I guess the season is starting...

[JayC]

Had to go to Cycling Spoken Here today to buy some rim strips and the place was SLAMMED. Everyone was selling road bikes. As I was leaving, there was a steady stream of cars coming into the parking lot. Looks like there will be lots of new riders on the road this year.

If you need work done, its probably best to get an appointment because I'd imagine the mechanics are going to be very busy from here on out!

[Zonda]

They had the Trek demo this weekend, so it was probably more crowded than usual.

[skiffrun]

if at all possible, do NOT go to the bike shops on the weekends during spring & early summer (unless it is pouring rain). You can accomplish more in 10 min on a Mon, Tues, Wed evening than you can in an hour on the weekends.

there's no point in taking your bike into the shop on Sundays - wait till Wed when the weekend backlog is clearing. If you get to shop first on Sat, it may be worth taking bike in. The staff will spend much, if not most, of their time on the weekends just checking bikes in. And repeatedly explaining that "no, you won't be able to get your bike back tomorrow."

[JayC]

+1 for learning to do your own work.

I just needed rims trips.. I was shocked at the amount of bikes being shown/sold when I was in there, tho. Shoulda been some Slow Spokes flyers up on the counter for the employees to hand out to the proud new owners.

[Zonda]

Shoulda been some Slow Spokes flyers up on the counter for the employees to hand out to the proud new owners.

I have given flyers to them and emailed them the file with the flyers.

An entire untapped market (beginners) overlooked by the LBS.

[Perry]

if at all possible, do NOT go to the bike shops on the weekends during spring & early summer (unless it is pouring rain). You can accomplish more in 10 min on a Mon, Tues, Wed evening than you can in an hour on the weekends.

there's no point in taking your bike into the shop on Sundays - wait till Wed when the weekend backlog is clearing. If you get to shop first on Sat, it may be worth taking bike in. The staff will spend much, if not most, of their time on the weekends just checking bikes in. And repeatedly explaining that "no, you won't be able to get your bike back tomorrow."



I took a bike in to Performance last night. I figured to drop it off and pick it up next week, especially after reading the comments here, but they fixed it while I waited. In fact I was pretty impressed with the mechanic, Michael, an older guy (like me). He fixed several things on my mail-order-bike that I didn't know were out of wack and gave me a quick lesson on adjusting the deraileur. Charged me very little in the end. I tend to avoid big chain stores for anything, but I'll be going back to Performance as long as Michael is there.

[Perry]

Forgot to mention that on a 'slow' Tuesday night, the mechanic Micheal probably dealt with 6 other customers buying bikes and parts while he worked on my bike. Looks like a good time to be in the bike business.

[JayC]

Michael is the thin guy probabaly mid 40s? He's actually been there since the store opened and seems to be a pretty nice guy. I try to avoid most shops working on my bike because I can screw my own stuff up as easy as they can but it's nice to hear he did you right.

[Perry]

Michael is the thin guy probabaly mid 40s? He's actually been there since the store opened and seems to be a pretty nice guy. I try to avoid most shops working on my bike because I can screw my own stuff up as easy as they can but it's nice to hear he did you right.

Yea thats probably him. Maybe closer to 50, about 5'7" or so, with short graying hair. Not a kid, like most of the other mechanics.

[CharleyM3]

David (Zeller I think) is also an excellent mechanic working there afternoons and early evenings. I've learned a lot from him. Loves to talk about all things bike. He's a little taller than 5'7", but other than that he fits description.