16th January 2012 / Posted in:

Following up turned a lead to a win-win

In my January newsletter I wrote about the benefits of driving opportunities forwards by using your diary and sending clients notes after meetings. Last Monday I was on the receiving end of a courtesy call from someone who was trying to get a particular road bike for me to test. He was just calling to say that he hadn’t forgotten me but was having trouble getting a test bike in my size. Fast forward to Friday and I was walking out of Cycleworks in Petersfield, pushing a new bike and grinning like a Cheshire cat. Here’s what happened.

Two years ago I bought a road bike on e-bay as I fancied cycling but didn’t want to spend £800 on an entry level ladies road bike. I hadn’t used it much until last April when a friend offered to take me out for a ride and give me some tips.  He has cycled for years, competitively too, which gave me confidence as I’d fitted SPDs - those pedals you clip in and out of - and I was somewhat nervous.  The plan was to ride for about an hour and a half, but it was a glorious day and it was fun so two and a half hours and 66km later I found myself back at home with aching legs but thinking about the next ride. In May I rode my first Sportive - an all womens 100km. I was hooked.

By November I’d realised that my bike was too small and I needed to buy something that fitted me properly so I went to see Simon (Manager and Director) at Cycleworks in Petersfield to see what test bikes he had. So as not to bore the non-cyclist readers he had a lovely red bike*  which he proceeded to adjust so it fitted me perfectly. 

Getting the bike geometry right for the rider is a science I knew nothing about until a few months ago. Forty five minutes with spirit levels, plumb lines and a gadget to measure the angle of my knee and the bike was set up precisely and ready to go.  Simon had explained how important it is to get the bike set up right and that he wanted me to have the ‘ride of my life.’

I did - but being cautious, in love with a bike that was much more than I has planned to spend or my ability warranted, and only having ridden my e-bay bike I wanted to test something else. Simon led me in the direction of a racy white bike. It looked even more beautiful than the red bike .... and more expensive. Unfortunately it wasn’t my size but the right size was due in but probably not until the New Year.  And that’s why he phoned me last Monday.

Since test riding the red bike I’d been thinking about new bikes and researching costs using the iPad my husband bought me for Christmas. I’d reached the conclusion that the red bike was the top of a particular range and its substantially cheaper sibling would suit me fine.  I’d received an e-mail saying Cycleworks were offering 10% of everything and idle chatter had found me a buyer for my e-bay bike, so when Simon called last Monday I said I wanted to pick his brain about the red bike’s cheaper sibling as with 10% off, and a buyer for my bike, it was just within my price range.  Now that I was being specific about price Simon mentioned that he’d got a bike in stock that was very similar to the test bike he was trying to get me, it was my size, in the right price range and when could I pop over for a test ride.

The fact Simon made the follow up call gave me the opportunity to get into a serious discussion about buying a bike during which he learned what I could afford to spend and by giving me the sale discount off a bike he’d already discounted was a win-win for both of us. So many businesses would have got a junior to make the call who may not have had the skill to turn what I was saying into testing a bike.

Although Simon had the measurements from the last test he spent more time making sure the bike was just right before I took it out for a short spin. When I walked back into the shop he didn't need to ask whether I wanted the bike - the look on my face said it all.  On Saturday I cycled to Petersfield to meet up with other cyclists from the Tri Club. There was thick frost everywhere, no wind and bright sun.  A perfect day in anyone’s book but made exceptional thanks to my new toy and comments from the boys about how much faster I was going.  I know it will give me hours of pleasure, for years to come - with the added benefit of keeping me fit. I'm one very happy customer!

* For the cyclists

• The bike I bought on e-bay was a Specialised Dolce
• The red bike was a Specialised Roubaix Expert SL3
• The bike I wanted to try for comparison was a Cervelo R3
• The red bike's cheaper sibling was a Specialised Roubaix Competition
• The bike I bought was a Cervelo RS with Shimano 105s and Mavic Ksyrium Elite wheels