Ok, tomorrow is Black Friday and we are gearing up for the black friday and Saturday sale. Just because things have to stay interesting, it is 11:30PM Thursday night and the snow has started to fall. Anyway if the snow is not too deep, come on in tomorrow we have some crazy stuff going on. Lane, Levi and I are holding down the fort at the shop tomorrow, so we know we are a little understaffed, but whatever, if we can get the cars through the snow it is all good.
To be fair, Black friday deals will continue through Saturday so if you don't make it in tomorrow, the deals will keep on as long as we still have stock.
As a heads up, Bike tubes are 40% off, this is on top of our regular volume discounts, so if you want to stock up, and buy 6 or more tubes, pricing will end up close to $2/tube. Definately come in for that. 30% off all tires means that we have road and MTB tires starting at $7/ea so if you need a cheap trainer tire or even a new race tire, this weekend is the time.
All sorts of other crazy stuff is on tap as well, we have dropped our in store price on Kinetic Road Machine Fluid Trainers to $240 for the weekend. Shred Sleds, normally $120 have been price slashed to $69, but Schoen convinced me to do a buy one get one free deal on them so if you buy one for $69 I will throw in a second one.
All skate stuff is 10% off even the new moonpop that just came through the door. We also just got a new Yoachler Complete skateboard that that is tagged at $55 that will be sold for 49.50 sometime this weekend.
Basically what I am saying here, is if you have been putting off any bike or skate purchases you need to come to the shop, there will probably be some great deal that you can find, and almost everything is on some sort of sale including all the bikes. See you there if my car will make it.
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Being the third shop
For the second time this week I have heard the opening line… "You are the third shop we have tried so I am not real hopeful but…"
We were able to square the customer away within a few hours in each situation, but it got me to thinking what is it that we are doing differently that makes these "impossible requests" something that we consider a normal part of our day. In both cases the request was simple, but the customer was looking for a low cost, slightly uncommon part. What I realized, was that the issue was not the availability of the part, but the quality of the people we have on board, and the basic philosophy of the shop.
Despite our internet side allowing us to grow a little too big for our own britches, we remain at heart a small town shop. Small town shops have the simultaneous advantage and disadvantage of having a limited customer base. This means that we know most of the people who walk through our door. We race with them, we live and work next door to them, and if they come in twice, we consider them a regular.
Where we might differ from the typical small town shop is that because of our internet division we don't shed half our employees for the winter like many shops do. Everyone who works at Goose Creek Cycle is here all year round. This means that all the guys have a better idea of how our systems work and have more of an interest in the quality of service we provide.
So twice this week, we were the third and final stop for customers who may have come to us from a little further than normal. The first was actually from a business that had a contract with another local shop to do their work. They were looking for a specific seatpost that their shop didn't have in stock. Neither did the second shop they tried. Neither did we.
The difference was that our guys took the time to look up the part, realize that a Louisville based distributor had them in stock. I took the long way in to work, picked up the part and had the customer rolling by 10am the next day. This was something simple that any of the other Louisville base bike shops could have done, but for some reason or another they didn't know they could or weren’t willing to go that little bit extra on a $13 seatpost.
As I wondered why the other shops wouldn't do this, I started watching my guys and realized that this was not an isolated case. This is just how they have become accustomed to thinking. Twice today I heard Schoen say "I don't have one in, but let me check if they have it in Louisville I can probably have it tomorrow"
Now a Flashback. Back to when I worked for someone else in a medium sized shop in Lexington. I don't actually remember much about the repair, except that is was something that most mechanics wouldn't bother with. I think it was a cone and axle that were trashed out in the hub of a WalMart bike. I was able to fix it with some parts out of both the shop and my personal junk box. What I do remember is the smug little smile my boss gave me. "Congratulations, you fixed his baby" he said. Whether he meant that he wished I had just sold the kid a new wheel, or that he was glad that I had done it, I never did figure out. What was clear to me in that little smile was that he along with most mechanics wouldn't have bothered. I guess maybe it is that I never knew which way he meant it that made that moment stick with me. Either way, I did in fact fix that one persons baby, and since then I have always prided myself on being able to, and willing to work on and fix things that most mechanics won't touch.
