Found a new tri-sport store in Redmond Washington...

While driving through a business complex next to Marymoor Park looking for a shirt printer, I rolled by a business window that had race bikes and "Zoot" stickers in the window. It was highly unexpected as there didn't seem to be any retailers in the area.

http://www.mrcrampys.com/

I decided to stop by. There was an "Open" sign on the door, but apparently they were closed. That didn't stop one of the shop workers from letting me in.

I have to set the stage for this...I am 'stumbling' into this sport. I am learning from my own mistakes and learning little lessons each step of the way. I am a husband and a father of 2 kids and I work a full time job, so I don't have a full set of resources to dedicate to the sport...

That being said, I was really grateful that they let me in. They didn't have to. And if they turned me away, I probably wouldn't have come back...Not because of an 'angry customer' protest, but because it was in a business complex and I wouldn't have expected it to actually be a store. It probably would have fallen off my radar until I stumbled across it in the future somehow. Needless to say, Thanks for letting me see that you aren't an obscure online retail business...but you are a store that people can walk into. :D

We talked briefly about feeling nervous for upcoming races. "You see all the races I've been in? Believe me, you never stop getting nervous for an upcoming race..."...Just that alone made me feel comfortable and in good company.

I talked to Sean and he was insanely helpful, especially considering the fact that the store was closed. He let me know about the store, the classes they offer, the resources they provide, and it blew my mind. It was great to know that there were athletes so dedicated to the sport to get a business up and running here on the eastside...And it was great about how helpful they are.

I am definately going to plug them any opportunity I get. I fully support new small businesses, and I fully support people who are willing to bend their rules in order to meet customers' needs.

There is finally a triathlon, running, biking, swimming gear store in the Bellevue Renton Issaquah Redmond Eastside Seattle area that is a short ride from the Burke-Gilman trail...and they are really cool. (I should get mad Google search props for that sentence!)

Thanks for starting up, Mr Crampy's! We need you!