\u201cBike shops are the worst,\u201d Murphy, who manages Clover\u2019s business strategy, posted.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey flat out reject normal people. Walk in asking for a bike to actually get places, and they look at you like you just farted in a wine tasting.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you\u2019re not dropping \u20ac10K on some carbon racing toy, they don\u2019t care. Ask about racks, lights, or fenders, and they\u2019ll act like you asked them to install training wheels.<\/p>\n
\u201cMost bike shops don\u2019t sell transportation. They sell hobbies. They sell status. They sell identity. And if you don\u2019t speak fluent gear ratio, you\u2019re not part of the club.\u201d<\/p>\n
He continued: \u201cIt\u2019s High Fidelity on two wheels, the record shop that sneers at anyone who just likes music.<\/p>\n
\u201cExcept this time, it\u2019s people who just want to get to work, grab groceries, or ride to the beach without owning a car. And that\u2019s the real shame. Because until the industry stops gatekeeping and starts welcoming everyday riders, the car will keep winning by default.\u201d<\/p>\n
>\u00a0“Brakes. They just slow you down…”: Bike shop’s customer claims brakes “aren’t working any more”… but mechanics horrified to discover it’s worse than they could have imagined<\/a><\/p>\n Judging by the reaction to his post, it\u2019s safe to conclude that not everyone agrees with Murphy\u2019s belief that snooty bike shops are silently propping up the car industry.<\/p>\n \u201cI think you might need to find a better bike shop,\u201d said Iain Montgomery. \u201cSure this is some, but it\u2019s a bit like going into Gucci and asking for a t-shirt under $20. You just wouldn\u2019t do it.<\/p>\n \u201cCertainly know some snooty, and very expensive, bike shops, but they\u2019re the exception rather than the norm.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI feel very much the opposite,\u201d added Anthony Klick. \u201cBike shops are one of my favourite places to visit and the vast majority are very much welcoming.\u201d<\/p>\n Meanwhile, transport planning executive Jeff Peel said: \u201cThis is not only an objectively bad take, but not recognising the importance of neighbourhood bike shops as a vital part of the transportation ecosystem that you’re hoping to develop your e-bike venture in is shortsighted at best.<\/p>\n \u201cBike shops have long been a critical part of ensuring bikes are part of the sustainable transportation mix. Doing away with them erodes the foundation you hope to build on, and in this economy, is really punching down at vulnerable small businesses. Rethink this, please.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n