I decided to take my Raleigh R300 (basically a hybrid with
drop handle bars) on my ride across NY State,
ptny.logical.netindex.shtmlOpen ↗, as opposed
to my TREK 5200 since there is a large part of the trip on
hard packed granite dust. Since I was having problems with
spoke breakage on my rear wheel, I decided to replace it.
So I stopped at Performance on my way home, went to the
service counter, which was not busy, and asked for a
replacement wheel. The mechanic behind the counter pulled
down a wheel. I asked how many spokes. We counted and found
there were only
32. Since I wanted a strong wheel, I asked if he had a 36
spoke wheel. Unfortunately the did not.
Then I decided to go a bit out of my way to the LBS that
sold me my TREK, Revolution Cycles in Arlington VA. As
usual the service counter was crowded with two mechanics
and people waiting for repairs. This shop seems to try to
do minor repairs while people wait. I am waited on and ask
for a wheel. The guy goes downstairs to fetch one. A
couple of minutes later, Pinky comes up with a new wheel.
(Pinky is not only one of the co owners, but has a
reputation of being one of the best wheel builders in the
Washington DC area.) He says he has this wheel for $70.00
or a better one for $80.00. I tell him I want one that is
bullet proof, and he goes down for the more expensive
wheel. He brings it back, and I ask him to put on the
truing stand to make sure it is OK before I leave. He
explains that he always does that because even the high
end wheels often need tweaking. He then spends the next 15
minutes truing the wheel, manhandling it to relieve the
strain, putting it back on the truing stand, installing
rim tape and getting me extra spokes.
Needless to say, I will go out of my way to give this shop
my business.