How to start your own small-town bicycle shop

[Eric Vey]

http://www.motherearthnews.com/Modern-Homesteading/1974-03-01/How-To-Start-Your-Own-Small-Town-Bicycle-Shop.aspx

Here-for all the folks who want to get out of a big city and start a
little business in a friendly, peaceful spot-is yet another small-town
self-employment suggestion: Become a bicycle dealer in the small town of
your choice. My wife, Sharon, and I have run a bike shop for a year now
and feel sufficiently expert to pass on a few basics (enough, we hope,
to help you decide whether or not this trade will suit you as well as it
suits us).

[more]

[Woland99]

On Apr 10, 11:47 am, Werehatrack > wrote:
> On Thu, 10 Apr 2008 10:11:21 -0400, Eric Vey > may
> have said:
>
> >http://www.motherearthnews.com/Modern-Homesteading/1974-03-01/How-To-...
>
> >Here-for all the folks who want to get out of a big city and start a
> >little business in a friendly, peaceful spot-is yet another small-town
> >self-employment suggestion: Become a bicycle dealer in the small town of
> >your choice. My wife, Sharon, and I have run a bike shop for a year now
> >and feel sufficiently expert to pass on a few basics (enough, we hope,
> >to help you decide whether or not this trade will suit you as well as it
> >suits us).
>
> >[more]
>
> I haven't read it, but have a funny feeling that the real prospects
> too often look like those of a sugaring operation in the Vermont
> woods. "How do you become a millionaire gathering sap and making
> maple syrup?" "Start with two million, and stop when you're down to
> one."
>
> (Something tells me that 90% of success is running a bike shop in a
> small town is in choosing the right small town to begin with; I can
> think of dozens near here, many of which are doubtless of nominally
> suitable size and might be attractive if they had entirely different
> demographics and terrain, in which the prospects would be much worse
> than merely grim.)
>
> --
> My email address is antispammed; pull WEEDS if replying via e-mail.
> Typoes are not a bug, they're a feature.
> Words processed in a facility that contains nuts.

Hmmm.... that piece was written in 1974:
"First, why a bicycle shop? Because-as you probably know-a "bike boom"
is underway. In 1972, two-wheelers outsold automobiles for the first
time in modern history and someone has to market and service all those
millions of machines."
We can only hope that history will NOT repeat itself. Bike boom
would be nice but not if it will cause oil shortage and recession.
Bikers can be so unaware of the effects they have on others.

[Werehatrack]

On Thu, 10 Apr 2008 10:11:21 -0400, Eric Vey > may
have said:

>http://www.motherearthnews.com/Modern-Homesteading/1974-03-01/How-To-Start-Your-Own-Small-Town-Bicycle-Shop.aspx
>
>Here-for all the folks who want to get out of a big city and start a
>little business in a friendly, peaceful spot-is yet another small-town
>self-employment suggestion: Become a bicycle dealer in the small town of
>your choice. My wife, Sharon, and I have run a bike shop for a year now
>and feel sufficiently expert to pass on a few basics (enough, we hope,
>to help you decide whether or not this trade will suit you as well as it
>suits us).
>
>[more]

I haven't read it, but have a funny feeling that the real prospects
too often look like those of a sugaring operation in the Vermont
woods. "How do you become a millionaire gathering sap and making
maple syrup?" "Start with two million, and stop when you're down to
one."

(Something tells me that 90% of success is running a bike shop in a
small town is in choosing the right small town to begin with; I can
think of dozens near here, many of which are doubtless of nominally
suitable size and might be attractive if they had entirely different
demographics and terrain, in which the prospects would be much worse
than merely grim.)

--
My email address is antispammed; pull WEEDS if replying via e-mail.
Typoes are not a bug, they're a feature.
Words processed in a facility that contains nuts.

[[email protected]]

On Apr 10, 4:11*pm, Eric Vey > wrote:
> http://www.motherearthnews.com/Modern-Homesteading/1974-03-01/How-To-...
>
> Here-for all the folks who want to get out of a big city and start a
> little business in a friendly, peaceful spot-is yet another small-town
> self-employment suggestion: Become a bicycle dealer in the small town of
> your choice. My wife, Sharon, and I have run a bike shop for a year now
> and feel sufficiently expert to pass on a few basics (enough, we hope,
> to help you decide whether or not this trade will suit you as well as it
> suits us).
>
> [more]

Step 1: Invent time machine.
Step 2: Use it.
Step 3: Ka-ching!

