Crazy Bike Shop Cont'd

Accidentally hit Send on my iPhone. 

Continuing.... People are coming in and out asking...

"Do you have this bike and
Do you have that bike?"

And Dale and Mannie are flitting from bike to bike and wheeling bikes in and out and people are circling the shop on bikes live bees around a hive which is an apt description for this place. 

And the phone rings and Mannie answers it and gets Dale's attention and says...

"So and So wants to know if you'll have his bike ready this evening."

Dale says "Tell him I'll drop it by his house on my way home."

As he's wheeling a Multi-colored girl's bike out to a tow headed 10 year old girl. 

And Dale spends 15 minutes in the parking lot familiarizing a guy with the operation of a slick 3 wheeled job that sets close to the ground - an older gentleman who walked in with great difficulty with a cane. 

This place is special. It's been open since 1954 and several people tell me under hushed breath throughout the day that Dale is a legend in the bicycle industry in the Northwest. 

And I don't doubt it. 

He had my bike out of the box and put back together in about 10 mins.  Here's a shot of the beginning of this process. 

I spent part of the day gawking and druling over bike after bike. 

Like a Trek Soho with an 8 spd Nexus internal hub

Followed by a wood trimmed beauty 

Also with an internal hub. 

Turns out Angle Lake Cyclery builds Rohloff hubbed bikes and was one of the first shops in the US  to do so. 

And Dale had me try this bike - kinda like pedaling a chopper if you can imagine that - it was a Very Cool Ride!

And this monster Trek 29'er with twin tubes in the front

I spent the rest of the afternoon buying a few items I needed:
- a pair of long waterproof breathable riding pants
- a pair of waterproof booties that fit over your cycling shoes
- swapped out my Ergon GP2 ergo grips for GP5Ls
These are awesome grips and give you even more flexibility in hand positions

I'll finish up in the next post.