Are good bicycle shops extinct?

[The Black Monark]

Just went to 2 shops near my house. Neither is new.
The first had next to nothing in parts. No seat posts, no stems, the guy admitted he didn't know how to change a tire.
The second is even older, used to be a really good, big shop.
The guys there didn't know much of anything either, basically no parts, didn't care to leave whatever they were doing on the computer.
amazing!
Have the internets (and employees lol) have killed the local bike shop?

 

[outskirtscustoms]

For the most part... yes. My two local bike shops are the same way, the closest one the guy is kinda snobby, and if you bring in an old bike or a walmart bike he will tell you the dumpster is out back. (They cater to high end roadies and mountain bikes but he will do repairs if you pay him enough)

The other bike shop is the Schwinn shop and they are great but clear across town from me. There it depends on who you talk to, the young guys will just try to get you to buy a new bike but the old guys actually respect old bikes (If it is a Schwinn) and are great at repairs but a little pricey.

 

[NicksGarage]

If you're not wearing a spandex riding suit many of the shops around here ignore you but since we are a beach town it's not that hard to find a shop that handles cruisers or customs. Doesn't mean they can't be snobby or lame.

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[The Black Monark]

... the closest one the guy is kinda snobby, and if you bring in an old bike or a walmart bike he will tell you the dumpster is out back....

Speaks more to the quality of the person giving directions to the dumpster than to that of the bicycles.

 

[outskirtscustoms]

Why do you think I ride by his shop everyday? I keep an eye on that dumpster!

 

[the12volt]

There are four shops within fifthteen minutes from me.

Three sell new bikes and each one of these three is more proud than the other. They quote full retail or higher on all bikes and their labor rates are high too. On almost every occassion, I felt like I was intruding when I walked into their stores. Snotty, snobby, if you didn't buy it from them, it's not a bike worth having attitudes.

The fourth shop doesn't sell any new bikes, is very friendly, and is happy to work on anything you have. He has a few small rooms full of bikes from the 1950's and up for sale and for rent, a few frankenbikes, odd parts laying on shelves, some skateboards, other neat goodies, and sells bikes on consignment. On top of that, he is the only one located on a bike path and does not sell spandex . The others are located in strip malls along busy highways.

Now if only the fourth shop could get ahold of some of the goodies carried by the other shops, my favorite LBS would be perfect

Cheers,
Volt

 

[rydr1]

If you're not wearing a spandex riding suit many of the shops around here ignore you but since we are a beach town it's not that hard to find a shop that handles cruisers or customs. Doesn't mean they can't be snobby or lame.

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Same experience here. I think the only shop which is anything close to good is Bicycle Discovery in San Diego.

 

[model-a]

I wish I had one close to me hopefully when I win the lotto I can open my own shop and that's what I would do keep busy working on bikes for people Old Skool Bikes

 

[dragnusa]

I had a chance to go into a bike shop in Columbia Mo. that said they sold all kinds of used and new bikes. Yep they do, I talked to the guy working on a bike behind the counter and he said they only sale used high end bikes and hybrids and road bikes. Parts wise they carried very little single speed stuff and what they did was double the price I can get the same stuff online.

 

[jerrykr]

RRB "For Sale" section is your new LBS.

 

[supergoob]

I deal with 2 shops locally, each about 30 minutes from me in opposite directions. Both offer phenomenal service, sell new & used, and have a very respectable amount of parts inventory. One even has "Free Beer Fridays".

 

[Bicycle808]

The market has changed so much, and it's virtually impossible for the l'il guys to keep up. The bike industry is eating its young thru all the new standards; a small local shop can't keep all the stuff from 2013 in stock, let alone all of the intermediate stuff they've trotted out each year for the last 30 years. With seatposts available in sizes from 21.1mm to 32.0mm, with .1 or .2 mm in between, how do you expect them to keep it all in stock?

Sure, the prices are outrageous, and the knowledge of old bikes can be lacking, but what can they do? I predict that high-end shops that cater to rich folks with delusions of grandeur, and honest shops that base their business on service and repair will survive. The rest will inevitably close down...

