Just wanted to pass along some nice information for once

The wife and I bought our bikes from the Whistle Stop bike shop last year. The owners - husband and wife - were beyond helpful.  It wasn’t your usual “I’ll take that and that, here is the money” type transaction. It took us the better part of 2 hours to complete the purchase because of all the questions we had, tried out several bikes to find the best fit, and they even made multiple adjustments to the bikes we were looking at to try and find a good fit. I even switched up models after finding that I was not comfortable with what all they had done to the first bike. They even showed us how to put the bike rack on the vehicle and load the bikes the best way. That in and of itself is amazing, but there is more.

Fast forward to this year. We recently bought a new vehicle, did not think about the bike rack fitting until a few days before taking a trip to the Outter Banks. I called the Whistle Stop and I asked about a new rack for the vehicle. Despite not having what I needed in stock, they took the time to tell me what I needed (for a roof rack on a SUV) and gave me a few numbers of other bike shops to try. Not only that, they mentioned that they did have several parts in their shop that were parts of other orders that we could use (full orders were not received yet I figure) and said they would take from those orders if I could find a part or two so I would have a complete roof rack - they would just reorder the parts for the other customers - a little ‘rob Peter, pay Paul’ action there. (Aparently you cant buy a roof rack all in one box - no one size fits all deal - but have to piece together your rack from several options depending on vehicle and how you wanted your bikes mounted on the roof). Although it did not work out for the best for us due to such short notice, they stayed on the phone with me for close to 30 minutes trying to find a solution.

I have no idea if their prices are competitive or within the realm of what a conspicous consumer would expect, but the service they provide is well worth any premium. If you are thinking about anything bicycle related, give them a try. Right across from LaMotte’s on the trail. They even keep COLD water in a cooler in front of their store for cyclists to fill up their containers while riding up or down the trail - free.

Not a paid advertisement - just an amazed and now loyal customer.

Ed & Kaye Hughes are wonderful people who run a great shop.  We’ve been friends with them for years.  I’ve also bought bikes from them and have always been satisfied.  In fact, I’m getting ready to take my bikes in for a tune up!

Very impressed with this small little shop.  A couple of years ago my son & I decided to take our bikes and ride the trail.  My son’s chain came off his bike.  We walked it over to their store & the owner fixed it for free, even though I had offered to pay him for his service.
Great people, great shop and would go back in a heartbeat.

They are nice people.  Only problem I have is their prices.

My wife got a single-speed bike there a couple of years ago for $225.

Last week, I went there to get a single-speed bike for my son and was told they didn’t have any thing under $500.

We ended up going to the Bike House in Jacobus.

Good to hear of others good experiences. As for their prices, I still think their charge is well worth the service. As for bike cost. A single speed should seem inexpensive, but there is so much to take into account.  Comparing my first real hybrid bike to the hybrid I bought, the prices were similar, but the newer bike was much lighter, smoother (shocks) solid breaking and an overall smoother ride - rims, tires, etc. The technology that companies put into these things has become much better, and that has a cost - even for a single speed I would imagine. Bikes are considered durable items, things you don’t buy year in and out, so I imagine there is a hefty margin on them.  It would be different if they were selling dozens of bikes a day and they make their money on volume, but I don’t think thats the case. They do stand behind everything they sell, perhaps they carry what they do based upon the market they are looking to reach. You could easily find a bike at Walmart for a fraction of that $500 - but perhaps they dont want to stand behind it. Who knows.

At least you found a ride, and just from talking to them, that seems the most important thing to them, even if they dont profit. Get out there and ride. Its fun.