Back to today…
"Well I have already tried two other shops, but you guys said you were always up for a challenge, so here it is." We had related to her earlier how we had completely disassembled a big-box exercycle and replaced a bushing (in a spot where if the manufacturer cared about quality they would have used a bearing), and about the time we used Stans solution to fix a chronically flat dolly wheel. So she thought she would push us.
Sitting in front of us was a trike. None of the parts were standard bike shop type parts. The trike was the favorite of a special needs child, but the front tire was completely destroyed. The tire was hard rubber and the rim not designed for clinchers. The hub had a huge bolt for an axle, larger than a 15mm through axle, but not quite a 20mm. I will have to admit I was stumped. I was sitting on the floor trying to figure out a way to hand build a 20mm through axle hub around a 12 in rim, and shimming it in without being cost prohibitive when Schoen figured it out.
30 minutes later, Schoen was back from the tractor supply store with a perfectly matched wagon wheel. "Congratulations, you fixed his baby"
So anyway, it may be that we just have too much free time at Goose Creek. Or it may be that we just like a challenge. Maybe it is just pride in what we do. But it sure did feel good to be that third shop that took the time to figure out the problem and solve it.
Here is hoping that we never get so big we don't have time to try the weird stuff.
Here is hoping that we never get too good to look in the junk box.
Here is hoping we never tell anyone "If it didn't come from here we won't fix it"
Here is to being the third bike shop
We were able to square the customer away within a few hours in each situation, but it got me to thinking what is it that we are doing differently that makes these "impossible requests" something that we consider a normal part of our day. In both cases the request was simple, but the customer was looking for a low cost, slightly uncommon part. What I realized, was that the issue was not the availability of the part, but the quality of the people we have on board, and the basic philosophy of the shop.
Despite our internet side allowing us to grow a little too big for our own britches, we remain at heart a small town shop. Small town shops have the simultaneous advantage and disadvantage of having a limited customer base. This means that we know most of the people who walk through our door. We race with them, we live and work next door to them, and if they come in twice, we consider them a regular.
Where we might differ from the typical small town shop is that because of our internet division we don't shed half our employees for the winter like many shops do. Everyone who works at Goose Creek Cycle is here all year round. This means that all the guys have a better idea of how our systems work and have more of an interest in the quality of service we provide.
So twice this week, we were the third and final stop for customers who may have come to us from a little further than normal. The first was actually from a business that had a contract with another local shop to do their work. They were looking for a specific seatpost that their shop didn't have in stock. Neither did the second shop they tried. Neither did we.
The difference was that our guys took the time to look up the part, realize that a Louisville based distributor had them in stock. I took the long way in to work, picked up the part and had the customer rolling by 10am the next day. This was something simple that any of the other Louisville base bike shops could have done, but for some reason or another they didn't know they could or weren’t willing to go that little bit extra on a $13 seatpost.
As I wondered why the other shops wouldn't do this, I started watching my guys and realized that this was not an isolated case. This is just how they have become accustomed to thinking. Twice today I heard Schoen say "I don't have one in, but let me check if they have it in Louisville I can probably have it tomorrow"
Now a Flashback. Back to when I worked for someone else in a medium sized shop in Lexington. I don't actually remember much about the repair, except that is was something that most mechanics wouldn't bother with. I think it was a cone and axle that were trashed out in the hub of a WalMart bike. I was able to fix it with some parts out of both the shop and my personal junk box. What I do remember is the smug little smile my boss gave me. "Congratulations, you fixed his baby" he said. Whether he meant that he wished I had just sold the kid a new wheel, or that he was glad that I had done it, I never did figure out. What was clear to me in that little smile was that he along with most mechanics wouldn't have bothered. I guess maybe it is that I never knew which way he meant it that made that moment stick with me. Either way, I did in fact fix that one persons baby, and since then I have always prided myself on being able to, and willing to work on and fix things that most mechanics won't touch.
