I happened to stop in another bike shop this week because I was driving by and needed a tube, some CO2, some chain lube, and maybe a new tire. The one that flatted at the LADU last weekend is usable for now, but needs to be replaced before a rock or something works its way into the gash. I guess I ran over something nasty.
I hate to not be completely 100% loyal to my shop, but when you live in Caratunk, you take advantage of any opportunity to get things you need. I needed bike stuff, and there as I was driving for work, I saw a bike shop. Cool.
The shop was nice, and I had grabbed my CO2, spent some time picking out a tire (looking for guarantee not to flat on label, couldn’t find it, ha), and had collected a spare tube. I was contemplating the chain lube when the bike guy came up to me.
“Can I help you?”
Now, I always feel funny telling a guy I am just looking for some lube. But that is what I told him. Then I giggled, because really I am just a 12 year old boy inside.
I guess I shouldn’t need help with this, but really, there was like 2,000 different kinds of lube there, in all these colors and types, I had no idea what I should get. All I wanted was to clean and lube my chain because, well, it is it time. I don’t know the difference between wax lube verses synthetic verses blah blah blah lube. I actually really don’t even care. I just want something that works.
In my bike shop, the guys would have laughed with me about the lube, then grabbed something and said something like, “This is what we use here.” Good enough for me, I am not looking for a dissertation on lubes, I just want something that works.
Not this guy, he didn't even crack a smile about the lube (I am giggling right now). He was like a commercial for Bubba Gump Shrimp Company. “Well you got your wax lube, you got your synthetic lube, you got your green lube, you got…So and so likes this, and do do likes this and ya ya uses this...”
You get the picture.
He kept talking, trying to educate me on the finer points of the various types of lube. I finally grabbed something that looked right and the guy told me it was a good choice because of blah blah chain runs smoothly blah blah. Yeah, OK good. Thanks dude.
Then he looked at the tire I grabbed and asked, “Why did you get that tire? The color?”
I wanted to hit him over the head with the black and red tire, but I said, “No, it says resists cutting, it is the right size, I like the look of the tread. Plus, you don’t really have much for choices for road bike tires.”
He grabbed the tire from my hand.
“You don’t want that tire.”
Oh! I don't? That is good because I really thought that was what I wanted, but I guess I must be stupid. Thank you for saving me from myself.
He sticks a different tire in my hand and asks me what kind of riding I am doing, I tell him. He says THIS tire is the bomb, super tough, a little rougher ride but much less likely to get a flat. It was also about $30 more, was the wrong size, and although it said resists cutting as well, it had a hybrid type tread on it.
I didn't want it, and I told him as much, but he was pretty sure I did.
I didn't want it, and I told him as much, but he was pretty sure I did.
This schmo was either treating me like a stupid girl or trying to impress me. I don’t know which. I hope it is the second option, because the first one just makes him a jerk, and my ego could really use the boost.
I ended up getting the tube, CO2, and the lube. I told him I would have to wait on the tire. I am going to wait until I get to my shop to get the tire, the heck with that guy. I wouldn't have gotten anything but I really like to have 2 spare tubes and 3 CO2's, and my chain was kind of blackish.