• LBS: Bicycle Doctor, Podium Multisport, & All3sports
  
• De Soto
• Tririg
• Garmin
• FLO
• HED
• Silca
  

ditto on Flo and Hed. I love them both, its just the dollars that separate them. I would also like to talk about Kermesse Sport. their events are super fun, staggeringly reasonable, and always seem above and beyond.

Haha, yeah. Some folks might see both on a list and wonder how someone could support directly competing products. They are both that good.

competitive cyclist/ backcountry

Without reasons it's just like reading a pro's singlet.... Except not of a pro

Adventure cycles in Auckland new Zealand.... Not only do they have the biggest stock of retro parts to fix anything on the spot, and he used to be a gentle hearted lawyer that retired to start a bike shop and help special needs people.... Great bike rentals for easy prices..... awesome maintenence know how.... One time my mountainbike suspension broke off the day before before a race, and I thought the frame and race was total loss.... he welded the frame and machined a custom pulley guide which worked perfrctly then told me with a huge grin,that it was on the house because it was a fun bike to work on... Talk about a place with heart! Also cool t-shirts

I like them too

De Soto I felt this way long before I became an ambassador.

Powertap- For IM Maryland 2014 I rented a 808 with powertap when I put it on the bike my LYC would not pickup the G3 hub. I called around locally seeing if anyone had a Joule no luck. I called Powertap explained the situation and the Tech sent on free of charge to my hotel.

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All I Wanted Was A Pepsi, Just One Pepsi

Team Zoot, Team Zoot Mid-Atlantic

check out the links in my signature and mentions on my Instagram posts

HED
Stages (power meters) - best customer service I've ever received.
Yakima
REI
Rapha
Ridge Supply
Stance
Jim at ERO Sports - http://www.ero-sports.com/2018/index.php

Reasons! List your reasons!

No one cares if you just lost off a bunch of companies. Tell us why!

LBS: The Bike Store in Warner Robins, Georgia.

When I first started riding I had no idea what I was doing. Took my bike in with a flat. The guys fixed the flat and did some basic wrenching all free of charge.

I try to support them as best I can though I live farther away now.

Seems kind of silly to list all the companies that I support because they do good things. I buy their stuff so I like them and continue to vote with my dollar instead of the bad ones which are easier to list but I will play along...……

Kroger: because they sell me food that keeps me alive. That is a good thing

FLO – Quality wheels for the price, great customer service

XLab – Lots of innovative accessories that solve problems, great customer service

Infinit – Excellent customizable nutrition that works for me, great customer service

Tri-Shop (Plano, TX) – A tri-focused LBS that does it right in my opinion, from bike fits (via Trent Nix and team), events that bring together the local tri community, useful videos, etc.

It seems I wasn't clear enough in my original post.

No one cares if you patronize a place because you like their stuff. Let's stick to places you patronize because they went above and beyond, exceeded expectations.

Kiwami - ordered kits for my collegiate team through them. Not only are they amazing to work with, delivering design updates within the hour of you making a request, but when mine arrived with a hole in it less than a week out from nationals they overnighted me a new one so i was set for the race

HED. Gave me a new tubular rim when i had doubts about a front wheel i purchased used

Backcountry/CC. Numerous deals over the years. They supported collegiate cycling, and i was a beneficiary

Giro - Twice I have broken my Aerohead visors and called them to buy replacements. Both times they sent them to me for free, no questions asked. I felt like this was above and beyond my expectation.

I three. They even had an account rep call me (I'm just a regular customer) asking if I was happy with the purchasing experience and he gave his name and direct line in case anything was ever wrong.
Really turns into a great experience that's not an lbs that I don't visit anymore, or an Amazon that I really don't want to support.

Ps I boycott the boycott thread

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NO

DeSoto
HED
Starbucks
Patagonia
Dicks sporting goods
Slowtwitch.....

Not currently boycotting anyone, all of the places or products I would boycott, I just dont use anyway, so not really a boycott..

Mile 26 - local run shop
Hypercat Racing - LBS
DeSoto
HED

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Team Zoot So Cal

Ero-sports
Cycleops/Saris/powertap
Power2Max
First Endurance
Canyon
BBInfinite
Voler
Shimano

Hope Technology.
Why... British made (really, not just designed here then made in China). And they understand filthy crappy British riding conditions, and design for it.
Plus all their products are fully servicable with parts available for many many many years after- I dont like the disposable approach to life, and this allows repair when (eventully, after many years without amy maintenance) is needed.
PLUS they turn up and do tech support at many mtb races - eg they changed out the bearings on a 5 year old rear hub for me, 10 mins before a 24 hr mtb race. (Failed as the sttooopid owner (me) had ridden through 2ft deep water
A week before... and found that was just too much for the hub when heading to the start line ! Saved having to drop $300 on a cheapo wheel at the event just to do the race.

