Aluminum and Carbon

[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.

[Miranda]

My first road bike was TWO frame sizes too big for me. A 54cm, when now I ride a 49cm roadie, 48cm xc bici, and 16" mtb.

The lbs was local and has been in biz for a while with experienced cyclists, as you say, for owners. I trusted them with my heart and soul on many things for advice and my hard earned cash of $1K+ & gear $ to get no help after the sale, or return.

For that, they can burn in bad bike karma hell. And believe you me, of the thousands of students I've encountered in my Spinning classes at local gyms where I teach, both cyclists and aspiring ones, I surely share my experience when asked "where should I go to for the lbs?".

The only good thing that came of that ill fit sale was my finding wonderful TE here at my wits end in pain and frustrated in tears of what to do.

So hey... I guess every cloud has some type of silver lining, right?!

Bottom line... it's a matter of business ethics and professionalism... and that's pretty sick when you screw people over who believe you have a passion... and those who are aspiring to have the same.

[tytbody]

Please know I do believe it's bad to screw People over. I was just trying to say I would hope it would not be intentional.

[Roadtrip]

I don't think these shops do it intentially, but end up not doing the right thing in the name of the dollar, plus hiring the wrong "kids" who seem well intentioned. Immiturity will show itself in the I don't give a bleep about you, I'm with a customer who I think will drop $$$ on a new racy road bike-- and oh by the way, IF i do make this sale, it will likely save my job as bossman is telling me I have to sell bikes.

Like many here have said, it's all about self educating yourself, and armed with information you can make the right calls.

Shannon