Hello! Earlier today, a friend of mine decided to join me on one of my rides. We cycled around for a little while and decided to head towards the local bike shop since we were close by, and he needed a bottle cage and I could use some new gloves.
Now I have had good expiriance with this shop before; except for the time when I talked to a sales person, he went into the back, and I heard a roar of laughter that I have the feeling was directed at me. Anyway, we walked into the store, and decided to look around a little at first and explained how some things worked to my friend.
Well after a while, someone, who I am guessign is the manager, walked from the back behind the counter and asked if we needed anything. He had been watching us from the moment we walked in, which made me a little uneasy. Anyway, I asked, innocently enough I think, "Do you happen to have a cheap plstic or nylon bottle cage?". Well aparently, this offended the guy, because he started saying, and pretty hotly too, "We dont sell CHEAP things, inexpensive yes, but not CHEAP!" I appologised and said "I'm sorry, I meant in expensive not cheap." So the guy leads us to a shelf with bottle cages and explains to us that they had 2 types, and left.
Well, then I grabbed some money from my saddle bag and decided to buy a pair of gloves (my friend didn't get the gloves because there weren't any that he could afford with teh 10 he had on him). Now, the way he reacted before made me a bit nervous when talking to him. As he was ringing me up, I asked him if I could take 2 bikes on test runs the next week, because as I explained, I was deciding wheter to buy a Bianchi Brava or a Trek 1500. Well he explained (very halfhazzardly) that both of those had too big of frames for me and I should try a Trek 100 (which I am pretty certain had the same sized frame).
So then I told him about another situation of mine, (this time incredibly nervous he would scream at me or something) that I am trying to learn about Bicycle repair and mechanics, and that I have read books, but wanted some more help. I asked if I could come in some day and just observe the mechanic for a little. His response was "NO! You can't do that! Buy a book if you want to learn!" and pointed me at a book which I think I already have read. I didn't want to deal with it any more so I just took my gloves and left.
I don't know what the guy's problem was. I don't think he took me seriously. I am not sure why. It could have been the fact that I wasn't wearing a jersey and cyclogn shorts, but I can't afford them. I wore what I had, which was a longsleeved lycra tshirt and a pair of basketball shirts. I would LIKE to be able to buy some real aparrel, but I don't have enough money for than and a new bike (and believe me, I need one). I don't want to think that the guy would be so eliteist as to not take me seriosuly for not wearing propper aparrel, but I don't know. Do you guys have any ideas on how to actually get taken serisouly as a cyclist?
Shortened version: The manager of the LBS got angry at me for asking non offensive questions and wouldn't take me seriously, possibly because I can't affor propper cycling apparel. Do you have any ideas on how to get take seriously as a cyclist?
Now I have had good expiriance with this shop before; except for the time when I talked to a sales person, he went into the back, and I heard a roar of laughter that I have the feeling was directed at me. Anyway, we walked into the store, and decided to look around a little at first and explained how some things worked to my friend.
Well after a while, someone, who I am guessign is the manager, walked from the back behind the counter and asked if we needed anything. He had been watching us from the moment we walked in, which made me a little uneasy. Anyway, I asked, innocently enough I think, "Do you happen to have a cheap plstic or nylon bottle cage?". Well aparently, this offended the guy, because he started saying, and pretty hotly too, "We dont sell CHEAP things, inexpensive yes, but not CHEAP!" I appologised and said "I'm sorry, I meant in expensive not cheap." So the guy leads us to a shelf with bottle cages and explains to us that they had 2 types, and left.
Well, then I grabbed some money from my saddle bag and decided to buy a pair of gloves (my friend didn't get the gloves because there weren't any that he could afford with teh 10 he had on him). Now, the way he reacted before made me a bit nervous when talking to him. As he was ringing me up, I asked him if I could take 2 bikes on test runs the next week, because as I explained, I was deciding wheter to buy a Bianchi Brava or a Trek 1500. Well he explained (very halfhazzardly) that both of those had too big of frames for me and I should try a Trek 100 (which I am pretty certain had the same sized frame).
So then I told him about another situation of mine, (this time incredibly nervous he would scream at me or something) that I am trying to learn about Bicycle repair and mechanics, and that I have read books, but wanted some more help. I asked if I could come in some day and just observe the mechanic for a little. His response was "NO! You can't do that! Buy a book if you want to learn!" and pointed me at a book which I think I already have read. I didn't want to deal with it any more so I just took my gloves and left.
I don't know what the guy's problem was. I don't think he took me seriously. I am not sure why. It could have been the fact that I wasn't wearing a jersey and cyclogn shorts, but I can't afford them. I wore what I had, which was a longsleeved lycra tshirt and a pair of basketball shirts. I would LIKE to be able to buy some real aparrel, but I don't have enough money for than and a new bike (and believe me, I need one). I don't want to think that the guy would be so eliteist as to not take me seriosuly for not wearing propper aparrel, but I don't know. Do you guys have any ideas on how to actually get taken serisouly as a cyclist?
Shortened version: The manager of the LBS got angry at me for asking non offensive questions and wouldn't take me seriously, possibly because I can't affor propper cycling apparel. Do you have any ideas on how to get take seriously as a cyclist?