Bike Shop Life Rant Jan 2025

[@hardluckvintagegarage6968]

Imagine going on group rides with this guy several times a week and you on a new bike that your bought somewhere else. ugh! people have no shame.

[@b-rad4363]

I work at a two man shop, myself and the owner, feel the same and have the same talks with the boss man often. Running a small shop is hard, it's definitely mostly a labor of love.

[@TheBicycleRider]

It's a crazy world , I'm glad we're in it together.

[@juice9767]

Great Rant, Beautiful Shop.. I/We definitely can understand this Rants upload. Thanks for sharing, I run a Interior/Exterior Painting business and I've also contemplated doing a painting business Rant. 2024 was super tuff despite our constant work.. Wishing you Greatness for 2025 🙏🏾

[@captaincoyote1792]

I don’t know…how or what to say. Except that you spent your best years working hard to eventually work “living the dream”. I lived the dream for 50 years to eventually retire and now I hate retirement. I am a retired U.S. Navy Officer….i loved it! I flew, I drove ships, I hunted submarines, and I eventually went into Intelligence and Meteorology. Retiring from the Navy, I went to work for a federal land management agency….eventually retiring from that as a senior wildlife law enforcement officer…I worked the Deep South, the coasts of the mid-Atlantic and New England. I loved the excitement, the challenge….both careers were uniform-wearing and badged careers….and I saved and invested and I’m comfortable, my three kids are healthy….as is my wife. Me…I continue to work out, I’m at the same weight that I was fifty years ago….but some health issues have me wondering WTF? But I am in the market for a new bicycle….and I do use local bicycle shops. I feel your pain….probably the pain of many “stores” with the advent on on-line, “Amazon-thinking” folks. I guess….i say….thank God for quality bourbon!

[@rickflubadubdub4298]

I started watching your channel during the pandemic and love your videos, keep up the great work!

[@TheBicycleRider]

Thank you so much for watching !

[@appliancetraining]

I think there's a lot of us out there feeling just as you do, dealing with the same crap. I'm sure you know, but I get you, sometimes you just need to let everyone know verbally.

[@TheBicycleRider]

Yes , Bart has tried to be really quiet about business issues but needed to vent a bit , thanks for understanding !

[@appliancetraining]

@@TheBicycleRider As a business owner myself, yeah, I understand. I've ranted as well, the problem is, as owners, it seems we're in our own little space that no one really cares about. Unfortunate. I will say, the best thing I ever did was to join a peer group of owners that are in the same profession as I. Only then did it seem 'okay' to rant, and they've had the same issues or currently going through the same challenges, and the advice is pertinent. We are a group of 9 owners all in different states (on purpose) and share everything from process, employee concerns and of course 'the numbers'.

[@noelbrown6771]

It's like this in SoCal too. Just a thought here; why not lease high end bikes for a couple of year contract. Then have the customers come in for regular maintenance intervals and then take the bikes back on trade for a new lease on a Current model or sell it back to them whatever. The car industry has been doing this since the 80s.

[@gregorywright1684]

Super Caliber is a game changer. You will love it!

[@stevencole7331]

Finally somebody recognizes the word love is used way to much . I watched a NFL football game and Tom Brady was one of the announcers and almost every sentence he said the word love . I love how that quarterback throws the ball. As said in the video . I love my mom and girlfriend . It is better than profanity but it's loosing its meaning being just a common word of the day .

[@derkaiser7769]

Jew them down? Alienating any customer base is counterproductive in retail, be it religious, racial, or political.

[@garfieldcooper266]

Service work is all we have, keep doing those events. Your going to make it. "RIDE BIKES"

[@stephenbeaver2035]

My buddy owns a shop now for 30 plus years. He is very smart about what and when he buys bikes. He buys a lot of clearance deals. He does not try to have every shiny thing. He has bike in the shop he bought 3 years ago. When they had a deal. He will order something new if you want. But stocks the stuff he can get deals on. He has one mechanic and one floor guy. The mechanic never set foot in the floor. Just works on bikes 8 hours a day. No interruptions. Some years they make out well. Other years they do just ok. But always profitable He does not ride at all. It is a business. I have another buddy had 2 shops. A racing team. His shop was more like a club house. He had all the latest gear. Super high dollar bikes. He loved to ride and sponsor riders. He was great for the sport. Today he lost one of the shops. The last shop is barely making it. It comes down to how you run it. If you’re trying to build an atmosphere. That is great. However not necessarily the best for business.

[@TheBicycleRider]

It definitely takes different approaches to find success in the bicycle business.

[@TwoWheelWarrior]

Way to go buddy!

[@TheBicycleRider]

Thanks for watching! I will do my best to update more often about the shop

[@dteiro]

Sorry to hear that business is slow for you. I hope it gets better soon. I bought a Marin emtn bike from your online store in 2023, (Govelo) have put 900+ trail miles on it to date. Hang in there.

[@TheBicycleRider]

Thank you for your support and the kind words

[@ScottieMac67]

Best wishes to you and your shop. I just bought my latest bike from my LBS mainly because I want to support the local business instead of direct ship or big box.

[@TheBicycleRider]

It's awesome to hear about customers who support their local shops!

[@StarEssences]

Come to Southern Nevada; a lot of people are very sedentary here :( Maybe if you add bike packing and or Bike Touring gear and bikes you may bring in more business.

