I ran a pedicab shop, did all the mechanic work, have built many bikes from frame up. I can do basic fittings, sizing people to bikes, pretty much the works. I am a very skilled rider.

i worked two years at a somewhat frowned upon bike shop, and no matter where I go i am now looked down upon and get crap for it.

Bikes were my passion. I almost dropped out of college to go to UBI. I wanted to make a life out of bikes and coffee. Its so weird that people see one thing on my resume and don't want me. I am more than qualified.

I went to a shop the other day where an employee told me they make commission on bikes. This sort of goes against my selling philosophy, because evven though they say they don't upsell the customers, a small part of them is always upselling. Example- I saw a guy in the same shop telling a customer that this bike is not actually a good, well built mountain bike, but a bike people buy because they want to show others on the trail the name on the bike. the associate said this bike is for those who aren't the best riders, but people who want to have that name under them. what the fuck?

same shop, 15 minutes later- Guy comes in with some custom built santacruz downhill bike from mid 2000s (like, 05ish). the Hanger was bent to shit, and threw his cage into the spokes. I cant remember what derailleur he had, but the kid who was helping him said he has an outdated bike and could buy a new one, but failing that, he recommended an altus rear derailleur. He put in 0 effort to try and find a halfway decent derailleur for someone who does downhill. When he gives the price for derailleur and install, he quotes him 50. Whats gonna happen when the customer leaves, gets a call an hour later from the mechanic who says "we need to special order a new hanger for 45 dollars and get you new spokes with a wheel true". oops, a 50 dollar repair is now nearing 130.

I just cant quite wrap my head around the bike industry these days.

Rant over though.