Bike Shops Shouldn’t Need a Disclaimer Like This

by brian miller 18 miles per hour on December 15, 2011 · 6 comments

6 responses

THE BEST BIKESHOP TAGLINE. And it also makes me sad.

The fact that it stands out to me, the fact that people first expect bike shop employees will be uppity and are surprised when they’re kind, is not right.

I’m lucky to have found some good ones full of good people lately. Even here on my visit to NYC. Stumbled in to get some shelter from the rain, had a nice, brief chat and they were as kind as could be.

They were not dicks.

And the funny thing is, I’m optimistic that trend is catching on with other bike shops.

Let’s hope it does. Enough so that this tagline will be rendered irrelevant.

18 Miles Per Hour is Brian Miller and Rhys Newman. Illustration by Rhys. See more at 18milesperhour.com.

{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }

Ben Carlson December 15, 2011 at 15:32

Reminds me of a post I read recently about a bike shop closing where the author wasn’t surprised because the store thought they were in the “bike business” when really they should have been in the “people business”. Struck me as a pretty profound thought.

http://blog.rescue-mission.org/bid/80681/What-business-are-you-in

michael frank December 15, 2011 at 16:14: This is true for every service business. Can someone please tell the airlines this?

Reply

Anthony December 16, 2011 at 09:59

Agreed. Most non-cyclist’s are not going to first think of a real bike shop as a welcoming place because the last time they went in to one to get there bike tuned/tube replaced/kid’s bike adjusted/one pair of bike shorts/streamers/tractor sized saddle/etc they were looked upon as dullards and imbeciles from the mid-30′s guy working for $8/hr so he can get 25% parts and free spins of the wrenches in the back while bragging about his latest almost mid-pack finish at the local Cat 4 crit.

Thankfully many shops, Over the Edge in Fruita being one of them, have realized we all ride bikes to have fun, so be a fun place to spend some hard-earned greenies and welcome us with open arms when we have questions or need that one part to get back to our ride.

Jody Kaufman December 16, 2011 at 12:42

Anthony – Bravo! Could not have said it better.

shop perspective December 19, 2011 at 06:21

This “best of craiglist” post sums it up:
http://www.craigslist.org/about/best/sea/1192150038.html

michael frank December 19, 2011 at 06:44: Thanks @shop perspective for making me laugh… And although the entirety of that craigslist rant deserves a read, if you don’t have the time, the take away:
“You’re not a racer. If you were, I’d know you already, and you wouldn’t be here, and we both know it.”

Reply