My friend Ryan Hursh inspired me this summer. He recently rode from Seattle to Portland on his road bicycle, 98 miles the first day and 105 miles the next. I said to myself, "Self, I could do that too!" well maybe start off a little slower maybe.
I browsed the web looking at bikes... I was shocked at how much road bikes went for... well I did find one in my price range and ordered it. OH man I was so pleased with the bike. I assembled it and realized that it had Presta inflation valves on the tires... hmmm I didn't have any way to air up the tires.... Once I finished assembling it I walked it to the bike shop and asked for some air...
Now... back up a little... I was there a few weeks earlier getting a tire tube for my mountain bike. While I was there I asked about a disk brake conversion for the rear... I need much better brakes for what I use the bike for. The bike tech said that it would be cost prohibitive and then added "its probably a Wal-Mart bike anyway" I was a little shocked at the pretentiousness and condescending attitude.
Yep... I shoulda known to NOT go back.
So back to my visit with the new road bike... I asked the young tech if he would air up my tires... he agreed. He took my bike behind the glass display case and started making comments. "Who put this together?"
"I did" I said, "I just took it out of the box."
"Well its put together all wrong" he says.
Well I'm never pleased when people talk to me in a condescending manner, particularly when there may be money involved... and specifically when the person is a twenty-something-punk-ass-skater-dude.
"What exactly is not put together right?" I asked. I'm thinking 'WTF' the handle bars are where they are supposed to be... the seat is in the correct place and pointing the right direction... the peddles, check. front tire is groovy... so WHAT??
"its all loose, (as he dramatically wrenched the handle bars up then down) the front tire isn't true, the brakes are rubbing, the gears aren't adjusted... This isn't safe, were you planning to ride this? We are all about safety here." Yea I'm thinking you're all about making a commission
He moved the bike to air up the back tire... then he switched to the front and as he inflated the front tire... the rear one blew out moments later. He said, "See the rear tire just blew out. I can fix that for you $6.95 and $15 labor."
OH YEA... I lost it big time... I WILL NOT pay for incompetence, nor will I pay to be victimized.
I demanded my bike to be returned... not once but 3 times and if I had to ask a 4th time I was going to pull that little blond punk over the counter and have a wall to wall counseling session.
I got the bike back as he repeatedly insisted he could fix it... I refused to allow them to touch it since they did a number on it already... I got home and sent them an email. Ten days later I still haven't heard from them... SO... if you live near Garland and need some work done to your bike... TAKE IT SOMEWHERE ELSE.
I browsed the web looking at bikes... I was shocked at how much road bikes went for... well I did find one in my price range and ordered it. OH man I was so pleased with the bike. I assembled it and realized that it had Presta inflation valves on the tires... hmmm I didn't have any way to air up the tires.... Once I finished assembling it I walked it to the bike shop and asked for some air...
Now... back up a little... I was there a few weeks earlier getting a tire tube for my mountain bike. While I was there I asked about a disk brake conversion for the rear... I need much better brakes for what I use the bike for. The bike tech said that it would be cost prohibitive and then added "its probably a Wal-Mart bike anyway" I was a little shocked at the pretentiousness and condescending attitude.
Yep... I shoulda known to NOT go back.
So back to my visit with the new road bike... I asked the young tech if he would air up my tires... he agreed. He took my bike behind the glass display case and started making comments. "Who put this together?"
"I did" I said, "I just took it out of the box."
"Well its put together all wrong" he says.
Well I'm never pleased when people talk to me in a condescending manner, particularly when there may be money involved... and specifically when the person is a twenty-something-punk-ass-skater-dude.
"What exactly is not put together right?" I asked. I'm thinking 'WTF' the handle bars are where they are supposed to be... the seat is in the correct place and pointing the right direction... the peddles, check. front tire is groovy... so WHAT??
"its all loose, (as he dramatically wrenched the handle bars up then down) the front tire isn't true, the brakes are rubbing, the gears aren't adjusted... This isn't safe, were you planning to ride this? We are all about safety here." Yea I'm thinking you're all about making a commission
He moved the bike to air up the back tire... then he switched to the front and as he inflated the front tire... the rear one blew out moments later. He said, "See the rear tire just blew out. I can fix that for you $6.95 and $15 labor."
OH YEA... I lost it big time... I WILL NOT pay for incompetence, nor will I pay to be victimized.
I demanded my bike to be returned... not once but 3 times and if I had to ask a 4th time I was going to pull that little blond punk over the counter and have a wall to wall counseling session.
I got the bike back as he repeatedly insisted he could fix it... I refused to allow them to touch it since they did a number on it already... I got home and sent them an email. Ten days later I still haven't heard from them... SO... if you live near Garland and need some work done to your bike... TAKE IT SOMEWHERE ELSE.
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