Joseph

[Ozark Bicycle]

On Apr 10, 11:09 am, Woland99 > wrote:
> On Apr 10, 11:47 am, Werehatrack > wrote:
>
>
>
> > On Thu, 10 Apr 2008 10:11:21 -0400, Eric Vey > may
> > have said:
>
> > >http://www.motherearthnews.com/Modern-Homesteading/1974-03-01/How-To-...
>
> > >Here-for all the folks who want to get out of a big city and start a
> > >little business in a friendly, peaceful spot-is yet another small-town
> > >self-employment suggestion: Become a bicycle dealer in the small town of
> > >your choice. My wife, Sharon, and I have run a bike shop for a year now
> > >and feel sufficiently expert to pass on a few basics (enough, we hope,
> > >to help you decide whether or not this trade will suit you as well as it
> > >suits us).
>
> > >[more]
>
> > I haven't read it, but have a funny feeling that the real prospects
> > too often look like those of a sugaring operation in the Vermont
> > woods. "How do you become a millionaire gathering sap and making
> > maple syrup?" "Start with two million, and stop when you're down to
> > one."
>
> > (Something tells me that 90% of success is running a bike shop in a
> > small town is in choosing the right small town to begin with; I can
> > think of dozens near here, many of which are doubtless of nominally
> > suitable size and might be attractive if they had entirely different
> > demographics and terrain, in which the prospects would be much worse
> > than merely grim.)
>
> > --
> > My email address is antispammed; pull WEEDS if replying via e-mail.
> > Typoes are not a bug, they're a feature.
> > Words processed in a facility that contains nuts.
>
> Hmmm.... that piece was written in 1974:

Yep, and that $5k in start-up money is now over $23k in "2007
dollars", according to the Westegg.com inflation calculator. (And the
population of Independence, KS, has dropped to around 9,300 as of
2006.)



<snipped>

[Ozark Bicycle]

On Apr 10, 3:47 pm, Harry Brogan
<hbrogan57_AT_NOSPAM_DOT_YAHOO_DOT_COM> wrote:
> On Thu, 10 Apr 2008 09:09:50 -0700 (PDT), Woland99
>
>
>
> > wrote:
> >On Apr 10, 11:47 am, Werehatrack > wrote:
> >> On Thu, 10 Apr 2008 10:11:21 -0400, Eric Vey > may
> >> have said:
>
> >> >http://www.motherearthnews.com/Modern-Homesteading/1974-03-01/How-To-...
>
> >> >Here-for all the folks who want to get out of a big city and start a
> >> >little business in a friendly, peaceful spot-is yet another small-town
> >> >self-employment suggestion: Become a bicycle dealer in the small town of
> >> >your choice. My wife, Sharon, and I have run a bike shop for a year now
> >> >and feel sufficiently expert to pass on a few basics (enough, we hope,
> >> >to help you decide whether or not this trade will suit you as well as it
> >> >suits us).
>
> >> >[more]
>
> >> I haven't read it, but have a funny feeling that the real prospects
> >> too often look like those of a sugaring operation in the Vermont
> >> woods. "How do you become a millionaire gathering sap and making
> >> maple syrup?" "Start with two million, and stop when you're down to
> >> one."
>
> >> (Something tells me that 90% of success is running a bike shop in a
> >> small town is in choosing the right small town to begin with; I can
> >> think of dozens near here, many of which are doubtless of nominally
> >> suitable size and might be attractive if they had entirely different
> >> demographics and terrain, in which the prospects would be much worse
> >> than merely grim.)
>
> >> --
> >> My email address is antispammed; pull WEEDS if replying via e-mail.
> >> Typoes are not a bug, they're a feature.
> >> Words processed in a facility that contains nuts.
>
> >Hmmm.... that piece was written in 1974:
> >"First, why a bicycle shop? Because-as you probably know-a "bike boom"
> >is underway. In 1972, two-wheelers outsold automobiles for the first
> >time in modern history and someone has to market and service all those
> >millions of machines."
> >We can only hope that history will NOT repeat itself. Bike boom
> >would be nice but not if it will cause oil shortage and recession.
> >Bikers can be so unaware of the effects they have on others.
>
> Please explain how a "bike boom" would CAUSE an oil shortage and
> recession????


