Thanks for reading the newsletter. I hope your coffee is good and your week is the best it can be.

Expectations

Customers that come into the shop for the first time are excited to see a bike shop open in the Lancaster area. It’s been a while since a shop has been open in this area of the valley. We hear their stories about the old days and shops that are distant memories. They expect us to relate to their past and we do our best to understand their point of view. Looking backwards in time and listening to their tales is very interesting when you learn about someone or some event that occurred that changed cycling in the area or advanced the legend of some epic ride. Using bicycles as the tool, all cyclists share the same experience, that is the joy of the ride. We expect our bikes to work properly. We expect certain things to happen on the ride to make it worth our while. Not every ride is the best, nor are they always memorable, but when the experience is enjoyed and the expectation is realized we fully understand and feel the stoke.

Shop Ride

We have a weekly shop ride on Saturdays that’s been a staple for over a decade. The mountain bike crew shows up to some degree and we head out for a dirt ride that meanders through the trails of the local hills. You never know who will or will not show up and that makes it fun. You’ll make new friends and definitely get a workout. It’s not a race but it’s not a beginner ride. It slides right into the middle ground. The group will get spread out and then regroup at several points. We talk about the previous work week with the 9 to 5ers and related bike shop stories in between singletrack sessions. Last week I over slept and missed the ride. It was weird. My Saturday felt off, there was something missing in my step all day. It is very rare that I miss the shop ride. Riding with my colleagues and shop customers is super cool and it adds some dairy-free whipped cream to my coffee before heading to the shop.

Scent

Walking into a bike shop for the first time you get an overwhelming scent of tire rubber and new bike smell. After years of working in a shop I have gone nose blind. I simply can’t smell the shop any longer. I know it still does have a unique odor since small kids will announce what they are smelling very often. It is hilarious to see their reaction when they walk in, get a whiff of 29er tires, and then spot the cool bikes. They are learning the stoke.

Happiness

In the past I wrote about crabby customers and situations that went wrong. I’m glad to say that the number of happy interactions far outweigh the negative times. Over the last week I have seen some people become overjoyed when we get their bike up and running again. They trust us to bring their bike up to the level they remember when it was new. Firm brakes, crisp shifting, it all adds up to a sweet ride and memorable experience. Occasionally we get customers that are so stoked they come back in a few days and buy brand new bikes. They relive their old days on the newly tuned bike in just one ride and it triggers the sense of freedom we all strive for on a bike ride. There is nothing else to worry about, just pedal it and enjoy the moment.

Thanks for reading. Have a great week and go ride your bike.

Peace,
Paul