Bean269

Being a small shop owner, although not bikes, I try to support my LBS's but this was a recent visit. Wife and I are looking at a full susp bike each, I was scouting about the locals to see what was available. The local shop had bikes but the most completely uninterested staff. Literally not one word, not even a reply to my 'Good Morning' and I was only person in at the time. Thinking this was just one of those days, we all have them, both of us popped back a week later so wife could have a look. Exactly the same, no reply to a greeting and no service. So stuff em, online we will go. Now this is obviously just my local shop vs the thousands of good ones, but in a small business the only advantage you have is customer service, if it's too much effort then yes, they will die out. Conversely for our cheap hard tail bikes we had superb customer service at one of the big retailers where you half expect a jobs worth attitude.

I think cost is a factor too on this, if you are just starting a hobby a cheaper decent hardtail is not such a big investment on a hobby/sport you are potentially not sure on. How my wife and I have started and yes when we can afford a suspension bike eaach we will but the hardtails are ideal to start with