Simple: much of the petroleum that could have fueled Americas cars and
trucks is diverted to the manufacture of bicycle tires, tubes,
saddles, helmets, CF frames and bits, etc., etc., etc. The price of
gas spikes as a result, and Americans stop buying new gas guzzling
vehicles. Ford, Chrysler, GM, Toyota, et al lay off millions of
autoworkers and the American economy tanks......all because of a new
bike boom!


;-)


>I guess I don't see the purchase of millions of
> bicycles being the root cause of something that's already
> happening.......
> __o | Every time I see an adult on a bicycle....
> _`\(,_ | I no longer despair for the human race.
> (_)/ (_) | ---H.G. Wells---

[Dennis P. Harris]

On Thu, 10 Apr 2008 10:11:21 -0400 in rec.bicycles.tech, Eric Vey
> wrote:

> Here-for all the folks who want to get out of a big city and start a
> little business in a friendly, peaceful spot-is yet another small-town
> self-employment suggestion: Become a bicycle dealer in the small town of
> your choice.

and he didn't have the liability problems that bike shops now
have, either. one of our local dealers went out of business
because his liability insurance became so damn high and the
insurance company required so much paperwork, including having
customers sign waivers wben they bought new bikes or got warranty
replacements.

[[email protected]]

On Thu, 10 Apr 2008 17:08:47 -0800,
(Dennis P. Harris) wrote:

>On Thu, 10 Apr 2008 10:11:21 -0400 in rec.bicycles.tech, Eric Vey
> wrote:
>
>> Here-for all the folks who want to get out of a big city and start a
>> little business in a friendly, peaceful spot-is yet another small-town
>> self-employment suggestion: Become a bicycle dealer in the small town of
>> your choice.
>
>and he didn't have the liability problems that bike shops now
>have, either. one of our local dealers went out of business
>because his liability insurance became so damn high and the
>insurance company required so much paperwork, including having
>customers sign waivers wben they bought new bikes or got warranty
>replacements.

Dear Dennis,

Can you tell us more about these new-bike insurance waivers?

Are they just for certain bikes? Are they a common practice?

Cheers,

Carl Fogel

[Woland99]

On Apr 10, 4:11 pm, Ozark Bicycle
> wrote:
> On Apr 10, 3:47 pm, Harry Brogan
>
>
>
> <hbrogan57_AT_NOSPAM_DOT_YAHOO_DOT_COM> wrote:
> > On Thu, 10 Apr 2008 09:09:50 -0700 (PDT), Woland99
>
> > > wrote:
> > >On Apr 10, 11:47 am, Werehatrack > wrote:
> > >> On Thu, 10 Apr 2008 10:11:21 -0400, Eric Vey > may
> > >> have said:
>
> > >> >http://www.motherearthnews.com/Modern-Homesteading/1974-03-01/How-To-...
>
> > >> >Here-for all the folks who want to get out of a big city and start a
> > >> >little business in a friendly, peaceful spot-is yet another small-town
> > >> >self-employment suggestion: Become a bicycle dealer in the small town of
> > >> >your choice. My wife, Sharon, and I have run a bike shop for a year now
> > >> >and feel sufficiently expert to pass on a few basics (enough, we hope,
> > >> >to help you decide whether or not this trade will suit you as well as it
> > >> >suits us).
>
> > >> >[more]
>
> > >> I haven't read it, but have a funny feeling that the real prospects
> > >> too often look like those of a sugaring operation in the Vermont
> > >> woods. "How do you become a millionaire gathering sap and making
> > >> maple syrup?" "Start with two million, and stop when you're down to
> > >> one."
>
> > >> (Something tells me that 90% of success is running a bike shop in a
> > >> small town is in choosing the right small town to begin with; I can
> > >> think of dozens near here, many of which are doubtless of nominally
> > >> suitable size and might be attractive if they had entirely different
> > >> demographics and terrain, in which the prospects would be much worse
> > >> than merely grim.)
>
> > >> --
> > >> My email address is antispammed; pull WEEDS if replying via e-mail.
> > >> Typoes are not a bug, they're a feature.
> > >> Words processed in a facility that contains nuts.
>
> > >Hmmm.... that piece was written in 1974:
> > >"First, why a bicycle shop? Because-as you probably know-a "bike boom"
> > >is underway. In 1972, two-wheelers outsold automobiles for the first
> > >time in modern history and someone has to market and service all those
> > >millions of machines."
> > >We can only hope that history will NOT repeat itself. Bike boom
> > >would be nice but not if it will cause oil shortage and recession.
> > >Bikers can be so unaware of the effects they have on others.
>
> > Please explain how a "bike boom" would CAUSE an oil shortage and
> > recession????
>
> Simple: much of the petroleum that could have fueled Americas cars and
> trucks is diverted to the manufacture of bicycle tires, tubes,
> saddles, helmets, CF frames and bits, etc., etc., etc. The price of
> gas spikes as a result, and Americans stop buying new gas guzzling
> vehicles. Ford, Chrysler, GM, Toyota, et al lay off millions of
> autoworkers and the American economy tanks......all because of a new
> bike boom!
>
> ;-)
>
> >I guess I don't see the purchase of millions of
> > bicycles being the root cause of something that's already
> > happening.......
> > __o | Every time I see an adult on a bicycle....
> > _`\(,_ | I no longer despair for the human race.
> > (_)/ (_) | ---H.G. Wells---

