. . . because you might be real glad you did. Here’s a short account of how nice they can be to you.
I stop by Birmingham, AL Cahaba Cycles shop earlier this week and ask owner if they rent mountain bikes. I’m thinking that if my knee is ok, I might try the Sunday xterra race after the Saturday sprint. He tells me that their other store, near the race site rents bikes, and he offers to call and reserve one. I say no, I’ll wait and see how the knee is doing.
Today, still feeling the rush after the sprint, I sign up for xterra. I decide not to rent but service my old mountain bike, which has been hanging in the garage for several years, after sitting outside for several years. My son is ready to start riding it, so I might as well spend some time on it.
Two hours ago, I wheel the bike, old hardtail and hardfront seven speed Trek antelope into the shop. (Kids, there was a day when mountain bikes didn’t have shocks.) It has a flat tire, a rack on the back, cables that are brown with rust, most bolts spotted with rust, dry-rotted grips, and reflectors on the wheels.
“I signed up for xterra.” I announce.
“You are going to do it on that.” They say pointing at my bike an laughing.
“Yeah, I rode the loop on this a few years back.”
The owner, salesman, and mechanic shake their heads with concern, but proceed to get cables, housing, tubes, and chain for my afternoon of work.
Then as one of the other employees is wheeling a brandnew-looking Cannondale out to the floor, Cal, the owner stops him and tells me that this is a brand new bike that had been purchased but was returned and traded in. He offers to rent the bike to me for $40 (which is $5 less than they normally charge). Well I had already started dreading the beating I was going to take on my bike riding 29K on rocky, rooty trails, so I didn’t hesitate to say yes.
Basically, he did me a big favor. My race is going to be much more fun. This is why it pays to support your local LBS.