Aluminum and Carbon

[tytbody]

THen bikes should have one too. and not all mattress stores do take them back. You know some folks got lice..... lol.

I just feel bad for the bike stores that get blamed for someone's ill fitted bike. I'm also an adult who is buying her second bike from a store and just took rides about the building and not even on the bike I ordered.

[jessmarimba]

I'd blame my optometrist if he gave me glasses that weren't the right prescription, and I'll blame a bike shop if they sell me a bike that doesn't fit. Why feel bad for them - it's their fault!!

[CyborgQueen]

THen bikes should have one too. and not all mattress stores do take them back. You know some folks got lice..... lol.

I just feel bad for the bike stores that get blamed for someone's ill fitted bike. I'm also an adult who is buying her second bike from a store and just took rides about the building and not even on the bike I ordered.

I agree...but because I was very new with road riding and I only had longest ride was about 20 miles until I did 50 miles and wrecked my back doing it (only because I was stupid jumping from 32 - longest to 52 miles within a week). Part of it was the fit, but mostly because I didn't gradually get up to that point, especially if you're a newbie. I had NO idea WHY I was uncomfortable. I just was. I had the handle bars replaced. But the third guy made it so obvious - the bike is too big.

Too late to return my bike...and I think there's only a 30 refund policy with 15% restocking fee. So...how the heck was I supposed to know?

[tytbody]

Too late to return my bike...and I think there's only a 30 refund policy with 15% restocking fee. So...how the heck was I supposed to know?

I hear ya. (shaking head---up and down)

[Crankin]

Most bike shops are owned by people who are, naturally, bike geeks. A lot of the time they are "roadie purists," and if they see a person who is a newbie or they perceive is not fit, wants a hybrid, etc. they do not really want to spend a bunch of time with you. They also have a nasty tendency to speak to the male half of a couple, if you go with a male. This may have worked when most of the people buying road bikes were racers and men, but cycling is hugely popular (at least in my area) and a lot of people are new to the sport. It is most definitely the shop's fault if they sell you a bike that doesn't fit you. They want to SELL.
When I bought my Trek 5200 (my second road bike) we went to the shop to pick it up. This is a well known shop with a few stores around Boston. A small chain that begins with L... the computer was put on backwards and the pedals were also not installed correctly. They barely spoke to me. I never went back there. And quite a few bike shop employees are teenaged boys who have the attention of a flea. And I say this as a mother of someone who worked in a shop when he was 16. I would not have wanted to buy a bike from my son.
The best remedy for all of this is to research, research, research. Know your stuff. Don't let anyone tell you what you "need." Test ride as many bikes as you want to before buying. I always tell new riders, if your bike doesn't fit or the components break all of the time because you didn't want to spend the extra bucks for better components, well, you won't be riding your bike.

[tytbody]

Stories like that cranking do help me understand how it can happen. I'm very very glad I got an experienced person to help me. She's the reason I am purchasing from her shop and not a shop say, 5 miles from my home.

now what is the name of that store,..??? got me thinking. I'm not that far from Boston and see, I don't even know the store. pm me the name so I can please know of whom you are referring.

[Velocivixen]

@tytbody, all you have to do is google search bike shops in Boston and look for one that starts with an "L"- it has 4 locations. Took me all of 20 seconds.

[tytbody]

OMG> I did it. I almost was going to buy from them also. Thank goodness a fellow TE member steered me clear.