TriSports.com Blog

TriSports.com at Interbike 2008

Ever wish you could go to Interbike to check out all the hot new gear before it hits the stores?  Join TriSports.com at our new YouTube channel to go behind the scenes and get all the inside info on the hottest bike and triathlon products for 2009.  Check out the introduction below, and then head over to YouTube to see the best new stuff from Zipp, Felt, Kuota, Scott, and much, much more.

ps: you can also subscribe to our channel to get all of the new product reviews, demos, and how-to’s as they are posted in the future.

Did you know?

It is funny how you can train and train and train for the sport that we all love and still not know things. I know, I know of course you can’t know everything but simple things that would seem so basic to someone else to me was an eye opener. So I am here to share some of the little nuggets of wisdom that I have learned since starting to work for TriSports.com and I hope that I will help open someone elses eyes.

Like I said some is so basic but, “WOW, I could have used that last year!” has popped through my head many times while learning more and more about the products we sell:

Toe covers: Did you know that we sell toe covers to help keep your feet warm on those long windy and cold rides? I didn’t six months ago, but you can bet I have a pair now. I stopped a 60 mile training ride back in February because my toes were freezing and I had no idea these even existed! I ended up finishing my ride on the trainer rather than on the road, not as much fun but much warmer!

Camel back replacement parts: Ok so if you have a three year old who want to wear your Camelback and chew on the end. You might want to get a few of these beauties. Again something I did not know that existed until working at TriSports.com and I have desperately needed!

Gel Flasks: I never knew that you could buy your favorite gel in a Costco® sized container and pour it into this gel flask. Who knew?? You can save money (the jumbo size is cheaper than the individual packets) and the environment at the same time (by not having little packets slip out of your inside pocket while on the run), who knew??

Bar extender: Oh my goodness this saved my life not three days ago. I am a small girl (ok I’m 35, but I can still call myself a girl ) and the cockpitt of my bike is taken up by my aero bars and computer, no room for the light. Needed to go on a super early ride and was afraid because there was no where to put the light. Well after talking to a few people here at work I learned about this nice invention. I attached it with llittle problem and could see! I was able to complete my training ride at 4:00 am without mishap, but now I discovered it would really be nice to have a better light. (Once I find out which is a great one, I will let you know!!)

Oh there is so much more to share, but I do not want to bore you with too much of what I have discovered. If something else really strikes me I will be sure to let you know….stay tuned, there are ALWAYS great things at TriSports.com!

The Importance of Customer Service

I’m sitting here in the Phoenix airport on a 3+ hour delay to get back home – all of a 25 minute flight back and here I wait.  This of course follows a 3+ hour drive to my departure airport, then another 2 hours wait there.  I’ve been spending my whole day traveling (or waiting) it seems.  During this time, I’ve had a chance to reflect on the weekend I just had.  Having just lost a family member who was very, very dear to me, I had a last minute weekend spent in central Missouri (Hermann to be exact).  It turned out to be cheapest for me to fly and drive 3+ hours than to fly to a different location and drive only 1+ hour – cash is tight so that seemed like a great plan – and I got a smokin’ deal on the ticket.  Rewind a few steps to the morning before I left to a conversation with my sister.  We were discussing rental cars and I made mention that “I’ll only rent from X company now.  They’re a bit more expensive, but have always had great service”.  Ok, back to my story.  I get to the rental car desk, I’m on the phone, they are more than gracious, tell me to take my time, etc.  I get in my fresh, clean car with less than 6K miles on it.  Great, I’m on my way and should be able to get a run in before I arrive at my destination.  About 2 hours down the interstate, I notice the “Check Tire Pressure” warning light.  Interesting, I think to myself.  Maybe a glitch?  I go a few more miles and decide I’d rather be sure than drive another 100 miles with a low tire.  I pull off at a service station and go ask for a tire pressure gauge.  They oblige and I go check the first tire.  18psi.  Ouch.  Next tire: 23 psi.  Is this thing accurate?  I check the rest.  All very much lower than the 44psi recommended.  I fill them (free air by the way!) and am on my way.  I’m a bit irked as I feel I was sent out on the road with a car that was less than safe.  I consider giving them a ring, but decide against it as I don’t really need any more stress this weekend.  The warning light was off now and I made it safely to my destination – and even got 30 minutes on my favorite trail before dark.  Next morning I get up and guess what?  Low tire pressure.  Ugh.  I simply don’t have the energy to deal with it until Monday, but decide driving around the small town will not be too dangerous.  Monday morning I get up and find the tire gauge in my grandpa’s garage.  Rear passenger tire – 5psi.  Great.  I call X company:

