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"A Bicycle Shop" (163 w22nd st) totally full of sh!t
I've yet to go to one LBS which gave me a good feeling. Many made me
disgusted, many left me with no feeling whatsoever -- I could have been at the DMV renewing my driver's license -- but none have left me with a favorable impression, where I feel like I trust the person, not only for their mechanical skills (sometimes not much better than my own, actually) but for their "character" and "work ethic" (a c"omplete inspection and rehaul" means a complete inspection and rehaul -- many times I've caught some of the most obvious ****, like loose cassettes or less-than-taut cables, never mind whether they really did check my ball bearings!). The all-time full-of-**** award has to go to The Bike Stop of Astoria, whose owner had sold me a brand-new bike with a defective (loose, no matter how much you tighten it) headset/stem but tried very hard to pass that off as "normal." However, screws can indeed be very bike-specific! I got an HP-Velo SWB recumbent bike earlier this year, and it came with a defective rear air shock. When I sent the air shock back to the manufacturer, I'd sent along the screws that joined the shock to the bike. Well! Turns out that the screws are specific to different bikes, at least in the case of rear shocks, owing to different "triangle" (forgot the technical term) widths and so forth. These were long, three or four-inch screws, bolts, really. Anyway, it was just a big to-do...I thought I could just get one from a bike shop or even a hardware store, but no, these things aren't standardized and you need to know length and diameter, and possibly the thread type, too! l'Al Cool wrote: I visited "a bicycle shop" that used to be on w14th, and has now moved to 163 w 22nd betw 6th and 7th, near where I work. I just needed a simple 5mm screw. Well, the guy behind the counter told me every bike needs a different screw and that he couldn't sell me one screw, since the screws are specific to the bicycle! What a total load of crap. I can't believe that he would lie about something so insignificant. If he would lie about something as stupid as a screw, what else is this guys lying about? I can understand if he said, "look, we don't sell items like that unless you have purchased the parts from us", That's totally cool. Why should he have to support non-customers? But to out and out lie to someone's face is just plain wrong. I'm sure owning a bike shop isn't that profitable, what with the big box stores and the etailers and what not, and I'm sure accessories and service are a big part of his profit margin. I can totally understand where he is coming from. I cannot tolerate outright lying, however. It's a shame as I work in the neighborhood and would purchase stuff from him, but not now! I wouldn't spend a cent in that store, and if you believe in rewarding honorable merchants, you shouldn't either. Oh, and to top it off, while I was leaving I overheard him telling another customer that people don't like doing business at Metro (on 6th ave and 16th st). Like who the hell is he to badmouth a competitor? What a lowlife! |
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"A Bicycle Shop" (163 w22nd st) totally full of sh!t
"NYC XYZ" wrote in message ups.com... I've yet to go to one LBS which gave me a good feeling. Many made me disgusted, many left me with no feeling whatsoever -- I could have been at the DMV renewing my driver's license -- but none have left me with a favorable impression, where I feel like I trust the person, not only for their mechanical skills (sometimes not much better than my own, actually) but for their "character" and "work ethic" (a c"omplete inspection and rehaul" means a complete inspection and rehaul -- many times I've caught some of the most obvious ****, like loose cassettes or less-than-taut cables, never mind whether they really did check my ball bearings!). The all-time full-of-**** award has to go to The Bike Stop of Astoria, whose owner had sold me a brand-new bike with a defective (loose, no matter how much you tighten it) headset/stem but tried very hard to pass that off as "normal." However, screws can indeed be very bike-specific! I got an HP-Velo SWB recumbent bike earlier this year, and it came with a defective rear air shock. When I sent the air shock back to the manufacturer, I'd sent along the screws that joined the shock to the bike. Well! Turns out that the screws are specific to different bikes, at least in the case of rear shocks, owing to different "triangle" (forgot the technical term) widths and so forth. These were long, three or four-inch screws, bolts, really. Anyway, it was just a big to-do...I thought I could just get one from a bike shop or even a hardware store, but no, these things aren't standardized and you need to know length and diameter, and possibly the thread type, too! l'Al Cool wrote: I visited "a bicycle shop" that used to be on w14th, and has now moved to 163 w 22nd betw 6th and 7th, near where I work. I just needed a simple 5mm screw. Well, the guy behind the counter told me every bike needs a different screw and that he couldn't sell me one screw, since the screws are specific to the bicycle! What a total load of crap. I can't believe that he would lie about something so insignificant. If he would lie about something as stupid as a screw, what else is this guys lying about? I can understand if he said, "look, we don't sell items like that unless you have purchased the parts from us", That's