Comments on: Setting Up a Commuter Station

By: Axterix

Axterix — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 16:31:32 +0000

Anyone knows what http://www.Bigloo.es is?

By: Arleigh

Arleigh — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 23:03:27 +0000

Midlife Commuter -

We are very lucky to be able to give you this controlled rant comment feature. I often think forums get out of hand but we want your HONEST opinion.

As for young staff, yes I agree that often the staff is hired as a “filler” for a less per hour $. This might give the customer someone that isn’t as experienced or knowledgeable. I wouldn’t go as far as saying gray in the hair as I hope not to get gray for at least 10 more years! I also have been commuting on and off for 8 years, in various areas of the country. I wouldn’t say I am the most experienced or would want to go to battle with Peter White or someone like that but age doesn’t necessarily mean inexperience.

Thanks again and continue your ranting as you need!!

By: Arleigh

Arleigh — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 23:00:24 +0000

Thank you all who have added your input and opinions. I hope to start working on this little corner within a couple weeks. We are trying to move through some inventory to make this blank slate for our Commuter Station.

Once I start working on it I will post another with photos and a list of things I will be carrying. I think what will be key is not only having “smart” product but having staff that understands why it is “smart.”

Thanks again!

By: Midlife Commuter Crisis

Midlife Commuter Crisis — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 22:55:58 +0000

Someone older than 12 to sell the stuff. No pimples, unless it’s abnormally persistent acne please. And no snotty “I only root for bike racers whose name you can’t pronounce” poseurs either please.

In all seriousness, it helps to have salespeople with some grey hair and experience. All the other cyclists out there are having fun with their hobby, bless them, but this is THE WAY I GET TO WORK. And it’s nice to have the fact that I spend more time on a bicycle than many of the fancy racing bike customers, and that over the years, I will spend more on cycling equipment.

Hopefully all of this counter-attitude will prevent attitude in your new bike station.

Thanks for the opportunity to rant in a controlled fashion.

By: Brent Strange

Brent Strange — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 12:18:03 +0000

Maps are a great idea! I would love to have a bike friendly map of my area, Virginia Beach,VA.

How about an Xtracycle Free Radical hooked up to a bike or as a kit with free installation on purchase with a bike? I have on attached to my Trek 7.3 FX and love it! I take my five year old daughter on errands with it and can go the store for my wife if I need to.

Echo the other comments on fenders and rain gear. Rain chaps from Clever Cycles are great!

By: Digital Dame

Digital Dame — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 04:43:58 +0000

Ah, ok, now I see. Yes, I agree, excellent idea.

By: Juan

Juan — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 21:52:29 +0000

Digital Dame….I have used it, but my point was having it printed next to each item being sold on display. If someone goes into a shop and sees that their bike would pay for itself in 10-15 tankfuls, it might make the purchase seem a bit more logical. New helmet…2 tanks, a rack….1 tank, new riding outfit….3 tanks and so on and so on. My bicycle paid for itself many years ago, and now it’s all just gravy.

By: Digital Dame

Digital Dame — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 19:22:22 +0000

Juan, use the calculator on the right side of the page here to see how long that will take. (kind of up towards the top of the page) It’s going to take awhile for me to equal it all out, probably over a year, but I figure I’m going to have the bike a lot longer than that, and hopefully do more and more riding instead of driving.

By: Juan

Juan — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 18:09:25 +0000

I just saw this in Mens Health, but thought it was a clever idea. They did an article on commuter bikes, and included how many tanks of gas it would take to pay off the bike. It strikes home the point that basically any bicycle related purchase can be justified since it’s all free anyway.

By: Bill

Bill — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 04:24:09 +0000

- Big sturdy pannier racks. (I kept knocking my panniers off with heel strikes until I installed an “expedition” pannier)
– The best of the bike locks. Information (and statistics) on how to use them, perhaps with a demo bike properly locked to something.
– Bells, horns, other commuter noisemakers.
– Best of: headlight options, taillight/blinkie options. Choose the brightest, most effective products.
– A few commuter oriented bikes
– Commuter oriented panniers and bags
– Literature on bicycle safety, effective cycling, sharing the road, anti-theft, bicycle registration with your local police dept, etc.

If you have room left over, consider a little bit of marketing using happy bicycle commuters in poster-sized photo profiles.