Back to today…
"Well I have already tried two other shops, but you guys said you were always up for a challenge, so here it is." We had related to her earlier how we had completely disassembled a big-box exercycle and replaced a bushing (in a spot where if the manufacturer cared about quality they would have used a bearing), and about the time we used Stans solution to fix a chronically flat dolly wheel. So she thought she would push us.
Sitting in front of us was a trike. None of the parts were standard bike shop type parts. The trike was the favorite of a special needs child, but the front tire was completely destroyed. The tire was hard rubber and the rim not designed for clinchers. The hub had a huge bolt for an axle, larger than a 15mm through axle, but not quite a 20mm. I will have to admit I was stumped. I was sitting on the floor trying to figure out a way to hand build a 20mm through axle hub around a 12 in rim, and shimming it in without being cost prohibitive when Schoen figured it out.
30 minutes later, Schoen was back from the tractor supply store with a perfectly matched wagon wheel. "Congratulations, you fixed his baby"
So anyway, it may be that we just have too much free time at Goose Creek. Or it may be that we just like a challenge. Maybe it is just pride in what we do. But it sure did feel good to be that third shop that took the time to figure out the problem and solve it.
Here is hoping that we never get so big we don't have time to try the weird stuff.
Here is hoping that we never get too good to look in the junk box.
Here is hoping we never tell anyone "If it didn't come from here we won't fix it"
Here is to being the third bike shop
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Goose Creek Skate Partners with The Game Room
Ok, so every now and then things fall into place very quickly and cool things happen. We have just started a trial run with a skate "Hotspot" at The Game Room in Crestwood, KY. The game room is actually a really cool place to hang out, play Video Games, Pool, Trade games etc. But as of today it is also a place where you can pick up skate stuff. While it is not a full skate shop, this little hotspot will provide a small line of skate products for the local kids who may not have the time or ability to get into a car and drive to LaGrange (or heaven forbid Louisville) to get set up with a broken part. So with a couple of decks, some trucks, hardware wheels etc, there is a good chance that the gameroom will have what it takes to get them rolling again.
Also in the works are some competitions and some other little projects that will hopefully open up some new skating opportunities in the city.
So if you are in the Crestwood area and you want to stop in just to play games or whatever, check out our little addition and spread the word.
Also in the works are some competitions and some other little projects that will hopefully open up some new skating opportunities in the city.
So if you are in the Crestwood area and you want to stop in just to play games or whatever, check out our little addition and spread the word.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Will Gibson featured on Crankin site
Goose Creek Employee Will Gibson got himself featured on the Crankin Wax site, which was cool. Pic Below.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Left side drive cranks
And for the next installment of random tech questions that we get here. Periodically we come across an interesting question or get the same question enough that it warants being added to our tech qustion section of the blog. This week the question "why cant I just swap my left and right cranks to make a left hand drive system"
Ok, backing up a bit. First what is a left side drive and why would you use it? The idea is basically that by moving your chainring, cog and chain to the left side of the bike instead of the right, you can get them out of the way if you want to grind on the right. Other than that the bike works the same way. Basically you only see this on BMX bikes.
There are two problems with going to a left side setup. THe first is that you need a special hub because if you just flip a normal one around then your cogs work backwards. The question of the cranks is a little more interesting, and the first though that people have is "can't I just switch the cranks and run them backwards". The simple answer is, "yes you can, but..." There are two problems with running your cranks backwards. Both problems arise from the fact that your pedals are now backwards. The fact that the platform is now backwards is only a problem if you are using clipless pedals. In order to make your clipless pedals work, you will need to disassemble them and switch the axles so that you have the left axle in the right pedal and vice versa. So this problem is solved but it brings us to problem 2.
The threads on the pedals axles are designed that when you pedal normally (forward) the pedal action actually helps to tighten the pedal onto the crank. Now that your cranks are backwards, your pedal motion tends to unscrew the pedals from the cranks. To combat this you will need to overtighten the pedals and posibly apply some threadlock or locktight to keep the pedals from falling out.