Me: ”I’m in a very small town and need a new tire, you are the company that says “we’ll pick you up”, can you please have someone come change my tire or bring me a new car?”. 

(45 minutes later of going back and forth)

X Company: “No, we will send someone to put a spare on and you’ll have to drive to this other small town 30 miles away and switch cars there”. 

Me: “What – I’m supposed to spend my afternoon dealing with this?  If you hadn’t sent me with an improperly maintained car in the first place, I wouldn’t be in this position.”

Them: “I’m sorry, this is all we can do”.

Ok, at this point I am resigned to drive and make the switch, all the while trying not to let it really disturb me.  I’m here to be with my family, not take a tour of central MO.  So I get to the rental office and they have no idea what is going on.  Awesome.  Eventually, I end up in a vehicle that a. has not been cleaned, b. is NOT in the class I rented (it didn’t even have power locks….) and c. does not have a full tank of gas.  “That’s because of our we’ll-pick-you-up business model”, the agent replies to this.  “That’s funny”, I say,  “You didn’t pick me up when I asked you to….”.  Back down the road I go in my 4 cylinder tin can.  I gain my perspective on the way back.  What is most important is I will be able to drive back to the airport and I don’t need to waste my energy worrying about this.  I return back to the moment and focus on being with my family.

Ok, now you’re starting to wonder about the customer service part of this, I’m getting there, I promise.  So I’m driving down the interstate this morning and I get to thinking about why I was really irritated about the whole situation and series of events.  It was the lack of customer service I experienced.  You see, from working at TriSports.com, I now have an extremely high standard that needs to be met for me to be happy with customer service.  Does this make me difficult?  No, I don’t think so.  I just expect to be treated as a valued customer; I’m spending my money with you after all.  In all this I ask myself what would we do as a company in this situation?  I plan my “attack” and continue my rainy drive to the airport.

Finally I arrive at the airport.  The gentleman takes my bags out of the trunk and asks how my trip was.  “Less than stellar”, I reply.  “I need to speak to your manager.”  He offers his own assistance, to which I assure him I’d much rather tell me story only once.  I reach the counter and replay the weekend’s events with the manager.  He seems sympathetic then starts typing a bunch of things in the computer.  “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of you”.  More back and forth and it isn’t sounding good to me.  I’ll not be happy with a small discount for my troubles, this is not good enough.  All this time, I am very calm and reserved (those who know me would be shocked).  Finally after a few more back and forth’s he says “Ok – you tell me how I can make this better”.  I tell him to take care of all the charges; if I had been in a properly working car in the first place, I wouldn’t be here now.  “Done”, he replies.  Really?  Just like that?  I don’t need to bring on the tears or the angry face?  I knew I was in the right, but usually what’s “right” isn’t always what happens.  “I’m all about customer service, I want you to be happy with the outcome and give us another try”, he says to me.  I hop on the bus back to the terminal and while I can’t get back the time I had to spend dealing with this, at least I will not have a reminder on my credit card statement.

Back to the comment I had made to my sister several days before – “I only rent from X company because I always get great service”.  Thanks X company for coming through on this one.  I understand there can be hiccups along the way, but in the end if I am taken care of, it is water under the bridge.  This is why I am so pleased to work for a company with outstanding customer service.  We understand the value of a happy customer, the value of your time and the value you place on your experience with us.  Thanks to my customer service experience today, I will give X company another try.  I just wonder if next time “they’ll pick me up”.

You want to do what?

