"If you're a commuter, you're just as important to us as the state champion on a road bike," Knaggs said.
"Potentially, more important," Armstrong added.

Potentially.... er... OHP!... where that monkey fly out of!?!

Oh man, this commuter had a pretty awesome movement about 1/2 hour ago.

I wish Seattle had a cool commuter oriented bike shop.

I wonder what such a shop would look like.

I mean, we all have a notion the sorts of things that are useful to commuters, but what would make a real commuter bike shop? How is commuting different from other sorts of riding?

Without thinking it through too much, here is what I would say goes into a commuter shop:

Parts and frame selection biased towards durability and ease of use rather than minuscule weight savings and exotic materials. Rims and hubs are high spoke count options, and tire choice is limited to options that are sensible for year-round city riding.

Lots of safety gear. Neon suits (I know I know), illumination options galore.

Good selection of brooks saddles and accessories like proofide, rain covers etc.

Good selection of clothing that does not make you look like a damn superhero. General emphasis put on clothes that you do not necessarily need to change out of when you get to work (Assuming Seattle dress code standards). Wool options. Compact rainshells that could be worn as outer layer.

Pedal/shoe selection reflects fact that most people who ride a lot do use clipless, but also has some platform pedals and things like toe clips, power grips, etc. Lots of booties to choose from.

Lots of racks, panniers, baskets etc.

Some selection of internal geared hubs.

Capable of taking in used chain cleaning solution for safe disposal.

Big selection of fenders, including fenders for minimal clearance bicycles (fools, fools!)

A better approach to this might be to consider what a commuting shop does not have.

No really expensive helmets designed to make you go faster.
Minimal selection of gaudy jerseys.
No designer drinks or energy bars.
No stupidly light rims or stupidly narrow tires.
No road shoes.

Kinda sounds like a certain shop out in West Seattle... Of course, a shop is more than it's inventory.

No really expensive helmets designed to make you go faster.
Minimal selection of gaudy jerseys.
No designer drinks or energy bars.
No stupidly light rims or stupidly narrow tires.
No road shoes.

shouldn't you be sailing or something.

I was in counterbalance one day buying something, probably tires, and some roadie clacked in in his alien spaceman outfit and wanted to buy some CO2 cartriges. Adam said: "OK, they're $5 each" and the guy threw a fit and stormed out, saying that he could get them somewhere else for much cheaper. Adam shrugged, and said "well, I guess you should go there then!"

The point being, shop owners who like to make money keep the high-end stuff around for people to buy, because you make your money on those $3k bikes and $99.00 helmets, and not on the hardened bike hobo with holes in his shoes looking for a lightly used seatpost for $5.

The point being, shop owners who like to make money keep the high-end stuff around for people to buy, because you make your money on those $3k bikes and $99.00 helmets,

The margin on a $3000 bike is not very much. Your ROI is crap after you consider investment, shipping, assembly, and storage. You make a lot more selling $20 tail lights.

What is the margin on the sort of expendable stuff commuters go through all the time like bar tape, brake pads, cables, lube, tubes etc.?

What is the margin on the sort of expendable stuff commuters go through all the time like bar tape, brake pads, cables, lube, tubes etc.?

Kinda sounds like a certain shop out in West Seattle... Of course, a shop is more than it's inventory.

I mean, we all have a notion the sorts of things that are useful to commuters, but what would make a real commuter bike shop? How is commuting different from other sorts of riding?

Without thinking it through too much, here is what I would say goes into a commuter shop:

A used to be friendly to this forum shop in West Seattle sounds pretty close too.
alex

Seattle has these shops. Some don't have everything (many don't stock clothing at all), but you can find everything on your list for sale in Seattle.

Free Range Cycles would be an obvious first candidate (again, they don't sell clothing or shes...but otherwise have what is on your list). A used to be friendly to this forum shop in West Seattle sounds pretty close too. Even Gregg's has most of what is on here.

alex

I actually like Elliott Bay quite a bit.
Expensive, but they carry nice stuff and their hours ain't bad either.

I wonder what such a shop would look like.

I mean, we all have a notion the sorts of things that are useful to commuters, but what would make a real commuter bike shop? How is commuting different from other sorts of riding?

Without thinking it through too much, here is what I would say goes into a commuter shop:

Parts and frame selection biased towards durability and ease of use rather than minuscule weight savings and exotic materials. Rims and hubs are high spoke count options, and tire choice is limited to options that are sensible for year-round city riding.

Lots of safety gear. Neon suits (I know I know), illumination options galore.

Good selection of brooks saddles and accessories like proofide, rain covers etc.

Good selection of clothing that does not make you look like a damn superhero. General emphasis put on clothes that you do not necessarily need to change out of when you get to work (Assuming Seattle dress code standards). Wool options. Compact rainshells that could be worn as outer layer.

Pedal/shoe selection reflects fact that most people who ride a lot do use clipless, but also has some platform pedals and things like toe clips, power grips, etc. Lots of booties to choose from.

Lots of racks, panniers, baskets etc.

Some selection of internal geared hubs.

Capable of taking in used chain cleaning solution for safe disposal.

Big selection of fenders, including fenders for minimal clearance bicycles (fools, fools!)

A better approach to this might be to consider what a commuting shop does not have.

No really expensive helmets designed to make you go faster.
Minimal selection of gaudy jerseys.
No designer drinks or energy bars.
No stupidly light rims or stupidly narrow tires.
No road shoes.

Will Lance's shop carry these?

They wouldn't sell me a headset spacer once, so they lose any of my buisness other than emergency tube purchases

OKOK I eat my words...

LANCE ARMSTRONG IS Pretty damn cool!

If he spent $20k on this I truly admire the mans taste.



fucking wow that's cool art.