We have “George” – the legally blind guy who rides a Bridgestone MB-3 everywhere. Into trees, into gaping road construction holes, into cars – parked or not. Then there’s “Dick”. He’s an 80 year old Jewish guy who rides a Greenspeed – having moved up from a BikeE after he started falling over at stops all the time. He will regale you for hours about his sexual prowess, his woodworking skills, or how many people he killed during the war. He doesn’t talk about bikes much, though.

Then there are the “racers”. I swear that some of these guys change into their kits at work during lunch, drive to the bike shop, and wheel in their bikes, walk around, maybe buy a Clif bar, and then leave – in their cars. I’ve never actually seen any of these guys ride their bikes – or sweat, for that matter. Their bikes are always clean, and they always look office-fresh.

I think I could write a book on the amusing characters that come into our shop…