBAIX]

Although I don't live in Boulder, Vecchio's is my ideal shop. I'd likely buy more from my LBS if it was even close to Vecchio's level of product knowledge and service expertise.

In about 20 min I'm departing Denver for Boulder. Guess my destination?

 

[steelciocc]

Pro Peloton used to be a great shop too (from my limited exposure) but it had turned into Specialized City last time I was there.

Ron Kiefel's Trek Temple was another shop with a lot of character before they sold out...

 

[kuoirad]

In about 20 min I'm departing Denver for Boulder. Guess my destination?

Huh. Maybe I should visit the place next year during my Boulder trip.

 

[Wallace]

In Seattle, Herriot Sports Performance is so far and away the best bike shop, it's embarrassing. I bought two bikes there, and the detail and serious work to fitting is far beyond anything I experienced anywhere else (I once went to Gregs of Green Lake and asked how a component worked, and the kid replied, snarkily, "I don't know, I've never needed that." Never been back). Pro shops, where the staff know why they're selling what they sell are the best.

Plus, Thomas, the mechanic at Herriot, is a genius.

Pro shops take the time, understand what you, as a particular person with specific goals and desires from the experience of riding a bike need, and because they are seriously committed to the demands of serious bike riding, tell you honestly what you need.

Small pro shops rule!

 

[Damiano Machiavelli]

Bike shops will go the way of the buggy whip. Internet prices and selection are too good.

 

[Wallace]

Bike shops will go the way of the buggy whip. Internet prices and selection are too good.

The internet is only a bargain if you know how to build up your own bike. I do, but I've reached the stage in my life where I'd prefer to pay someone to do that work.

If you're younger, cash-straped, and can do all the mechanical work on your bike yourself, then the internet is absolutely the cheapest way to go, by far. But if you don't know what you need, or if you're on the opposite end of the spectrum and do know what you want and are happy to pay the money to have it done well (that is, if you have a career and time is the most important commodity), then, as I said before, pro shops are the way to go.

 

[Damiano Machiavelli]

The internet is only a bargain if you know how to build up your own bike. I do, but I've reached the stage in my life where I'd prefer to pay someone to do that work.

If you're younger, cash-straped, and can do all the mechanical work on your bike yourself, then the internet is absolutely the cheapest way to go, by far. But if you don't know what you need, or if you're on the opposite end of the spectrum and do know what you want and are happy to pay the money to have it done well (that is, if you have a career and time is the most important commodity), then, as I said before, pro shops are the way to go.

It is not just cheapness. It is selection. For accessories the internet kills any shop. Who wants to go to a LBS where nearly all the accessories are made by Trek and labeled as Bontrager?

 

[Wallace]

It is not just cheapness. It is selection. For accessories the internet kills any shop. Who wants to go to a LBS where nearly all the accessories are made by Trek and labeled as Bontrager?

Go to a better LBS.

 

[Damiano Machiavelli]

Go to a better LBS.

...to find that everything is made by Specialized.

A lot of people do not have a better bike shop. Trek and Specialized intend to make the number of those people increase.

 

[42x16ss]

I've always stuck with smaller shops that thrive on repeat business. Whenever I move somewhere new or I'm travelling with my bike, I look at what everyone else around me is riding (and then find out who the dealer is) and what shop kit they wear. Taking note of the most popular shop has steered me in the right direction about 9 times out of 10. The brands they sell don't usually matter to me, just that the shop is RELIABLE in service and knowledge.

 

[Wallace]

...to find that everything is made by Specialized.

A lot of people do not have a better bike shop. Trek and Specialized intend to make the number of those people increase.

Your assumption is that all bike shops push crap. My experience is that while most do, there are lots of good bike shops that don't.

In Seattle we used to have Il Vecchio (an absolute marvel of a small store, run by a man who knew everything about race bikes, from Coppi to Contador). Now we have Montlake Cycles and Herriot. In every city I've lived in, there's a good, serious, knowledgable shop. Support them. When you're coming back from your ride and your chain snaps and you make it to the store coasting by pushing with your feet and you don't have a credit card and it's close to closing, those are the guys who will set you up so you can get back home (and yes, this happened to me). I don't think Wiggle will be of much help then.

 

[LugHugger]

There will always be a place for good cycle workshops who focus on customer service. But, the explosion in internet shopping has left most shops grasping for trade and believing that they can maintain their original business model. They can't. Most cyclists I know now buy components online and not in a bricks and mortar store. Some can fit these components, some can't. The latter need a bike workshop not a retailer. This is the future model which can be made to work profitably. Of course, concept stores will always exists for freds and fanboys.

 

[Bustedknuckle]

Pro Peloton used to be a great shop too (from my limited exposure) but it had turned into Specialized City last time I was there.

Ron Kiefel's Trek Temple was another shop with a lot of character before they sold out...

Chris has seen the light at ProPeloton and they are a boutique, studio type shop that sells very nice, high end bikes/wheels/etc. And he has said adios to Specialized.

 

[bc_hills]

Over 20 years in just about every facet of the industry has got me wondering about this. Where do you shop, and why?

My priorities:

Good mechanics/wheelbuilders
Knowledgeable parts dude
Decent parts stock

I also really appreciate quick service and turnaround, and I get it. But then I don't bypass my LBS to save $5 online. Maybe that's got something to do with it.