How many times do we hear that in our multisport world, mostly from the people who do not understand the whole swim, bike, run thing. You know when that moment strikes you that you want, no need to accomplish something? That moment that seems to stick in your brain for years afterward. Well mine came two years ago. I was out jogging (yes I said that bad word) with my 1 year old son in the jogging stroller and the thought came to me, I have always wanted to run a marathon. I have always had that as a “bucket-list” item when it came to me; “how can I do this if I don’t do something about it”!?!  Now let’s not even talk about the other 40 plus items on that list (of course one of the loftiest was to participate in an Ironman) that I never thought to be achievable. But never say never……

I went home from that jog (I know I said it again) and thought ok need to act now. I sat down at the computer and thought about it, ok let’s start with a half marathon (it was June at this point). Not knowing that races (both tri and running) were rampant in Tucson I was not sure what I would find. Of course I found that it was like a dream, hundreds of races, all distances and sizes to choose from, WOW! I am the type of person if I pay my hard earned money for something, I am going to do it (except for that DVD set and ab roller in the garage; but we are not talking about that). So I signed up for the Tucson Half Marathon. Then I went into my handy-dandy search engine and typed “how to train for a half marathon without killing yourself” this great training plan popped up. I figured that I had just enough time to get ready.

Let’s just say that my son and the jogging stroller stayed home almost each time. I now changed from a jogger that was trying to lose the left over baby weight (we won’t talk about how much baby weight, let’s just say it was not pretty) to a runner who had a purpose. No, I was training not just running! It was awesome, I trained and I trained hard. I never skipped a run; always made sure I was done with my workouts before 7am and thought I was having the time of my life. Wait I was having the time of my life! Met some friends along the way; one of which would change my life in the tri world (never say “I would love to do an Ironman someday” to this person, someday comes very quickly).

Race day came on a cold December morning and I had a blast, ran faster than I ever thought possible and was smiling and almost skipping the whole way. It was one of the best races of my life. I finished the half in under two hours (about 9 minutes under) and was so proud of myself. I knew that there was more to come…..and boy was there.  Since I have run in lots of races, three marathon’s, ton’s of 5k’s, tri’s and even that lofty Ironman. But that is another story for another day….stay tuned for that one!

Riding in the Rain!!!!

I’m not sure how everyone feels about riding your bike in the rain.  I’ve heard mixed emotions from “I love it” to “most stupid thing to do on a bike”.  Well, on a Friday September 26th 2008 Nick, Maris, Pat and I went on a chill ride through town.  It began off as a little windy and we had plenty of sun but there was rain in the horizon and I told Pat “It would be nice if we rode into some rain.  I think it would be cool.”  Little did I know we rode straight into a down pour of rain.  It, first, started off a drizzle and then it seemed like a bucket of water was poured on us.  So there I am whooping and hollering because I am having the time of my life riding in the rain. (I had never done this before with such a down pour.) It shortly stopped. 

We came stop because we were about to come to a hill and I wanted to make sure everyone was ready to climb it, and then I realized my socks were completely drenched and soaking wet.  As we started up the hill it starting raining again with these HUGE rain drops and I found this energy and began singing The Jefferson’s theme song and telling that hill what it wants.  I have already left everyone else or so I think, I look back and see Maris slowly gaining ground on me so; I have to push a little harder to make it to the top first. 

We all buy a beverage from the store and we sit outside and enjoy the rain and then decide to head back down.  As we go back down the hill we just climbed I realize I am going at a very high rate of speed for a wet and slick road and would rather live than become one with the pavement I slow down and continue to finish the ride.  Just as we are about 7 miles away from the end Maris feels she has a flat. We have to go through 3 tubes to fix her flat. 1. The tube already has a hole in it. 2. We get a pinch flat and have to change it again 3. We change it again but this time the tube explodes and thus exhausting 3 tubes to change a flat. (Some Luck huh) Maris gets a ride to work and Pat, Nick and I finish the ride at the shop. 

This may have been a long story but I felt like I needed to share it with you. The adventure will stay with me for a very long time to come and there will be more rides leaving from the shop that I can tell you about. Till then….That is all.