A visit to my LBS

[Luigi de Guzman]

Dropped by my LBS (Oasis Bikeworks in Fairfax, VA http://
www.oasisbikeworks.com/) this week to order some fenders for the
Raleigh.

After listening to all kinds of bad news about the retail sector, I was
more than relieved when the proprietor told me that business had been
pretty good over the past few months. He chalked it up to the move to
the new store location--suddenly, they were getting foot traffic into the
shop, and that had been really good for business.

How good? Good enough that he and his co-owner were able to start paying
themselves a regular wage. Not bad.

They didn't have the fenders I had on hand, but could get them for me in
reasonable time. I put my money down and ordered a set. I suppose I
could have done it online--but I like my shop better. They know me
there, they know my bikes. And I like having them in the neighborhood.

I wonder if business at other shops has been as good, or has the down
economy been biting LBSes too?

--Luigi



--
Luigi de Guzman
http://ouij.livejournal.com

[Tom Keats]

In article >,
Phil W Lee <phil(at)lee-family(dot)me(dot)uk> writes:
> Luigi de Guzman > considered Sat, 15 Nov 2008
> 03:55:05 GMT the perfect time to write:
>
>>Dropped by my LBS (Oasis Bikeworks in Fairfax, VA http://
>>www.oasisbikeworks.com/) this week to order some fenders for the
>>Raleigh.
>>
>>After listening to all kinds of bad news about the retail sector, I was
>>more than relieved when the proprietor told me that business had been
>>pretty good over the past few months. He chalked it up to the move to
>>the new store location--suddenly, they were getting foot traffic into the
>>shop, and that had been really good for business.
>>
>>How good? Good enough that he and his co-owner were able to start paying
>>themselves a regular wage. Not bad.
>>
>>They didn't have the fenders I had on hand, but could get them for me in
>>reasonable time. I put my money down and ordered a set. I suppose I
>>could have done it online--but I like my shop better. They know me
>>there, they know my bikes. And I like having them in the neighborhood.
>>
>>I wonder if business at other shops has been as good, or has the down
>>economy been biting LBSes too?
>>
> I'd not be too quick to credit the relocation with the improvement.
> The financial situation is meaning that bike makers are selling all
> they can build.
> Just look at the car industry - probably half the cars that they
> aren't selling are being replaced by bikes.
> When people have to save money, they either cut out one car, or even
> THE car, if all their trips are local, as they are for many people.
> When you look for economies, cycles make real sense, because they can
> replace not only the transport (or a large proportion of it) but the
> gym membership as well.
>
> I'm in a village about 5 miles froma city of maybe 110,000 (plus
> another 20,000 or so in the surrounding villages), and there are 25
> bike shops within easy range - at least 3 before I even get as far as
> the city! That's without the bikes being sold by supermarkets,
> motoring shops, etc.
> And 3 or 4 cycle hire places.
>
> It's just as well, or the city would be gridlocked, 24/7.

I've been noticing a lot of deflation (in terms of falling
and marked-down prices, not bicycle tires.) Currently, life
is pretty good for consumers with cold hard cash instead of
aerated credit to put down on the barrelhead, and who still
have their income sources.

I wonder what life would be like if huge populations
of people suddenly forsook their private automobiles
and took to bicycling instead? I could see it being
a living nightmare, at least for an adjustment period.

Maybe we'd get to see some pretty good bicycle races/
police chases on the TV show: Disorderly Conduct.


cheers,
Tom

--
Nothing is safe from me.
I'm really at:
tkeats curlicue vcn dot bc dot ca

[Rex Kerr]

Luigi de Guzman wrote:
> I suppose I could have done it online--but I like my shop better.
> They know me there, they know my bikes. And I like having them in
> the neighborhood.

I like the sentiment, but unfortunately shopping at the LBS would
require me to ride less often. Why? Because the LBS is nowhere near my
route to/from work, nor my workplace, and they're only open while I'm at
work or my already overwhelmed weekends. There are two LBS somewhat
near my house, one of which is overcrowded on the weekends and doesn't
have a very inviting environment.

Do others find the same to be true?

