Grrrr, why do they always assume?

[sundial]

Does this happen to you?

You decide to drop by a bike shop to browse. You enjoy looking at the new racy bikes, browsing the cool technical clothing and surveying the bike accessories you might just need for the fall season. You are enjoying the moments of pure bliss.

Then the bike shop boy comes over. He gives you a once over.

You know that look.

He then ushers you to the comfort bikes and clothing because you don't *look* like you cycle more than 12 miles a month. After all, you aren't a size 0, and you're not a 25 year old either. And you probably won't want to test ride the Madone on such a warm day. It's easy to get a little hot. It does take a while to work up to a lot of miles each week.

Excuse me?

Listen Sparky, my happy hiney could probably outride you any day. You may be faster, but I'm built for endurance and I'll see you in my mirror as you bonk.

Sigh.......why do they like to patronize us?

[Eden]

Ignorance.....
when I went to purchase my race bike, for actual racing, the guys in the shop kept looking at my husband (who I believe was supposed to back them up that I should get the bigger bike, which would have been totally wrong for me.) At least I went in knowing exactly what I wanted and they didn't try to talk me out of that, but I don't think that they were taking me at all seriously. Of course, a few weeks after I picked up my bike I took 3rd place in the race that they sponsored and they started respecting me a whole lot more.

It might be an interesting experiment to go into a bike shop cold and see what they want to show me.

[KnottedYet]

I was kinda getting the pooh-pooh brush off at one shop until I mentioned my Waterford and my Surly. (I was shopping for panniers.)

Then they were a little nicer.

[kelownagirl]

I found that once I got to know the guys at my bike shop, they treated me like another biker. I can now walk in and the owner and sale guys all know me by name.

I have experienced the same thing when buying a car. Never take a man with you if the car is for you. The salesmen will only talk to the man, even if the man keeps saying "Talk to her, she's the one buying the car."

[Pedal Wench]

Does this happen to you?

You decide to drop by a bike shop to browse. You enjoy looking at the new racy bikes, browsing the cool technical clothing and surveying the bike accessories you might just need for the fall season. You are enjoying the moments of pure bliss.

Then the bike shop boy comes over. He gives you a once over.

You know that look.

He then ushers you to the comfort bikes
....

Exact same thing happened to me. I was at a shop that's a Specialized dealer for a saddle - not my usual shops. While there, I wanted to see how Specialized clamps their seatposts on their carbon bikes. Because I had an issue with one of my three carbon bikes... shop kid points me towards their WSD aluminum bikes (not that there's anything wrong with that,... I have two of those too!)

[boy in a kilt]

Because the guys at the shop are in a weird situation.

On the one hand, they know jack about you and appearances are all they have to go on. Let's be realistic here, human beings are programmed to make judgements about other people based on appearances.

On the other hand, they are constantly getting flak in the cycling press for focusing on selling nothing but carbon-fiber race bikes when all the person really wants is something for riding down to the store.

Obviously, the best policy is to spend some time chatting with a prospective customer and finding out where they are and what they want.

This doesn't just happen to women either. I've hand salespeople confidently tell me there is no way I'll be able to haul my body and my loaded touring bike over mountain passes with the gearing I had mere days after having done precisely that.

[dex]

I usually just get ignored by bike shop staff. Sometimes the attitude pisses me off and sometimes it makes me laugh, depending on what kind of mood I was in to start with.

[sundial]

The funny thing is, I've visited bike shops in different regions and it's interesting how they approach me and are presumptuous about my fitness level. I usually wear loose clothing (shirt jacket, cropped pants, etc.) so my physique is kinda masked.

My LBS treats me with respect now that they know where I ride and how often. Plus I bought my Roubaix from them.

[KnottedYet]

I got called "sir" in REI's bike department.

I was traumatized.

(guess the kid thought only men would be looking at the road bikes, and I was a tall critter, so with 2 data points he confidently said, "Can I help you, Sir?")

[boy in a kilt]

Dex, did you know you look a little like DJ Irene in your avatar?

[sundial]

I was kinda getting the pooh-pooh brush off at one shop until I mentioned my Waterford and my Surly. (I was shopping for panniers.)

Then they were a little nicer.

I mentioned the word Surly to a bike shop, and they rolled their eyes. (You *really* don't want a heavy steel bike. What you need is.......)

[sundial]

Knotted, my hubby has an alto voice on the telephone and he's been called ma'am on several occasions.

I haven't had the pleasure of being mistaken for a sir.

[Tuckervill]

I don't know a shop around here that has a mechanic older than 30. It's very sad--they treat me like their dull-minded mother because they're stinking TEENAGERS. And they know nothing about friction shifters and have no appreciation for lugged steel.

Karen

[Zen]

Listen Sparky, my happy hiney could probably outride you any day. You may be faster, but I'm built for endurance and I'll see you in my mirror as you bonk.

I know Sparky. And his friends Spanky and Bunky
I thought I was the only one who uses the phrase 'happy heiney". But I usually don't say heiney.

[KnottedYet]

Steel bikes are pretty hot stuff around here, maybe because we have steel frame builders in the area.

Surly bikes are popular here, too. I've had two different steel bike shops refer to Surly as "Seattle" bikes.

No-body's tried to talk me out of steel yet.