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Conference noted::bicycle

Title: Bicycling
Notice:Bicycling for Fun
Moderator:JAMIN::WASSER
Created:Mon Apr 14 1986
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:3214
Total number of notes:31946

1456.0. "?Happy Days Cycle in Milford NH?" by LORRI::MENARD (ALL-IN-1 MAIL for VMS) Fri Mar 23 1990 14:12

Hi --

    I just drove by the Happy Days cycle shop in Miford NH this weekend,
and it looked kinda barren!

    Does anyone know what happened?  Did they move?  Or, worse, did they
get hit by the sagging NH economy ...

		- Lorri
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1456.1EGYPT::CRITZWho'll win the TdF in 1990?Fri Mar 23 1990 14:498
    	Lorri,
    
    	Until the season begin, the guy is there by appointment
    	only. I called him back in February and that's what he
    	told me. The number for Happy Days rings at his home
    	also.
    
    	Scott
1456.2relocatedBANZAI::FISHERDictionary is not.Mon Mar 26 1990 09:004
    If you went by the shop on 101-A, it's barren because he moved to a
    new shop off rt 13.
    
    ed
1456.3How to get,there!TUNER::FRANCISMon Mar 26 1990 13:4910
    Yes,
    
    	Bob, moved the store to RT13(South St), The old Peoples Cleaners
    building. To get there from the Oval (center of town)just head south on
    RT13 South St. about a 3/4 of a mile the store is on the right. And if
    you are coming from the 101 bypass. Take the RT13 exit off 101 and head
    toward Miford, and of course the store is on the left.
    	Not a bad shop, but not a great one either!
    
    Keith
1456.4then where is there a great oneORCHRD::GARABEDIANTue Mar 27 1990 13:486
    RE .3
    
    Ok, Since Happy Day Cycle is not a great shop then who would you
    recommend to be a great shop in the area?
    
    
1456.5OACK::CRITZWho'll win the TdF in 1990?Tue Mar 27 1990 15:3112
    	Well, if you can travel as far as Fitchburg, MA, I'd
    	recommend Gamache's.
    
    	I like Ron Bingham at Goodale's in Nashua, although
    	I still can't figure out why they are adverse to using
    	the FIT KIT. From my experience, they do not use any
    	real system for fitting a person to his/her bike other
    	than straddling the bike and "how does it feel."
    
    	And, Ron is a CAT III racer on the Nashua Velo Club team.
    
    	Scott
1456.6Go north young.....GSFSWS::JSMITHSupport Bike Helmets for KidsTue Mar 27 1990 17:189
>>    Ok, Since Happy Day Cycle is not a great shop then who would you
>>    recommend to be a great shop in the area?
    
  		Try Dave at Naults on Bridge Street in Manchester or
    at try Haggetts in Copncord if you don't mind the additional drive
    time.
    
    	Also, don't forget to ask for th 10% GSW discount on parts and 
    accessories if your a GSW member.
1456.7Good bike shopsBCSE::KLASMANBoston-Montreal-Boston 1990Wed Mar 28 1990 08:3210
I would second the recommendation for Nault's in Manchester, tho their selection
is somewhat limited.  Goodale's prices are high, but they have a good selection 
and have some unusual parts. 

The best shop around IMO is Belmont Wheelworks in 
Belmont, MA.  Great selection of bikes, parts and clothes, very knowledgeable 
people (Doug, Clint...owner) and they will "deal" with you, 10% GSW discount, 
Super Sale this weekend, etc. 

Kevin
1456.8The envelope please..and the winner is..GSFSWS::JSMITHSupport Bike Helmets for KidsThu Mar 29 1990 13:5058
>The best shop around IMO is Belmont Wheelworks in 
>Belmont, MA.  Great selection of bikes, parts and clothes, very knowledgeable 
>people (Doug, Clint...owner) and they will "deal" with you, 10% GSW discount, 
>Super Sale this weekend, etc. 

	Kevin, I agree and would probably spend my entire weekly bicycle
allowance ( What my wife agrees to ;-) ) there if they were less than
and hours ride away.  I might also add thru the most petrifiying traffic 
(Rt 3 and 128) this side of NYC.  

