Bringing your bike inside stores
#76
cowboy, steel horse, etc
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: The hot spot.
Posts: 45,248
Bikes: everywhere
Mentioned: 74 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 13025 Post(s)
Liked 7,951 Times
in
4,227 Posts
Years ago I went into a Walmart with my bike. Immediately one of the store employees was ready to escort me out of the store. But an old Walmart Greeter then brought over a shopping cart basket and quietly assisted me in removing the front wheel of my UNIVEGA and gently placing the bike in the cart with a smile... All Good.
Note: At least three people asked me what isle those bikes were at... Ha
Note: At least three people asked me what isle those bikes were at... Ha
#77
Senior Member
That's one good reason to have a large basket mounted on the bike. It gives you an excuse to bring the bike into the store. "Oh, but sir, it's not a bike, its just wheels for my grocery basket!"
#79
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 39,669
Mentioned: 211 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18596 Post(s)
Liked 16,093 Times
in
7,556 Posts
I do unsupported touring, so my bike is out of sight while I sleep in my tent, among other times. A lot of times, I won't bother locking it. All depends upon where I am.
#80
Junior Member
I’ll put my bike inside. Usually ask the clerk if it’s ok. They always say yes. If a cop is there and tells you to put it outside then I would do it and tell the cop to stand there and make sure nobody steals it. Then take like 30mins to shop around the store. If someone steals the bike then you sue the department and get a better bike
#81
Grupetto Bob
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Seattle-ish
Posts: 6,553
Bikes: Bikey McBike Face
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2745 Post(s)
Liked 6,097 Times
in
3,108 Posts
Mike drop
__________________
Road 🚴🏾♂️ & Mountain 🚵🏾♂️
Road 🚴🏾♂️ & Mountain 🚵🏾♂️
#82
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 6,141
Bikes: Colnago, Van Dessel, Factor, Cervelo, Ritchey
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4067 Post(s)
Liked 7,664 Times
in
3,075 Posts
I’ll put my bike inside. Usually ask the clerk if it’s ok. They always say yes. If a cop is there and tells you to put it outside then I would do it and tell the cop to stand there and make sure nobody steals it. Then take like 30mins to shop around the store. If someone steals the bike then you sue the department and get a better bike
#83
Happy With My Bikes
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 2,219
Bikes: Hi-Ten bike boomers, a Trek Domane and some projects
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 887 Post(s)
Liked 2,359 Times
in
1,139 Posts
I was looking to get one of my grandkids a bike at Walmart. Pushing it to the front of the store afforded me the opportunity to find that the rear wheel would seize up. I left it in the aisle because I wasn't going to carry it back to the bike area.
__________________
"It is the unknown around the corner that turns my wheels." -- Heinz Stücke
"It is the unknown around the corner that turns my wheels." -- Heinz Stücke
#84
cowboy, steel horse, etc
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: The hot spot.
Posts: 45,248
Bikes: everywhere
Mentioned: 74 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 13025 Post(s)
Liked 7,951 Times
in
4,227 Posts
If I'm too close to civilization I tie a line from the fly to the bike, that way I'll get woken up if someone is stealing my bike
#85
cowboy, steel horse, etc
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: The hot spot.
Posts: 45,248
Bikes: everywhere
Mentioned: 74 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 13025 Post(s)
Liked 7,951 Times
in
4,227 Posts
#86
I am potato.
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Pacific Northwest
Posts: 3,189
Bikes: Only precision built, custom high performance elitist machines of the highest caliber. 🍆
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1838 Post(s)
Liked 1,714 Times
in
977 Posts
Walmart selling "not bikes" with wheels that don't roll (making them not wheels) with bearings that have no grease and don't function (making them not bearings) is rude.
Walmart fired the first shot.
Walmart fired the first shot.
__________________
I shouldn't have to "make myself more visible;" Drivers should just stop running people over.
Car dependency is a tax.
I shouldn't have to "make myself more visible;" Drivers should just stop running people over.
Car dependency is a tax.
#87
cowboy, steel horse, etc
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: The hot spot.
Posts: 45,248
Bikes: everywhere
Mentioned: 74 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 13025 Post(s)
Liked 7,951 Times
in
4,227 Posts
So it's a race to the bottom, who can be ****tiest, the store or the customer?
#88
I am potato.
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Pacific Northwest
Posts: 3,189
Bikes: Only precision built, custom high performance elitist machines of the highest caliber. 🍆
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1838 Post(s)
Liked 1,714 Times
in
977 Posts
He met Walmart ambivalence with ambivalence. He simply left the situation. I don't see the problem.
Last edited by base2; 12-12-23 at 09:43 AM.
Likes For base2:
#89
cowboy, steel horse, etc
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: The hot spot.
Posts: 45,248
Bikes: everywhere
Mentioned: 74 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 13025 Post(s)
Liked 7,951 Times
in
4,227 Posts
Nope. Not who can be the worst. Life lesson time: Whoever cares least controls the relationship. Who needs who less? Chuck ended the conversation mid-sentence because he was having none of Walmarts crap. It's what you are supposed to do when encountered with someone who would take advantage of you. In this case, that's the cost of being cheap. Walmart was not being a respectable retailer in turn it was not respected.
