Places that hate bicycle riders.

[Jeremy McCreary]

I was at one bike shop. We looked at the Electra Townie D7 (or some other battleship coordinate). We rode the bike. It was ok. When I asked if they had anything with a throttle, to take off from a stop at a hill. They said “no, we only carry class one bikes. We believe you gotta earn it if you want motor assist.” I thought “why, though.”, but didn’t want to waste my breath asking. Walked around a bit longer to see helmet offerings, then left.

That was really the only other time I’ve been in a bike shop. The other was to get a bike stand for my kids bike. I dunno, I think my bike shop visiting days are over. The prices are much bigger in a shop. I think you pay, mostly, for their attention.

At the other end of the spectrum, I've been in a lot of bike shops in my time, and have yet to be treated rudely. That includes quite a few with bikes way out of my price range.

So I wouldn't judge all of them on your small sample. Not saying it never happens, just that it's not the norm.

 

[Gionnirocket]

Or perhaps when you don't look like any easy mark... You get different treatment

 

[PCeBiker]

My dad used to say "More money than brains"

 

[Stefan Mikes]

A very specific place that hates cyclists is "Kartoflisko" (Potato Field), a posh restaurant in the small town of Nasielsk in Poland. I and brother tried to get in there two times in different years. All we asked was to be sat in the restaurant pavilion so we could keep an eye on our bikes outside. We were never let into the pavilion, and the personnel was rude to us. They got bad reviews from me on Google and elsewhere. (The owner's answer was rude and full of hatred).

In each case, we had lunch at a nearby restaurant bar and could not be more happy!

 

[Art Deco]

I use the "don't ask, don't tell" approach. If I ask, more than half the time, they say no. Unless a battery / e-bike ban is specifically posted, I charge in room.

I also don't carry them in plain sight when passing through the hotel lobby. I use a protective case anyway, which is pretty generic, and used to carry a lot of different gear:

View attachment 191332 View attachment 191333

An old laptop bag works for me. Will post pic.

 

[6zfshdb]

At the other end of the spectrum, I've been in a lot of bike shops in my time, and have yet to be treated rudely. That includes quite a few with bikes way out of my price range.

So I wouldn't judge all of them on your small sample. Not saying it never happens, just that it's not the norm.

I agree. This was a first for me in all the shops I've been to.

 

[kevinmccune]

A Specialized LBS opened up near here last year. I stopped in and noticed they had no e-bikes on the floor. I asked a salesman and was rather rudely told they don't have any and never will. He went back to talking to his buddy's, who all looked at me like I was a freak.

Guess I won't be going back.

"stay away from him,he will rip your lungs out Jim!" stay away from those werewolves and go to a place"where everybody knows your name and are glad that you came" find a shop that loves all things bicycle and has enthusiastic employees( yes Virginia they do exist.

 

[kevinmccune]

I was at one bike shop. We looked at the Electra Townie D7 (or some other battleship coordinate). We rode the bike. It was ok. When I asked if they had anything with a throttle, to take off from a stop at a hill. They said “no, we only carry class one bikes. We believe you gotta earn it if you want motor assist.” I thought “why, though.”, but didn’t want to waste my breath asking. Walked around a bit longer to see helmet offerings, then left.

That was really the only other time I’ve been in a bike shop. The other was to get a bike stand for my kids bike. I dunno, I think my bike shop visiting days are over. The prices are much bigger in a shop. I think you pay, mostly, for their attention.

Townies don't come with throttles(maybe this summer)

 

[indianajo]

Last year on my way to the grocery, I stopped at a new tool sale shop. I needed an engine repair stand. As the nearest lock tether was 500' away, I wheeled my bike into the shop. The door was wide open. The counterperson quickly told me park my bike outside. I left. That was last year. This year the shop is closed. Good riddance.
When my 24/7 gym membership expired, I informed the owner I would renew if he would install a bike lock tether closer than the light pole 300' away. He told me to drive my car. That gym is now closed. The light pole has been knocked down by a truck.

 

[Slaphappygamer]

Last year on my way to the grocery, I stopped at a new tool sale shop. I needed an engine repair stand. As the nearest lock tether was 500' away, I wheeled my bike into the shop. The owner quickly told me park my bike outside. I left. That was last year. This year the shop is closed. Good riddance.
When my 24/7 gym membership expired, I informed the owner I would renew if he would install a bike lock tether closer than the light pole 300' away. He told me to drive my car. That gym is now closed.

There is a convenience store near my house. The bike rack is inside the landscaping. You have to haul your bike over the curb and push it through the wood chips. Just watch the plants. Who thought that was a good idea?!

 

[kevinmccune]

Last year on my way to the grocery, I stopped at a new tool sale shop. I needed an engine repair stand. As the nearest lock tether was 500' away, I wheeled my bike into the shop. The owner quickly told me park my bike outside. I left. That was last year. This year the shop is closed. Good riddance.
When my 24/7 gym membership expired, I informed the owner I would renew if he would install a bike lock tether closer than the light pole 300' away. He told me to drive my car. That gym is now closed.

the customer is never right these days!

 

[stompandgo]

the customer is never right these days!

Oh, you're right. They just don't give a #### about you. It's the story of the post-COVID service industry.

 

[kevinmccune]

Oh, you're right. They just don't give a #### about you. It's the story of the post-COVID service industry.

if its too crappy,there's a good chance they wont see me again.

 

[Slaphappygamer]

I asked, at a pot dispensary, if they could move their bike rack out of the bushes and attach it to the pavement. The bike rack is still in the bushes and not attached to anything. I no longer go there. The pavement is a shared walk way with a neighboring business.

 

[PedalUma]

If I cannot have eyes on my bike and cannot bring it inside a business location, I take my bike and my money where they are bike friendly. I have an opposite story. I made a mid-drive Mundo cargo bike for my friend Natalie three years ago. When she first got it she needed fish on a Friday for dinner, so she rode to Whole Foods. She did not want to park it outside so for about the size of a grocery cart, she brought the bike in with her. The fish monger was so impressed with her and her bike that he put an N/C on the fish. When she went to pay they said that it is No Charge.

You get different treatment

Yes, it does matter how a person presents themselves. She is a cute mom, highly educated and highly social, she is also a trained stage actress who has been on several TV shows, and is a business owner. She knows how to present herself.

 

[macp]

When I saw the title of this post my first thought was the entire UK. Yet we are such a successful cycling nation. I just don’t get it.

 

[kevinmccune]

If I cannot have eyes on my bike and cannot bring it inside a business location, I take my bike and my money where they are bike friendly. I have an opposite story. I made a mid-drive Mundo cargo bike for my friend Natalie three years ago. When she first got it she needed fish on a Friday for dinner, so she rode to Whole Foods. She did not want to park it outside so for about the size of a grocery cart, she brought the bike in with her. The fish monger was so impressed with her and her bike that he put an N/C on the fish. When she went to pay they said that it is No Charge.

Yes, it does matter how a person presents themselves. She is a cute mom, highly educated and highly social, she is also a trained stage actress who has been on several TV shows, and is a business owner. She knows how to present herself.

not like she is gonna reward the guy how he would like(its a man thing)

 

[PedalUma]

not like she is gonna reward the guy how he would like(its a man thing)

Harbor Freight this week said that I could not park in between the double entrance doors. I am not going there again.

 

[kevinmccune]

Harbor Freight this week said that I could not park in between the double entrance doors. I am not going there again.

thank you!