I recently had a great conversation with a client about why they came here to get their bike from us. We spoke about various experiences at other shops that they and some of their friends have had, both positive and negative. It was that conversation that made me realize that we are truly doing things right. Here is what we think makes us the best place to buy your bike.
First off, we guaranty our bikes and services. We completely stand behind what we do. I doubt anyone else can honestly say that. These bikes are not inexpensive and we treat every purchase as if it was our money because at the end of the day, it is.
The brands we sell are without question the best available. We sell what we believe in, not what's easy to sell. The fact is, you get what you pay for with these guys. You can not find better ride quality in the industry period. We stand behind this statement whole heartedly. We could sell anything here and in fact all the major brands tend to send in their troops regularly to try to get us to sell their bikes but we don't feel that anything measures up to our standards. That is the plain truth. We are always looking into other bikes and when we find something that is good enough, we'll sell it.
Custom. I have heard some say that custom bikes are often "weird" geometry or "risky". That is true if you work with a shop that doesn't understand the process. Shops that sell custom brands but don't have qualified fitters don't make much sense, and in that case, you could get one terrible bike. That doesn't make custom a bad choice, just make an informed decision. I've often heard the sales pitch from other shops stating that no one "needs" custom. They say everyone can fit on a stock bike unless you're 7 feet tall or injured. Well, there could be truth to that but custom goes FAR beyond just fit. That and you can make anything work, but making something perfect is different from "making something work". We also sell quite a few stock bikes if that's what you're looking for. That said, it's rare that someone's custom geometry is so different as to make it odd. Look at different production brands and you'll find different geometries, that is not odd, it's just not the same.
We also build the bike better than other shops. I've worked at plenty of shops and I'm still often reminded of the fact that there are some seriously...lazy or inexperienced mechanics out there. Safety is a serious concern here. A bike also performs differently when it's done right. Don't chance it, this is something we're proud of, we can make a bike sing like no one else, guaranteed. The level of mechanical experience and commitment to detail you'll find here are rare.
The fitting services we offer here are of the same quality. In fact, there are two of us here who no longer do much fitting and we have more knowledge and experience in the field of fitting than the majority of bike fitters in the Bay Area. Although we do have a number of different certifications under our belt here at Bespoke, anyone can go to fit school and get certified, it's experience that matters. This experience and our commitment to our clients is what sets us apart.
Attitude goes a long way. Yes, we are a high end shop but there are truly no judgements. We welcome all different kinds of cyclists. A lot of shops say that but here it's true. We like cycling. It doesn't matter what kind. Mountain biking, road riding, touring, track, Lycra, baggies, wool, who cares. Let's all be nice to other cyclists and understand that anyone on a bike is having a great time, at least one would hope so. Some people have said to me they were intimidated when they first came in here because the shop was clean and we have very nice bikes. Once they came in, they understood who we are and what we're about, helping. We admit to being a little spoiled by having such great bikes but we truly appreciate what we have here. That doesn't mean we look down on anyone riding a different bike than us. The elitist, macho attitude toward bikes and cycling gear that we see all too often does nothing good for our sport or for us, pure and simple.
So what are we about? We want everyone to have the same feeling we do when we are on our bikes. We want everyone who wants a new bike to understand just how good it can be. We carry the products we like and the products we feel will deliver the best experience. We believe in supporting North American bicycle manufacturing, it matters! We believe in an honest days work. We believe in smiling at other cyclists. We like going fast, who doesn't. We know that we're damn good at this, and we get better every time we sell a bike. We know that we can and we want to get better. There are a lot of good bike industry people around here, it's competitive, that also makes us better. Our shop is clean because we're proud of it, not because we're snobs.
We are your local independent bike shop. What does that mean? For starters, the money you spend here stays in your community. Well, Uncle Sam gets plenty but rest assured, a greater percentage of the money that gets spent here goes back into your community and the cycling community than most other shops. The people who build our bikes are here in the states and in Canada. These are cyclists, artists, craftsmen, and simply passionate cyclists who love OUR sport. We support local charities and local organizations that help our city to continue to be the best place on Earth. We support local schools, clubs and the list goes on. The mail order companies that are undercutting every real bike shop on price are doing far less or nothing at all to make cycling better for all of us.
This post is not meant to be high and mighty, it's not meant to put any other shops down either. The fact is we're doing this right, we wouldn't be open otherwise. Personally, I won't do anything for a living that I don't fully believe in. If you want the best bike you can possibly buy, come and see us. and we'll put everything we've got into making sure you have the best ride of your life.
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