Hey.....My Indubitable Mechanic Moved!!!

Red Hot Sloth · **Posted:** Tue Jul 27, 2010 11:34 am

Many of us have our favorite shop and a favorite mechanic and many of us even wrench on our own rides, but when we're in a quandry and have a question or need an answer to something we just arent too sure about, who is the first person you look to for answers? Most likely the guy youve been interacting with for well over a decade. Every once in awhile we come across someone whose personality and integrity stand apart from their peers. This is a true departure from the usual poor or even your basic substandard customer service which seems to have become the standard we face in our day to day comings and goings. But then it happens, on a very rare occasion, it seems as if the planets have aligned for a brief moment, a crack in time if you will, you almost dont recognize it when it does happen, just because it seems so foriegn, you are greated with a bona fide genuine smile, an enthusiastic handshake and a natural presence that warms the soul when it presents itself to you....
For me, thats a mechanic I know, its Tom, he works at Bike Warehouse. It used to be up until recently he worked at Bike Warehouse in Vista. Bike Warehouse has grown quite a bit in the last decade and are opening shops it seems everywhere. They are in Pacific Beach, Chula Vista, Kearny Mesa, Temecula, Vista, Encinitas and now Escondido. I recall when I first went into one of their stores, it used to be called Mountain Bike Warehouse, they were in San Marcos off La Paz and they only had 2 stores. Since then I have seen their business plan change from a strong mountain bike niche to a company that caters to all facets of cycling. I have seen some good store managers come and go only to be replaced with their personality defunct counterparts. While I dont have much of an appreciation for their stores, I will agree with them on one thing. The fact they know a good thing, and that good thing is Tom, their mechanic. The only time I go into the stores now is for Toms help, insite, mechanical abilities and most of all, his unfeigned disposition.
So, my friends, it looks like Bike Warehouse is going to cost me a few extra bucks, a few buck in gas to drive a little further to Toms new location...thats right, Bike warehouses new store...in Escondido. Tom has kind of a cult following on the coast here, I am curious as to how many of these "Tomists" are going to continue their patronage of Tom and follow him out to the Escondido store? I can tell you this...I wont be walking back into the Vista Store unless Tom is relocated there.

antipop · **Posted:** Tue Jul 27, 2010 11:52 am

Agreed Tom is a great mechanic and awesome person. I am not sure where you live but Mike at NOTB is top notch!

OhNooo · **Posted:** Tue Jul 27, 2010 12:10 pm

I've had great service from both of these guys.... Both are highly recommended and very active here at DT:
Ben at ChainRing (+2 because he picks up and delivers!)
Mike at NOTB (only +1 because I gotta drive my lazy arse to the store)

Kimba · **Posted:** Tue Jul 27, 2010 12:11 pm

No way. That sucks. I will have to convince Ellen to tempt him back:

Scarbery Rdr · **Posted:** Tue Jul 27, 2010 12:29 pm

Sucks for Tom, South O to Escondido is a long haul to make 5 days a week on his bike. Pete, let me know if you need a carpool buddy to escondido

Red Hot Sloth · **Posted:** Tue Jul 27, 2010 12:51 pm

OhNooo wrote:

I've had great service from both of these guys.... Both are highly recommended and very active here at DT:
Ben at ChainRing (+2 because he picks up and delivers!)
Mike at NOTB (only +1 because I gotta drive my lazy arse to the store)

antipop wrote:

Agreed Tom is a great mechanic and awesome person. I am not sure where you live but Mike at NOTB is top notch!

Thanks for your recomendation(s), but, I'm not looking for a new mechanic. While it was convenient for me to drive a couple miles to see Tom (I live in Oceanside), the new inconvenience is just a small matter as my loyalty to my friend and mechanic is the point I was making.

Tom doesnt drive a motor vehicle, he commutes by bicycle. This new commute for him now has "NCTD Sprinter" stamped onto it.

Kimba wrote:

No way. That sucks. I will have to convince Ellen to tempt him back:

Maaaan..I can almost guarantee that would change his compass! :thumbsup:

Scarbery Rdr wrote:

Sucks for Tom, South O to Escondido is a long haul to make 5 days a week on his bike. Pete, let me know if you need a carpool buddy to escondido

Thats too funny, I was also going to post up a carpool for this!

antipop · **Posted:** Tue Jul 27, 2010 1:10 pm

Personally I was hoping somebody else was going to the Escondido store!

Red Hot Sloth · **Posted:** Tue Jul 27, 2010 1:18 pm

antipop wrote:

Personally I was hoping somebody else was going to the Escondido store!

Same here. I wonder if the owners realize the only reason most people that go in there, that are familiar with the store is to see Tom. Im still trying to wrap my head around the fact that the current manager lives in Escondido, yet refuses to work there, thus Toms predicament.

dirtmonger · **Posted:** Tue Jul 27, 2010 4:37 pm

Well, the advantage is that you can combine this with a stop at BikeBling. To compare and contrast the experience. Just to calibrate where you stand as a customer. If you want the full experience you're going to have to call ahead of time to make sure the part you need really is in stock. They also sport a very tasteful hold music selection.

Loyalty comes at a premium...

DM

Timskalabim · **Posted:** Tue Jul 27, 2010 6:23 pm

Yea man, how in the hell is he going to bike to Esc. every day??? That guy is a wealth of knowledge. On the other hand,Im pretty sure Scarbry rydr knows where he lives! HE HE HE!

PacMan · **Posted:** Tue Jul 27, 2010 7:11 pm

Timskalabim wrote:

Scarbry rydr knows where he lives! HE HE HE!

Just watch out for Ruby!!

Mudd · **Posted:** Wed Jul 28, 2010 7:35 am

What's a "mechanic"???

Kimba · **Posted:** Wed Jul 28, 2010 8:53 am

Red Hot Sloth wrote:

antipop wrote:

Personally I was hoping somebody else was going to the Escondido store!

Same here. I wonder if the owners realize the only reason most people that go in there, that are familiar with the store is to see Tom. Im still trying to wrap my head around the fact that the current manager lives in Escondido, yet refuses to work there, thus Toms predicament.

When fewer serious mtbers (aka spenders) come in since Tom is not there, maybe they will get the message. Next time I'm in the area say at Teri Cafe, I think I'll pop in, linger by the most expensive bike they have, and ask for Tom and when they say he's gone, say, oh well I guess I won't be back here anymore.

When they bailed on the Calaveras trailwork earlier this year, I got a bad taste for the Vista shop. This asshat move (like they are trying to get him to quit move) is icing on the cake.

Erik MM · **Posted:** Wed Jul 28, 2010 9:39 am

bummer...if it was work I couldn't do myself and wanted to stay local, he was the one I would see being that the other shops up here I don't care for...or get the right 'vibe' from...he taught me a thing a two

Red Hot Sloth · **Posted:** Wed Jul 28, 2010 3:33 pm

Erik MM wrote:

bummer...if it was work I couldn't do myself and wanted to stay local, he was the one I would see being that the other shops up here I don't care for...or get the right 'vibe' from...he taught me a thing a two

Thats relatively close to the way its been with me as well. I havent taken my ride into a mechanic for a tune-up or an install...in...I cant even remember how long, but when it came to warranty stuff, or questions on internals for whatever, he's the guy I talk to.
I met Tom in the mid 90's at another shop in Oceanside. Hes a laid back guy and has an interesting philosophy on life. I dont think Ive ever met anyone that has had a disparaging remark towards him...

Hey.....My Indubitable Mechanic Moved!!!

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