The mail order places also are an alternative to the large bike shop chains like Bike Barn and Bicycle Spectrum here in Houston. The staff in those places is pretty ignorant, especially about anything even vaguely classic. You get about as much service from Nashbar. There are a few better shops in the Houston area, and I try to support them, but even they are focused on Trek or Cannondale. Haven't seen a single Brooks saddle in any Houston shop. And when I tried to buy a Terry Butterfly in the shop which sponsors my club, they didn't have any in stock. Unfortunately, shops like CdO are becoming pretty rare.
Regards,
Jerry Moos
Houston, TX
<classicrendezvous@bikelist.org> Sent: Friday, June 11, 2004 8:20 AM Subject: [CR]Was: "green Brooks", now caveat re: local shops vs mail order.
> In a message dated 6/11/2004 8:52:50 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
> OROBOYZ@aol.com writes:
>
> << Any shop (esp. your favorite community bike shop which whom you
> have developed a good rapport and who supports local cycling, in contrast
to
> that mail order source who offers lower prices but sucks the money from
your
> local community...) should be able to supply one via many distributors.
>>
>
> I realized right after I sent that somewhat peevish comment that many
> communities do not have helpful, interested bike shops and many mail order
folks do
> supply products not readily obtainable in those communities. Some CR list
> members are providers of that sort of valuable service.
> Nonetheless I do urge every one to try to develop that relationship with
that
> local shop, and keep the funds working in your locale to the greater
benefit
> of all. Those mail order folks too frequently depend on low prices to
offset
> their inability to be there in your town, answering your questions,
supporting
> rides and events and providing competent technical service. Without the
> support of local folks, these shops will not ever emerge/survive.....
>
> My (biased) 2 cents!
>
> Dale Brown
> cycles de ORO, Inc.
> 1410 Mill Street
> Greensboro, North Carolina 27408
> 336-274-5959
> fax 336-274-6360
> <A HREF="http://www.cyclesdeoro.com">cyclesdeORO.com</A>
> <A
HREF="http://www.classicrendezvous.com./main.htm">ClassicRendezvous.com</A>