whats your bicycle store like

[font=Comic Sans MS] I have about 10-bike retail repair shops with in a 15km radius, I HAVE TRIED THEM ALL and guess what? the two furthest one's are the shops i use for service and repairs. The guys at Crown cycles who happen to be Scott agents (i ride a Scott) are reasonably priced and go out of their way to assist. If they don’t have it they source it.[/font]

[font=Comic Sans MS]The other LBS of note is Epic cycles, these guys are mtb specialists if they are not in the shop they are out on the berg, their name Epic is also the name of a gruelling 7 day mtb race we hast out year and of coarse they are experts. [/font]

[font=Comic Sans MS]They are also the Manitou service centre, you guessed it I’ve got Manitou shocks.[/font]

[font='Times New Roman'][font=Comic Sans MS]I deal with these guys, because they always make time to chat, answer questions, all this without that lofty approach we are cycle mechs, we know all and you know nothing.[/font][/font]

I chose my bike shop based on the staff. I had just started getting into cycling (only had a Wal-Mart bike before) and was looking for the right bike to fit me. I went around to several bike shops, asking questions and figuring out what bike I wanted and where I wanted to buy it from.

The shop that won my dollars is the one that took the time to help me the most. They went over all of my questions at a level where I understood them. They took the time to test me out on several bikes that they reccomended as well as ones that I was interested in from my research on the internet.

They put out an effort that made me feel as if they were trying to help me, rather than try to sell me something. That excellent customer service, as well as having very fair prices led me to them.

Some of the places I choose over them lost my business because they just didn't have these qualities. One store, after I informed them I was interested in road bikes but wasn't sure which one would be best for my needs, didn't do anything but point at some road bikes and say "Those are the road bikes. When you chose one, come get me and I'll ring it up for you."

The only ring they got was the door bell after I left.