So I rode (helmetless) the other day to the LBS that is about a mile and a half from my office with the intent on buying a new helmet and finally paying these guys for something. Now, there's one guy who works there who is pretty cool, but the owner broke a part off my old (new-at-the-time) pedals the first time I went in there and was iffy about replacing them. As in, they said they'd order more and call me, then shoed me out the door before they took my info. So I hadn't quite made up my mind yet about this place.

Except for the one pretty cool mechanic, I'm now even more iffy about the place.

I went in and started looking at the helmets. Despite the brands on their website, they only have Bell helmets in-stock. Not a wide selection, but that's what I'm used to wearing, so ok (for now). An employee asks what I'm interested in, and I say I'm looking to replace a mountain bike helmet. He finds at least 4 girly "sport" helmets before I finally get it through his head that no, I don't want purple, and yes, I really mean mountain bike helmet, and I already know the size I wear. I ask him a vague question about the 30% off replacement program Bell has, which somehow leads to a lecture on "one-impact use," etc. etc. Yes, I know, that's why I already told you that I am replacing a helmet. So at this point I'm frustrated but figure he's just lacking in communication skills.

We go outside to check out my bike because I inquired about finding replacement brake levers that are a little bit more small-hand friendly. First he tries to tell me that I don't want to change the stem since it's fairly short already (exactly, that's why I asked about brake levers...and I know this bike can take a shorter stem b/c it's now spec'ed with one) and then says that they can put mtb levers on the bike. How those will be more comfortable with drop bars, I hope to never know.

Now, I don't know if this happened because I'm a girl and I rode to the shop in street clothes, or if he's just clueless in general, but I felt like I was talking to a brick wall. I don't know if I should say something to the shop or just not ever go there again (and hope I don't run into the decent mech. on the trails) but I just don't trust them with my bike after that. Am I overreacting? It was just so odd.

(On the other hand, I emailed Salsa, they have some smaller brake levers lying around the shop and will send them to me despite the fact that I didn't even get my bike from one of their authorized dealers. Quite awesome.)