totally cool. Why should he have to support non-customers? But to out and out lie to someone's face is just plain wrong. I'm sure owning a bike shop isn't that profitable, what with the big box stores and the etailers and what not, and I'm sure accessories and service are a big part of his profit margin. I can totally understand where he is coming from. I cannot tolerate outright lying, however. It's a shame as I work in the neighborhood and would purchase stuff from him, but not now! I wouldn't spend a cent in that store, and if you believe in rewarding honorable merchants, you shouldn't either. Oh, and to top it off, while I was leaving I overheard him telling another customer that people don't like doing business at Metro (on 6th ave and 16th st). Like who the hell is he to badmouth a competitor? What a lowlife! Good Grief! You guys should have available to you the kind of bike shops that exist here in the Upper Midwest. They will bend over backwards to get you whatever you need - and damn the profit! They only aim to please, knowing that you will come back to them when you want to make a big purchase. This is sometimes called Minnesota nice, but Hells Bells, it is just plain common sense. Regards, Ed Dolan the Great - Minnesota aka Saint Edward the Great - Order of the Perpetual Sorrows - Minnesota |
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"A Bicycle Shop" (163 w22nd st) totally full of sh!t
Edward Dolan wrote: Good Grief! You guys should have available to you the kind of bike shops that exist here in the Upper Midwest. They will bend over backwards to get you whatever you need - and damn the profit! They only aim to please, knowing that you will come back to them when you want to make a big purchase. This is sometimes called Minnesota nice, but Hells Bells, it is just plain common sense. Yeah, you betcha. Nice is one thing, but I've met nice and incompetent folks at the bike shop (them Midwest Heartlanders were "nice" where I got my SWB, but they weren't helpful with that defective rear air shock, and I did a good 85% of the leg-work myself). I guess a good honest bike mechanic is hard to find, just like with cars. Luckily, for most things on a bike I can do myself, though at three times the pace. Regards, Ed Dolan the Great - Minnesota aka Saint Edward the Great - Order of the Perpetual Sorrows - Minnesota |
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"A Bicycle Shop" (163 w22nd st) totally full of sh!t
Edward Dolan wrote ON TOPIC: Good Grief! You guys should have available to you the kind of bike shops that exist here in the Upper Midwest. They will bend over backwards to get you whatever you need - and damn the profit! They only aim to please, knowing that you will come back to them when you want to make a big purchase. This is sometimes called Minnesota nice, but Hells Bells, it is just plain common sense. This is certainly true of the dealings I have had with Mary Breen of Calhoun Cycle [1] - their service and friendliness puts them at the top of my list for recumbent/folder specialist shops. [1] http://www.calhouncycle.com/. -- Tom Sherman - Here, not there. |
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"A Bicycle Shop" (163 w22nd st) totally full of sh!t
"NYC XYZ" wrote in message ups.com... Edward Dolan wrote: Good Grief! You guys should have available to you the kind of bike shops that exist here in the Upper Midwest. They will bend over backwards to get you whatever you need - and damn the profit! They only aim to please, knowing that you will come back to them when you want to make a big purchase. This is sometimes called Minnesota nice, but Hells Bells, it is just plain common sense. Yeah, you betcha. Nice is one thing, but I've met nice and incompetent folks at the bike shop (them Midwest Heartlanders were "nice" where I got my SWB, but they weren't helpful with that defective rear air shock, and I did a good 85% of the leg-work myself). I guess a good honest bike mechanic is hard to find, just like with cars. Luckily, for most things on a bike I can do myself, though at three times the pace. Folks will spend a fortune to get their damn cars repaired, but they do not like to spend much money to get their bikes repaired. I decided from the beginning that I was going to fix my own bikes. The trouble with bike shop mechanics is that they have to charge quite a bit in order to break even. The local bike shop here in town was always rather reluctant to embark on any major repairs because he knew no one wanted to spend much money for a bicycle repair. If you are doing your own repairs then you know it is possible to spend all day and half the night on some tricky little problem. The beauty of the bicycle however is that it was just about the last invention of mankind that the average Joe Blow can figure out on his own just by looking at it. Regards, Ed Dolan the Great - Minnesota aka Saint Edward the Great - Order of the Perpetual Sorrows - Minnesota |
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"A Bicycle Shop" (163 w22nd st) totally full of sh!t
