A Woman's Guide to Bikes and Biking (Cycling Resources Book) - Softcover

Harrell, Julie

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1892495112 ISBN 13: 9781892495112

Publisher: Cycle Pub, 1999

Synopsis

Women's needs are different when it comes to bikes and biking. In this book, Julie Harrell, who has worked in the bicycle business for many years herself, explains what's important to women and how to get what you need when dealing with (usually male) bike shop sales staff and mechanics.

About this title

About the Author

Julie Harrell has been working in bike shops since 1982, when she began road racing as an undergraduate student in Oklahoma and Texas. She has a Master of Science in Technical Communication from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and works as a freelance writer, editor, and webmaster. She lives with her daughter Resa in upstate New York, where she also helps bike shops set up effective ordering systems and deal with women customers.

From the Back Cover

You can have fun using your bike with the right equipment. Written from a woman's perspective, here's the book to help you choose the best bike for you. The book also explains how to get your bike to fit perfectly and how to select clothing, accessories, and equipment.

Learn about the differences to watch out for, and find out how to get what you really need. The book contains a vast number of useful tips and tricks-of-the-trade to help you get the most out of your bike.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

(From Chapter 8: "How to Get Your Bike Serviced at the Shop") Shop Talk

Find someone who looks as though he is in charge, and show him your complete bike. Spin the wheel, then say this:

"Hi. My name is (your name), and I bought my bike here a month ago. Look at this wheel." Spin, Spin. "What do you think?"

The guy will probably say, "Oh yeah, that looks like it's definitely out. When did you buy it?" At that point, you pull out the receipt and show him. "This is a warranty tune-up deal, so we won't charge you for anything," he'll say. "I'd better get a mechanic to look at this." And off he'll run to pass the buck to the nearest mechanic. So much for that guy. Here comes the mechanic. Spin the wheel again.

He'll probably say, "Wheel's out, huh? Who built this wheel, anyway?' You can probably find the initials of the mechanic who built your bike on the receipt, but that doesn't matter one bit. What matters is that you want your wheel trued on the spot, and they are backed up for a week with repairs.

Try the soft approach: "Well, as you can see, this wheel is out. And it really doesn't matter to me that it wasn't stress-relieved while the bike was being built, because now you are here and you can treat this wheel the way it should have been treated in the first place." He'll blink at the word "stress-relieved," because that's your passport into his world.

He may say, "Uh, yeah, huh, but we're like, really booked up for the next week." Which he is, but so what?" Kick into high gear:

"Yo, dude, I get it that you are busy, but my wheel really needs a good stress-relieving, not just truing, and I hate to complain, but you know, if you can just take care of this now, we won't mention it again." Then offer him a cappuccino or something, just to take the edge off. "Why don't I step out and grab you a cookie, hot chocolate, coffee, tea, while you spend a little time getting to know my wheel?" And then when I ride it again, it won't go ping, ping anymore."

Hand him the wheel and take off. Bring him back a goodie, and chances are your wheel will have a new life.

Edition details

• Publisher: Cycle Pub
• Publication date: 1999
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1892495112
• ISBN 13: 9781892495112
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 95