episode 139: imposter bike shop employee

there are two bike shops that I frequent pretty regularly now a days: Henry's Bike in Pike Creek, and Bike Line in Newark. Both shops have been very kind to me, and help support my racing. I appreciate that. Both shops also are successful at creating an environment where folks like to hang out. And as such, from time to time I have been known to hang out at these shops.

Sometimes whilst hanging out customers will confuse me for an employee of the shop, which I love, even though I know that my knowledge of bikes and bike parts and in general mechanics, is pretty poor. I mean, it's not a mistake that I ride a single speed mountain bike, really it's pretty simple. But, I digress my last such encounter went something like this:

customer,"excuse me, I was wondering if you could tell me the difference between these two bikes?"

me, excited to help, " sure, I'm happy to help, first off this one over here is blue, and that one, that one over there is yellow."

customer looks at me a bit confused.

Me, still being very helpful, " now, I'm no expert on the trek product line, but let me say that both of these bike are what industry types like to call hybrid bikes. That means they are designed to be comfortable to ride, some are designed to lean towards the mountainside, some lean to the road side. This one has skinnier tires, and bigger wheels, and leans to the road more, this one has bigger tires, and smaller wheels and leans toward the mountainside"

customer feeling a bit better, " well, I'm buying this for a 13 year old girl, which way would you go?"

Me, coming clean, "ma'am let me be honest, I don't work here, I'm just hanging out, but my guess would be go with the mountain style bike, it's a little more burly and could likely take the beating a 13 year old might lay on it."

customer slightly embarrassed," oh, I'm sorry, I thought you worked.."

Me, " no need to apologize ma'am, I kinda have that look, and besides, I was happy to help, do you want me to get someone who really works here to ring you up? "

customer, "no we are just shopping now, but thanks for your help..."

I won't even mention the day Rick let me work at Henry's as a substitute. that was bliss

Nice group this morning for the early bird special out of my place. 7:30 am for a 3 hour tour at fairhill.

super duper. Matt (run forest), Buddy the leg breaker, Kurtee, Jay Jay, Mr. Doyle, Dennisbike, Alan the cleaner, Tom (papa smurf) and Fitzy joined me for a fun little ride. They have some cool logs over at fairhill that have fallen, and have been made into trail challenges. We played on those a bit. Mr. Doyle complained the ride was too flat. He can climb up walls, freakin' 110lb monster.

Matt (run forest): "I'm looking at the bios on the twinsix page. You see the nicknames: Fatmarc, the picture shows fatmarc, you look at it, and go, yeah he's kinda husky, I can see that, you see Buddy the leg breaker, and you look at the picture and go, yeah look at that guy, he's an animal, I can see that, then you look at me Matt run forest. Then you look at the picture and you go, yeah he looks like forest gump, I can see that... "

by the way Matt, thanks for telling me I was number one today. (see first picture)

good times.

check this out: funny ass shit.

and this: good looking jersey. a good cause too. Really would you expect anything less from the boys at Twin Six?

stay in school.

respect.

fm

sorry to anyone whose link was lost in the transfer of formats. I think I got everyone, if I missed one that your looking for let me know, I'll get it back there.