Locals Only!!!!!

Does anybody remember that show on X96 on Sunday nights? It was called Locals Only, and they played, well, you know, local music. The sound effect at the beginning was a guy screaming the title, and it kind of stuck in my head. Like the line from Robocop that Todd Nuke'Em used to use, or the "Are we there yet? Do shut up Portia" that Portia used to use. Actually, all of those things could still be happening, but I wouldn't know. After I started commuting on my bike and using my ipod, I haven't really found a reason to listen to the radio for the last 3 years or so. Bill Allred pointed this out at the Bike Film Festival last summer, saying something about how more people riding bikes was bad for him, because it meant they wouldn't be listening to his show in the morning. Good point Bill. My cell phone does have an FM tuner, but I never bothered to get the special headphones for it, because, well, morning radio sucks. Even X96.



(lethargic cat listening to the "Radio from Hell")

Oh right, the point of this was that Corey showed me a guy calling himself "the Bike Guy," who repairs bikes and tunes skis and stuff out of his garage. His website is http://www.thebikeguyslc.com

I haven't ever been there, but he seems pretty cool. Over the past few years, I have been attempting to learn everything about bikes, building them and acquiring the tools necessary to make all repairs myself, but there always comes a time when I have to hand it off to somebody more experienced. So I'll definitely give this guy a shout the next time my bike needs help, which is basically now. I also thought I'd give a rundown of all the Salt Lake area shops I've used, and rate them on a scale of one to ten tri shorts.


These are just based on my very limited experiences with each, but the first impression is the most important right? Also not included is the Bike Collective, because that is not really a shop as much as it is a second home, so I'm a little biased.

(In no particular order)

Taylor's Bike Shop
Pros- Good road, BMX selection, helpful, friendly staff, decent prices. Also the closest shop to where I live now.
Cons- Lackluster mountain bike range.
Items purchased-Brake pads, tune-up, spacers, pump, tube.
Score= 7 shorts



Saturday Cycles-
Pros- Cool little shop owned by my friend Mark. Great selection of commuters and touring bikes.
Cons- Only open on Saturday, also in Centerville.
Items purchased- None (yet)
Score= 9 shorts



Wild Rose Mountain Sports
Pros-Great selection of mountain and road bikes, good service. They have a dog.
Cons-Expensive!
Items purchased-Oury grips, spacers
Score= 7 shorts



Contender
Pros-Amazing selection of road bikes a few track bikes, I didn't even look at the mountain bikes, (couldn't stop drooling) Staff helpful if not excessively friendly.
Cons-Expensive! Also I felt inadequate just being there, which is my own fault, but still a factor on whether I will go back.
Items purchased-Brake pads
Score=7 shorts



Cyclesmith
Pros-Always very friendly staff, good selection of stuff that other shops don't carry. Also a cool blog on their website - http://www.cyclesmithslc.com
Items purchased- Brake pads (do you see a trend?), fenders
Cons-None so far
Score= 10 shorts



Guthrie
Pros-Sometimes good service, used to have two locations, including one close to Traxx, but now they don't, so it's not really a "pro."
Cons-Sometimes lousy service, snobbish staff, only one location nowadays.
Items purchased-Wheel
Score= 5 shorts



Bicycle Center
Pros-Good selection, helpful staff, good service.
Cons-Bad location for anybody without a car.
Score=7 shorts



That's pretty much it. There are other shops, of course, but I haven't been to those so I can't say. I'd have to say overall I have been extremely impressed by the level of service and helpfulness of bike shops here in the Salt Lake area. I've lived in the valley about 3 1/2 years, and the only time I ever felt like someone was condescending and dismissive was at the Guthrie downtown. And then again at the other Guthrie.

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