All this is a long way of saying, "yes you can just switch the cranks, but there are some special considerations to take into account" We recomend that instead you take one of the three following options.
1. Leave your drive on the right where it is supposed to be.
2. Use a Spline drive cog on the left (attaches to your BB spline rather than the crank.
3. Spring for some Left Side Drive cranks.
Ok, backing up a bit. First what is a left side drive and why would you use it? The idea is basically that by moving your chainring, cog and chain to the left side of the bike instead of the right, you can get them out of the way if you want to grind on the right. Other than that the bike works the same way. Basically you only see this on BMX bikes.
There are two problems with going to a left side setup. THe first is that you need a special hub because if you just flip a normal one around then your cogs work backwards. The question of the cranks is a little more interesting, and the first though that people have is "can't I just switch the cranks and run them backwards". The simple answer is, "yes you can, but..." There are two problems with running your cranks backwards. Both problems arise from the fact that your pedals are now backwards. The fact that the platform is now backwards is only a problem if you are using clipless pedals. In order to make your clipless pedals work, you will need to disassemble them and switch the axles so that you have the left axle in the right pedal and vice versa. So this problem is solved but it brings us to problem 2.
The threads on the pedals axles are designed that when you pedal normally (forward) the pedal action actually helps to tighten the pedal onto the crank. Now that your cranks are backwards, your pedal motion tends to unscrew the pedals from the cranks. To combat this you will need to overtighten the pedals and posibly apply some threadlock or locktight to keep the pedals from falling out.
All this is a long way of saying, "yes you can just switch the cranks, but there are some special considerations to take into account" We recomend that instead you take one of the three following options.
1. Leave your drive on the right where it is supposed to be.
2. Use a Spline drive cog on the left (attaches to your BB spline rather than the crank.
3. Spring for some Left Side Drive cranks.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
UK cycling team scores big wins in season opener
Goose Creek Cycle is proud to have supported the University of Kentucky Cycling team for the past few years, and it looks like this season is going to be another great one. This weekend was their season opener at Murray State and they guy pulled down the win on both days of racing despite a screw up with one of our distribuertytors wherin all their race wheels showed up as tubulars instead of clinchers. Anyway, I have taken the liberty of copying a portion of team captain Drew Lavey's race repoet below:
Murray State Collegiate Race Weekend
Saturday, February 27, 2010
After a night in a tightly packed hotel room full of 7 riders, 7 bikes, and all the appropriate gear we rolled out of “bed” and enjoyed a nice breakfast provided by Whole Foods of Lexington Green. We headed to the race course of the day, which was a relatively flat 2 lap course totaling 32 miles. After a very short warm-up, our race started with a rolling start. For the first lap we sat in the peloton waiting to make our move. The first lap was controlled by the Purdue team and the second lap the IU team took a turn keeping pace but in the last 5 miles our team took control. We picked up the pace substantially which strung out the peloton. We had our team out front with Ian Baker, Scott Ashcraft, and Patrick Sims taking turns pushing the pace. With less than a mile to go there was a crash splitting the front group in half. Then the other riders in our group started to try to make their moves for the win but Luke Avery and I covered everything they threw out. With about an eighth of a mile to go Luke began the lead out for me. After he pulled off there were two guys in front of me but I new I had it. I jumped on the second rider’s wheel. The first rider ran out of gas as we entered the final 100 meters then I kicked it in crossing the finish line inches in front of the IU rider.
