Just curious. I've seen my fair share of LBSes in CA and elsewhere.
NONE of them seem to offer regular basic wrenching classes for a fee. I would gladly pay $50 or even $100 per session of wrenching classes, starting from basics up, just to get familiar with the bike. Also seems like a great way to sell accessories, like a class that includes showing you how to change a cassette, having chain whips and cassette removal tools for sale immediately afterwards.
I know some people will say that this just harms the bike store's service dept, but it seems to me it would bring in folks like me to spend money AT the LBS and get to know them, rather than pay cheaper prices online.
Is the business model for wrench classes that poor? I would have thought that in the time it takes to train a 22 year old bright kid to be a decent (not outstanding, but decent) basic wrench in your store, you could have him bring in like $500/hr if say 10 people sign up for a $50 'intro to basic wrenching' class, which covered efficient tube/tire changes, basic barrel adjustment, and pedals. I know this sounds stupid basic learn from a book stuff to most STers, but I know most folks around here would including me would have gladly paid $50 to have a group class where it was SHOWN to me up close on my own bike.
Just curious.
NONE of them seem to offer regular basic wrenching classes for a fee. I would gladly pay $50 or even $100 per session of wrenching classes, starting from basics up, just to get familiar with the bike. Also seems like a great way to sell accessories, like a class that includes showing you how to change a cassette, having chain whips and cassette removal tools for sale immediately afterwards.
I know some people will say that this just harms the bike store's service dept, but it seems to me it would bring in folks like me to spend money AT the LBS and get to know them, rather than pay cheaper prices online.
Is the business model for wrench classes that poor? I would have thought that in the time it takes to train a 22 year old bright kid to be a decent (not outstanding, but decent) basic wrench in your store, you could have him bring in like $500/hr if say 10 people sign up for a $50 'intro to basic wrenching' class, which covered efficient tube/tire changes, basic barrel adjustment, and pedals. I know this sounds stupid basic learn from a book stuff to most STers, but I know most folks around here would including me would have gladly paid $50 to have a group class where it was SHOWN to me up close on my own bike.
Just curious.