"NYC XYZ" wrote in message ups.com... I've yet to go to one LBS which gave me a good feeling. On the San Francisco peninsula there are many good local bike shops, with really friendly service. Our family has bought three bikes, from two different LBS's, in the last two years. At both bike stores they were happy to adjust the bikes to fit us (including changing pedals to test road bikes) and let us take as many test rides as we wanted without requiring us to leave even a driver's license behind. (We offered...) Recently I went into one of our LBS to get thorn resistant tubes for my daughter's bike. It's a big year for the thorny weeds, so they were out of stock. However, rather than selling me another solution (he had the tire liners and goo there, but he didn't recommend them) he called up other LBS's until he found one with them in stock, and had them hold them until I got there. These stores are in no way financially connected. That was just plain nice. And yeah, I'll go to him first next time too. |
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"A Bicycle Shop" (163 w22nd st) totally full of sh!t
Edward Dolan wrote: Folks will spend a fortune to get their damn cars repaired, but they do not like to spend much money to get their bikes repaired. I decided from the beginning that I was going to fix my own bikes. Wish I had the space to properly work on my bikes. Barely any room to hang them off the walls of my apartment! I go up to the roof and fiddle around when I have to, but I prefer to have an expert give it the look-see. Hence my problems: no 100% reliable mechanics to-date. The trouble with bike shop mechanics is that they have to charge quite a bit in order to break even. The local bike shop here in town was always rather reluctant to embark on any major repairs because he knew no one wanted to spend much money for a bicycle repair. Yes, that's true, but of course, cars are greatly more complicated by comparison. After all, where's the sense in a $150 overhaul when the bike was $750 six years ago? Tough call. Frankly, the only real reason to ride a bike is 'cause it's fun. It ain't healthier, since commuting is simply breathing in second-hand smoke. It ain't cheaper, since repairs almost even things out. It ain't helping the environment, since that 0.00032% of a difference made is obviously negligible. And sometimes, especially on cold wintry mornings, it ain't even half as fun as you remember it being. If you are doing your own repairs then you know it is possible to spend all day and half the night on some tricky little problem. The beauty of the bicycle however is that it was just about the last invention of mankind that the average Joe Blow can figure out on his own just by looking at it. I'd rather spend my time riding, if I can help it. Just takes me too long, still. Regards, Ed Dolan the Great - Minnesota aka Saint Edward the Great - Order of the Perpetual Sorrows - Minnesota |
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"A Bicycle Shop" (163 w22nd st) totally full of sh!t
"NYC XYZ" wrote in message ups.com... Edward Dolan wrote: Folks will spend a fortune to get their damn cars repaired, but they do not like to spend much money to get their bikes repaired. I decided from the beginning that I was going to fix my own bikes. Wish I had the space to properly work on my bikes. Barely any room to hang them off the walls of my apartment! I go up to the roof and fiddle around when I have to, but I prefer to have an expert give it the look-see. Hence my problems: no 100% reliable mechanics to-date. The trouble with bike shop mechanics is that they have to charge quite a bit in order to break even. The local bike shop here in town was always rather reluctant to embark on any major repairs because he knew no one wanted to spend much money for a bicycle repair. Yes, that's true, but of course, cars are greatly more complicated by comparison. After all, where's the sense in a $150 overhaul when the bike was $750 six years ago? Tough call. Frankly, the only real reason to ride a bike is 'cause it's fun. It ain't healthier, since commuting is simply breathing in second-hand smoke. It ain't cheaper, since repairs almost even things out. It ain't helping the environment, since that 0.00032% of a difference made is obviously negligible. And sometimes, especially on cold wintry mornings, it ain't even half as fun as you remember it being. You have sure got the above right! Once the fun is gone, everything is gone. If you are doing your own repairs then you know it is possible to spend all day and half the night on some tricky little problem. The beauty of the bicycle however is that it was just about the last invention of mankind that the average Joe Blow can figure out on his own just by looking at it. I'd rather spend my time riding, if I can help it. Just takes me too long, still. I must admit when I had just one bike it was down for repairs much of the time. Now that I have over 20 bikes, they all work perfectly and I never have to repair any of them for anything. Go figure! Regards, Ed Dolan the Great - Minnesota aka Saint Edward the Great - Order of the Perpetual Sorrows - Minnesota |
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"A Bicycle Shop" (163 w22nd st) totally full of sh!t
On 24 Oct 2006 12:13:39 -0700, "NYC XYZ"
