There's a new bike shop in town.

It would be true to say that I love me a good bike shop. There's a combination of factors that, I believe, make up a good bike shop. An interest in your customers is one of these things, and a willingness to listen to what their needs are. Also not being judgemental or elitist. Or talking down at people.

Notice I haven't said anything about what brand of bikes they sell or how much floor stock the shop carries or how loud and cool the music is.

Back in the Adelaide days, I used to do some weekend bike shop work in one of the larger stores. I'm not a super expert on all things technical and there were some questions I couldn't answer, but I always got a kick out of seeing a customer feel confident in their new bicycle purchase. Even if they had no idea about bikes and especially if they had initially felt uncomfortable in what can be a very 'blokey' space.

Anyway, I digress. There are now three bike shops in Alice Springs, and the newest of these is Smith St Velo. The chap there is friendly and the workshop is very well kitted out. There's a small-ish range of bikes but they're pretty on the mark in terms of the Alice Springs market (especially for non-cyclist bike riders), with mountain bikes, flat bar road bikes and a heap of Electra Townies and funky cruisers.

If you're in town, have a visit! Or check out their Facebook here.

Other favourite bike shops of mine are Treadly in Adelaide, Oxygen Cycles in McLaren Vale and Over the Edge in Melrose, South Australia.