With the first race of the season I was a little skeptical to see where my and the rest of our team’s fitness would be but as I expected it was there. We worked flawlessly together for our first race making the rest of the season look very promising.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Sunday morning we had our criterium. The race consisted of a 6 corner ¾ -1 mile loop for 30 minutes. The first 10 minutes of the race were pretty quick with the riders at the front trying to weed out the tired/newer riders. After about 15 minutes the race started to slow down a little bit. Our team took a few turns at the front trying to position ourselves for another win. With 5 laps to go that pace really picked up again with Patrick Sims and Ian Baker taking some good turns at the front while Luke Avery and I sat back a little bit waiting for the right move. Going into the final 3 laps Luke and I were sitting third wheel, we held our positions still waiting for the right time to strike. In the last lap with three turns to go a few riders started to pick it up. We covered them and held our position after the last turn we knew we had it again. I began the lead out for Luke with just a few meters to Luke took control and sealed another win for us. For this race we took first and second finishing a perfectly planned and implemented weekend for racing
Friday, February 26, 2010
2010 KHS Flight 100
Ok as the bling bikes start rolling out we will update you with some pictures of some of the custom bikes as they go out the door. Come on, face it everyone loves eye candy. Anyway, this last one we built up is pretty much stock besides the addition of a freewheel on the flip flop hub, but it is beautiful right out of the box so we thought we would share. Below is a 2010 KHS Flight 100 Track bike in Aztec Gold. Very nice bike it is heading out the door tomorrow so if you want to see it in person, stop by today.
Ok as the bling bikes start rolling out we will update you with some pictures of some of the custom bikes as they go out the door. Come on, face it everyone loves eye candy. Anyway, this last one we built up is pretty much stock besides the addition of a freewheel on the flip flop hub, but it is beautiful right out of the box so we thought we would share. Below is a 2010 KHS Flight 100 Track bike in Aztec Gold. Very nice bike it is heading out the door tomorrow so if you want to see it in person, stop by today.
Ok as the bling bikes start rolling out we will update you with some pictures of some of the custom bikes as they go out the door. Come on, face it everyone loves eye candy. Anyway, this last one we built up is pretty much stock besides the addition of a freewheel on the flip flop hub, but it is beautiful right out of the box so we thought we would share. Below is a 2010 KHS Flight 100 Track bike in Aztec Gold. Very nice bike it is heading out the door tomorrow so if you want to see it in person, stop by today.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Spring is here and the wrenches are getting HOT
Spring is here?
Wait didn't it snow today?
And Yesterday?
And the day before?
Ok if you are a basketball fan you think it is still winter, but if you are a cyclist, you can smell spring and the road is calling. What this means is that it will be an act of sheer will-power to put down the wrench and get out on the shop ride tomorrow morning.
Things are starting to get crazy here at Goose Creek.
The team guys are all dialing in their bikes and we are building as fast as we can. Our riders on the UK cycling team have their first race this weekend and the guys are switching over from winter training parts to race rigs. Our new start up off road endurance team is putting the final touches on the sponsorship roster. Trainer rides and gym work are transitioning into epic road rides and weekend road trips to find trail frozen enough to be fast.
On top of all this prep work we just had a couple shipments of Demo bikes arrive from Niner bikes. The new bikes are getting pieced together slowly in between builds for customers and team riders. I had always had respect for the things Niner was doing, but the full scope of the how nice these frames are had not hit me until I got my hands of the frames and started building. If you have not seen one of these in person yet you need to come on down and get your hands on them. Cutomers bikes are the priority right now so the demos are not all built up, but we are getting there. Look for pictures of some cool custom builds to shop up shortly.
Ok, enough babbling I am building wheels and need to get back to it. After all, spring is here and there are bikes to be built.
Wait didn't it snow today?
And Yesterday?
And the day before?
Ok if you are a basketball fan you think it is still winter, but if you are a cyclist, you can smell spring and the road is calling. What this means is that it will be an act of sheer will-power to put down the wrench and get out on the shop ride tomorrow morning.
Things are starting to get crazy here at Goose Creek.
The team guys are all dialing in their bikes and we are building as fast as we can. Our riders on the UK cycling team have their first race this weekend and the guys are switching over from winter training parts to race rigs. Our new start up off road endurance team is putting the final touches on the sponsorship roster. Trainer rides and gym work are transitioning into epic road rides and weekend road trips to find trail frozen enough to be fast.
