Coming on the heels of yesterday’s enviro-post I started to think about my bike and when it will be warm enough to ride it to work again. If I’m lucky, it will be at the end of April, and that’s because I have an aversion to cold weather.
But on that subject, did you know Wausau now has a Trek Store? It’s over by Hardees on Stewart Ave (I guess it used to be a carwash?). I’m not totally sure whether it is a Trek-sponsored venture (like a Nike Store) or if that sort of thing even exists, but they only sell Trek and it’s very streamlined and corporate-looking.
What it lacks is any personality, at least for now, that extends beyond the “how can we get you on a bike today?” rhetoric. The other bike stores all have their own, and each have some sort of following (at least the one I go to does), and I wonder if this type of place can pull those people away.
So what say you Wausau? What kind of environment do you prefer when bike shopping? Is Trek even a desirable brand? They’re kind of the Toyota of bikes, in my mind.
Dino Corvino
10:27 pm on March 28th
Andy, I heard about this the first time at a City Council meeting when the owner requested a bigger sign.
As a long time biker, and a Wisconsin boy, I love trek.
My favorite bike of all time is a steel frame Trek 990.
I would gladly pay for a Trek 990 frame, in a 21, from the late 80s.
Andy Laub
7:48 am on March 29th
Dino, that’s what ebay is for! I used to be enamored with Trek, but now that I could theoretically afford a decent one, I see them as decent frames with subpar parts for the price. If I was buying from a mainstream manufacturer, I’d nearly always look at Specialized first. I admit, I am a product of my environment.
Katie
9:02 am on March 29th
I think my Dave has a trek that he loves. He’s always telling me how great it is and trying to get me on board. But I love my pink Earthcruiser. Rib Mountain Cycles is my favorite place. They are always nice to me, even when I feel like a dork.
Dino Corvino
10:51 am on March 29th
ebay is for buying parker jotters
Boogenstein
12:11 pm on March 29th
I have a Mongoose that I bought cheaply at Walmart because it was the previous years model. It gets me from A to B when needed. The saddle is in need of some attention but so is what goes on it! The good thing about cheap bikes is that if they are stolen, there is no heart-break, just a trip to buy another.
Boogenstein
12:12 pm on March 29th
I did buy a Motorcycle on ebay but not a jotter.
Matthew M
12:43 pm on March 29th
I am going to be combing the garage sales this summer looking for a new bike since my last one disappeared. I want something with a bit of character.
Tom Neal
7:36 am on March 31st
I bought a used TREK a few years ago from City Bike and have been pretty happy with it. I like its bike tires, not real thrilled with the “transmission.” Only nagging problem: it’s medium-dark blue (that’s not the problem) with pink trim work (what the heck, why would TREK choose that color combo?). Pink. It’s like I want to take spray paint and do an urban camo job on it. Here’s a question: Do you think it’s okay or uncool to but a basket on a bike? Really. I figure there’s purists who won’t even put a rear carrier on, but a basket?
Last question: what’s with the people who won’t ride their bikes unless they’re dressed in spandex? Like they were in the feaking Tour de France. How pretentious is that!
Tom Neal
7:39 am on March 31st
… “I like its BIG tires” not “bike tires” … it’s a bike, of course it has “bike tires” … cripes.
mackalac
9:18 am on March 31st
Go for it, Tom – put a basket on your bike. I think I prefer the baskets that hang down from the seat on either side of the back wheel (saddlebags!) than the one on the front. Or bike with a backpack. I personally can’t wait until some serious road construction is done on the west side so I can bike to work. Screw $4/gallon gas!