RUN FOREST run shop, in Matlock, UK.
Just all round enthusiastic, knowledgeable, fantastic service.
I'm never going to cover the shop in any glory by winning anything. Yet nothing is too much trouble. As an example the guy spent well over 2 hrs sorting the right run shoes for me on my 1st visit, with video etc for each pair I tried, until we narrowed it down what was best for me, given my gait, past history with some other shoes, what I was using them for, etc. Just because he wants things right.
And he's been the same with Everyone else who's been since from my recommendation.

Flo - super responsive. Email response great. Pick up the phone and get a human who can answer questions. Informative podcast. Good pricing. Nice wheels.

TrainerRoad- Love that I can post on the thread and get advice about my plan/calendar. Informative podcast. Nice youtube videos.

Local:
Bicycles Plus (Coppell, TX - http://www.bicyclesplustx.com/)
Chiropractor (Dr. Ron)/PT - http://www.recoverwithpurpose.com

Other:
Trek bikes
Fusion apparel

• TrainerRoad because of their excellent customer service, overall company ethos, company mission and solid innovative and innovating product
• Vasa: great company ethos, solid product
• Bonzai Sports: which just transfered ownership but they were the best in the DMV. Now that I am a Canuck I support Trek Kingston not because I like Trek but because they are the most supportive and least snooty LBS between Toronto and Ottawa
• Multisport Canada because they have a great race series for all levels of racers
• Stryd for their company support (they have kinks to work out but they are working on them and I give them credit for that)
• Everyman Jack because of their support of their team and the sport (I am not a member but still love the company)
• STAC because it’s a solid product and they do a great job supporting local athletes and races
• TriRig. They go above and beyond in their products

I would say all of the above go above and beyond in one way or the other be it in support (of me and/or the sport), ethos, design, innovation, or just being nice (kind of like Google’s don’t be evil but none of them have )

Amen to your anti-boycott thread!


PremierBike is a wonderful company led by a genuinely honest and thoughtful person (Dan Kennison). Dan's customer service is unparalleled for it's attentiveness and fairness and he backs his excellent product(s) 100%.

Imagine if every company we transferred our hard-earned $ to in exchange for their products could be described as above...

Trek (Australia)

For how they managed an issue with my P1 Madone and standing by their customer and product. Outstanding

I really love Garmin. Yes, I've had issues with their products but their customer support is top notch, and they've always helped me resolve my issues. I go out of my way to recommend it to friends and family. Over the holidays we bought a Fenix 5X and a Garmin dash camera from bestbuy, where I usually get the extended warranty offered by them, but not for my Garmin stuff, I know I'll have a better experience dealing with Garmin.

I love Haribo. Nothing to do with the company, I could just eat bags of them daily.

 
Precision Hydration

Thanks to these guys, I discovered that my usual nutrition products were largely under supplying me with electrolytes, leading to serious decrease of perf after few hours. I'm a salty sweater, and in the heat use happily their 1500 product.
Few bottles of PH1500 plus some gels and thats good for me for hours.

OK, they are english and I'm french, nobody is perfect

Also, pastas and pizzas and beers ...
Thanks to the Flying Spaghetti Monster
http://www.pastafarian.co.uk

Second Dan at Premier! De Soto as well...

DeSoto - Products are great, customer service is even better.
Wahoo - Quickly replaced a Tickr that I was having issues with, no questions asked.
Aftershokz - Sent me a new set of headphones when mine stopped charging, again no questions asked.
Garmin - Replaced a 735xt after two years when it started having issues. Love how their stuff just works well for me.

Fortunately, I've had a lot of good experiences with companies in this industry and very few bad ones :-)

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Blog | Strava

MikesBikes is my LBS
Enve Wheels
Parlee Cycleworks
BMC bikes
Walmart bum wipes
Rapha Clothing
Garmin electronics
Shimano groupsets
Berk saddles
Specialized helmets
Giro Shoes
Viva Paper towels

Another ditto for Premier Bike. They came around after I bought my bike, but I bought other stuff from them. Killer quality and service. They will be on my short list for whenever I make my next bike purchase.

Vuori workout clothes - they replaced two pair of my workout pants after my duffel bag got mangled at BNA by the bag handlers.

Southwest Airlines - they've gone beyond when I've had travel issues

Gravel City Adventure & Supply Co. - THE Dirty Kanza bike shop in Emporia, KS. Bought my bike from them when I was home visiting my dad and they've taken good care of me long distance and when I've been back to Kansas. If only I could find the same here in Nashville.

Nashville Predators Hockey Club - they bend over backwards on customer service, both for my season tickets, but also getting tickets for away games and dealing with merch and other shows at Bridgestone. The president himself took care of getting us a kids club package sent to a little girl we know in Texas who has cancer and is a big Preds fan.

