I went into a bike shop today in Bristol, CT and while they had an impressive inventory, something was just not right for me.
The store sells mainly Specialized, Trek and Cannondale and a bunch of BMX bikes.......but it was almost too clean and "sterile" for my tastes. All the accessories, bags, gloves, saddles, etc. etc. were either Specialized or C-Dale or Trek aftermarket stuff. Hardly any independent type of stuff in stock (you know what I mean right?).
I dunno. It sorta makes me miss Scott's Bike Shop in Willimantic, CT where you go in and the floors are old wooden floors, and you can find old Trek Steel frames hanging from the rafters, and old school and rare parts and whatnot on the cases. Along with that they have Giants, Fishers, Treks etc. etc. But they also have that cool stuff you just like to look at you know what I mean? And the basement of Scotts is like a bike museum. Lots of old roadies and mtbs down there, some of them New Old Stock. When I get in that area, I usually stop in to visit just to look around to see what I might have missed on previous visits. And Scott is usually there and always friendly and ready to talk with you (even though he wants the same price for a Mag21 fork as the day he received it - lol) and often he'll throw a free water bottle your way as you head out the door.
I wish there was a shop like that closer to where I live now.
So Monkeys, what are your local shops like? Do any of them have character or characters that draw you in even if you aren't planning on buying anything?
Let's hear the stories.
The store sells mainly Specialized, Trek and Cannondale and a bunch of BMX bikes.......but it was almost too clean and "sterile" for my tastes. All the accessories, bags, gloves, saddles, etc. etc. were either Specialized or C-Dale or Trek aftermarket stuff. Hardly any independent type of stuff in stock (you know what I mean right?).
I dunno. It sorta makes me miss Scott's Bike Shop in Willimantic, CT where you go in and the floors are old wooden floors, and you can find old Trek Steel frames hanging from the rafters, and old school and rare parts and whatnot on the cases. Along with that they have Giants, Fishers, Treks etc. etc. But they also have that cool stuff you just like to look at you know what I mean? And the basement of Scotts is like a bike museum. Lots of old roadies and mtbs down there, some of them New Old Stock. When I get in that area, I usually stop in to visit just to look around to see what I might have missed on previous visits. And Scott is usually there and always friendly and ready to talk with you (even though he wants the same price for a Mag21 fork as the day he received it - lol) and often he'll throw a free water bottle your way as you head out the door.
I wish there was a shop like that closer to where I live now.
So Monkeys, what are your local shops like? Do any of them have character or characters that draw you in even if you aren't planning on buying anything?
Let's hear the stories.
