PNW Purchase Question

Notaknob scribbled :

Quoted message said:

Due to a possible conference in CONUS, I plan to be in Spokane the week of 16-22 August. The trip
there is ostensibly to visit relatives, but the real reason is that I want to finally do some
biking there. I missed out last year due to circumstances that I let get of my control.

When I was in Spokane last year, I did some checking on places to rent a mountain bike and the
results were discouraging. There weren't any shops in town that rented bikes with suspension. That
would be great if all I wanted to do was ride around in Riverfront Park. One guy did recommend
that I go to one of the ski resorts that cater to bikers.

This time I figured I'd just bite the bullet and buy something. Are there any LBSes in Spokane (or
C'DA) that area A.M-B'ers would recommend based upon variety, quantity, past purchasing
experiences?

nk

you are talking to me, right?

Smoke n Snort, eh, uh Spoke and Sport is not a shop to do business with
IMO... they are they only ones that rent bikes of any sort. They have told me more BS every time I
go in there than all other bike shops combined. Plus they sell i-drives. The only other place to
rent is at Schweitzer. The shops I would recommend are:

Two Wheel Transit... they sell fishers, treks, Klein's, Brian is THE guy. I didn't but my bike there
but they do all my service and parts.They treat me most excellently.

I have heard nothing but great things about Bicycle Butler up at Five Mile center... they sell Kona
and some other lines. I would go there but they are way on the other side of town from me.

Some others that I have not heard anything evil about that people seem to like are North Division
Bike - Walter Moore is the guy there to talk to there, and Wheelsport, which is a specialized dealer
and has several locations. I'd be careful about Midway out in the valley.

CDA has Vertical Earth, but I haven't heard anything about it.

Looks like I"ll be in town, look me up and we'll do some riding.

Penny S

When I lived there I did most of my dealings with Bicycle Butler I have since forgotten the owners
name but I never met a more knowledgeable mechanic or shop owner anywhere.

Rickb

"Notaknob" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Due to a possible conference in CONUS, I plan to be in Spokane the week of 16-22 August. The trip
there is ostensibly to visit relatives, but the real reason is that I want to finally do some
biking there. I missed out last year due to circumstances that I let get of my control.

When I was in Spokane last year, I did some checking on places to rent a mountain bike and the
results were discouraging. There weren't any shops in town that rented bikes with suspension. That
would be great if all I wanted to do was ride around in Riverfront Park. One guy did recommend
that I go to one of the ski resorts that cater to bikers.

This time I figured I'd just bite the bullet and buy something. Are there any LBSes in Spokane (or
C'DA) that area A.M-B'ers would recommend based upon variety, quantity, past purchasing
experiences?

nk

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

you are talking to me, right?

You and anyone else there that's purchased a bike in the recent years.

Quoted message said:

Smoke n Snort, eh, uh Spoke and Sport is not a shop to do business with
IMO... they are they only ones that rent bikes of any sort. They have told me more BS every time I
go in there than all other bike shops combined. Plus they sell i-drives.

I got that perspective the last time I was there.

Quoted message said:

The only other place to rent is at Schweitzer. The shops I would recommend are: Two Wheel
Transit... they sell fishers, treks, Klein's, Brian is THE guy. I didn't but my bike there but
they do all my service and parts.They treat me most excellently.

Their on-site selection was sort of limited when I was there last. I'm hoping to make a dash-n-buy.
If it takes more than a day or two, I'd rather move on.

Quoted message said:

I have heard nothing but great things about Bicycle Butler up at Five Mile center... they sell
Kona and some other lines. I would go there but they are way on the other side of town from me.

No shop is too far for those who are borrowing someone elses car. My brother lives out in the
valley, so that's not too far.

Quoted message said:

Some others that I have not heard anything evil about that people seem to like are North Division
Bike - Walter Moore is the guy there to talk to there, and Wheelsport, which is a specialized
dealer and has several locations. I'd be careful about Midway out in the valley.

Specialized was one brand I was looking at. Not really sure exactly what I want.

Quoted message said:

CDA has Vertical Earth, but I haven't heard anything about it.

Looks like I"ll be in town, look me up and we'll do some riding.

Hopefully I'll make it there. It'll be one of the few times I'll have been in the area that I didn't
have a pre-scheduled itinerary.

nk

In article <oUcTa.15627$u51.9205@fed1read05>, [email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

When I lived there I did most of my dealings with Bicycle Butler I have since forgotten the owners
name but I never met a more knowledgeable mechanic or shop owner anywhere.

How was their selection and what brands did they carry?

nk

notaknob scribbled :

Quoted message said:

In article <oUcTa.15627$u51.9205@fed1read05>, [email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

When I lived there I did most of my dealings with Bicycle Butler I have since forgotten the
owners name but I never met a more knowledgeable mechanic or shop owner anywhere.

How was their selection and what brands did they carry?

nk

just Giant and Kona; Moots on a custom basis.

I just called. No one will have a great walk in selection, that was my big beef last year.

penny

I checked with Vertical Earth in CDA, Kona, Santa Cruz and Fuji. But who knows what they really
have in stock.

maybe call and see who has what frame sizes and models before you start driving around...
www.verticalearth.com get my vote for this week's most disappointing shop website.

Penny