Metzger Bicycle Shop, Detroit City Gas Co, circa 1912. Photo: Detroit Publishing Company
There was a time when I held down ‘real jobs’. Jobs with (a little) stress, with (some) responsibility, but without soul. And while dealing with the great unwashed never held much appeal, I always envied the guys who worked at my preferred LBS. They seemingly had it all–an endless supply of cheap bikes and parts, hanging out and shooting the breeze with other riders, and getting the heads-up on the latest and greatest developments and industry gossip. It was the epitome of the dream job for a bike rider.
They weren’t just the guys who fixed my bikes and sold me parts at mates’ rates; they also became my friends outside of the shop environment. We’d go to the pub, to parties, and to see bands. We had more in common than the obvious bike factor.
One of the guys had started out as a shop rat straight out of school, then eventually branched out and started his own shop with another riding mate. While I was spending my nights getting trashed and playing in a punk band, my empty daytime would be spent sitting around in the workshop, swapping tales from the road and picking up some tips from the mechanics on how to tweak my bikes. When anyone was sick or had to go away for some reason or another, I’d be asked to fill in. It was almost a real job, but one that was just as much fun as jumping around on stage at night.
With business starting to boom, necessitating a move to larger premises, I was offered a full-time position. Of course I took the opportunity. After all, I was always spending my paltry band earnings on bike bits anyway. The more successful the shop became, the more time the boss would spend away from it, buying expensive clothes, driving his fast car and chasing even faster women. His business partner must have seen the writing on the wall, and promptly sold his share.
The brother of the now sole owner was recruited to look after the financial side of things, while me and the mechanic looked after the sales and service sides. Now, the brother, being an ex-used car salesman, had the gift of the gab. But he didn’t know a lot about bikes, and not much more about business as it turned out. Most mornings he’d turn up to work looking dishevelled, reeking of cigarettes and booze, complaining of another hangover. He’d gruffly send one of the BMX groms, who hung out in the workshop, down to the takeaway to get him a bacon and egg roll and a Coke. “Make sure the egg’s not runny,” he’d always bark at them. When the roll would inevitably contain a less-than-firm egg, the groms would hastily make their exit under a hail of abuse. One of the part-timers would gladly retrieve the discarded mess from the bin and scoff it down. The mechanic and I would get much entertainment from this.
By early afternoon, the hangover would be too much for him (and us) to endure, and the lure of the pub and its poker machines would be even greater to resist. We’d offer our helpful advice, encouraging him to take a few bucks from the till and go and enjoy the afternoon. His arm was easy to twist. We’d then be free to get the repairs done, play some music we actually liked and ride the scooters around on the concrete floor, honing our tricks and seeing who could wheelie the furthest and do the longest skids.
Thursdays were late trading nights, and usually they were pretty quiet, especially in winter. Left to our own devices, we’d invite mates and girlfriends around, grab a 6-pack or two, and have a little party before hitting the pub after we shut. The empty bottles littering the workshop combined with the aggressive music blaring probably scared any customers that ventured in, but we were usually too baked to notice, or care.
Meanwhile, the boss’s car was becoming way more pimped, his hair was falling out due to constant trips to the salon (and from the stress of his failing business, no doubt), and suppliers were reluctant to supply because they weren’t getting paid. We still were, but increasingly in cash, which was likely so they could avoid paying tax on our wages.
Not surprisingly, the shop went under only a few years after its inception, with the brothers returning to the used car game, never to be seen again in the bike industry. But looking back at those memories, I know that they were some of the best years of my working life, even if it was obvious our days were numbered and we’d soon be looking for alternative employment.
Today, the LBS is a dying breed, and only when it’s finally extinct will we realise that we helped kill something very special. I hope it doesn’t come to that, because the best memories aren’t going to come from hitting ‘Add To Cart’.
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I go by a 40% rule. If it's 40% less online, I need to look out for myself as much as the staff of an LBS. That being said, Bar tape, tires, and all the small bit always warrant a ride down to the shop.
It's to bad that the only shop that carries the gloss orange Fizik I have found is filled with fucktards.
I really, really want to love an LBS and I really, really want one that I can call mine. But one way or another, just when I think I'm onto something, that I've finally found the one, a keeper, they always seem to let me down. Badly.
One always gave me great deals on mountain bikes and the sort of protective kit I needed for falling off them a lot but when it comes to working on bikes, what a disaster zone. I've even come to realise that I can't bleed hydraulic disc brakes as badly as them.
Another can do the wrenching stuff but does such an amazing job of looking at at me in such a way that says "you're not a proper cyclist, you're just some sort of yuppie fuck who can't play golf for shit" that I've given up and will only go there when the tool needed to fit a part is significantly more expensive that the part itself.
So fuck it. I won't apologise; I'm staying single and I'll go where I please for my satisfaction, whether it be the internet for instant gratification or a spot of DIY when I really need to get to those hard to reach spots.
For me Rule 58 is, by far, the hardest to abide by. I have a very hard time choking down double the cost of a part in service of supporting the LBS. It's also very annoying to try to talk to some kid half my age who only cares about MTB or FGFS who I've forgotten more about bikes & cycling than he knows. I realize the pay is shite & they generally loves bikes, just not the ones I love. I get far more satisfaction out of a screaming online deal & performing my own installation & maintenance. Not everyone can be a true Cognescenti rule holist. The best thing about the LBS is they usually carry every cycling magazine I could ever want
@Chris
I don't know if you intended it to be, but that is fucking funny! ....and quite true as well.
In any large town there are 2 types of shops: 1.) the Pro Shop 2.) the Joe Schmoe Shop. The Pro Shop is staffed by those who live breath and eat cycling, and usually do not have outstanding business acumen. Because of this, they are usually more skilled with a wrench but less motivated to assist a customer. The Joe Schmoe Shop, however, is run by businessman or woman with a mere interest in bicycles. It is he or she who understands business, and therefore knows that all customers drive the business and welcomes all to the shop. Of course, the Pro Shop will go out of business as they don't know how to run a business, and the Joe Schmoe Shop will be chugging along merrily, servicing the 96% of cyclists who do not live, breath, or sleep cycling.
@Gianni
Quite the same here, the two largest (and currently both expanding shops) in my area are Trek and Specialized.
However, it hasn't deterred the opening of a few new shops around here (and word of even two more). I can only hope this is a signal of the growth of the sport in my area.
I would like to see these guys come off this full MSRP crap though, and get competitive with their pricing....
@Cogfather
Sometimes it is best to purchase parts thru LBS that say "need protection" and no issues. I recently had Campagnolo Centaur controls that were 2 months beyond the 2 year date of purchase. The left shifter was not engaging correctly near the front end of the cassette -- could not hold the tension. The Cycle Center along with Hawleys USA replaced the entire control lever hood and all within 2 days -- no cost.
Have also had my wheels built at Cycle Center to avoid "issues" down the road (pun).
@Al
You need to learn to find the good within the shit -- and sometimes its piss!
@minion
We usually avoid using that word dumb ass.
@unversio
The right shifter. Dang!