You got it. Just like in 70s - we need to stop those irresponsible
neo-Marxist bikers before they will destroy the economy again.
Just think about how many more quality hours you could enjoy
sitting in your Hummer on some leisurely moving picturesque
California hiway if they cut bike helmet production by just 10%.

[Werehatrack]

On Thu, 10 Apr 2008 18:30:09 -0700 (PDT), Woland99
> may have said:

>You got it. Just like in 70s - we need to stop those irresponsible
>neo-Marxist bikers before they will destroy the economy again.
>Just think about how many more quality hours you could enjoy
>sitting in your Hummer on some leisurely moving picturesque
>California hiway if they cut bike helmet production by just 10%.

Yeah, the savings in hot air used to expand the plastic would, all by
itself, keep lobbyisits in Washington healthy and vigorous for decades
to come.

--
My email address is antispammed; pull WEEDS if replying via e-mail.
Typoes are not a bug, they're a feature.
Words processed in a facility that contains nuts.

[Werehatrack]

On Thu, 10 Apr 2008 19:18:57 -0600, may have
said:

>On Thu, 10 Apr 2008 17:08:47 -0800,
>(Dennis P. Harris) wrote:
>
>>On Thu, 10 Apr 2008 10:11:21 -0400 in rec.bicycles.tech, Eric Vey
> wrote:
>>
>>> Here-for all the folks who want to get out of a big city and start a
>>> little business in a friendly, peaceful spot-is yet another small-town
>>> self-employment suggestion: Become a bicycle dealer in the small town of
>>> your choice.
>>
>>and he didn't have the liability problems that bike shops now
>>have, either. one of our local dealers went out of business
>>because his liability insurance became so damn high and the
>>insurance company required so much paperwork, including having
>>customers sign waivers wben they bought new bikes or got warranty
>>replacements.
>
>Dear Dennis,
>
>Can you tell us more about these new-bike insurance waivers?
>
>Are they just for certain bikes? Are they a common practice?

I believe the OP's in Alaska, which is a commercial environment unlike
any other.

--
My email address is antispammed; pull WEEDS if replying via e-mail.
Typoes are not a bug, they're a feature.
Words processed in a facility that contains nuts.

[[email protected]]

On Apr 10, 9:11*am, Eric Vey > wrote:
> http://www.motherearthnews.com/Modern-Homesteading/1974-03-01/How-To-...
>
> Here-for all the folks who want to get out of a big city and start a
> little business in a friendly, peaceful spot-is yet another small-town
> self-employment suggestion: Become a bicycle dealer in the small town of
> your choice. My wife, Sharon, and I have run a bike shop for a year now
> and feel sufficiently expert to pass on a few basics (enough, we hope,
> to help you decide whether or not this trade will suit you as well as it
> suits us).
>
> [more]

I read some of the article and it was great humor.

