... Are they becoming the two wheeled equivalent of the stereo typical garage? 

Everytime I go to my local bike shop who shall remain nameless, I'm treated like a complete idiot who doesn't know a hardtail from a tricycle ! I recently had to take my full susser back twice after they had "allegedly" serviced it. Eventually I gave up and took it to one nearer work who fixed it and were shocked at the lack of work from the original bike shop.

Does anyone else have these issues or can they reccomend a great mechanic / shop near Huddersfield?

Oooh yes. Went in to a not so local LBS to check out what they had in stock for full sus - was told by the spotty teenager that they had loads of the men's model but weren't getting any of the women's model in because "women don't want full sus"...

Needless to say I walked out and am not going back.

The OH was very amused that it wound me up for the whole day, and I could be found wandering around muttering the line to myself

Fortunatly my more local LBS is ace - sorry it doesn't help you as I'm in N.Wales...

I actually thought cycle shops were improving in their attitude towards us ladies, 20+ years it was far worse but then so was the range female specific products.

None of my LBS's have attitude but then they do know me quite well these days.  Interestingly earlier this year I was looking at TT specific bikes at a couple of shops I do not use very often, OH accompanied me on both occasions, at none of them did the guys talk to Phil but directly to myself.

Some years ago my Cov LBS, had invites to a trade show and as they could not all go and leave the shop I had the privilege of going as their "lightweight" expert.

oh yes... have gotten that from a couple of workers in my LBS. The owner knows me and I dealt with him for buying my bike originally, but the mechanics there treat me as if I am some sort of idiot who doesn't know my a**e from my elbow... or better yet my presta from my schrader valves... when in face they are the guys who tried to sell me a road tube for my mountain bike when I had specified that it was for the mountain bike when I asked for a tube. They probably don't know what to make of me really seeing as I dress like an absolute and utter girly girl yet totally enjoy getting covered in mud and grease.

Although, I went to a bike shop in Dublin a month ago with my female friend who also mountain bikes. We got no attitude from the workers there or weird looks when we were visibly drooling over a few bikes. Oh, they stocked female specific clothing there so I was well impressed.I guess it just varies from bike shop to bike shop.

Thanks ladies, I'm glad it's not just me suffering from LBS bias towards the boys.  Sharon your local bike shop sounds great.

I have now found a local bike shop, Spen Velo in Cleckheaton, who are brilliant.  The owner Chris is happy for customers to watch him work on our trusty steads.

Happy riding  

I don't know why bike shops are intimidating places but somehow they just are!  Weird.

Though I know guys who think this too.  I only go to one bike shop locally because I know everyone who works in there really well and they give me a discount without me asking and I don't worry about whether questions I ask are stupid or not.

I find crap bike shops either totally ignore me (one locally even when you are waiting at the cash desk, with something to buy!), or have spotty teenagers who know less than me working there, or patronise you (either because you are a girl, or because they just do that to everyone!)

I don't live in Huddersfield though so can't recommend one.

I find that a lot of shops you have to work hard to get to know them and then they realise how much you cycle and you get better treatment, I had to do this with my nearest shop.  Now I go to one 7 miles away, they are brilliant, I can say anything and they don't care, even Ali likes going in there as they know she knows nothing and still don't talk down to her.  When you find a good shop stick with it and tell everyone about it.

mine is Mike Cooksons, whitefield manchester.

We've started using a local shop recently after spending the last god know how long dragging over to Daventry and the mechanics in there have taken a bit of a shine to me as I don't think you get many female mtb'ers in Solihull!  They were most impressed that I brought my bike back from Mayhem unscathed though not so impressed about the state of my headset which was apparently a shi**y rusted wreck!   

Gotta give DJ Cycles a mention:  Damien, is Cytech qualified and will bend over backwards for all customers because he understands the point of treating em right.  Top bloke.   

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