Local Bicycle Shop...My Oasis

In this day of need something yesterday, immediacy fueled society, the small, local proprietor has
found it hard to stay in business. The LBS is definitely an endangered species, but there are
several finer shops around the country and I am lucky enough to live 30 minutes from one.

When one thinks of the LBS, I imagine we conjure up images of a friendly store, with a good core
unit of customers, and a cast of regulars, etc. We even might start to know the parts jobbers, UPS
man, etc, just from hanging out in the shop.

I learn a lot at the shop, from BBQ advice, to life talk, etc, The bike shop, the barber shop, the
cigar shop, etc. These were places were we came for more than just the intrinsic.

Any good small business must find a niche and be successful defining and marketing to it's niche. To
me, that means as long as there are riders that there will be god pro shops. But it is not that
easy, and I had walked out of dozens of shops before finding "the one."

Ok, enough waxing philosophic...today I had what could have been a major problem and because I have
a good LBS shop, he made it his problem.

A while back, I bought a set of Ksyrium SSC SL. I have truly enjoyed these wheels, and they have
given me nary a problem at all. I noticed I needed a truing, and went to the shop this afternoon for
some minor adjustments as well. As I was looking over the rear wheel, there she was. A split. One on
top, one on bottom.

As for those who buy over the web, etc, I do not know what would happen if you all of a sudden are
faced with this problem...let alone if you wind up with a non US wheel. I was stressed, (so was the
wheel), but Rich wasn't.

Oh yea, the shop is ALL BICYCLES, in Deerfield Beach Florida and the shop owner is Rich Cohen. In
minutes he was on the phone with Mavic, and they were taking my wheel back for full replacement. Not
repair...REPLACEMENT! Then he takes a brand new wheel from his stock, and presents it to me as he
puts it on my bike. Rich made it his problem, and he is now waiting on Mavic for the replacement
wheel, and I have not even skipped a beat on what could have been a not fun experience.

Sure I have another wheelset, but the thought of being without my main wheels was stressful. Rich
took care of everything, like he always does, time after time, day after day, year after year.
Rich and I are friends at this point, but strangers off the street all receive the same high level
of service.

Btw, no clocks anywhere in the shop. It's not a about time when your at a good LBS.

thanx for letting me ramble.

--
scott

scottw44@bellsouth.net