I cried at my LBS today (long)

[TrekJeni]

I LOVE my bike shop. I could not ask for any better. I'm still in shock.

History -
In June 05, I bought the CHEAPEST road bike in their store. A 2003 53 cm Trek 1000. It's a little too big, but it was all I could spend, and who knew if I was going to stick with the sport. (I started out hot and heavy with trap shooting and dog agility and fizzled out within 6 months.)

Fast Forward 15 months later-
At least 5000 miles on my bike, countless charity rides including Tahoe (I live in Cincinnati), I started road racing, and I ride quite a bit with the manager of my LBS. I'd like to think I'm decently fast.


THIS WEEK -
Tuesday, I rode with my LBS manager, Geoff. After getting my bike out of his truck, he said my rear hub was loose. We took it back to the shop after the ride and I came back Wednesday to rebuild my hub. Friday, we rode the hardest route I've ever done in my life. 4000 ft of climbing in 40 miles. When we got back to the shop, it was loose again.

I had been admiring a pair of the Bontrager Race Lite Rims for $449. We had talked a few weeks ago about them but I don't have the most understanding BF when it comes to cycling. (Sidebar - we've lived together for the last 7 years, I'm not so sure we're really going anywhere, not that I mind, I really need to move on and I totally understand where cherinyc is coming from).

My rear hub is toast, and the BF wants me to replace the wheel with the same thing that came off of my bike. I don't want to, as I want to upgrade.

So, I left my bike at the shop yesterday after riding. Today, I went into the shop, well... just because I can't seem to stay away. Geoff had my bike in the stand. He wasn't working on it but he had a pair of Bontrager Selects ($279) on the workbench that he was putting bearings in. I asked him whose wheels he was building and he said, "oh just some customer's". Didn't think anything of it and went to the bathroom. Came back and he was putting MY TREAD on the Selects. I teared up and demanded to know what he was doing. He just smiled. I looked at his dad (owner of the store), he was wearing the same kind of grin his 20 yr old son was. His dad says, "Oh some silly girl comes in here all the time and rides so much that her piece of crap bike falls apart all the time, we're just trying to keep it together for her" (or something like that). I told him he couldn't and he was making me cry. All I got was the same cheesy silly grin. Again, I told him to stop. Nothing doing.

He explained that they had these "just laying around" and they were the compliments of two other riders that had issues with them ie, two seperate wheel sets pieced together. The rear will probably have to be rebuilt in a couple of months but they should get me through the New Year. Geoff told me to save my money for the Race Lites.

I LOVE MY BIKE SHOP! I am a lowely customer that didn't buy the most expensive bike in the shop AND THIS IS HOW THEY TREAT ME!!!!!!! I'm crying again.....

Jeni

TEAM CYCLING AND FITNESS IN CINCINNATI OHIO ROCKS

[Bikingmomof3]

Thank You for sharing your happy story with us.

[KnottedYet]

My bike and I are clapping and cheering for Team Cycling and Fitness! If we lived near Cincinnati we'd go there!

And I got a little teary-eyed reading your story!

[Pax]

Great story!! Your LBS owner sounds like good people.

[DDH]

That is absolutely so nice. Every once in a while someone comes along and does something nice that makes me realize there is still hope for us loley humans.

[Running Mommy]

Oh man I'm teary eyed too!!
You see, that is good bike karma right there!! They will stay in business for a good long time with that kind of good karma!!
Such a good story, thanks for sharing!
Denise

[Trekhawk]

I love these sort of tales they warm the heart. When Mary told her story on the forum about an anonymous person paying off her bike that was on lay-away I nearly cried. Many generous and caring people exist in the world and sometimes we just need to hear these stories to remember that.

Enjoy your riding and thanks for sharing your story.

[DebW]

Wow. Great guys in that shop. You love your bike, you love to ride, they love to see you love to ride.

[TrekJeni]

Goeff also put red and white STREAMERS on my bike earlier this week. You know, the ones you had as a kid. They are awesome!

[Tiffanie]

Wow that's pretty awesome.

We have several LBS's around town and the couple that I've been to I haven't clicked with yet.

[velogirl]

I LOVE MY BIKE SHOP! I am a lowely customer that didn't buy the most expensive bike in the shop AND THIS IS HOW THEY TREAT ME!!!!!!! I'm crying again.....

Jeni

TEAM CYCLING AND FITNESS IN CINCINNATI OHIO ROCKS

Jenni, you're not a lowly customer. It's customers like you -- the ones who are passionate about the sport and who develop a relationship with their LBS -- that make this business so special and inspire the staff to do something special in return.

On the flip-side are the folks who spend $8k on a bike and spare no expense on clothing, shoes, etc. Many of them have this sense of entitlement that because they spent big bucks the shop owes them something. Ironically, many of these folks don't ride half as much as the customers like you, Jenni.


Isn't human nature funny?

[Dogmama]

Thanks for sharing that. Now, go bake them some cookies!

[BadgerGirl]

WOW! What a great shop and good people. I wish the world was full of more good people like you and your LBS.

[seagrape]

What a great story... And they obviously have great customer service skills

[margo49]

Wonderful story that restores one's faith in people.
This is how life could be for all of us, all the time.