Chuck's time became precious all of a sudden, he couldn't take two minutes to wheel the bike back to the bike corral.
#90
I am potato.
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Pacific Northwest
Posts: 3,189
Bikes: Only precision built, custom high performance elitist machines of the highest caliber. 🍆
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1838 Post(s)
Liked 1,714 Times
in
977 Posts
I just don't understand your charitable attitude towards respecting a swindling con-mans feelings...and that's ok. I don't get it. But, that's ok.
__________________
I shouldn't have to "make myself more visible;" Drivers should just stop running people over.
Car dependency is a tax.
I shouldn't have to "make myself more visible;" Drivers should just stop running people over.
Car dependency is a tax.
#91
cowboy, steel horse, etc
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: The hot spot.
Posts: 45,248
Bikes: everywhere
Mentioned: 74 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 13025 Post(s)
Liked 7,951 Times
in
4,227 Posts
I do not have strong positive feelings towards the C-suite of Walmart yet I choose not to litter their aisles with merchandise. If you believe doing so sends a message about the quality of their bicycles to anyone on the board I'm pretty sure you're mistaken.
#92
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 6,141
Bikes: Colnago, Van Dessel, Factor, Cervelo, Ritchey
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4067 Post(s)
Liked 7,664 Times
in
3,075 Posts
I'm sure Chuck knew going in that he was too good for Walmart, if he wanted a well tuned bike he'd pay more for a Trek or Specialized or he'd order a boxed bike from Walmart and assemble it himself.
Chuck's time became precious all of a sudden, he couldn't take two minutes to wheel the bike back to the bike corral.
Chuck's time became precious all of a sudden, he couldn't take two minutes to wheel the bike back to the bike corral.
#93
Senior Member
I encountered a similar attitude in an unrelated (non-bike) forum -- person purchased an item from an online retailer known for low-priced, low-quality products and wasn't happy with what he received. He demanded a replacement item and refused to send back the original because he thought they owed it to him because of "his time" spent confirming it was cheap crap.
It was quite neighborly and downright nice of him not to send them a bill for his time.
Likes For Reflector Guy:
#94
Happy With My Bikes
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 2,219
Bikes: Hi-Ten bike boomers, a Trek Domane and some projects
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 887 Post(s)
Liked 2,359 Times
in
1,139 Posts
I'm sure Chuck knew going in that he was too good for Walmart, if he wanted a well tuned bike he'd pay more for a Trek or Specialized or he'd order a boxed bike from Walmart and assemble it himself.
Chuck's time became precious all of a sudden, he couldn't take two minutes to wheel the bike back to the bike corral.
Chuck's time became precious all of a sudden, he couldn't take two minutes to wheel the bike back to the bike corral.
It’s ok. I’ve read things online and got judgmental myself. It happens.
__________________
"It is the unknown around the corner that turns my wheels." -- Heinz Stücke
"It is the unknown around the corner that turns my wheels." -- Heinz Stücke
Likes For Chuck M:
#95
cowboy, steel horse, etc
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: The hot spot.
Posts: 45,248
Bikes: everywhere
Mentioned: 74 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 13025 Post(s)
Liked 7,951 Times
in
4,227 Posts
#96
Senior Member
I take my bike into Lowes and Home Depot - no issues. I mean come on, where I live people bring their dogs in these places all the time and nobody says boo. I even saw a short dog fight one day in HD. I'm not going to leave a $4500 bike out front locked to a snowblower. Plus, just imagine how many battery-powered grinders are hiding in those trucks in the parking lot.
The two supermarkets I frequent both have wide hallways in the front across the width of the store. In both there is a heavy steel rail that keeps the carts from contacting the big front windows. I lock to that rail. The aisles are too narrow anyway and the bike would be more hindrance than help while grocery shopping.
Coffee shops/convenience store/library - locked outside to a tree or heavy fence rail - where I can see them. No room to bring inside.
No police or obvious security in stores where I am - so no need to interact.
The two supermarkets I frequent both have wide hallways in the front across the width of the store. In both there is a heavy steel rail that keeps the carts from contacting the big front windows. I lock to that rail. The aisles are too narrow anyway and the bike would be more hindrance than help while grocery shopping.
Coffee shops/convenience store/library - locked outside to a tree or heavy fence rail - where I can see them. No room to bring inside.
No police or obvious security in stores where I am - so no need to interact.
#97
he said member
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: is everything
Posts: 13,802
Bikes: yes please
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2789 Post(s)
Liked 1,951 Times
in
1,207 Posts
#98
he said member
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: is everything
Posts: 13,802
Bikes: yes please
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2789 Post(s)
Liked 1,951 Times
in
1,207 Posts
#99
Senior Member
Of course, there's however-many videos on Youtube showing people riding Walmart bikes within the store.... Doing wheelies, etc.
Just don't bring in your nasty outside bike!
Just don't bring in your nasty outside bike!