spokesNspin

As a general rule, I believe in supporting my LBS. My LBS should not take my business for granted and mostly they don’t. There are many reasons to support the LBS.

One is cost. I have found that on many items the online stores are not that much cheaper after you figure in the shipping costs. And many times they are are actually more expensive.

The other day I looked at some new pedals at a major online bike shopping site. I then went by my LBS. The exact same pedals at my LBS were $10.00 cheaper than online. That was before taking into account the shipping charges.  Add to that the 10% bike club discount I got plus they installed them for free.

Which business was offering the better bargain?

Even if an equivalent item is slightly more expensive I will support the LBS. I figure that is the insurance I pay for keeping them in business and close at hand when I need them.

There are other pleasures to going by my LBS.  I love the smell.  I can wander around and look at bicycles.  I talk cycling with the employees and other cyclists who are there.

From what I have read and been told, it isn’t the profit on bicycles that keeps them in business.  The money is in selling gear and wrenching bikes.

I do make exceptions to buying at the LBS. I sometimes buy online for items the LBS doesn’t stock. They will generally order the item but it is just too big of a hassle.  That is one irritant I have with the LBS.  If I special order they want me to pay for it in advance.  I end up making two trips and don’t save any money.   

There are some LBS that sell online.  I try them first.  I figure that way I am at least supporting a small LBS. I have found some pretty good deals on that type of site.

The other exception which is really related to the first is bicycle clothing. I generally buy clothing from the online retailer. The LBS only stocks expensive name brand bicycle clothing. With as much riding as I do I go through a lot of clothing. I don’t need fancy looking jerseys with a big logo splashed on it. I need plain and functional.

Now some plugs for my favorite shops.

In Harrisburg Pa The Pedal Pusher was my favorite.  I could tell that the owner/manager of this shop just loved bicycles.  When I was living there they offered a discount on clothing and gear to their regular customers.  They went the extra mile to help their bicycle commuting customers because they knew how we depended on our bikes.

The Pedal Pusher was in an small building and it was just crammed with bicycles and related gear.  One of those crowded places that you love.  The money was not in fancy lighting and buildings.  It was in people and product.

I don’t know what their current policy is but when I was there they didn’t offer free tune ups and service to customers for the first year after buying a bike like other shops.  I mentioned this one time to the owner.  His response was “my mechanics are my most valuable asset. I can’t afford to give it away”.  He was right.  He managed to keep employees a long time. I  knew people who would drive from 50 miles away to have The Pedal Pusher work on their bikes.

Bountiful Bikes was my fav in the Salt Lake City, Utah area.  I don’t even dare tell you some of things they offered to let me try.  And they had a very nice collection of vintage Sting Ray bicycles.

Here in Northern Virginia I generally go to Spokes Etc.  They have four locations in the area though I have only been to the Belle Haven and Quaker Lane shops.

If you are ever in Maryland area of Washington D.C., go to Mt Airy or College Park Bicycles and spend some time with Larry Black. Larry lives and breathes bicycles.  I think he has a warehouse full of old bikes and frames.  He has real stuff for real people and odd stuff for odd people.  He deals in bicycles like some underground people deal in weapons.  :)  Don’t expect a straight answer about where he gets some of his inventory.  Be ready for a whirlwind of activity.  He is a fast talking, mult-tasking wild and crazy bike selling guy.  Just how crazy…

I often see his name out there supporting the bicycling community in one form or another.

None of the above mentioned shops paid for or approved this message.