"With the remaining $3,300 of your original investment you'll buy
everything else you need, including $1,500-$2,000 worth of bicycles.
This should get you 17 to 21 medium priced 10-speed machines which
will retail for about $125 each."

"Obviously, you'll need tools to put bicycles together and keep them
that way but there's no need, in the beginning, to spend more than
$100 on this equipment."

There is one bike shop listed in the Independence, KS chamber of
commerce. Different owner than the person who wrote the article.
Quite a few years between this 1974 article and 2008 of course.
Wonder if its even the same lineage.

[Rex Kerr]

wrote:

> "With the remaining $3,300 of your original investment you'll buy
> everything else you need, including $1,500-$2,000 worth of bicycles.
> This should get you 17 to 21 medium priced 10-speed machines which
> will retail for about $125 each."
>
> "Obviously, you'll need tools to put bicycles together and keep them
> that way but there's no need, in the beginning, to spend more than
> $100 on this equipment."

The $40 profit won't even cover the $100 in tools!

--
Work and recreation are not often effected at the same time.
One using a bicycle in business makes an exception to the rule.
- Dr. Edgar H. Earl, Rochester. (~1892)

[Dan Burkhart[_91_]]

Dennis P. Harris Wrote:
> On Thu, 10 Apr 2008 10:11:21 -0400 in rec.bicycles.tech, Eric Vey
> > wrote:
>
> > Here-for all the folks who want to get out of a big city and start a
> > little business in a friendly, peaceful spot-is yet another
> small-town
> > self-employment suggestion: Become a bicycle dealer in the small town
> of
> > your choice.
>
> and he didn't have the liability problems that bike shops now
> have, either. one of our local dealers went out of business
> because his liability insurance became so damn high and the
> insurance company required so much paperwork, including having
> customers sign waivers wben they bought new bikes or got warranty
> replacements.

Hmm. Well perhaps it's just that we here in Canuckistan are a slightly
less litigeous society than our southern neighbours, but the liability
element of my shop's insurance is not very high, and they certainly
don't ask for any waivers. They have suggested that I ask for signed
waivers when I rent bicycles, but they have made no such demand.
I can't immagine doing business in the environment you describe.
Dan Burkhart
www.boomerbicycle.ca


--
Dan Burkhart

[Mike Jacoubowsky]

| >>and he didn't have the liability problems that bike shops now
| >>have, either. one of our local dealers went out of business
| >>because his liability insurance became so damn high and the
| >>insurance company required so much paperwork, including having
| >>customers sign waivers wben they bought new bikes or got warranty
| >>replacements.
| >
| >Dear Dennis,
| >
| >Can you tell us more about these new-bike insurance waivers?
| >
| >Are they just for certain bikes? Are they a common practice?
|
| I believe the OP's in Alaska, which is a commercial environment unlike
| any other.

Must be. That's certainly not the case elsewhere. Insurance *is* quite
expensive, but the paperwork isn't that onerous, and there are no
requirements that we have customers sign waivers when they buy a bike. Some
shops will say that insurance requires that customers wear helmets on test
rides, but even that's likely not the case. We require them because it's
*our* policy. Just as we explain that we don't allow customers in our repair
area because it's *our* policy. Many find it easier to claim that their
insurance doesn't allow it. And there could be some cases in which that's
true.

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReactionBicycles.com

[Tom Sherman[_2_]]

Mike Jacoubowsky wrote:
> [...] Some
> shops will say that insurance requires that customers wear helmets on test
> rides, but even that's likely not the case. We require them because it's
> *our* policy.

Even though all the properly performed population studies indicate that
foam hats are ineffective for anything more than bump and scrape
protection? Do you require gloves on test rides.

> Just as we explain that we don't allow customers in our repair
> area because it's *our* policy.[...]

The last time I was talking to an LBS proprietor while he was fixing a
bicycle, it led to the eventual sale of a $1K+ bicycle.

--
Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
The weather is here, wish you were beautiful

[Werehatrack]

On Fri, 11 Apr 2008 09:56:46 -0700 (PDT), "
> may have said:

>I read some of the article and it was great humor.
>
>"With the remaining $3,300 of your original investment you'll buy
>everything else you need, including $1,500-$2,000 worth of bicycles.
>This should get you 17 to 21 medium priced 10-speed machines which
>will retail for about $125 each."

