lisazapato said:I got a Trek 1500 WSD. I went to three different bike shops, and the guy at this bike shop was just the best. From the first moment I went in, I told him what I was looking for, he fitted me for three test rides on three bikes, and was thorough enough to actually check the tire pressure with a pump and not just with his thumb. I am a newbie so he told me what to look for in knowing how i fit a bike, and I was so impressed. I used some of his tips when I went to another bike shop to try bikes, because they didn't seem to know as much, or care. anyway, for anyone in the Triangle, NC area, Brian at Franklin St. Cycles in Chapel Hill is the best!
That's really good to hear. Long live the shop that's run by enthusiasts!
My first bike was bought from an absolutely tiny shop run by a man who simply loved bikes and cycling. His bikes were cheap but his advice and knowledge were so good. I went in three shops, one tried to sell me a road bike with close ratio gears, another tried to sell me an absolute pig of a mountain bike (full suspension junk), but he sold me an extremely battered but good quality mountain bike for £35, explaining that lots of people started cycling but never got into it. Over the next year or so I got to know this guy well, his name was Chris. A great bloke, you could go in and you'd end up spending a couple of hours talking to him. Unfortunately he was run over by a lorry riding to work one morning. I still miss him.
I have six bikes now including that Puegeot, and cycling is a huge part of my life. But it probably wouldn't have happened if I hadn't gone into that shop.
BTW welcome to cycling, Lisazapato! Dhk is right, the wrist pains are going to go away really soon, just stick with it and relax. Remember that the bike wants to stay upright just as much as you do.