[@busaj1]

Sir! Respectfully I noticed a couple of issues right away with your shop and I know exactly why it’s not working but you will need to first rest & reset (go home for couple weeks) serve home first then serve your community later that’s first steps to success.after this first step the second steps are simple but your heart has to be ready first so your mind can commit to what really needs to happen but don’t think the worst because your good heart has been your first mistake in business it doesn’t work at all because business and heart doesn’t mix they actually hate each other 100 % you need an advisor to get you back on track.but home first .

[@TheBicycleRider]

Thanks for the advice! I am working on setting some boundaries, I will report back with how it goes .

[@elizabethpoley6882]

I frequent J.B.Bikes in the west San Fernando Valley of LA. They're like family to me. The owner, Antonio, is finding it slow right now, too. It's smaller than your bike shop. I'm truly worried for them. I do think you need to carry more e-bikes, although I personally hate them. Antonio told me the other day that almost all his business that day was e-bike related--either selling or repairing. Although a lot of us true bikers here consider them "cheater" bikes, it might help to have more in your shop to bring in more traffic. Antonio even has small e-bikes for children that look like motorcycles. (They're considered cheater bikes in LA, because most of the owers are lazy asses that never pedal. They just cruise by everyone w/motor fully engaged.) Good luck.

[@rev106]

Playing the game by their rules, and your going to lose. Been in business for 21 years and been in the black the whole time. The bike industry has its head up its ass, you can't play their game and not suffer the consequences...

[@notanomad9320]

The old joke is, how do you make a million dollars in the bike industry? Start with 2 million. 🤣🤣🤣. I retired from the wholesale side April 2020. I had 30 great years 1st working as a customer service agent then as buyer. I loved my job, man we we so spoiled with so many benefits and I think I was paid fairly. We had it so easy back then, now a lot of people are struggling. I like to keep in touch with my former coworkers and even help out at a local Trek shop when they need help. Take care and good luck!

[@larryt.atcycleitalia5786]

Same s__t, different day - cycling enthusiast gets into bike biz. Long on enthusiasm, short on customer service/retail skills = making a small fortune from a large one. I worked for two guys like this and while I made money for them, THEY didn't want to work that hard instead of flapping their yaps pontificating on all their cycling "knowledge". Once I left both closed up. It's not the bike industry's fault, sorry.

[@tckimx]

Bike industry seems broken. I bought my first new MTB in 20 years because of fire sale bike cos are having. Stumpy Evo Expert at 50% off. Thought I was buying from our local shop. Only learned after they are owned now by Specialized. Bikes are a commodity now; too easy to price shop on-line. Bike shops need to focus on repairs and service to make money. Carry minimal inventory. People will buy direct online. Price is king. But people still need to get bikes fixed. There’s a lot of bikes out there after COVID. During the gold rush the only people that made money were the ones selling the tools. May be focus on parts and tools for the DIY folks. Probably higher margins. If you’re doing group rides, use that as a focus group and ask people what they would buy from shops and what they would come there for? May be charge for basic bike tune classes. Extra revenue stream. Wheel building classes. Sell hubs and rims and truing stands. At the end of the day, you’re running a business, if it doesn’t make money gotta make hard decision. Consider running a bike touring company on weekends if you like to ride with people and do 9-5 CPA thing again for income. Just my 2 cents. Wishing you all the best. Tough times.

[@TroyHanson-ch6nm]

I knew it was getting bad but sounds like it's goin to worse now. I don't mind trek bikes but i have not had much luck with there other stuff like tires. Bike light's. Shoes. Helmets . Air pumps stuff like this I've had many failures with bontrager name. Ive had all positives with specialized accessories it seems specialized does way more r&d before the items get sold to the public. I've had nothing but stout results with anything specialized carbon shoes xc top grade. Helmets also top grade. Tires the s works turbo clincher 700x26 is the best road tire money can buy ive tried them all they are supple light fast and bullet proof unlike continental . anyhow i like your store and wish you luck 👍

[@TheBicycleRider]

I'm glad you found a brand you trust!

[@tkin1973]

How does Trek treat you on the in-store pickup with bikes ordered online for something you don't have in stock?

[@TheBicycleRider]

The shop does get some margin not much but something is better that nothing , Trek is trying to be as fair as possible to the small shops in areas where there is not a factory store . good question !

[@tkin1973]

@@TheBicycleRider Do you guys get a better deal if it was you who ordered the available bike instead of the customer directly?

[@donaldoutterson3071]

Narrow your focus to provide a high value that you can charge highly for. Turning over parts and equipment at standard rates that other people make is a low margin race to the bottom. Can you re-build and re-sell quality bikes from your local bike Co-op? Develop a specific design to your local riding conditions that the box stores cannot? Ride three days a week to keep your head clear. Share your vision and don't let the tail wag the dog!

[@ezr168]

Bike shop helped end the marriage, win

[@ghostrunnerco6791]

whoa…

[@bluewtr]

You should invest in my shop as a silent investor at 50k. Opening a bike shop in Pas Christian. Shoot man, I’d even let a guy with all that inventory 8nvest in 100k. What do ya say?

[@TheBicycleRider]

I would love a bike shop in that area but its hard enough finding qualified bicycle professionals for one shop . I know all the good mechanics in the area , who do you have in mind ? there is a reason i dont have a life outside of the bike shop and yes I pay well there is a very small talent pool and on the job training for today's bikes ended long ago , give me a Call, lets talk

[@earnestp.worrell5389]

You know how to make a million dollars from a bike shop? Start with 2 million....