 

[Sphinx]

Is that domestic big brewery watery beer, craft beer, or imported? :shock:

I deal with 2 shops locally, each about 30 minutes from me in opposite directions. Both offer phenomenal service, sell new & used, and have a very respectable amount of parts inventory. One even has "Free Beer Fridays".

 

[junknutz1975]

There are nearly a dozen within a 10-15 minute ride of me in all directions ( approximately a Slew! :wink: )
I haven't hit them all yet , the 5-6 that I've stopped by "outta the blue " haven't really yielded anything to write home
about....... 1 CERTAINLY couldn't have cared less about what I had to say!
There is another 1 that seems promising , just gotta have better timing next time....

Kota, Highship.... you guys know of any that I should happen by ?
I don't need anything in particular but its nice to rummage n play :mrgreen:

 

[schwinnmesa]

I shop online for all of my bike parts. May the best firm win!

 

[KOTA]

There's one in Florence (Northampton), on rte9, just beyond Smith Voke, F.J. Rogers, shop is over 100yrs. old...I went in once , guy seemed kind of cranky, might be an original employee...... Nice guy in Southampton on rte. 10, mostly high end road bikes and Jamis MTB and hybrids. Then there's a Father daughter in Westfield on rte.20, New Horizons. They do custom road bikes, but they have Felts and Electras, nice people.. If you're looking to buy old stuff, Hampshire Bicycle Exchange in Amherst. They sell vintage complete, or parts. Forum member PeterBuilt goes there a lot and has gotten some deals.

 

[Bigcam59]

There are a slew of shops in my area and most tend to cater to the upper end. Luckily there is Erlton Shop. They even let us hold our show in front of their shop on a Saturday and even provided hot dogs , drinks and homemade cookies! They've been around since 1971, and are probably the only shop in the area that will match up bearings and sell you however many you need. The other shops are pretty good, but for my kind of riding, Erlton Bike is best.
Of course in Philadelphia you HAVE to go see Curtis at Via Bikes. Any shop that thrives without selling a single new bike is onto something, and his collection of parts is probably second to none! Whenever we ride in Philly, Via Bike is a required stop.
I guess I'm pretty lucky. I have 2 stellar shops within 10 miles.

 

[junknutz1975]

Thanks Kota :mrgreen:

I've driven , or been a passenger by all of those and always wondered what they were like inside. Unfortunately it was when I was pressed for time , or enroute to somewhere and driven by with the intentions to stop back .

I have definitely been inside the one in Amherst ( and would love to return when more time allows . Looked very promising there. Last time I was there I bought a slew of cool stickers. Then ended up next door for beer & wings 8) )

By the canoe club on rt 5 seemed like it was a great lead to a lead. I'll have to follow up on that one

And the place I mentioned that " couldn't have cared less " was the 5 corners on 202 in Granby Ma ( next door to Dunk's ) Maybe I'll try him again sometime , but I was kind of turned off by the reception :?

 

[Gold Street Customs]

I used to work at Dave's Bike Shop in Ukiah CA , hour 1/2 north of Santa Rosa , Dave has worked as a bike mechanic for at least 30 plus years and he has all the tools, while he may not wrench that much anymore, his son Raliegh is very sharp, and Dave has quite a nice collection of vintage bikes in his warehouse, he might show ya if strike up a conversation.

 

[Bicycle808]

There are a slew of shops in my area and most tend to cater to the upper end. Luckily there is Erlton Shop. They even let us hold our show in front of their shop on a Saturday and even provided hot dogs , drinks and homemade cookies! They've been around since 1971, and are probably the only shop in the area that will match up bearings and sell you however many you need. The other shops are pretty good, but for my kind of riding, Erlton Bike is best.
Of course in Philadelphia you HAVE to go see Curtis at Via Bikes. Any shop that thrives without selling a single new bike is onto something, and his collection of parts is probably second to none! Whenever we ride in Philly, Via Bike is a required stop.
I guess I'm pretty lucky. I have 2 stellar shops within 10 miles.

+1 on Erlton; that's a pretty good shop. Honest and old-fashioned, even if they don't sell any cool bikes at all.

+1000 on Via. I've never been to another bike shop like it, although I imagine a few may exist.