Then: mid-price roadie (probably closer to low-end, though) $125.
Now: mid-price roadie *saddle and post*, $125.

>"Obviously, you'll need tools to put bicycles together and keep them
>that way but there's no need, in the beginning, to spend more than
>$100 on this equipment."

Now, I remember what the price of good tools was like in 1972, and
$100 would get you a decent set of very basic stuff, but not much in
the way of what you'd have needed in order to be credible as a repair
facility. As usual, Mother Earth News had somebody writing the
article whose proclivities matched their own; anything that could be
improvised was pretty much good enough.

>There is one bike shop listed in the Independence, KS chamber of
>commerce. Different owner than the person who wrote the article.
>Quite a few years between this 1974 article and 2008 of course.
>Wonder if its even the same lineage.

Probably not. Given that the info I found seemed to indicate that the
current shop had changed name fairly recently, and there was no hit
that linked the article author's name with the city and subject other
than the article itself, I'd say that the attitude and approach had
the end result that I'd have expected.

--
My email address is antispammed; pull WEEDS if replying via e-mail.
Typoes are not a bug, they're a feature.
Words processed in a facility that contains nuts.

[Paul M. Hobson[_2_]]

> Mike Jacoubowsky wrote:
>> [...] Some shops will say that insurance requires that customers wear
>> helmets on test rides, but even that's likely not the case. We require
>> them because it's *our* policy.

Tom Sherman wrote:
> Even though all the properly performed population studies indicate that
> foam hats are ineffective for anything more than bump and scrape
> protection? Do you require gloves on test rides.

No need to go down that road, Tom. I don't want to speak for Mike, but
it's probably just a CYA policy. Regardless of how and if they work,
requiring helmets on test rides probably would help an LBS out in the
most unfortunate case of a lawsuit related to a test ride injury.

>> Just as we explain that we don't allow customers in our repair area
>> because it's *our* policy.[...]

> The last time I was talking to an LBS proprietor while he was fixing a
> bicycle, it led to the eventual sale of a $1K+ bicycle.

All of the shops around here have a repair area behind the counter. It
is completely possible to speak to anyone at a repair stand.

--
Paul M. Hobson
..:change the f to ph to reply:.

[[email protected]]

On Apr 12, 10:30 am, "Paul M. Hobson" > wrote:
> > Mike Jacoubowsky wrote:
> >> [...] Some shops will say that insurance requires that customers wear
> >> helmets on test rides, but even that's likely not the case. We require
> >> them because it's *our* policy.
> Tom Sherman wrote:
> > Even though all the properly performed population studies indicate that
> > foam hats are ineffective for anything more than bump and scrape
> > protection? Do you require gloves on test rides.
>
> No need to go down that road, Tom. I don't want to speak for Mike, but
> it's probably just a CYA policy. Regardless of how and if they work,
> requiring helmets on test rides probably would help an LBS out in the
> most unfortunate case of a lawsuit related to a test ride injury.

That's exactly why I require them of all our house guests, before I
allow them to climb the porch steps. ;-)

- Frank Krygowski

[Werehatrack]

On Sat, 12 Apr 2008 08:18:39 -0700 (PDT), may have
said:

>On Apr 12, 10:30 am, "Paul M. Hobson" > wrote:
>> > Mike Jacoubowsky wrote:
>> >> [...] Some shops will say that insurance requires that customers wear
>> >> helmets on test rides, but even that's likely not the case. We require
>> >> them because it's *our* policy.
>> Tom Sherman wrote:
>> > Even though all the properly performed population studies indicate that
>> > foam hats are ineffective for anything more than bump and scrape
>> > protection? Do you require gloves on test rides.
>>
>> No need to go down that road, Tom. I don't want to speak for Mike, but
>> it's probably just a CYA policy. Regardless of how and if they work,
>> requiring helmets on test rides probably would help an LBS out in the
>> most unfortunate case of a lawsuit related to a test ride injury.
>
>That's exactly why I require them of all our house guests, before I
>allow them to climb the porch steps. ;-)

I didn't know that you had moved to Miami, Frank. (It would be a wise
precaution to make them sign a waiver at the property line there.)