>I would second the recommendation for Nault's in Manchester, tho their selection
>is somewhat limited.  Goodale's prices are high, but they have a good selection 
>and have some unusual parts. 

	Why do you say Nault's selection is limited?  Compared to Happy
Days it's Macy's vs. Ma and Pa's?  Compared to Goodales it's still better
if your looking for Aluminum (They have a brand new Kline Mountain Bike
and Road Machine both set up for bashing on a test ride).  Before Ron
would let me test ride my first C-Dale (Which I purchased from Goodales
before they stopped dealing in them) I had to have a deposit on it.  Also, 
last year when I was going thru my Italian thing, Nault's was the *only* 
close by N.H. dealer that had *any* complete Campy Gruppos in stock and Pro 
Frames to mount them on (I was looking at Colnago at the time).  Happy 
days hasn't had a pro frame in stock since it opened (that I know of).
Here is how I would rate the three shops.

			 1st choice	2nd choice 	3rd choice
   			  Nault's	 Goodale's	Happy Days

Price Alone	     	     X				    X
Service What They Sell       X		    X		    X
Service "Not Bought Here"    X				    X
FIT KIT			     X		
Technical Advice
and Craftsmanship    	     X		    X		    X
Aluminum Frame Selection     X
Columbus/Paramount Frames    X		    X
Triathalon Bike Selection		    X
Pure Road Racing Assistance  		    X
Pure MTB Racing Assistance   X		    X
BMX Racing		     X		    X
Skateboarding		     X
Skiing					    X
Accessories Selection	     X		    X
GSW Discounts		     X				   X
			-----------------------------------------	
			    12		    9		   5
			=========================================

	So if your tastes are like my own you'll opt for Naults but if
your more inclined toward the racing/tri-bike scene you'll probably
be happier at Goodales.  Just my 2 shillings as Ed would say.  

						_Jerry

BTW .....As -2(?) pointed out Ron used his magic measuring stick to fit
me for my first C-Dale...he wasn't that far off the fit kit though ;-)
1456.9Nault's selection is ok (if you like Cannondale and Schwinn, which I don't)BCSE::KLASMANBoston-Montreal-Boston 1990Fri Mar 30 1990 08:1315
Jerry,

From your chart I would put myself in the tri/racing category, which favored 
Goodale's (again from your chart).  Happy Days I wouldn't choose under any 
circumstances, due to no selection at all (of what I'm interested in).  When I 
think of a shop with good selection, Belmont Wheelworks and International in 
Brighton come to mind.  Those are both huge stores (Belmont is expanding) with 
lots to choose from in any category.  International IS too far away, in the 
heart of the city, and their prices are high.

So I'm back to Belmont Wheelworks, for my tastes 8^)  I can get there in an hour
from Nashua, and I don't particularly mind the drive.  I've also ridden down 
there on my bike (in the midst of a double-C) to pick up small parts.

Kevin
1456.10International is cheapestIAMOK::WESTERFri Mar 30 1990 10:1226
    Kevin,
    
    Looks like this is turning into another bike shop comparison.  I've
    been to all the bike stores usually mentioned in here (Frank's,
    Gamache, Bicycle alley, Bicycle exchange, Buchika's, Nault's, Laughing
    alley, Lincoln guide service, and many more).  Combining price, service
    selection, and knowledgeable sales people, My list is down to three.
    Frank's, International, and Belmont Wheelworks.  A few others have good
    sales people but HIGH prices, or good prices and no selection, but the
    three I like have the best combination.
    
    While I agree on your support of Belmont for selection, service, and
    quality help, I disagree on price.  International is definitely cheaper
    than Belmont, especially if you haggle on price.  Harold, the owner,is
    a typical grumpy Boston car dealer type.  You just have to haggle and
    sooner or later you'll walk out happy.  International also has a
    mammoth selection.  Frank's is a smaller version of the above two, but
    he still has good selection and he really supports biking (runs the
    best TT in the area).
    
    Disadvantage for DECCIES who live beyond RT. 495 is the length of
    drive, parking, big city hustle and bustle, and horrible roads.  Still,
    I think the selection, price, knowledgeable sales people more than make
    up for any inconvenience.
    
    Dave