A few years ago, after a another depressing experience at a well-known high-street bike supermarket franchise outlet, I realised that there were a set of behaviours typical to salesmen in bike shops of this type that were consistent and predictable enough to be considered a Syndrome; specifically,

Bike Shop Bloke Syndrome (BSBS).

The defining signs of BSBS are:

1. Grumpy on sunny days

2. View budget bikes and their owners with disdain

3. View expensive bikes and their owners with suspicion and disdain

4. Adopt patronising tone when explaining mechanical matters with the non-afficionado

5. Adopt dismissive tone with anyone who knows anything

6. Take ages swiping cards and generally working the till

7. Respond to any half-detailed product request with a counter question asking for a greater level of detail, in an attempt to achieve BBS 4

8. Respond to naive requests for some help with a puncture with derisive snorts followed by consultation of workshop diary and the offer to book it in late next year

9. Don’t appear to like colleagues

10. Don’t appear to like customers

Bike House – http://www.bikehouse-london.com

Enter, the alternative:

How precious, then is a LBS that offers an alternative: friendly, fast service by knowledgeable and enthusiastic staff. In my neighbourhood, that means Bike House on Fortess Road, Kentish Town. Bahadir opened his store 3 or 4 years ago selling rebuilds from house sales – old Peugeots and other, lanky steel-framed 80s racers which he and his mechanic Ger would restore and build up lovingly with an eclectic mix of fixie chic and roady nous. Since then, the big boys have spotted a good thing, and first Raleigh, then Trek bikes began adorning the walls. For riders like me, whose mechanical skills are so poor they qualify for a range of welfare benefits, Bike House offers a helping hand. Stuck pedals, mystery clicks and failed mudguard installs have all been patiently fixed, small jobs often free of charge if the shop’s not busy; and servicing at great prices with rarely more than a 24 hour turnaround. What’s more, Bahadir will match online prices, every time, plus he accepts your cycle scheme vouchers, too

Support your LBS, use them or lose them.

Ready for my next visit…