Thankful for our local bike shops
There’s something special about shopping and buying local. You get to know business owners and their employees on a personal level and your buying experience becomes more genuine and customized to your needs and behaviors.
I bought my first mountain bike four years ago. My cousin provided me some sound advice (he’s a professional biker), but as soon as I stepped into my local bike shop all of that advice was lost on me.
I’m pretty sure the owner of the bike shop sensed my naiveté and apprehension and at times sticker shock as he showed me different models. But he was patient, seemed to ask me the right questions, and assessed my abilities.
By the end of the visit, and having only been on a mountain bike trail once with my 30-year old Huffy (it had two operable gears, original tires, and sketchy brakes) he steered me toward a hardtail to ease me into the sport without spending more money than I had to as I entered the sport.
What a radical upgrade from my Huffy. I immediately fell in love with mountain biking and upgraded my hardtail the next summer to a full squish (suspension) bike at the same bike shop. Can you tell I’m trying to learn the lingo of the sport, too?
My local bike owner has been on my side since day one. He has taken the time to know me and understand my riding style. He’s helped me appropriately upgrade and maintain my bike. I return every winter for a tune-up so I’m ready to shred the trails as soon as temps warm up and the trail is ready.
Group ride meets at the local YNOT Cycling and Fitness bike shop.
The shop staff is second to none. They’ve also gotten to know me and how I ride. Any one of them can step in and help me make a decision that will progress my riding skills and keep it fun for me.
The bike shop also promotes group rides in warmer months. There’s a group for every skill level, and it's been a great way for me to meet other riders, share tips, and make new friends.
Whether you’re new to biking, just like I was at one point, or a seasoned pro with years of experience, I highly recommend frequenting your local bike shop to poke around and explore. You’ll likely discover valuable information that you may not have considered before. And if the timing works, you might also find other riders in the shop, offering you the perfect opportunity to seek advice from them as well.
