Thursday, June 4, 2009

Bike Shop Frustration

So I had an interesting (read: shitty) weekend and had hoped to race at my first TT on Sunday morning, the Bong 30K out in Kenosha, WI. It would have been just for fun, but I wanted to put a new computer on my bike since Th. ripped my other one off as we taking apart my headset. I am cheap and usually buy the computers with a wire because the wireless ones get interference anyway. I took my bike in on Friday afternoon and asked the mechanic if they could put on my new computer and put a little cappy-thing on the cable that was sticking out of my rear derailleur so that I wouldn't keep scratching my right leg. He also suggested I get a tune-up or at least have my headset adjusted as it was somewhat loose. I told him I didn't have time for the tune-up as I needed the bike by Saturday evening, but if they could fit in the headset adjustments, then that was okay.

Saturday was a busy day as I swam with K. and met with my first client! (I am writing her monthly training plans for an October marathon and am working with her twice monthly on strength training. P.S. - I am working on getting certified as a PT by NASM and hope to be certified in August.) Anyway, I lost track of time a little and strolled into Benefit Boutique and decided to play with makeup and have my eyebrows waxed. In the middle of the yanking and tweezing I realized it was 4:58 and that I thought the bike shop (which will remain nameless but it rhymes with Stony Cop and it is in Evanston) closed at 5. I raced over there and my eyebrow waxer lady even called them to wait up for me - to no avail. I called and called as well, and pounded on the door at 5:04 and there was NOBODY there. I left a rather mean voicemail and figured I would be out of the running for the race the next morning. The other bad news was that I had a 102 fever later that night so I probably shouldn't have raced anyway.

Well, I waited until today (Thursday) to see if the folks from Stony Cop would call me but they didn't. I called and asked to speak with the floor manager who proceeded to argue with me (though in a reasonably calm tone of voice). When I asked that he comp part of the cost of services since they slacked a little in terms of their customer service, he insisted that I was "beating them up a little." Whatev. Stay at the freakin' store until 15 past the hour to cash out, clean up and take care of shit. I know you have families and all, but give me a freakin' break. At least call me and tell me bike is done.

I am now 100% convinced that bike shops attract angsty, sexually-repressed people (mostly guys, but also gals) to work there. Unfortunately I also worked at a bike shop last year. But I am not sexually-repressed or angst-ridden. I only lasted 2 months.

A pox upon you, Stony Cop!