I think a good rule of thumb when checking out shops is to see if you can find out what kind of bikes the shop mechanics ride. My LBS has a fairly broad range of stuff on the floor and has been in business for 40 years. They are also a Gunnar dealer in part because of me using them when I ordered a crosshairs. But typically the shop mechanics all ride some nice steel rigs, even when there is carbon stuff all over the shop.
I feel for a customer trying to come back to cycling after years away and only seeing bicycle examples from the popular media. I like the "show them some photos" option to choose what kind of cyclist they want to be. A lot of this kind of thing is about perception and image. Frankly, I'm not sure that getting this type of a customer on a Hunqa is really any better. There is a bit of expectation that a Riv rider knows how a bike works mechanically or at least some basic bike terminology (not that we are all master mechanics). A lot of people just want a hop on and go bike and there is a perception in this group it seems that a Betty Foy with a Riv build is about as beautiful and simple to understand as can be. That's not necessarily true. 10-12 years ago when my mom was asking about getting a new bike after she/we had commuterized my old 90s Specialized Rockhopper for her. She was riding that pretty regularly and enjoying it. I told her if she wanted to get a new bike she ought to look at Riv and suggested that it would ultimately be better to get an Atlantis and I suggested that even though it was expensive, it would be "the last bike she ever needed to buy." She loves her Atlantis but I don't think she has ever felt super comfortable with it mechanically. The love she has for it has more to do with the people on the street that know what it is and "gush" over it. I think she puts more miles on the Rockhopper still. When she and my dad bought a condo in AZ she wanted a bike there and bought a Bianchi Milano. A simple point and go bike. I've always felt a little bad about pressuring her into a Riv. Granted, I perhaps assumed that she would be more curious about parts and basic mechanical understanding and that never happened. She really just wants to hop on a bike and not think particularly about it. That seems like a Riv at first blush but not for everybody. On the other hand, she only rides Brooks saddles now, no matter what bike she is on. :) two cents Addison Wilhite, M.A. Academy of Arts, Careers and Technology <http://www.washoecountyschools.org/aact/> *“Blazing the Trail to College and Career Success”* Educator: Professional Portfolio <http://addisonwilhite.blogspot.com/> Blogger: Reno Rambler <http://reno-rambler.blogspot.com/> Bicycle Advocate: Regional Transportation Commission, Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee <http://www.rtcwashoe.com/public-transportation-22-124.html> On Fri, Jun 27, 2014 at 6:05 AM, Ron Mc <bulldog...@gmail.com> wrote: > we've certainly had this discussion before. It's tough to get the word > out when the main spokesmen are 20-30-somethings who need to push > cookie-cutter bikes. Comfort is a four-letter word in cookie cutter bikes. > There are a few bastions of sanity around > http://joesprobikes.com/products--service.html but they're tough to find > in the retail maze of the single largest sports entertainment market on the > planet http://www.yellowpages.com/san-antonio-tx/bicycle-shops > after all, isn't everyone's goal to ride in this position? > > > <http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c7/Bradley_Wiggins_TDF-2012.jpg> > > When I see these guys on the road, I can never tell if that's a smirk or a > grimmace. > > > On Thursday, June 26, 2014 11:23:04 PM UTC-5, Tom Virgil wrote: >> >> Heya Mike, >> >> Would you be talking Chuck Hoefer at Pacific Coast Cycles? Chuck built >> my no holds barred Salsa Motoman in 1986. I still have it. I still ride >> it. With the exception of the wretched U-brakes, it is a state of the art >> bicycle today. Timeless. >> >> In those days, the shop was on Elm Street (the REAL NAME OF THAT STREET, >> not Carlsbad by the whatever Drive, thank you Chamber of Commerce) in >> Carlsbad. In the mid nineties, I migrated to Del Mar, and, over time, we >> lost touch. >> >> I have nothing but good memories of working with Chuck on the build, and >> equipment thereafter. I have the feeling I owe him a visit before any life >> events happen. Riding the Salsa, of course. >> >> Best regards, >> >> Tom >> >> On Topic: I feel sorry for that customer Anne encountered in the bike >> shop. He will probably never just jump on his bike in his board shorts or >> Musas and ride around his hood. Maybe, just maybe, he will find "Just >> Ride". >> >> On Thursday, June 26, 2014 7:11:42 PM UTC-7, Mike Schiller wrote: >>> >>> it's kinda nice at my LBS... if someone walks in asking about carbon >>> bikes, everyone would look at each other and chuckle. Every bike is steel >>> (I think), there are a mixed assortment of new Surly's and Salsa, some >>> Soulcrafts and a large number of vintage lugged steel bikes. >>> >>> ~mike >>> Carlsbad Ca. >>> >>> >>> -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "RBW Owners Bunch" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. > To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. > Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. 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