Online merchandising is not the end of the LBS. Real, adult, wage earning people generally don't have the time or expertise to deal with their bikes the way some kid living in his mom's basement can.

If you're loyal to a good LBS then the advantages far outweigh the trite savings you'll find online. that's my experience anyway.

Good mechanics are king though... nothing worse than having to bring a bike back time and again so the mech can finally get it right.

 

[Martin318is]

LBS simply don't have the range required for me.
They used to - but then the importers and distributors started spreading the virus of "all one brand". Lately, most shops I go to have things like the BBB wall. Every SINGLE accessory in the place is BBB brand (or in other shops they will be Bontrager for instance).

What if I want an alternative to the BBB version of something? What if I am really looking for the Topeak version? Its the equivalent of 10 years ago when the only HR monitor you could get in most places was a Polar. At least the arrival of Garmin, et al have generally killed that idea.

When I need something, I need the item that I want, not the item that the shop wants to sell me. Also, I need people to know about the stuff they are selling. Lately, I tend to walk into shops and know more about their upcoming products than the sales staff do. As a result, I use the internet to search for things and get opinions.

Its not a price point thing - its a restriction of options thing.

Where possible, if there is a cross over then I buy the item at my LBS. I also get servicing done by the mechanic at my LBS when I don't have the time to do it myself.

 

[richwagmn]

Depends what I'm shopping for. Bike parts, wheels, mostly the internet. Better selection and of course prices. Most LBS's selection suck. Though there are few in the cities that aren't too bad.

Shoes, helmets, gloves, socks, water bottles, LBS.

Shorts, internet (no one carries Assos).

 

[ElChingon]

Internet!

All companies that have anything worth buying are on the internet. Even bike shops world round are on. It takes me just as long or better to get the bike part I want the LBS doesn't carry or is out of and yes better price. I work on all my own stuff so no worry about not being able to put it on. Means more tools to stock personally but that's the overhead one must deal with to be able to bolt a part on at midnight if needed or right before a ride if something is off all of a sudden. As for that knowledge one needs to deal with an issue, well just search for it on the internet and you'll find a bevy of possible solutions if not just ask about it and get a slew of replies, you still need to filter out which are the sensible replies, much like when you visit a LBS. Not all employees of an LBS are knowledgeable as the owner or head mechanic who might not be there when you are or need them. Companies also post documentation on issues of their parts/bikes or knowledge base info, same info a bike shop gets or you can actually ask the company about it and they'll either answer it or direct you to who ever knows the answer.

We're in the 21st Century, and even if our hobby/sport is considered a bit old school its time to move on, for those of us who can and do get a little dirty with our bikes. LBS's will still exist for the people who can't/won't work on their own bikes, much like auto repair shops still exist even though one can also work on ones own car.

 

[oronet commander]

There are big shops in my city, but I buy in a very samll shop owned by a mechanic with 41 years of experience (furthermore, it was his father's shop). Good service, friendship, and willingness to repair instead of using new components. He sells me the small (ball bearings, wires...) so he gets the big sells too (frames, bicycles) and my friends' too.

 

[bc_hills]

Internet!



We're in the 21st Century, and even if our hobby/sport is considered a bit old school its time to move on, for those of us who can and do get a little dirty with our bikes. LBS's will still exist for the people who can't/won't work on their own bikes, much like auto repair shops still exist even though one can also work on ones own car.

So in other words the LBS (like automotive mechanics) will continue to thrive while the few (people that take the time to post to this forum about the future of the LBS?) who are so inclined will continue to do some of their own work? That does sound about right.

 

[ElChingon]

So in other words the LBS (like automotive mechanics) will continue to thrive while the few (people that take the time to post to this forum about the future of the LBS?) who are so inclined will continue to do some of their own work? That does sound about right.

Its all about margins.

 

[RDV4ROUBAIX]

All interesting comments so far. The internet has definitely changed the way people shop, goes without saying. Has forced many shops to rethink their approach in the last 10-15 years. What I've been seeing is the small shops that still rely on walk-ins have gone heavy on the service and accessories aspect and light on the new bike selection. It's the big brand store that have the big selection, and poor bike fit usually, which doesn't coincide with buying a bike, if you want to get properly fit, the internet doesn't work, has to be done in person. Still kind of assbackwards from what I've seen. It's always the small specialty shops that have the best bike fit program with a fit specialist and a dedicated fit machine, and the big brands stores version is to seat you on a couple different bikes set up on a trainer until one fits. We are kind of a different group too when it comes to the bike purchase, I think it's safe to say that most of us here on the forum have been riding for a while and pretty much know what frame geometries fit us.

 

[RDV4ROUBAIX]

Depends what I'm shopping for. Bike parts, wheels, mostly the internet. Better selection and of course prices. Most LBS's selection suck. Though there are few in the cities that aren't too bad.

Shoes, helmets, gloves, socks, water bottles, LBS.

Shorts, internet (no one carries Assos).

You mean like Freewheel and World Cycling Prod.

Rich, you need to explore your city more! Go to the WCP end of season tent sale, you'll find tons of Assos for almost wholesale price.

 

[kuoirad]

RDV: so out of curiosity, would you have any rec's for Austin, TX?

I have a (small) shop I like for service and small parts who doesn't mind if I order a part on my own he doesn't already have. But I'm always interested in other people's opinions of shops...