wrote: The trouble with bike shop mechanics is that they have to charge quite a bit in order to break even. The local bike shop here in town was always rather reluctant to embark on any major repairs because he knew no one wanted to spend much money for a bicycle repair. Yes, that's true, but of course, cars are greatly more complicated by comparison. After all, where's the sense in a $150 overhaul when the bike was $750 six years ago? Tough call. Now image that your commuter is a $300 Trek 7100. The only reason to do a $150 overhaul is because ... well, there really isn't a reason. Except that previous overhauls have improved various parts such as the cassette and wheels. So, I should buy another 7100, and when the cassette gives me trouble, install the one from the old bike. Just keep it for parts. That's probably what I'll do the next time I have a problem. Especially since I commute through the winter. Frankly, the only real reason to ride a bike is 'cause it's fun. It ain't healthier, since commuting is simply breathing in second-hand smoke. It ain't cheaper, since repairs almost even things out. It ain't helping the environment, since that 0.00032% of a difference made is obviously negligible. And sometimes, especially on cold wintry mornings, it ain't even half as fun as you remember it being. I'm not sure about the second hand smoke claim. I don't spin so hard that I'm breathing particularly hard most of the time. I know what biking has done to my HDL and LDL levels. My doctor actually did a double-take, looking back and forth between lab results before asking if I was doing anything different. I had just started commuting by bike a few months before. Of course, my knees ache sometimes and I've hit the pavement a time or two. But, as I like to say, people in my family drop dead of heart attacks all the time. Not one has died in a bike accident. Biking certainly isn't cheaper than commuting by bus/train once I count in all the various thingies I buy, such as the Hotronic foot warmers that just ran $135 and will hopefully keep my toes warm in January. I think the most fun is the look on folks faces when I mention that I commute by bike and they realize how far I'm going. Also fun is the head turning when I zip by with my cold cathode tubes lighting up the night and my superflash blinky. It sort of looks like a jazzy ambulance. I only got the blinky yesterday so I only got to try it out this morning. And I've only used the cold cathode tubes twice. But both are going to be an integral part of my normal commute. Oh, what fun. Damn cold though. |
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"A Bicycle Shop" (163 w22nd st) totally full of sh!t
In article ,
dgk wrote: On 24 Oct 2006 12:13:39 -0700, "NYC XYZ" wrote: The trouble with bike shop mechanics is that they have to charge quite a bit in order to break even. The local bike shop here in town was always rather reluctant to embark on any major repairs because he knew no one wanted to spend much money for a bicycle repair. Yes, that's true, but of course, cars are greatly more complicated by comparison. After all, where's the sense in a $150 overhaul when the bike was $750 six years ago? Tough call. Now image that your commuter is a $300 Trek 7100. The only reason to do a $150 overhaul is because ... well, there really isn't a reason. Sure there is. First, $150 a year for an overhaul is cheaper than buying a new, decent quality bike every year or two. Second, it keeps bikes out of landfills. Keeping everything we can out of landfills is a generally good idea. That said, I haven't paid $150 for a bike overhaul in... well, ever. I just do it myself. Invest in a few tools, learn a few skills, and it's easy. Faster, too, than waiting for the bike shop to get it done. Heck, my childhood friends and I figured out most of how bikes work in grade school, garbage picking bikes, taking them apart and customizing them. I thought just about everybody did that. Maybe not. Frankly, the only real reason to ride a bike is 'cause it's fun. It ain't healthier, since commuting is simply breathing in second-hand smoke. It ain't cheaper, since repairs almost even things out. It ain't helping the environment, since that 0.00032% of a difference made is obviously negligible. And sometimes, especially on cold wintry mornings, it ain't even half as fun as you remember it being. I'm not sure about the second hand smoke claim. What research there is has indicated comparing cyclists and drivers in the same conditions indicates that cyclists actually get less pollutants in their bodies. Cars act as air pollution concentrators, and the increased air exchange of cyclists is beneficial. The caveat, I think, is in fine particulates which would be inhaled deeper by the cyclist. I don't spin so hard that I'm breathing particularly hard most of the time. I know what biking has done to my HDL and LDL levels. My doctor actually did a double-take, looking back and forth between lab results before asking if I was doing anything different. I had just started commuting by bike a few months before. Congratulations. A nice example that intense exercise is not necessary to show good benefits. I had a similar result- in 1990 when I had lapsed into a very sedentary lifestyle after moving to a new area for a new job, my total cholesterol was in the high 140s. Once I got over my inertia and got back on the bike, scouting out good roads to ride, I dropped 50 pounds and my total cholesterol went down to 99 by around 1992. It's crept up slowly over the intervening years to 113 a couple of years ago. Come to think of it, I am due for a recheck. Of course, my knees ache sometimes and I've hit the pavement a time or two. But, as I like to say, people in my family drop dead of heart attacks all the time. Not one has died in a bike accident. Biking certainly isn't cheaper than commuting by bus/train once I count in all the various thingies I buy, such as the Hotronic foot warmers that just ran $135 and will hopefully keep my toes warm in January. If you calculate on a cost per mile basis, cycling works out cheaper in the long run (unless you keep buying new gear willy-nilly). And it's certainly more fun! |
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