@pfunkallstar 10851 wrote:
I think we need greater snobbery in our local bike shops – it should be all out class warfare as soon as you enter the door. But seriously, I would recommend pretty much Papillion and Papillion alone in terms of local bike shops, then maybe Spokes. I’ve strolled into a few too many shops where my bike didn’t meet some ethereal standard of quality.
Greater snobbery on behalf of the customers or the bike shop personnel? I’ve run into some snobs at Papillion several times — never Bailey or any of the people working there. The funniest was several years ago, when this guy was trying to impress a female cyclist. I had come in and was not wearing anything cycling-related gear and I think I had my daily commuter with me, which is an old Giant Yukon. I’m just standing there and listening, trying hard not to laugh, while she looks bored. (Bailey was finishing some work on her bike.) The guy was saying something about how he rode a lot and had just bought second bike. She wasn’t impressed. He turned to me and asked me, in a voice dripping with snobbery, how many bikes I owned. When I told him I had five, not counting a spare frame, he shut up. The woman saw the opportunity to start talking with me and he soon left. (If I’ve ever mentioned the loon who preferred riding on the MVT, after midnight, without any lights, that was her.)
I second the recommendation for Papillion. While I can do just about anything I need to do, I’ll often take a bike in just to give them the business. Since it’s not a chain, I believe in supporting my local bike shop.