New Bike shop in Oakhurst.

There is a new (and the only) bike shop that opened up in town across the street from 3 new hotels on the Southern Yosemite Highway (Highway 41) just north of Highway 49. Pedal Forward.
I went in for a visit to check out the set up. Being open for a couple of months, as expected, it wasn't packed to the rafters with goodies......yet.
There is a nice mechanics area with workstations for four bikes, and the owners personally work on the bikes.
They will have rental bikes, shuttle services (007 and beyond), maps of everything up here, and a cold one waiting for you after the ride.
I want them to suceed, so I am asking each of you to give me the top 5 things you would like to have/see in a bike shop. This information will be passed on to them.

I am no way affiliated with the shop. Just excited that it's open.

 

Operating hours 6pm to 10am for faqs sake! WTF are bike shops thinking with their 10am to 6pm bullshit when adults are busy working and therefore cannot patronize the business.

 

Got it. So what adult hours would you be open if it was your shop?

 

Non judgmental employees that DO NOT ignore you unless they recognize your face(wallet). I rarely go into LBS's anymore and just about whenever I do the employees look at me like I am an alien of some sort (that may be true). Never do they approach, it's always the customer having to seek out an employee. basically just good customer service would be nice.

 

4 am til midnight sounds about right for the IMTB crew.

One of my local LBSs isn't open on Sundays though, and that's kinda dumb for a bike shop in my opinion.

 

9am to 7pm with typical sales and repair staff, and then a 6pm to 2am shift and 2am to 10am shift, each with one mechanic who can work on the backlog when there are no customers and otherwise charge a premium for parts and immediate service for when someone walks into the store during graveyard shift. The reduced backlog is clutch, as would be brake pads and new cables at midnight the night before a big ride when you go over your bike and realize your pads are shot and/or derailleur cable frayed, etc.

The details can be dialed in response to demand. Regardless of how many people need support in the middle of the night (I do just as often as I do during the day), chipping away at the backlog would make the business model feasible.

 

A vending machine outside, with the little things we find out we need at 9pm the night before an early ride.

or stay open til 10...

 

I always break my ride at night, then look at the clock, "sheet" its after 7, shop is closed. No parts till after work. the rig could be down two days, argh
Happy lonesome cries of the night rider in the purple sage

 

Say what you will about Performance Bike.....but at least they were open til 9:00 during the week.

 

Yep, I made many a trip to the marketplace location when I lived up in Tustin when I was in the middle of after work maintenance and figured out that I needed a quick part.

And I agree with @herzalot , I never could figure out why a lot of bike shops are closed on Sundays when that’s when a large percentage of customers are able to shop.

As for what I’d like to see in a local bike shop, a decent selection of the normal consumables, chains, tires, grips, cables, chain lube, etc. would be good. Also shop rides or at least good local trail knowledge would be a plus.

 

And a good selection of Red Ales or Porters would bring in more riders

 

I'm sure there are a few local brews in the fridge.....

 

They started to have shop rides. I think they will be posting them on the web site.
There are enough of all skill level of riders up here, that can show you the trails.
I will let them know about the consumables that should be in stock.

 

I do know they live in the area. I would have an "emergency" phone number for late night needs.
It would suck to come up for a weekend and not be able to get some parts you need and not be able to ride.........This happened to me, staying in Bass Lake, I broke my chain and damaged my derailer and no bike shops were opened. Ruined my entire time....

 

Thank yall for the comments.
Keep them comming. I will ask them to make thier web site a wealth of information for anybody wanting to explore the awesomeness up here.

 

Coates Cyclery in Pomona had a vending machine full of parts behind a very narrow-slot steel cage outside their doors for "after-hour" DIY support. I thought it was a great idea, but the shop went out of business in 2017 after 83 years in business.

 

https://www.bicycling.com/bikes-gear/g20034647/bike-technology/

 

Yea those security bars need to be much, much closer together when in Pomona...especially if marijuana doobies are in it!

 

One thing I do like about The Path shop (Tustin) is that they respond quickly to texts - I typically text to inquire if they have what I want in stock and their price. Seems more efficient (for both parties) than waiting on hold while "someone looks in the back".

 

I concur. I often text. They respond within minutes. Saves me a lot of time.

 

My mom got me a Schwinn Orange Crate from Coates back in the early 70s. That bike weighed more than I did. But the 5 speed shifter on the top tube, Springer fork and shocks on the banana seat were way cool.
Shopped there many times, Coates was only a few blocks from me as a kid.