How Do You Pick a Bike Shop?

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about the all sponsors trail day on Mount Seymour. Most of these trail days put on by the NSMBA have a shop sponsor the day. The shop will supply lunch, maybe some draw prizes and help to organise the day's events. What was different about April 15th trail day was a number of shops helped to sponsor and organise the events and lunch for the day.

The boys from Different bikes had a great chili, Dan from On Top Bike Shop had a couple of salmon on the BBQ. Kim Steed and his crew from Steed Cycles had hamburgers and hot dogs. I think it was John Henry Bikes that brought pizza. New guy on the block Matt Juhas of North Shore Bike shop was making the rounds all day handing stuff out and giving a hand where he could. The Cove Bikes was also helping out.

What was interesting to me was that I know all these guys and gals. On Top is just down the street from our house. Dan, one of the owners of On Top, has a daughter the same age as my son. We have a lot in common.

Willie, of John Henry, lives down the street from me, has a kid that went to daycare with my daughter, and has just recently had another child. Willie is riding across Canada this fall to help support Juvenile diabetes .

I found out at the trail day that Kim Steed's wife is a "Townsend" A few of my buddies from Edmonton, when I raced, were sponsored by Proctor/Townsend bikes. We had a lot to talk about including additions to their family.

I guess the point I'm trying to make is that all of these store owners are really great people. I want to do business with all of them. Unfortunately I don't have the time or the money to frequent all the shops that I want to. So how does one choose a shop, or maybe more importantly, why do you need to choose a shop? What I have found over the years is that it pays to be loyal to one shop.

Years ago when Jeff Carr was at the Cove, I would go there and Jeff would treat me right. He knew that I would come back if he helped me make the best decisions for my riding and my budget. He also knew that if he gave me a bit of a deal I would definitely keep coming back. Through the years Jeff has moved around a bit. I have followed Jeff from the Cove, to Simon's, and now to his newest venture at Different Bikes. Jeff has always treated me with respect, he has always listenes to my concerns, he gives me deals on everything I buy from him, but most importantly he makes sure that if I am having a problem with a piece of equipment that he tries his darndest to get it fixed, replaced or has a demo for me to ride on the weekend.

So although all of the bike shop owners are great here on the North Shore you have to find one or two that you are comfortable with, that treat you well and give you a reason to keep coming back time and again to spend your hard earned cash.