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clm
Nashville, TN
https://twitter.com/ironclm | http://ironclm.typepad.com

also,

fellow forumite @mybikeshop. excellent customer service and great communication

and for LBS, Spokes Etc. in Northern VA. knowledgeable, caring staff. also really takes care of repeat customers

 
AMICA insurance. No kidding, they're absolutely the best.
HOKA. Awesome product, awesome service. Won't run in anything else, ever.
Youtube TV. Goodbye, Comcast. Everything you want, 1/3 the price.
Harry's. That's how a business should treat customers. Simple, easy, quality.
Amazon & Prime. They do simply amazing things, realtime.

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- I do all my own stunts

Agreed to this!

I'm curious if any LBS (what's the plural of LBS?) call and check in with people after purchases. That could make sense after a bike or other large purchase. The boycott thread is ridiculous too. Pretty thinly veiled bigotry throughout.

These aren't triathlon companies, but they've provided me with ridiculously positive customer service experiences: Marmot, Big Agnes, Canon Camera, Glock and Chewy.

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https://connect.garmin.com/modern/profile/domingjm

Blue Ridge Cyclery (the LBS I use)
Bontrager
Roka
Saris
Stages
Giro helmets
Garmin watches/headunits
Trek
First Endurance
Subaru
Shimano DI2 road/TT groups
SRAM mtn groups (well, Shimano brakes)
Kinetic Multisports events
Charlottesville Multisports events

Flo - besides the price point, they were willing to take an order and delay shipment for me so that I would be home for the delivery and also guarantee I could be in on that specific stock rollout. Small thing, but in dealing with pretty much any other major brand I haven't seen much flexibility

If you're in the Bay Area, specifically Oakland, King Kog bike shop is awesome - I went in to upgrade a gruppo and a couple other things, and they swapped out the stock bar on my bike for a nicer bar with a bit more modern drop design (this is a Cannondale CAAD9, so it's not like they took a nice stock bar off on me without permission. They were being genuinely good spirited). After patronizing the store a couple more times, I came in needing a spare bike shipping box to move, and they gave me one and didn't give me a hard time about not buying anything that trip in.

And if you're in Amsterdam, Maats Cycling Culture is a good alternative to Rapha. Lot of similarities, but I appreciate the locally run nature of the shop, and I'm now friends with the owners and they're always fair to me and give honest appraisals of gear knowing how I buy.

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Chasing PB Podcast Latest interview with Eli Hemming on Targeting a US MTR spot in Tokyo

Sigma sports in london

They manage a combination of:

Staff who care about what they do
Staff who know a lot about what they do
Value for money

They also seem to act as a bit of a hub for local cyclists at weekends. I bought a load of stuff from them recently after being let down by another shop and they bent over backwards to help, offering a lot of advice and expertise. I wouldn't really shop any wherever else for my bike stuff now unless I was going second hand

Non-tri
White Plains Chrysler - A car dealer with an exceptional service department
Leary's Liquor - Incredible liquor store in town. Great service, product and can get about anything you want.

Tri Stores
Bethel Cycle Works - very knowledgeable and friendly staff.
Kiwami - Great customer service with a great product

Races
Toughman - Many years ago the RD stopped by the hospital after a race where I had an issue to make sure I was ok.
Toughkids - The 1'st race that my older son ever did. 12 years later he's still racing (but now in adult races)
Westchester Triathlon - NFP race that has been around for a long time and give a lot of money to Charity.
Rev3 - High quality races in cool locations focused on shorter course racing.

+1

Bought a new stages left sided PM from CC in 2017. Used it for about 100 miles and HATED it. It was awful. Tons of dropout, erroneous readings, wouldn’t calibrate, etc. Emailed them about options. They called me within the hour and asked what I’d like to replace it. They gave me a return shipping label for the Stages that was now used and I had a new Pioneer left sided PM on my doorstep 2 days later. Have since purchased a bunch more stuff from them.

In that vein, I'l go with Wawa: Can always stop in for drinks, snacks, coffee, and such while on a ride and their gas is a couple cents cheaper than others in the neighborhood

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"What's your claim?" - Ben Gravy
"Your best work is the work you're excited about" - Rick Rubin

Going for both.

Wawa is great on price and FREE air for your car tires. Their machine let's you preset the pressure you want so it's fool proof.

Kroger is always open, even on holidays, for people who forget or if there is an emergency.

And I'm going to miss Performance Bike giving away the store.

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Indoor Triathlete - I thought I was right, until I realized I was wrong.

I haven't yet taken the leap of faith to use an adapter and try it on my bike tires

I'll be sure to get a pic, when I do

****

I'm gonna have to scope this out, and see how many Wawas are still "viable"

https://www.mapmyride.com/...-wawas-route-1263046

I may have to create a whole new one - I'm thinking a southern Camden County/Gloucester County edition

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"What's your claim?" - Ben Gravy
"Your best work is the work you're excited about" - Rick Rubin