wipekitty

I definitely spent some time hanging out at the LBS in my last town.

The owners and many of the employees were people I rode with frequently, and the head service writer had a ton of industry experience and knowledge of all things bike that he loved sharing with others. Of course, if it was particularly busy and it was clear that people had actual work they needed to do, I'd get in and out quickly.

In some ways, hanging out was encouraged at that LBS. There were couches and a television screen that played various cycling events. No espresso bar...yet.

Retfor

Mostly correct, but a bar isn't a good comparison. People aren't hanging out in the kitchen or other work areas, they're hanging out at the bar which is what it was designed for. If they weren't hanging out there there wouldn't be a business.

coopman

Not really. I don't know enough to do anything but ask stupid noobie questions.

CAT7RDR

I do not hangout at my LBS. It is a business and they are not my friends.

It's tough enough for small businesses to be successful without some yahoo wasting their time.

Now, if I am there for a major purchase or service, I'll chat it up a bit.

Mr Carl

One LBS is 3 miles away and the other 10 miles away. I know the owners and staff. When I go in, I end up talking for 15-30 minutes. I'm afraid if I stay too much longer they might put me to work.

Tourod

No, I can't hang out there, as there's really nowhere to stand without being in someone's way. Great to hear some LBSs have a cafe inside! So cool!

puma1552

I'm surprised how many people here seem to have a preferred LBS that has a coffee shop as part of it.

Around here, the high end bike shops are classic - old building, messy, stuff packed in there to the gills, where you really have to LOOK around to find some gem. It's fun this way. No coffee shops or places to lounge around.

The couple shops that have coffee shops cater to, well, how shall I put it, the hipster crowd, where the coffee is probably more important than the bikes.

LDBenjamin

Um, a bar is a workplace that depends on people "hanging out" to stay in business. People "hang out" at hotels and restaurants, too. The point is hanging out at businesses not specifically intended for that.

DMC707

I cant think of a better place to have a cool one (or 5 cool ones) than hanging out at my shop -- which closely matches your description of a custom hot rod shop for bikes

FiftySix

Best post of the thread.

NoWhammies

Agreed! Best post by far.

Leinster

I used to always hang around the LBS I grew up around the corner from, and where my parents bought me my first 700c road bike. The owner was from a well-known Irish cycling family and had a million stories that he loved to tell. His employees were young racers who had a million more. They didn’t mind (or gave the impression that they didn’t mind) having a kid like me just stop by on my way home from school and chat about bikes. One of the mechanics sold me his race bike when his sponsor gave him an upgrade. The day they closed down was a sad day.

To this day I still stop in and say hello in all the LBS’s around here whenever I pass by. They have group rides, demo rides, new tech coming in, new models on the floor, and the guys there like to shoot the breeze and talk about bikes and bike rides and future riders like my kids.

Also, as someone who has tried always to do my own repairs and maintenance wherever possible, they’re an invaluable source of advice on how to fix some problems that sometimes google just can’t answer.

shrtdstncrdr

I've brought the owner boxes of donuts, fresh vegetables, and bottled water from time to time. It's just what I do. If he's busy, I get what I need and leave. If not, he tells me so and maybe we chat a while.

Sy Reene

In some cases you wonder if indeed some LBS shops depend more on you hanging out than actually buying bike products or service.

https://metierseattle.com/

https://www.trailhousesantarosa.com