The Old Guy Bicycle Blog

The Benefits of Choosing a Local Bike Shop for Your Bike and Gear Needs As a cyclist, buying a new bike or gear can be an exciting yet daunting experience. With so many options available, it can be challenging to know where to start. However, one option that should not be overlooked is visiting your local bike shop. Not only can a local bike shop provide you with personalized service and access to professional bike services, but it can also offer numerous other advantages that are hard to find elsewhere. I know firsthand the benefits of choosing a local bike shop. I owned a Specialized AWOL that had about 30,000 miles on it, which I had purchased from a local bike shop that I really like and use all the time for bicycle-related gear and service. One day, the bicycle chainstay cracked in half, and I took it to the bike shop, just wanting to see if anything could be done to fix it. The picture with this article is the actual cracked bike. The owner of the bike shop asked me to leave the ...

If you're planning a multi-day tour, you know how crucial it is to have a reliable bike. Don't risk getting stranded on the road! I am a seasoned cyclist who has ridden thousands of miles. I can attest to the importance of investing in a quality bicycle. Personally, I ride a Specialized Diverge and it has been a fantastic bike for me. In fact, I rode it for 962 miles across Texas in 2020 without any issues. And the best part? I didn't even have to pay for it! Here's how it happened: during a training ride on my Specialized AWOL in January 2020, the chainstay suddenly cracked. Thankfully, Specialized offers a lifetime warranty on their frames, so I took my bike to my local dealer. They were able to replace it with a Diverge in just a few days. While I still prefer the ride of my steel-framed AWOL, the Diverge has been an excellent training bike. It has also been a great option for touring. Although I'll likely purchase a new steel-framed bike for my nex...