Do I expect too much?

[indysteel]

Can I just mention how jealous I am that you have long enough legs to fit a 29er? I'm 5'4 with a 29-inch inseam. It's hard enough to find a FS bike that fits. Grrrr.

[jessmarimba]

Can I just mention how jealous I am that you have long enough legs to fit a 29er? I'm 5'4 with a 29-inch inseam. It's hard enough to find a FS bike that fits. Grrrr.

Haha! I'm sorry. At least you don't have to wear high waters if you want "outdoor" pants?

True, nothing is really gender specific about that store or most of the weird vibes I've gotten elsewhere. But in the back of my mind, I always think that people would trust that I know something, or pay more attention to me, or whatever, if I was a guy. But I'm also not very aggressive or outgoing so my personality doesn't help much either!

(Wearing my hair in 2 braids probably doesn't encourage anyone to treat me like an adult...keeps it from knotting, though!)

[indysteel]

Haha! I'm sorry. At least you don't have to wear high waters if you want "outdoor" pants?

True, nothing is really gender specific about that store or most of the weird vibes I've gotten elsewhere. But in the back of my mind, I always think that people would trust that I know something, or pay more attention to me, or whatever, if I was a guy. But I'm also not very aggressive or outgoing so my personality doesn't help much either!

(Wearing my hair in 2 braids probably doesn't encourage anyone to treat me like an adult...keeps it from knotting, though!)

If you walked into a stuffy business setting with braids, I might buy that, but a bike shop? I'm lucky to even be clean when I go into a shop. Trust me; this wasn't about you; this was about him.

[Jen12]

It does get annoying being talked down to like that. I haven't had bike issues (yet) but I took my car in to the shop once because it was leaking coolant and the guy asked me what made me think it was coolant...uh....duh...because I wasn't drinking green kool-aid under my car...

I do think that some people in specialty shops are trained a certain way and can't think past that. That may have been the problem with your bike guy.

[grey]

But in the back of my mind, I always think that people would trust that I know something, or pay more attention to me, or whatever, if I was a guy.

I often think this too. I change my approach depending on the guy, but if it's one that clearly has issues with women, I become a lot more assertive. I make it clear I know a thing or two and lay that out (even if that's the ONLY thing I know) and say it like a flat statement of fact, which it is. Usually at this point, Mr Bonehead will change his approach. Other times, there is no point in dealing with Mr Bonehead. Take your business elsewhere.

[lph]

What an idiot. So what's the difference between "needs fitting" and "it's about what feels good for you"? And insisting on that you should go ride it first, when you already had test-ridden it, and that's why you were there?

When I meet people like this I try to remember that they probably have a set of general rules they spout to all customers and that usually work reasonably well, partly because they're true, partly because many customers are casual riders who don't really care that much about the final result and won't come back. But they won't start listening to me until they've been through the routine, and I'm still there. Annoying, but then, bike shop employees around here are often just random young dudes who happen to like taking bikes apart, not seasoned salesmen.

Hope you find a better bike shop, or a way to grin through the nonsense!