“I saw that you’re having a huge bike blowout sale. How does that work?“
Oh, yeah, sure. If you get a flat tire. I mean a morbidly flat tire. Sealant everywhere. CushCore-insert herniating out a slash in the sidewall. Gaping hole in the tread where there used to be 3-4 knobs. I mean a full-on elephantine flat. Then bring your bike or a photo in as proof of blowout (PoB) and get an excellent price on a replacement tire and installation.
“Umm, I don’t think that’s how your blowout sale actually works.“
Oh? Hmm. Well, my next guess is that it’s the same as every sale going on at every other shop where the current inventory is all on sale, any previous model year bikes are even more on sale, and if a supplier still has what you’re looking for in their warehouse and it’s not current for ’25 then it is insanely on sale – they need to get cash for the bikes no one wants so they can pay for the bikes folks do want in the time that they’ll be here for next season.
That’s an actual conversation above, but not the actual conversation I want to have in the first post of this re-started Tunnel Talk series. This one is more tricky, and tender, and I’m trying to be sensitive to the fact that a lot of folks feel like they are not well served, or well treated, by their local shop(s). A bicycle shop is a business. At least the vast, vast majority of them are. It’s owned by someone(s) and after they pay for rent, staff, inventory, and incidentals they theoretically get to keep the leftover profits.
You, probably, don’t owe a shop, any shop, your business. I say probably because it seems, from my perspective turning wrenches, that we give a lot away – usually hard-earned knowledge and wisdom – for free and there should maybe be some kind of pay-it-forward factor to that. But then, we “give” it away, and by nature that means it’s not transactional. We shouldn’t expect anything in return whether it’s related to keeping the lights on or otherwise.
That’s the bigger conversation, but today let’s talk about the realities of here and now. Your local shop(s) – preferred or otherwise – did not have a very good ‘season.’ Or, as a prominent long-time local shop owner told me in July, “Everyone is either slow or lying.” Repair work was harder to come by than at any time in recent years, for a myriad of reasons. Bike sales were slow and even then they were generally on-sale sales more about recovering cash than actually earning margin dollars. It’s not easy going in this industry right now.
I was talking to a friend last week about their, recently purchased, new dropper post. They bought it online directly from the manufacturer for around the same price (a little more in this event) than they would have picked it up at any of the three local shops they semi-frequent. They did ask about grabbing one from their nearest neighbourhood go-to but it was going to take four-to-five days to arrive rather than one-to-two. No rides missed mind you, their existing dropper post was still functioning, but tomorrow is tomorrow and four days is four days.
It’s not that I do not understand the logic. Although, in this specific case it’s probably more arguable than most that they do owe their local shop, at least, the first crack at their business. I know first hand they’ve had a lot of “We’ll get you next time” experiences over the years. But they didn’t think about it. Okay. It’s just a dropper post.
I know, some online deals can’t be beat. Some products are not easily sourced from a local shop. I get it all the way. But this winter, more than any since perhaps ’08/’09, every chain, ring, saddle, dropper, pair of pedals, stem, bar, pair of grips, pedals, pads, a tire, or two, etc., counts.
I’m a big believer in riding what you own, min-maxing, buying used when it makes sense, and living within your means whenever possible, so I’m not suggesting some VISA-fueled stimulus program for private businesses. But if you like your local bike shop, or in smaller places, like having a local bike shop, and you need something for your rig anyway, maybe consider giving them a few days and a few dollars to sort you out. Maybe even a few days and a few extra dollars.
Rumours are rumours, and I often say that one of my two favourite soap operas is “As The Shore Turns.” I acknowledge that the local gossip machine has been running in overdrive for years and years about this or that shop going under. But it really does sound like some local businesses who employ good folks, keep riders riding, and give back to the trails are on the cusp of surviving to spring.
So if you do have a shop that you like dealing with or otherwise appreciate, and you need something for your bike anyway, maybe reach out? If it’s about the same price as online and it’s going to add a day or two, maybe that can work for you? And if you do have a Huge Blowout on the trail maybe take your rig in. There’s a good chance they’ll sort you out on the spot and that they’re having a sale.
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