March 25, 2024

Listening:

Mastering the art of being a good listener often means embracing the power of silence, strategically delaying our replies and reactions to truly understand what others are saying. Reacting thoughtfully, solving problems together, and then gracefully moving on is the essence of effective communication.

I'm sure you've seen those motivational reels on Instagram that are 10 second bumper stickers in video form that have a message that's so clear and precise you have to share them with people. I saw one last week that had a pro tip for listening that really made me listen. In fact, I went back and watched it several times. The tip was to simply pause after the person you're speaking with is done talking. Just wait a few seconds. That's it. This is the nugget that makes it work. Listen, pause, respond. This empowers the speaker and gives them the confidence to continue talking. Too often I see people react and respond to contradict what they just heard. What does that add to the conversation? A redirection to another topic? Take this pause technique into your conversations this week and I bet you'll learn a thing or two.

As any bike mechanic will tell you when a customer walks in the door needing help you really don't know how the conversation is going to go down. Most people have a working knowledge of their bicycle's problem, ie flat tires, bent wheels, but their are some customers that genuinely don't know what's wrong with their bike. All they know is something is wrong. A quick inspection for an experienced eye should find the problem quickly. With these customers it's best to give a brief review of the problem with your solution followed up with a preventative tip or two all while avoiding condescension and causing the customer any discomfort. I get it, we all get a bit jaded over time when we see rookies coming into the shop and asking the same questions over and over. That's the human condition. However for many people the bike shop is intimidating so listening well and resolving the issue is the ultimate goal.

Spring times:

Winter is fading away, albeit a bit too slowly for my taste, flowers and trees are beginning their blooms and the sun is shining brighter. It's no secret that the bicycle industry is in turmoil. Wild pricing and promotions that were unheard of are almost normal. I am optimistic that we're turning the corner. This past Friday I was running the shop solo. After getting through the opening procedures and unlocking the front door their were two customers waiting patiently. This rarely happens. Maybe we get one person that's wandered by out of curiosity after grabbing a fresh vape from the smoke shop next door. I barely got the first two customers squared away when I got another, and another, followed by three more. A total of seven paying customers in the first 30 minutes, and the best part? 5 of them had never set foot in the shop before! Hopefully this is a sign of things to come in the near future.

Trails:

I've been mashing the local trails for almost 20 years. There is a familiarity with the paths we take that often over-rides why we are there. You know which turns are coming up, where the rocks and low hanging tree branches are and almost automatically you navigate the obstacles without forethought. Everyone has their own reason why they ride. For some it's the pure adrenaline rush of bombing down trails for others it's just the ride, no hurry, just riding the bike. Now, this may sound cliche, but here goes; for all of us that ride bikes the journey is the mental destination that makes cycling so good. The trails, the bikes, our friends, that's all fine and good but what makes cycling so much fun for us all is the actual riding of the bike. Not where we're going, or which bike we're riding, it's the actual time between the start and the finish of the ride that is the true goal. We all feel it, we all want it, but how many of us really think hard about the actual essence of cycling? I think of the upcoming Swift Campout in June. These events are excellent fun rides for anyone that wants to go bikepacking. The camaraderie of the ride is my favorite thing. We're all loaded up with gear and on a singular mission to go have a good time in the mountains. Once we set up camp the stories and tales always turn back to the details of the ride that got us there. That my friends is the destination I am trying to convey. The destination in this sense isn't a terminus, it is an objective. Maybe there is a better word for it, I'm not sure, if any of you have thoughts hit reply and let me know what you think. I'll be a good listener.

By the way...If you enjoy the weekly tales and anecdotes I share each and every Monday please consider buying me a coffee. I appreciate every single reader and subscriber of the newsletter. Your support helps keep the machine running. Thank you. I've also opened an Etsy store selling some unique bicycle trinkets for your fidgeting pleasure. All the links are below.

Peace,
Paul

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