Local Bicycle Shop...My Oasis

In this day of need something yesterday, immediacy fueled society, the
small, local proprietor has found it hard to stay in business. The LBS is
definitely an endangered species, but there are several finer shops around
the country and I am lucky enough to live 30 minutes from one.

When one thinks of the LBS, I imagine we conjure up images of a friendly
store, with a good core unit of customers, and a cast of regulars, etc. We
even might start to know the parts jobbers, UPS man, etc, just from hanging
out in the shop.

I learn a lot at the shop, from BBQ advice, to life talk, etc, The bike
shop, the barber shop, the cigar shop, etc. These were places were we came
for more than just the intrinsic.

Any good small business must find a niche and be successful defining and
marketing to it's niche. To me, that means as long as there are riders that
there will be god pro shops. But it is not that easy, and I had walked out
of dozens of shops before finding "the one."

Ok, enough waxing philosophic...today I had what could have been a major
problem and because I have a good LBS shop, he made it his problem.

A while back, I bought a set of Ksyrium SSC SL. I have truly enjoyed these
wheels, and they have given me nary a problem at all. I noticed I needed a
truing, and went to the shop this afternoon for some minor adjustments as
well. As I was looking over the rear wheel, there she was. A split. One on
top, one on bottom.

As for those who buy over the web, etc, I do not know what would happen if
you all of a sudden are faced with this problem...let alone if you wind up
with a non US wheel. I was stressed, (so was the wheel), but Rich wasn't.

Oh yea, the shop is ALL BICYCLES, in Deerfield Beach Florida and the shop
owner is Rich Cohen. In minutes he was on the phone with Mavic, and they
were taking my wheel back for full replacement. Not repair...REPLACEMENT!
Then he takes a brand new wheel from his stock, and presents it to me as he
puts it on my bike. Rich made it his problem, and he is now waiting on
Mavic for the replacement wheel, and I have not even skipped a beat on what
could have been a not fun experience.

Sure I have another wheelset, but the thought of being without my main
wheels was stressful. Rich took care of everything, like he always does,
time after time, day after day, year after year. Rich and I are friends at
this point, but strangers off the street all receive the same high level of
service.

Btw, no clocks anywhere in the shop. It's not a about time when your at a
good LBS.

thanx for letting me ramble.

--
scott