Job in a Bike Shop?
Comments
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Well done, great news Helen
8) Adam.
Never underestimate the predictability of stupidity.
Current ride - Yeti ASR 5a X00 -
Thank you
I wanna build more bikes lol! Can't wait till work... oh how lame does that phrase sound :P
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I totally disagree working with bikes is great fun, but that might just be y/our age0
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Ohh why do you disagree?? x0
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awesome newa, just read the thread great to read and pick up on your excitedness for your job.
works great when you love itfly like a mouse, run like a cushion be the small bookcase!0 -
I hope the mechanic checked the bikes over you built and tensioned the spokes before they were given to customers!
I have been working in bike shops for around 6 years now, and I still love it. Once you know more about specs, range sizing ordering etc it becomes easier and more fun.
Our mechanic is female and she is a real asset because she is a great mech in her own right and she is more approachable for female customers (it also helps that she speaks about 5 languages!).0 -
wow she sounds awesome! hopefully one day i'll be a bit like that! (minus the 5 languages!)
and yeah i was half watched throughout and they were definately checked
i love it. (:0 -
One of the best ways of learning about bike stuff is to build yourself a bike from the frame up or upgrade your bike a little bit (with the help of your shop colleagues) you will learn what is compatible with what, what is good value and you will be able to recommend things via personal experience. Obviously this isn't the cheapest way though! I have built myself around 12 bikes over the last 7 years, and I have built up numerous relatives and friends bikes, and each bike was a learning experience.
With regards to selling - asking the customer where he/she is going to ride the bike and how often is the best opening question, take them over to the bike that is suitable for those needs. Don't bother asking about budget generally, if they want to mtb seriously take them to the £700+ straight away if they think they can get a serious mtb for £260 you have to be the one to nicely tell them otherwise and explain what the differences between the bikes are. If they are loitering around the bling stuff (£1000+) you can sometimes enquire about how much they want to spend. Oh and always get them to sit on the bikes they are considering.
Sorry about the uber long message, I am pretty passionate about this bike shop malarkey!
Any questions are welcome I have been working in/managing busy/ demanding bikeshops for years now.0 -
Wow that sounds cool! And yeah if i had the money, i would definately be doing something like that! I dont really know what i would change on my bike though lol... apart from a lighter frame (pretty blue one hehe) but i really dont need anything like that and i cant afford it lol.
and yeah thats definately similar to what ive been doing ith customers. thanks And yeah that is what i find veryyyy confusing... whats compatible with what etc. may take me a while to learn those sorts of things, but at least im in the position to now 0 -
Don't worry over time you'll get the upgrading bug and or fancy a new bike altogther but keep at it and tell your friends we need more enthusiastic girly cyclists around!0
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well done on your good news!
I hope it goes well for ya
Cube Attempt 20110 -
Well done Helen-mtb
Does this mean you now get a staff discount, if so, here's my list of stuff you can get for me ........ 0 -
...now that's an idea to drum up business....Bikeradar forum members discount Adam.
Never underestimate the predictability of stupidity.
Current ride - Yeti ASR 5a X00 -
thomasali wrote:One of the best ways of learning about bike stuff is to build yourself a bike from the frame up or upgrade your bike a little bit (with the help of your shop colleagues) you will learn what is compatible with what, what is good value and you will be able to recommend things via personal experience. Obviously this isn't the cheapest way though! I have built myself around 12 bikes over the last 7 years, and I have built up numerous relatives and friends bikes, and each bike was a learning experience.
With regards to selling - asking the customer where he/she is going to ride the bike and how often is the best opening question, take them over to the bike that is suitable for those needs. Don't bother asking about budget generally, if they want to mtb seriously take them to the £700+ straight away if they think they can get a serious mtb for £260 you have to be the one to nicely tell them otherwise and explain what the differences between the bikes are. If they are loitering around the bling stuff (£1000+) you can sometimes enquire about how much they want to spend. Oh and always get them to sit on the bikes they are considering.
Sorry about the uber long message, I am pretty passionate about this bike shop malarkey!
Any questions are welcome I have been working in/managing busy/ demanding bikeshops for years now.
You can get a serious MTB for £260!!! Maybe not £60 lol.0 -
a serious mtb for £260? what like?
and yeah i think i do afer time lol, and i bet as soon as that happens, im gonna spend all my wages on my bike lol!0 -
Giant Boulder?
rockrider 5.2?
You're not going to be winning any world cups on them, but they are both perfectly acceptable for what most people will use them for.0 -
yep soon your disposable income will become pre-disposed income I've only been at my place for 3 weeks and in that I already decided I need a new roadie ahh well such is life with bikesHelen-mtb wrote:a serious mtb for £260? what like?
and yeah i think i do afer time lol, and i bet as soon as that happens, im gonna spend all my wages on my bike lol!0 -
lol some of the guys there have been saying i should consider getting a roadie for getting to work and when i just go out on road ride/commuting. but i really cant afford that lol!
i know theres a lot i want to buy soon though! i love work 0 -
How far is your commute?0
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6-7 miles one way. they say a road bike will make a different for 6 miles to work but i dunno...
and they're trying to make me ride to college.... 15 miles at like, 7am is unlikely for me lol, then college, then 15 miles home...
haha get on the train with my bike, then just ride in the new forrest after college :P0 -
Well, a road bike would make it easier, especially the 15 miles, but fitting some slicks to the MTB would be good for the road and shorter journeys.
RE the price of bikes - while I think people should always spend as much as they can (and encourage the customer to do so!), and at least £200, there are some good bikes around that price and perhaps for less depending on where they will be riding. I wouldn't dismiss customers if they only have say £300 to spend. We don't want to turn you into snobby salesgirl ;-)
The average price of a bike sold in the UK is about £250.0 -
hehe lol i know wont be doing any dismissing
and ive never really rode a road bike... in a few months i might think about it, if im working there more than 1 or 2 days a week, and if i get my fitness up enough and decide to ride to college... but i think id rather take ab MTB bike to college cos its the new forrest, might find somehwere to ride down there...
how much are slicks?0 -
How much? You work in a shop don't you?! ;-)
From about 12 quid each, but worth spending more for the kevlar beaded versions.0 -
lol i thought that as i posted it! then thought well, i havent sold any...
i'll see how the next few months go... i need to buy so much bike stuff! and clothes! lol!0 -
Nah, you just think you do. When I first worked in a shop I was the same, bought lots of shiny things!0
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lol no i really, honestly do... i dont have a camel back, dont have spd shoes STILL lol, dont have lights for night riding, fed up of pikeying mates ones for the night, need new padded shorts, someone pikeyd mine... or i left them somewhere...
thats not shiney things
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Well I hope your lights shine lol.0
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ha well yeah they do but im not after bikes parts lol, just stuff i needs hehe 0
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Congratulations on the job success Helen!
I've read, but not replied to, this thread over the last few days. It's refreshing to see someone actually appreciate how lucky they are to have a job they really enjoy, I really hope your happiness and enthusiasm stays with you, I'm jealous!
I'm buying a road bike for a 12 mile round trip to work and a 30 mile round trip to uni shortly, I spend too much time on trails on my rockhopper to bother with changing the wheels all the time, but I need to wait for my student loan to come in so I can afford a decent one!0 -
Thank you Kryptonic! i do love working there.. im looking forward to my next days work lol!
i dont think i'll be getting any more bikes soon! but i know im going to spend so much money on bike parts and bits soon! its terrible!
good luck for Uni x0
