Lanzo

Well went into my LBS, and man what a dump. there are used bikes EVERYWHERE no place to walk just a trail to the till, bins of aluminum can tabs (don't know why didn't want to ask) some sort of food stuff just shoved into the middle of the walk way....part of the roof has water damaged and the tiles have fallen off. The place has the look of someone who has no pride in their business, or is just to lazy to care. My thoughts on it are if they don't take care of their shop, they wont do right by my bike. So looks like its Edmonton, or Red Deer to find a good shop.

Askel

Sounds like a cool place to hang out, manned by a bunch of dudes who'd rather ride than clean.

With all the aluminum can tabs, I'd have asked where the beer 'fridge was.

exile

It's one of those judgement calls Lanzo. Find out how long they have been in business before you give them business. I've been in shops which felt cluttered and disorganized, but good people. I've also been to shops that were immaculate, but the people their were a bit snobbish for me. I don't know how many LBS are in your area, but some people have shops that they go to for purchases and/or repairs rather than go to the shop they bought their bike from.

cyclefreaksix

Wish there was someplace like that around here! Sounds like a cool place. All we have around here are ultra clean, sterile, mass marketed bike shops.

I miss the mom and pop shops.

thompsonpost

My LBS is in my basement. I keep a drum kit next to the bench. Beer in the fridge.

DelusionalDude

There are actually 4 pretty good bike shops within 35 miles of my front door. All seem to have good people and good reputations. Yeah, I've got it pretty good.

jdon

Maybe low margins on bikes, high rent in Alberta and an 11,000 person population has something to do with the shop condition?

Homeyba

When you live in the great white north you don't have a whole lot of choices...

kwduffy02

I've got 3 LBS by me, one is the super clean place with the shop mostly hidden behind the walls, the second is run by an old man who isn't very good at Customer Service and sells mostly Mountain Bikes and BMX bikes, and the third which is my favorite (since they sponsor my schools cycling club and team) is very laid back with a couple stools at the counter to sit around and talk about bikes, and a shop where the people don't mind if you pop your head around the corner to talk for a bit or answer questions or let you borrow an allen key or wrench.

But it sounds like the LBS you described might be a good place just to hang around and shoot the bull about bikes in a nice laid back atmosphere, but it does sound like they could use a few housekeeping tips hehe.

Mazama

I'm bringing my bike by for a tune-up!

thompsonpost

Call me when you get close. I'm hard to find. Pizza guys always get lost.

Bring an axe or a bass if you can.

breadbin

Yeah, sounds like they have their priorities in the right place. i have been in many bike shops and the best ones are the most disorganised. i don't like the sterile mega mall bike shops around these days. my lbs looks like a complete dump but the queue in there is crazy sometimes and they flock far and wide to get there too

cod.peace

Got you beat. 35 miles would probably be about 25 bike shops ranging from shops catering to family riding to high end road racing. At least 25. I'm about 10 miles from the famous Harris Cyclery too. Cool bunch over there.

Hill-Pumper

I'm fairly lucky, I have 8 shops that I know of within 15 miles and another 10 within 35 miles. Add in only being 70, miles away from the bike mecca of Portland, and I have no problem finding a good shop. I will say however to the OP's concern about an untidy shop is somewhat warranted, I find the way they treat me more important. I have one shop that I hear great things about, but every time I have gone in there, I get ignored or treated like I'm wasting their time. The shops that I use treat me with respect, answer my questions and get my business. I figure if they treat me with respect, they will treat my bikes the same.

CliftonGK1

None of the shops in Redmond are clutter heaps. Only one of the non-chain shops has their mechanics penned off behind a wall; all the others have an open shop where you can stand and talk to the mechanics as they work.
Bikes are arranged in areas on the floor by type, quite a few shops have a separate room for bike fittings. Accessories are arranged by type, so is clothing.

MikeM21

My wife keeps parking her car in my LBS! Cagers!

bautieri

Are you sure you weren't at a co-op?

If not then that bike shop sounds frickin awesome! A treasure trove of used bicycles right at your finger tips! Good thing there isn't one of those shops around me or I would have a whole garage full of bikes, then due to my indecisive nature I would spend an hour each morning debating which bike I was going to ride. Terrible problem to have eh?

ECB1

In our area the aluminum can tabs are donated to the childrens miracle network for children with cancer. They have a pure aluminum value, you save them and turn them in at the hospital. ECB1

mercator

There's a bike shop in Wetaskiwin?

nymtber

Mine is similar, although right now its in the barn while the basement is under a near 12 month renovation project. I still live at home (and pay rent) mom decided out of the blue last oct that we needed a living room area in the basement and a bathroom too. Cluttered mess. I got beers in the fridge, and enough Jack laying around too.

Even for free tuneups I rarely go back to the bike shop I buy bikes at. Its cheaper and faster for me to do it myself. Almost as good, too. I have a truing stand and tension meter, so really...no need to take my bikes in anymore.

My fav LBS though is very clean, well organized and run by very nice, knowledgeable people. They will get you what YOU want, and wont try to sell you a top of the line bike unless you want one. Tell them what kind of riding you want to do and they will give you options. YES, OPTIONS! They get about 60% of my cycling business, the rest is all online and once in a great while another shop. In fact, all the shops here are clean and organized, but this one gets an A+++ for customer service. I feel so lucky to have a shop (actually they have two stores) like this near me. I feel bad for you, come visit my area!

zoste

I can bring a Les Paul (RIP ) but I prefer my Tele. You got an amp or should I bring a Pignose (anything much larger is kinda hard to manage on the bike)?

thompsonpost

Bring an amp. Maybe we can run through some of that 'BBA' stuff I sent to you.
Take a look https://www.photo-fix.com/kitsetup

zoste

Nice kit

BTW - that BBA is GREAT stuff, and it seems to have "aged" better than the Vanilla Fudge album.

thompsonpost

After having not heard it for 30 years, it was refreshing to hear some stuff from "Beck-Ola" on there.

d4c4c8

Nothing sucks worse than the LBS where the bossman shows you a $6000 wheelset that weighs less than your front wheel alone. I wanted to cry and trade him my car.