Ina Mejum meself !

The other day a guy wandered into the shop for a browse around . As he looked at all the hybrids , mountain bikes and road bikes with both hands resting on top of his belly I was trying to find the right moment to ask if he needed any help .

There’s a science to getting the timing of assisting a customer just right . You don’t want to be a pushy salesman and neither do you want them to feel ignored .

If they move along without lingering anywhere I usually just acknowledge them as they come near the counter . The weather is usually mentioned . If they linger near any particular bike I will ask if they need any help and either assist if it’s welcome or quickly retreat if they say that they’re Ok . No need to be pushy if you want to establish a good relationship with a new customer .

This guy , anyway , was blitzing through all the bikes and came as far as the clothing where a little lingering began and one hand was removed from the roof of his belly .

I said hello and mentioned the weather and asked if there was anything I could help with .

The reply came ‘ Ine lookin for a pair a cyclin togs ‘

‘Grand’ I said and then went on to show him some waist and bib shorts and explained the pros and cons of both . He settled on the waist shorts and as I was taking out a pair of xxl which would just about have fitted , he said ‘ I’ne a mejum meself !’

Now I was in a dilemma . He was no
more a medium than Cav is a climber but I had to try to find a delicate way of putting it .
I remarked that the Italian brands are a very tight fit and that it’s no harm to leave a but of breathing room but he said that he is always a mejum .

I ended up having to sell him the medium size pair but was still trying to steer him towards a larger size even after he had paid .

So just for the record if anyone is looking at cycling gear a rough guide to sizing would be as follows ;

Small = 30 waist or size 2
Medium = 32 waist or size 3
Large = 34 waist or size 4
X-Large = 36 waist or size 5
XX-large = 38 waist or size 6
XXX-large = 40 waist or size 7

Barry

www.worldwidecycles.com