Bike Shops and Bike Folks

Many of you have likely shared the experience of walking into a shop and having someone treat you like crap because you don’t fit into their idea of a worthy customer or cyclist or you just aren’t necessarily into spending a bunch of money for stuff you don’t want.  Some of you may have even ranted and raved about it to other folks, I’ve certainly heard it.  I’ve had the experience with a few shops around here but have also been lucky enough to find a couple where people actually seem excited to perform a service for you in exchange for money, or perhaps hand over a piece of merchandise for the same.

So I just thought it worth mentioning that this morning I sent an email to  just to make sure they didn’t mind if I used a picture of their 58mm Carbon Clinchers on my blog as I talked about the process of picking a wheelset.  I always figure that folks don’t mind if you are giving them free advertising, but I often check to make sure.

I got an email not fifteen minutes later from Keith Williams, the president and founder.  He said go right ahead with using the image and he also let me know that they are coming out with a different product soon that I might be interested in as well.

Obviously it is in his interest to share information about his products and likely to get pictures of and favorable descriptions of his products in as many places as possible.  But I have to admit, I was pleasantly surprised at someone taking the time to answer an email (just sent to the info@ address on their website) and it made me think that much more positively about the company.

So there’s hope out there yet that even if you aren’t a super star, or even that serious of a bike rider, that people who make really great stuff for bikes will still take you seriously!

Chapeau to you Mr. Williams.  And here’s to me someday rolling a pair of your sweet, sweet wheels really quickly down the road!