--
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)

[Luigi de Guzman]

On Mon, 17 Nov 2008 11:51:11 -0800, Rex Kerr wrote:

> Luigi de Guzman wrote:
> > I suppose I could have done it online--but I like my shop better.
> > They know me there, they know my bikes. And I like having them in
> > the neighborhood.
>
> I like the sentiment, but unfortunately shopping at the LBS would
> require me to ride less often. Why? Because the LBS is nowhere near my
> route to/from work, nor my workplace, and they're only open while I'm at
> work or my already overwhelmed weekends. There are two LBS somewhat
> near my house, one of which is overcrowded on the weekends and doesn't
> have a very inviting environment.
>
> Do others find the same to be true?


That used to be the case where I lived. My choices weren't that great.
The "best" shop for my purposes--scrounging for parts, getting advice--
is too far. There's another independent shop a bit closer in, but they
cater to a high-dollar racer-boy crowd--not me. There's a Performance
Bikes chain outlet--good selection, good availability, but not really all
that good as far as service.

And then there's "my" shop--the one that's handily located and run by
helpful friendly guys. I guess I'm lucky.

--L




--
Luigi de Guzman
http://ouij.livejournal.com

[Dane Buson]

Tom Keats > wrote:
> Phil W Lee <phil(at)lee-family(dot)me(dot)uk> writes:
>>
>> I'm in a village about 5 miles froma city of maybe 110,000 (plus
>> another 20,000 or so in the surrounding villages), and there are 25
>> bike shops within easy range - at least 3 before I even get as far as
>> the city! That's without the bikes being sold by supermarkets,
>> motoring shops, etc.
>> And 3 or 4 cycle hire places.
>>
>> It's just as well, or the city would be gridlocked, 24/7.
>
> I've been noticing a lot of deflation (in terms of falling
> and marked-down prices, not bicycle tires.) Currently, life
> is pretty good for consumers with cold hard cash instead of
> aerated credit to put down on the barrelhead, and who still
> have their income sources.
>
> I wonder what life would be like if huge populations
> of people suddenly forsook their private automobiles
> and took to bicycling instead? I could see it being
> a living nightmare, at least for an adjustment period.

I imagine we would also see a marked increase in bike theft. It seems
to be the case that the more bicycles there are (per capita) the better and
more numerous the bike thieves are. This probably has something to do
with the expanded demand for bikes increasing the resale value.

> Maybe we'd get to see some pretty good bicycle races/
> police chases on the TV show: Disorderly Conduct.

Ugh, don't give them any more ideas. Not that they really need any.
I'm sure they have every reality show short of "See a celebrity get
eaten alive by a shark." Which they probably only don't have because
PETA would protest if we fed B-list celebs to animals. Probably on the
pretext of poisoning them with silicone and botox.

--
Dane Buson -
Linear time is for wimps

[Dane Buson]

Rex Kerr > wrote:
> Luigi de Guzman wrote:
> > I suppose I could have done it online--but I like my shop better.
> > They know me there, they know my bikes. And I like having them in
> > the neighborhood.
>
> I like the sentiment, but unfortunately shopping at the LBS would
> require me to ride less often. Why? Because the LBS is nowhere near my
> route to/from work, nor my workplace, and they're only open while I'm at
> work or my already overwhelmed weekends. There are two LBS somewhat
> near my house, one of which is overcrowded on the weekends and doesn't
> have a very inviting environment.
>
> Do others find the same to be true?

My bike shops are actually really great. One is less than a mile from
my house and keeps early hours. Another is about two miles and is a
great place to get things done, scrounge for parts, or just hang out and
drink a beer. Speaking of which, I need to pick up a six of something
nice on the way to pick up my bike. They did manage to unbend my frame,
so at least I don't have to go to CrossCheck frame #4.

I imagine my frame warranty is toast (at least for anything behind the
seattube). Maybe it's time to investigate the 145 OLD tandem wheel for
commuting.

Though they did give me hassle about the rear wheel.

Mechanic: "You know the rear wheel is unsafe, the braking surface is
totally concave."

Me: "No no no, I've got 1.8mm of rim left, that's at least 0.8mm more
than minimum safety margin.[1]"

I did end up assuring her that I had decided to swap the rim regardless.
Between Lee falling on it, the fact that it has had a lot of braking
surface worn off and other things, it's probably time to change it. It
doesn't hurt I have a spare rim to hand to do it with, so I don't even
have to go buy anything.

[1] Yes, I actually have a caliper just for this.

--
Dane Buson -
Unfortunately, most programmers like to play with new toys. I have many
friends who, immediately upon buying a snakebite kit, would be tempted to
throw the first person they see to the ground, tie the tourniquet on him,
slash him with the knife, and apply suction to the wound. -- Jon Bentley