I'm working at the LBS!!!

[runnergirl]

It's official, I did the paperwork and started training yesterday. I don't know how I'll manage everything later this spring, but for now it's only 10 hours a week or so. By April they'll need me full time. It's not going to thrill my mother when she finally realizes I'm not going to be doing something with the master's I'm working on, but my husband is totally supportive. I feel like this is a good first step towards a career in the industry and in promoting women's cycling.

The shop is a trek dealer, and the guys that work there are friends already so I'm really really excited to be working there. Now I just need a shop shirt that couldn't double as a dress! My first "real" day is tuesday. Any tips, comments, or advice is welcome.

[Trekhawk]

It's official, I did the paperwork and started training yesterday. I don't know how I'll manage everything later this spring, but for now it's only 10 hours a week or so. By April they'll need me full time. It's not going to thrill my mother when she finally realizes I'm not going to be doing something with the master's I'm working on, but my husband is totally supportive. I feel like this is a good first step towards a career in the industry and in promoting women's cycling.

Congratulations Runner girl. Ooh now all us Trek girls have an online info source. Follow your dream, Im sure you mum will come around it might just take a little time.

[RoadRaven]

I have no tips, but must say congrats!

What a great job... I would enjoy that job, absolutely and completely!

[margo49]

Go for it!

We have only
"one wild and precious life"

[SnappyPix]

Congratulations Runnergirl!!

No advice really, other than - we only have one life, and it's what makes our souls sing that makes us happy. Enjoy!
We'll give you a breaking-in period, of course, but expect to have your brains picked about all sorts of stuff, once you've found your feet!
It's good to have an "insider"!

Really thrilled for you.

[mary9761]

Congrats and Best of luck. Just remember that in Retail sales and service, you will run into ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE. Some will be pleasant, some won't and will test your patience. When you run into those, just take a deep breath and keep going.
Wonderful that you could get a job working with something that means so much to you.

[bikerHen]

I was accused of throwing away my education too! After graduation I spent 15+ years living the life of a country girl, milk goats, chickens and all. But my daughter had a great childhood and we all lived a life we loved! I then had the opportunity to turn my hobby (quilting) into a profession and seven years later I have my own successful business. This is all a far cry from my BA in Graphic Design. Well, OK the quilting and graphics do kinda mix, but the point is the direction of my life changed and so did my career. All for the better I might add.

So go with what makes you happy, you never know where it will lead you. Hey, I started out working retail in a fabric store and now have my own business. Maybe someday you'll have your own LBS! You never know. BikerHen

[allabouteva]

Woohoo! How great is that!

Congratulations Runnergirl. We desperately need MORE women working in LBSes.

My only tip is that when a couple (guy and a gal) walk into the store, don't automatically address the guy first! This happened to me yesterday when DH and I went shopping for MY bike. This guy saw us both, and said to DH "can I help you?" and didn't really acknowledge me. It was really annoying...

I'm sure you'll do GREAT!

[margo49]

I was accused of throwing away my education too! but the point is the direction of my life changed and so did my career. All for the better I might add.

So go with what makes you happy, you never know where it will lead you. BikerHen

Surely do agree with you
My life has been nothing I expected and everything I hoped

[Melody]

Runnergirl, congrats! We definately need more women helping out at the LBS'. I know that sometimes I just feel awkward asking a guy at the stores for help with anything but when there's a woman around I just feel more relaxed.

Well, unless she's a hard core cyclist, but then I just feel awkward again. just not as badly.

Mel

[runnergirl]

Thanks for all the congrats and well wishes! I will let you all know how it goes. Thursday is Trek University-8 hours of learning about carbon fiber and bike fit.

I've been doing the training videos, and my husband called and asked what I was doing.
I said, "oh I've got to take a quiz."
him: "on what? the semester doesn't start till Wednesday."
Me: "the gary fischer product line"

Then I got crazy happy all over again-how awesome is it to take a test about bikes!

[SnappyPix]

SnappyPix tries to not turn too green, but is looking decidedly pea-coloured at the thought of it!
Wow - so pleased for you RunnerGirl!

[DebW]

Congrats, Runnergirl. That's great, and I'm sure you'll enjoy it. Lots to learn, and new stuff every year when manufacturers change their products, so you'll never be bored. Will you be mostly selliing or doing repairs? Good to see more women in bike shops. When I worked in a bike shop 1973-1976, I would frequently pick up the phone and, on hearing a woman's voice, the person would say "Can I talk to a mechanic?" I would usually reply "What do you need?" and answer their questions. But sometimes I got so sick of the sexist assumptions that I'd just hand the phone to a guy. Guess that was the wrong approach, but when I'd heard it for the 3rd or 4th time in one day I was upset.