On top of all this prep work we just had a couple shipments of Demo bikes arrive from Niner bikes. The new bikes are getting pieced together slowly in between builds for customers and team riders. I had always had respect for the things Niner was doing, but the full scope of the how nice these frames are had not hit me until I got my hands of the frames and started building. If you have not seen one of these in person yet you need to come on down and get your hands on them. Cutomers bikes are the priority right now so the demos are not all built up, but we are getting there. Look for pictures of some cool custom builds to shop up shortly.
Ok, enough babbling I am building wheels and need to get back to it. After all, spring is here and there are bikes to be built.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Bling is good
It is rare that people would ever be jealous of a bike shop owner, but if you have found your way to this blog, you might actually understand this one. Every now and then you get to rediscover why you are in this business in the first place and a little bit of bling just carries you away from the rest of the world for a while.
For those of you who have been paying attention to Goose Creek for the last week it might have seemed like there is not a lot going on. The FedEx guy hasn't been coming and going as much as normal, the website just blinks you over to a "our site is down" message, and we have been keeping our energy costs down by not losing heat from customers walking in and out.
So from the outside it may seem like we are just hibernating for the winter. The opposite is very much true. Bike and Skate guys alike have been franticly working on the new improved site, getting products uploaded, categories and search functions working properly. I have been on the phone almost constantly with tech guys from three different companies trying to figure the programming.
On top of this we are putting together a pro/Elite Endurance team and we have been negotiating with sponsors and gearing up for all that is involved with a team of this caliber.
Somewhere in all this it the simple fact that this is supposed to be about riding bikes has slid into the background. But as I said before, there is nothing like a little bling to snap you out of a funk.
The nice thing about being the boss is that you can pick your projects. So you can be assured that if a Huffy comes through the door, Schoen will be your mechanic and I will be working of something else. Today's project was a little different.
At 7:30PM, and hour and a half after close, I grabbed a stack of tools and pile of parts for a little home wrenching. By 9:30 PM dinner was done, the little man was in bed, and I pulled a $1200 hub out of the bag and started lacing it up. (Sorry Schoen, no bling for you, I claim this one)
Before I go further, let me say that if you don't build your own wheels, you need to start. There is some sort of zen experience involved that I can't really explain. Visit SheldonBrown.com and he will help you through it.
Now mind you, tonight was not a typical disappear into the basement with a six pack of beer and wrench until you get the urge to raid the fridge night. This is a Caffeine Free Diet Coke so your hands don't shake night. Somehow an old Trance CD seemed fitting and computer synthesized music blaring in the headphones seemed to go nicely with the slow spinning of an alien looking PowerTap hub with enough technology to launch a space shuttle.
I build wheels slowly. I am not one of these guys that builds 20 wheels a day, so I lace them up one spoke at a time. Keyspoke first, Driveside Trailing spokes next, and group by group the wheel comes together. Headphones come off so I can hear the rim in the truing stand. Tension comes up 1/8 of a turn at a time, there is no shop mechanic that will sort out any slush in the build later. The wheel is tensioned into dish, and true and round are checked after each round of tensioning. Two Hours dissapear.
By midnight where there had been a pile of parts, a ZTR 355 / Powertap / Revolution 29er Mountain bike wheel sat spinning in the stand. If you could walk into a store and buy this wheel if would cost you over $1400, more than the average cyclist is willing to spend on the entire bike. And if you bought this particular wheel from a bike shop your would probably be thinking that the shop owner would be really excited for such a big sale, but you would be wrong. The reason for that look he has on his face is that this one wheel, that one project, that one piece of craftsmanship is the reason he is in the shop in the first place. In a world where cheap machine build junk is a dime a dozen and there is still a place for products that are crafted rather than assembled. He would have built that wheel for free.
12:15am
Time to trade the Caffeine Free Coke in for something with a little more kick and return to the real world. There are products to be uploaded to the site and we need as much of it done as possible before the shop ride at 10:30 in the morning.
For those of you who have been paying attention to Goose Creek for the last week it might have seemed like there is not a lot going on. The FedEx guy hasn't been coming and going as much as normal, the website just blinks you over to a "our site is down" message, and we have been keeping our energy costs down by not losing heat from customers walking in and out.
