Roadie shops serving the tri community

Triathlon Forum
1

Our team is going to be sponsored by a big high-end(colnago, time, litespeed, assos, castelli, etc…) roadie shop. The shop would to better serve the team and the tri community so they are looking to get some tri-specific gear. The shop has started to get in a few Felt and Litespeed tri-bikes(of course they refer to them as TT bikes) and is working w/ Cervelo now as well. I am going to help the owner place some orders but I have a few questions for the ST crew:

Do any of you shop at the roadie shop for your tri gear? Would you if given the chance?

What types of items do you feel work best in this type of situation? -The shop isn’t turning into a tri-specific shop, but will have a dedicated tri-section.

Would any of you buy simple swim gear at the lbs?(goggles, cords, fins, etc…)

What are your thoughts on a lbs carrying wetsuits?

What would you like to see your local lbs carry tri-wise?

**Apparel - **

In what styles/sizing do you find frequent shortages when shopping for tri apparel?

In what styles/sizes do you often see a surplus?

Any thoughts/ideas would be apreciated. One simpler but less comprehensive idea would be to stick with tri gear as it relates to bikes.

2

My LBS has lots of tri gear. They have tri bikes, as well as TT bikes, wetsuits, goggles, fins, apparel, bodyglide, number belts, packs, etc. - about the only thing they don’t have is running shoes. I think that must be left to the running stores, but everything else that they carry is fine. The caveat is that they should educate at least one (full-time) staff person on all of this stuff in order to be able to sell it intelligently; having an experienced triathlete or two on staff would be best.

3

Here on the East coast there a very few, if any Tri-specific shops. (I’m in NY)

So I have to do most of my shopping at the lbs, which does offer some selected “tri” merchandise. Although I can usually get what I want online, I like to try clothing on before purchasing - however, this is usually the area where the lbs is truly lacking.

I’m on the smallish side (5’5", 135 lbs) and getting the right size is always a challenge.

As to your specific item questions: As a relative tri newbie I will say that the thing that is often missing from the lbs is good multisport info. For example, I can usually get better specific information regarding a product here than I can at the lbs. This would be especially pertinent with items such as wetsuits - proper sizing, etc. So to me, knowlegdeable staff would be the most important aspect of customer service for an lbs looking to become more “tri-friendly.”

4

“Do any of you shop at the roadie shop for your tri gear? Would you if given the chance?”

Yes and yes

“What types of items do you feel work best in this type of situation? -The shop isn’t turning into a tri-specific shop, but will have a dedicated tri-section.”

Conversion gear - forward seatposts, clip-on aerobars , shorty aerobars, and handlebar drink systems, race belts, etc.

“Would any of you buy simple swim gear at the lbs?(goggles, cords, fins, etc…)”

Yes, but don’t kill yourself with inventory. Just get a few pair of clear and smoke TYR and Speedo goggles. TYR also makes some decent tri suits.

“What are your thoughts on a lbs carrying wetsuits?”

It’s a lot of $$$ to tie up for a small shop. It depends on how serious they are.

“What would you like to see your local lbs carry tri-wise?”

Tri bikes in all sizes. They don’t need to carry 10 different brands. I’d rather see a shop carry only Felt and QR but have 20 bikes, than see a shop with 20 bikes spread among 10 different brands and with very few good sizes.

“In what styles/sizing do you find frequent shortages when shopping for tri apparel?”

Men’s medium and large is always missing. I’ll let the ladies speak for themselves on where inventory is bad for them.

“In what styles/sizes do you often see a surplus?”

Men’s small and extra large.

Jaylew - Based on personal experience - listen to your customers and your employees. Do not try to tell them what they want if you want to keep both happy.

5

Not to throw a monkey wrench in the works, but…I do most of my shopping online because of the two large LBS’s in my area that serve triathletes, one has no real knowledge of triathlon gear, their selection is terrible(i.e. they carry one brand of wetsuit) and they charge retail for everything, including the stuff that is often discounted everywhere(I’m sorry, you want how much for an Ultegra chainring?!?). The other has a good selection, and reasonable knowledge, but they openly discount all gear 15% ONLY to their club members, with membership being a limited, application-based process that effectively excludes everyone who wasn’t a member last year unless they have high attrition. So my inclination is not to give them an extra 15%.

We also have a FastSplits store nearby, and they are pretty good, but they need to improve their inventory. The last time I went there, I wanted to express my appreciation for their help by purchasing some stuff, and they didn’t have anything in stock(of the four items I was looking for) for me to buy.

I guess that the bottom line for me is that I would love to shop at the LBS if I could get the parts that I need for the same price and in the same amount of time as mail order. As it stands, I can usually get what I need faster and cheaper at performance, trisports, or tri-zone.

6

Are the two large LBS’s that you are speaking of Wheelworks and International? If so, I couldn’t agree more with your post. Mail order is currently my preferred method as well.

7

“Do any of you shop at the roadie shop for your tri gear?”

I’ve noticed that a number of the traditional roadie shops are starting to move into tri merchandise. It’s a good business move as it expands their market. My wife bought her P2K at a high end roadie shop. Cervelo was the lowest end product and only tri bike line they carry. The rest was all high end road bikes.She got a better price there than at any to the tri shops so it didn’t bother her. Their fitting however was more of a TT position which we later changed.

8

Oh, you’re good. But sub Landry’s for International and the situation is the same.