Bike & Shop recommendations for a new rider on the Central Coast?

[Waldo]

A friend in the Santa Maria area is looking to get into mountain biking. Anybody have any recommendations for decent to good shops anywhere between Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo? The only one I know is Cambria Bike in SLO.

Pretty sure he's looking for a solid entry-level full suspension rig, with about $1000-$1200 to spend, and he'll probably want to buy new. Not sure about the type of riding, but I'm guessing it'd mostly be true XC - fire roads and singletrack. He's very fit, so I expect he'd progress quickly, but I doubt he'd go for major hucking. So far I'm steering him toward low-end Specialized, Giant, Kona, or Jamis, or Trek, with an emphasis on a good frame with room to upgrade as stuff breaks/wears. Suggestions or tips for hot deals would be welcomed.

[tkblazer]

from what i've heard from shannon, avoid Cambria as much as possible...i can't help much otherwise tho

[Waldo]

Originally Posted by tkblazer

from what i've heard from shannon, avoid Cambria as much as possible...i can't help much otherwise tho

Without hijacking my own thread, I'm curious as to why? I've ordered through their web site once or twice and done OK, and have bought a couple small items in the shop. It wasn't awe-inspiring, but I haven't had any bad experiences (yet)

[MOSH1DH]

get ahold of downhillnews, I think he live's up that way.

[Shannon]

Yeah, I wasn't too happy with CBO. I think I was spoiled going to The Path and getting excellent service, etc. I've heard from a lot of people that CBO is good for mail order and they do have a lot of nice bikes on the floor to choose from. But their in store customer service sucks. The guys I've dealt with were on the rude side. They always seem short handed, you have to wait awhile to get anyone to help you. Also, I ordered a pair of shoes in the store, the guy said it would take a few days and they'd call when they came in. After a week no call, so I called them and duhhh, the guy said they never got ordered. Stuff like that really bugs me. I tried them again a few weeks later to have a few minor adjustments on my drivetrain done. At other bike shops, I could have waited a few minutes and I'd be out the door. At CBO, two weeks... So, yeah I'm not too happy with CBO and won't be going back there again, that's for sure.

If your buddy wants to check out a few websites up here there are several shops he can choose from. Art's Cyclery isn't too bad. There's also a shop that's kind of a hole in the wall, but good guys. It's called Wally's.

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Hope that helps. Good Luck!

[Waldo]

Thanks Shannon! That's great info, and all of those links just went into my bookmarks folder to pass along. Just wish I'd had this weekend free - it would have been cool to go to MdO for some riding & trail work.

I guess my experience with CBO has been similar: I've done fine the couple of times I've ordered online from them. I stopped in the shop once, and service was mostly nonexistent. It was a big sale weekend there, so at first I didn't think much of it, but when I was looking at GPS units while a couple staffers ate lunch 10 feet away without acknowledging me that definitely earned a bad mark for them. Combining that with your experience and a pattern emerges. I guess I'd still buy there if I just needed a small item and I was in the area, but I won't go out of my way to do business with a shop like that when there are places like Adrenaline, Path, etc close by.

[Shannon]

Let us know if you're going to be up this way again. You have a free place to crash and most riding trails, including MDO are within riding distance.

[Waldo]

I crash pretty much anywhere I ride...or did you mean something else?

Thanks again. When I do get up there with my bike, I'll let you know.

BTW: Nice VeeDub in your avatar. Take a close look at mine and see if you can name that ride.

[Shannon]

Hmmm.... Eurovan, Westy or a Syncros? We just started hanging out with one of the guys that owns GoWesty.com and was invited to their annual Sycnro de Mayo trip. We didn't take our bus but tagged along in one of the Syncros. It's a blast! Now I'm dying to get one of the campers for long mtb trips. Someday, I suppose if we win the lottery....

[Waldo]

Very close: It was an '89 Vanagon Wolfsburg Edition with the so-called Weekender Package - had rear facing jump seats and a flip-up table in the middle, plus the fold-down rear seat/bed, but no pop-top or stove & fridge. Worked great for short trips and for hauling more/bigger stuff than will fit in a Westy. I loved it, but after 5 years of LA/OC area commuting with it - with a 4 speed manual and no A/C - I had to change. If I ever have space & $$ for a 3rd car, I'd love to have something like that again. It'd be a great bikemobile for road trips...as long as you don't need to get there fast!