What do you look for in a "home" LBS?

[Catrin]

Have fun checking the stores out! To my mind it is really about the staff, their being open to everyone and the skills of their mechanics. Is their main focus to sell you something or is it to make certain that you are happy with your purchase? That may sound like a small distinction but that difference truly matters. They both need to sell bikes and other things to keep the doors open, but the second focus keeps people coming back.

[rebeccaC]

My LBS has some good people who try to help and make customers feel comfortable with whatever problems/questions they have. I've overheard that a number of times. That’s a quality I would look for…. although I find difficult sales people amusing so that doesn’t bother me much as long as I get what I need. My LBS always has one or more knowledgeable women available to customers. Some are very good riders. It's an old, well known in the area store. We have a lot of stores...from hipster supreme to norba to pbp randonneurs....you can find it and people to have a conversation with.

Ann-Marie…your riding this season can make you stronger with better health than your walking did. Short, long, easy, hard, even like me with a gelato/ice cream break during a day of city riding…..any kind of ride you do on any bike can be good and fun for you. I’d take some time to just see the bikes available to test ride in your area, (I found some good reasonably priced bikes at REI recently)… think about them and your riding needs...that starts to narrow it

NOW...if you can make it ‘a ride your Hollywood to the lbs’ outing that’s even better.