So from the outside it may seem like we are just hibernating for the winter. The opposite is very much true. Bike and Skate guys alike have been franticly working on the new improved site, getting products uploaded, categories and search functions working properly. I have been on the phone almost constantly with tech guys from three different companies trying to figure the programming.
On top of this we are putting together a pro/Elite Endurance team and we have been negotiating with sponsors and gearing up for all that is involved with a team of this caliber.
Somewhere in all this it the simple fact that this is supposed to be about riding bikes has slid into the background. But as I said before, there is nothing like a little bling to snap you out of a funk.
The nice thing about being the boss is that you can pick your projects. So you can be assured that if a Huffy comes through the door, Schoen will be your mechanic and I will be working of something else. Today's project was a little different.
At 7:30PM, and hour and a half after close, I grabbed a stack of tools and pile of parts for a little home wrenching. By 9:30 PM dinner was done, the little man was in bed, and I pulled a $1200 hub out of the bag and started lacing it up. (Sorry Schoen, no bling for you, I claim this one)
Before I go further, let me say that if you don't build your own wheels, you need to start. There is some sort of zen experience involved that I can't really explain. Visit SheldonBrown.com and he will help you through it.
Now mind you, tonight was not a typical disappear into the basement with a six pack of beer and wrench until you get the urge to raid the fridge night. This is a Caffeine Free Diet Coke so your hands don't shake night. Somehow an old Trance CD seemed fitting and computer synthesized music blaring in the headphones seemed to go nicely with the slow spinning of an alien looking PowerTap hub with enough technology to launch a space shuttle.
I build wheels slowly. I am not one of these guys that builds 20 wheels a day, so I lace them up one spoke at a time. Keyspoke first, Driveside Trailing spokes next, and group by group the wheel comes together. Headphones come off so I can hear the rim in the truing stand. Tension comes up 1/8 of a turn at a time, there is no shop mechanic that will sort out any slush in the build later. The wheel is tensioned into dish, and true and round are checked after each round of tensioning. Two Hours dissapear.
By midnight where there had been a pile of parts, a ZTR 355 / Powertap / Revolution 29er Mountain bike wheel sat spinning in the stand. If you could walk into a store and buy this wheel if would cost you over $1400, more than the average cyclist is willing to spend on the entire bike. And if you bought this particular wheel from a bike shop your would probably be thinking that the shop owner would be really excited for such a big sale, but you would be wrong. The reason for that look he has on his face is that this one wheel, that one project, that one piece of craftsmanship is the reason he is in the shop in the first place. In a world where cheap machine build junk is a dime a dozen and there is still a place for products that are crafted rather than assembled. He would have built that wheel for free.
12:15am
Time to trade the Caffeine Free Coke in for something with a little more kick and return to the real world. There are products to be uploaded to the site and we need as much of it done as possible before the shop ride at 10:30 in the morning.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Slow day at command central
Website conversion is almost complete. It is January. It is raining. Perfect time to open up command central at the shop. Good news is that this will double as living quarters for employees who are working late.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Sneak Peek
The new shopping side of the website is under construction, and the guys are uploading products, descriptions and images as fast as they can. You can check out a sneak peek here Our instore database is liking to the site as we speak, and we should be able to process orders within the week (Probably tomorrow). The site should also start looking a lot prettier by next week. So for those of you that like to be on the cutting edge, you can start looking around.
Also watch for some special promotions coming down the line. We will be linking up some likes that act like coupons and having some contests. For example, the first 100 unique customers to order from the new site will receive a 10% discount off all their future orders for life. (Not a bad reward for fighting through our site in the current disorganized fashion.)
Also watch for some special promotions coming down the line. We will be linking up some likes that act like coupons and having some contests. For example, the first 100 unique customers to order from the new site will receive a 10% discount off all their future orders for life. (Not a bad reward for fighting through our site in the current disorganized fashion.)
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