Asks probing questions and makes assumptions that may offend some people, but clearly was only concerned with making my ride enjoyable. Great selection, too!
My partner and I were on a self-planned bike trip, camping and cooking and carrying everything along on our tandem bike from Boston to P-town, with stops on Martha's Vineyard. I've done a lot of these - over a year's worth of bike-based travel, in my lifetime. I was on a new saddle (bad idea) and began to have terrible saddle pain. Time to replace the saddle with something - anything - else. This shop popped up as my only option for a place to buy bike parts of any kind nearby.
Fast service, a caring eye, and a large selection of supplies is what sets these guys apart from the rest. I had a popped tire and stopped in here. It was fixed in no time flat and the guy that fixed it recommended me a sturdier tire for the road. Super nice and not too expensive!
On a bright note, I replaced the spoke myself that night and had a great 62 mile ride around MV in the morning. If you have any bicycle needs on the Island, go to any other bike shop, but this one.
I broke a spoke on a 30 mile loop from Vineyard Haven to Chilmark and back. I stopped at Cycle Works to see if I could get the spoke replaced. I had also forgotten my seat bag at home (off island), so I planned on purchasing another with all of the contents I usually carry, e.g. CO2 cartridges, multi tool, CO2 inflator, spare tube... I then met the owner and he asked if I wanted just the spoke or if I wanted him to replace it. I replied " I'll make a deal with you. If you replace it, I'll purchase a bunch other things I need". Knowing that he wouldn't really make any money on replacing a broken spoke. But before I could even finish my sentence, he turn around said he "I don't make deals. Go somewhere else, goodbye" and he walked into the back room. I was left standing there dumbfounded. It was around 5 pm and I needed a replacement spoke if I was going to ride a 62 mile loop around the Island that I planned on doing the following morning. So I followed him into is work area. He then proceeded to lecture me about how he has been running his shop for 40 years and without knowing anything about me or my bicycle repair abilities began to tell that I needed to learn how to adjust my rear derailleur prop, to keep the chain from falling off the rear cassette between the it and the spokes. The 2001 Trek 2300 I had brought with me I bought 2 years ago and it still had the original wheels. I have put on over 2000 miles myself on the them and had never had the chain fall. At this point I just wanted a spoke and I'd replace it myself, since the wheel wasn't even out of true. He insulted me a few more times, but finally agreed to sell me a spoke. I have never had a worse experience at a local bike shop than this one.
This guy was like Thenardier in "Les Miserables". Manipulative in the worst possible way. I still can't help but feel slimy whenever I think about him. I'd agree with some of the other reviewers. I think it really was the worst bike shop I've ever visited.
Now, I used to work at a bike shop. I know how to be a good customer. So I approached the owner as politely and knowledgeably and humbly as I knew how. He was awful! He walked all over me, insulted my partner, and decried my supposed bad judgment for doing a bike trip like this in the first place. But I had no choice, and he knew that. I had to buy a new saddle. So I bought the cheapest thing he had, although it was heavily marked up.
One of the worst experiences of my life.
Up to then, my visit had been going as expected. Bike shops are notorious for being condescending and expensive. Fine. But I couldn't believe what happened next. As he swiped my card, he asked if I had "any consideration" for him. It took me a moment to realize what he was asking. This guy had the gall to ask me for a tip! I was floored. Speechless. And the horrible thing is I think I gave him five dollars extra. I don't know what I was thinking. But he sure knew which buttons to push. It is horrifying to me, how powerless I felt across the counter from him.
Cycle Works Martha S Vineyard is a US Bicycle Store based in Tisbury, Massachusetts. Cycle Works Martha S Vineyard is located at 351 State Rd, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568, USA.
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