What do you most want from a bicycle store?

I would love it if they stayed open later on the weekends. ( I know they need to ride too) And I feel bike shops should carry a broader range in bikes not a focus on road bikes, or etc. Good bike fitting is a must!

I went to a bike shop here in San Francisco recommended by some dude in the men's shoe department at Nordstrom. It turned out to be a good shop to go to. They had a range of bikes, from the Aluminum street bike I got, to $3000 racing bikes, to kid's bikes. They put on everything-- kickstand, computer, lights etc "while you wait" and they weren't condescending about the fact that a 200 lb woman wanted a bike "just to get around". I would totally recommend this type of store to a friend. I think the problem with some bike shops is they're only interested in the high-end market or niche bicycles like choppers. All in all I'd say the most important things a bike shop needs are: friendly, knoweldgeable and accomodating service, weekend hours, and a wide range.

What I want most is people who really love bikes, not rude, condescending snobs who only love trend and hype. I want people who understand compatibility, and pay attention to detail. I want steel bikes, rigid singlespeeds, and chromoly stems. I want eiether 25.4 or 26.0 clamp diameter. I want rim brake only. That's not to say I don't want tubeless, disc only, 31.8 (or whatever), scandium, and 120mm travel forks. It's just that a lot of bike shops are too into what's new, and not into what still works. I just bought a steel 'cross frame and all the parts to build it. I ordered 36 spoke 700c rim brake only wheels, and got disc only wheels. Didn't homeboy notice the frame I ordered is rim brake only? The shop owner rides the same bike I ordered, so it's not like he's never seen one before, not to mention I orderd a two pairs of canti's. I ordered a pair of 'cross drops, and asked for cane creek levers. I ended up with long pull mtn levers. The shop apologized, and the correct parts will be in next week, but still. I paid a lot of money for this bike. The least they could do is pay a little more attention to detail. Another thing I want is good deals. I don't want it for free, but fair. Internet shopping can get you some pretty cool stuff for cheap these days. Obviously, there is no one-on-one service, but there aren't any snobby kids saying " well, maybe YOU don't need full suspension, but I....". You get the point. The thing I like about my current shop is that they are only fifty miles away.

I like my shop a lot. I don't use it much as I can work on my bikes and buy parts cheap on-line. They're labor is very well priced. I bought a new fork and they remove the crown race from the old and installed on the new for $10. (another shop said $25 minimum) and $5 to remove and install a sealed bearing on my wheel too.

All I need is service for special instances when I don't own expensive tools for the job. They fill the bill. I tell everyone to use 'em. It sure is hard making a buck in the bike biz.

I like to browse the clothing without 4 staff asking if I need help.

I would like to have minor adjustments to my bike made without needing an appointment and leaving my bike for 2 days.

I would like to find a shop that is open past 5pm and maybe be open an a Sunday.

I don't care for the shops in my town. I drive 60-70 miles to go to a likable shop. They have the stock I need and want.

I have built custom bicycles. I declared them to be "Prototypes", with the intention of putting them into production. I built a Fiberglass Ladies Bicycle for my Daughter, which she designed. It cost me $270.00. I did some test marketing. I had ten people offering $700.00, one person offered $1,200.00, and one who offered $2,100.00.

The catch was, the man who offered twenty one hundred wanted TWO Fiberglass Ladies Bicycles, one for his Daughter and one for her friend. (So they could go together in matching outfits.)

I only had one, and I could not get anyone to loan me the money to build a second.

I had to sell the bike to the customer who offered twelve hundred.

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q119/hotbike/00...

(click for a photo of the Fiberglass Ladies Bicycle)

So I learned that women would like matching bicycles, and will pay a lot more if Ladies Bicycles were available in TWO's.

I checked around at local bike shops. Traditionally, bike manufacturers provide matching his and hers bicycles.

But, they do not have two of the Ladies bicycles side by side on the showroom floor.

And, The high-end bicycles are all Mens bicycles.

Bicycle companies ned to realize that women have specific demands. The traditional Ladies Bicycle lets women wear dresses or skirts. You can NOT tell a woman that she has to wear pants if she wants to wear a skirt.

I'm just passing this along to you. It's based on what I learned doing test marketing.

I'm telling you what Women want from a bicycle store.

What service is needed? I would say painting and repainting. Very messy, and the shop might have to ship the bike to another location to do the job, but painting bikes is the service I miss most.

What timelsot is missing? I don't know if a bicycle shop could keep it's doors open 24 hours a day. I tell you though, if they did, they would sell a lot more headlights and tailights.

What I like about my current shop? They seem to have any part I need.

1. Bicycle shops are usually not competitive. I buy what I can on line or at Wal Mart. Even with 10% higher prices then online, I would buy at a bicycle store, but not with their usual mark-up.

2. A good, fexible repair service is the biggest promotion.

I always go to Performance Bike Shop.

Why u ask?

1. Complete return policy. If you don't like it, take it back, even if its used. Mom and pop shops WON'T do that.

2. Just about the best prices around! Mom and pop shops never have the best prices..

3. A complete fully stocked shop with folks that know their stuff.