--
My email address is antispammed; pull WEEDS if replying via e-mail.
Typoes are not a bug, they're a feature.
Words processed in a facility that contains nuts.

[Tom Sherman[_2_]]

aka Frank Krygowski wrote:
> On Apr 12, 10:30 am, "Paul M. Hobson" > wrote:
>>> Mike Jacoubowsky wrote:
>>>> [...] Some shops will say that insurance requires that customers wear
>>>> helmets on test rides, but even that's likely not the case. We require
>>>> them because it's *our* policy.
>> Tom Sherman wrote:
>>> Even though all the properly performed population studies indicate that
>>> foam hats are ineffective for anything more than bump and scrape
>>> protection? Do you require gloves on test rides.
>> No need to go down that road, Tom. I don't want to speak for Mike, but
>> it's probably just a CYA policy. Regardless of how and if they work,
>> requiring helmets on test rides probably would help an LBS out in the
>> most unfortunate case of a lawsuit related to a test ride injury.
>
> That's exactly why I require them of all our house guests, before I
> allow them to climb the porch steps. ;-)
>
What about gas masks? ;)

--
Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
The weather is here, wish you were beautiful

[Werehatrack]

On Sat, 12 Apr 2008 14:04:37 -0500, Tom Sherman
> may have said:

aka Frank Krygowski wrote:
>> On Apr 12, 10:30 am, "Paul M. Hobson" > wrote:
>>>> Mike Jacoubowsky wrote:
>>>>> [...] Some shops will say that insurance requires that customers wear
>>>>> helmets on test rides, but even that's likely not the case. We require
>>>>> them because it's *our* policy.
>>> Tom Sherman wrote:
>>>> Even though all the properly performed population studies indicate that
>>>> foam hats are ineffective for anything more than bump and scrape
>>>> protection? Do you require gloves on test rides.
>>> No need to go down that road, Tom. I don't want to speak for Mike, but
>>> it's probably just a CYA policy. Regardless of how and if they work,
>>> requiring helmets on test rides probably would help an LBS out in the
>>> most unfortunate case of a lawsuit related to a test ride injury.
>>
>> That's exactly why I require them of all our house guests, before I
>> allow them to climb the porch steps. ;-)
>>
>What about gas masks? ;)

"Ma'am, it is suggested that each bottle be used in a manner that
provides more than one application of the scent."

--
My email address is antispammed; pull WEEDS if replying via e-mail.
Typoes are not a bug, they're a feature.
Words processed in a facility that contains nuts.

[Mike Jacoubowsky]

| > shops will say that insurance requires that customers wear helmets on
test
| > rides, but even that's likely not the case. We require them because it's
| > *our* policy.
|
| Even though all the properly performed population studies indicate that
| foam hats are ineffective for anything more than bump and scrape
| protection? Do you require gloves on test rides.


No, we don't require gloves, but we do require closed-toe shoes (assuming
we're not talking SPD-type sandals).

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReactionBicycles.com


"Tom Sherman" > wrote in message
...
| Mike Jacoubowsky wrote:
| > [...] Some
| > shops will say that insurance requires that customers wear helmets on
test
| > rides, but even that's likely not the case. We require them because it's
| > *our* policy.
|
| Even though all the properly performed population studies indicate that
| foam hats are ineffective for anything more than bump and scrape
| protection? Do you require gloves on test rides.
|
| > Just as we explain that we don't allow customers in our repair
| > area because it's *our* policy.[...]
|
| The last time I was talking to an LBS proprietor while he was fixing a
| bicycle, it led to the eventual sale of a $1K+ bicycle.
|
| --
| Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
| The weather is here, wish you were beautiful
|

[Dennis P. Harris]

On Thu, 10 Apr 2008 19:18:57 -0600 in rec.bicycles.tech,
wrote:

> Can you tell us more about these new-bike insurance waivers?
>
They were required by the manufacturers (in his case, Diamondback
& Cannondale).
> Are they just for certain bikes? Are they a common practice?
>
As far as I know, most liability insurers now require them, but
you should ask an insurance agent who sells commercial liablity
insurance. I believe that retailers of snowboards, skis, and
other sports equipment also have similar insurance company
requirements.