Choices are yours...

First,
despite many opinions, I do stop for lights.
Sometimes even stop signs.
The other day as I stopped for a light,
a conversation started with a couple,
waiting to cross.
He was interested in getting a bike,
his son just bought one,
he had been checking out online shops.

My advice was simple.
Go to every shop,
get to know them,
ask questions.
It's like finding a good auto mechanic,
or a doctor, or local bar/bartender.
You vote with your dollar.
It can be a lasting relationship.

'Support your local bike shop' reason 103.


As I got to work,
I was checking my back wheel,
to make sure it was in straight.
As I started to close the lever, "SNAP!"
the quick release just snapped in half.
That's not good.
I now have no way home,
besides a long bus ride,
followed by a long walk.

After some thinking,
I picked up the phone and called my local shop.

'Yo Jon, I snapped my rear quick release.
I'm at work and can't go anywhere...'

'Your cross bike? So 130 rear?'

'Yep. Anything you can do would be cool.
I can give you my card number, whatever,
I'll make it up to you!'

'No, that's cool. I'm sure we have something
laying around. If it's anything more, we'll just
catch you the next time you're in. I'll swing by
after the shop closes.'


And that right there is why you support your local shop!
That's why you shouldn't be an ass to (most) people.
Delivered to my work, one rear Salsa skewer, no charge.
No bus ride home with sketchy people.
No long walk home after the long bus ride.

Granted I was probably three or four miles from the shop,
not across town, but it was just proof of why you support
a local business for years.



I cannot tell you how bummed I was when that snapped.
And I hesitated even calling the shop to ask that.
But the fact that I was set to ride home that night...
awesome! Thanks guys!