Sometimes we forget things we already knew.  It is easy to get caught up in discounts this and hook ups that.  There are shops with hours similar to K-Mart and they are frequented often for one reason or another.  There is the internet, where you can find just about anything for the right price, plus shipping.  But then there are a few shops that are unlike any other.  Marcus runs one of them, the ever amazing Yojimbo's Garage.  Procrastinating on finishing the details of the Waterford, I needed to replace the hoods on my SRAM shifters, still torn from cross season.  For the record, I made these calls in this order.  First contacted someone at SRAM who said they did not have any available.  Then called Rapid Transit, Mission Bay (didn't pick up their phone the first time), Upgrade, Get a Grip, Village Cycle and Performance.  Each shop didn't have them in stock, but could order them.  I initially left out Yojimbo's because it was after he was closed.  Julie and I had some other errands to run and between one place and the next I had a thought.  It is spring, Marcus is probably in the shop working late.  I can just call and leave a message, if he is in, he'll listen to it and if he doesn't mind us stopping by he will call back.  And if not tonight at least tomorrow.  Well, ten minutes later he calls and has the hoods!  Of all the big, fancy, chain, expensive, snotty shops in the city, it was Yojimbo's who had what I needed and I was welcome to come by way after hours.  A shave and a haircut at the door and we were greeted by a smiling Marcus.  He has recently rearranged the shop and seems to have alot more bikes in there.  His plans for the near future will make it even bigger.  We hung out for a while and it was really nice to chat about just about everything.  Marcus was in a really good mood.  True to form with Yojimbo's, with all the fancy stuff he has laying about, we could not leave with just what we came for.  I bought some record pregara embrocation and Julie got a fancy pair of socks.  It was really nice to see him and I need to make it a point to stop in more often.  And everyone else should too.  He is a race ready shop whether people want to admit it or not, and has everything a bike racer of any level should need.  Thank you Marcus.  Photo from Yohei