Sara Brown
Dave and Louis, the store manager, were super friendly and helpful! I went around to about half a dozen shops to ask questions and look around. I haven't ridden for 15 years, and have gained a whole lot of weight in that time, so I was looking for professional guidance.
Initially, I was looking for a hardtail mountain bike, because that's what I road as a kid, and I'm hoping to build up my skill and fitness to get out on some proper trails. I didn't do a lot of challenging riding back then, but the more technical rides I did are my fondest biking memories. Dave was very informative, but crucially convinced me that a full-blown mountain bike with a suspension fork and all probably wouldn't be the best option for me as I get back into riding. He suggested I'd be more comfortable on a hybrid or comfort bike, and that, in the beginning, making it easy to get out and ride is going to be more important than where and how I want to be riding in 2 or 3 years. As a person, I tend to lean toward spending a little more now to avoid spending later, but $900 is also a hefty pill to swallow! I want to highlight this, because Dave could have just as well gone the route of other shops in showing me $600 or $700 options - which would have been fine, none of the other shops felt dishonest or scummy - but instead went the extra mile in talking to me about an option that ultimately was about $550, after tax and with all the accessories I need, out the door. He and Louis were both very knowledgeable and answered all my questions, eventually leading to a layaway order for a Verve 2 Lowstep in Rage Red.
There was a little delay in getting the bike ready for pickup, caused by the rush of business at the start of the season, and a factor out of their control. No big deal, things happen! What was important to me, though, was that they were communicative throughout the process, and Louis was very attentive in letting me know what was happening and what my options were. At the end of the day, it was a Wednesday when the bike arrived at the shop and the following Monday when it got home, rather minor.
Before going for a quick test ride, I noticed the rear break felt inconsistent and they did a quick service for me right then - took 5, maybe 10 minutes. Test ride went great, and they gave me some tips as a returning rider who - let's be real - never learned "properly" in the first place lol
I drive a 4-door sedan and decided to hold off on getting a trunk rack, because I plan to start off slow near home. I was pretty confident it would fit in my car, because the front axel is quick release, allowing me to take the front wheel off to transport and put back on at home. I 3D printed a brake caliper spacer to bring with, after reading online that this was a thing I would need. Before walking out with the bike, Louis showed me how to remove the front wheel, put the spacer in, and rethread the axel. He also explained what to feel for, to know when it's been threaded in far enough to close the clamp.. latch.. part. I don't remember what it's called, but it's the same sort of tensioner that holds the seat in place. Then, before helping me load it up in my car, he showed me how to put the wheel back on and how to check that the brake rotor was aligned properly, and how to realign it if the brakes were rubbing! Even gave me a couple "official" caliper spacers to take home lol
These guys were really friendly and super helpful. I had good experiences at other shops as well, but I think the deciding factor was Dave taking the step beyond considering what mountain bike would work best for me into considering if a mountain bike was really the right choice. One other shop did mention hybrid or comfort bikes as a consideration, but Dave was more thorough and thoughtful in making the recommendation, rather than just a mention.
Bit of a bummer that it's Trek only, but if that's what you're looking for, I'd happily recommend this shop!