Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Chicago - Worst LBS Ever.

On The Route Cycles, 3146 N. Lincoln Ave. Chicago, IL 60640, let me test ride an '06 Fuji Track
(brakeless) this afternoon. Apparently when they assembled this bike, the "mechanic" didn't see any point in tightening the cog or lockring. When trying to slow from about 15mph into the intersection of Lincoln/Belmont/Ashland, the lockring spun loose leaving me no way of stopping but planting a foot on the ground. I came within a foot of landing under a moving SUV. They've certainly lost my business. I suggest they lose yours as well.

Yikes! I only go to Boulevard, Y'sG and Rapid Transit anyway.

Hm. Well, I doubt that's their policy, since you may well have stripped their hub (not your fault). But at least they let you try it out...Bicycle Village won't. Not really an LBS.

If I'm thinking of the right place, OTRC were pretty catty when I went there to inquire about a slightly unusual wheel-building request. Fortunately, we have many, many choices of where to go.

Hm. Well, I doubt that's their policy, since you may well have stripped their hub (not your fault). But at least they let you try it out...Bicycle Village won't. Not really an LBS.

If I'm thinking of the right place, OTRC were pretty catty when I went there to inquire about a slightly unusual wheel-building request. Fortunately, we have many, many choices of where to go.


I wasn't suggesting that their policy has anything to do with improper assembly of bikes, just pointing out how this particular LBS was extremely careless when putting this one together. I've stripped a hub or two in my day, so I know what can cause that and I didn't even come close on this test ride. I'm confident that this happened because of careless mechanics.

And well yeah, I guess it is nice that they let you test ride bikes.

Word.

Did they ask you anything when you went to take it out along the lines of "okay, so you know how to ride brakeless, right?" I'm just curious; I'm thinking of the first time I went to a pistol range in the suburbs and I was decidedly NOT asked if I knew anything at all about loading or shooting handguns (which, as it happened, I didn't).

Word.

Did they ask you anything when you went to take it out along the lines of "okay, so you know how to ride brakeless, right?" I'm just curious; I'm thinking of the first time I went to a pistol range in the suburbs and I was decidedly NOT asked if I knew anything at all about loading or shooting handguns (which, as it happened, I didn't).

When I was in there last week asking about the possibility of a test ride, the person I spoke with then did ask me that. Today's guy, however, did not. I can't imagine the potential outcome if this happened to an inexperienced rider.

I got a pair of glasses from the Pearl next door. Thats the only useful thing I have to add to this thread.

Actually, I bought a Planet Bike seatpost flasher there 10? months ago. Happy to hear you didn't get smashed up - that intersection can be a b*tch because there is so much pavement between the lights (its not a tight 6 way).

uptown bikes

Wilson/Broadway

One of best LBS in chicago

Glad you weren't hurt.

On The Route have always been nice to me. Never bought anything in there, but they don't really have anything of interest that yojimbo's or boulevard or other better shops wouldn't have. That's a scary experience...I would be pretty pissed too.

I went in to Oscar Watsyn (Fullerton between Western and California) once, looked around for a bit and asked if they sold just track frames...as they only had assembled bikes in their shop....ONLY bikes, no supplies, nothing. They guy says, "why the hell would you want to buy just a frame? Buy a fully built one right there."

I looked at him for about 10 seconds, turned around and walked out.

You guys live in Chicago. YOU HAVE YOJIMBOS. How could you go anywehre else?

I like Yojimbo's, but its nice to ride two blocks and pick something up in a pinch. Chicago is alot bigger than bum**** Bloomington IN.

Boulevard is my Local Bike Shop, dude. And they are super-sweet.

Yojimbo's is for special trips; BB is for routine stuff.

yojimbo's for special parts. rapid transit for neighborhood quickies.

gotta check out Boulevard sometime.. nothing but good ratings.

Does anyone go to Upgrade on Chicago/Milwaukee? Or Higher Gear on Fullerton/Ashland? I rode past that place the other day.

On The Route is nice because there's a guy named Jason who works there. He's very helpful & nice!

I'm still going to give them my business. Only Jesse Jackson can tell me where I shouldn't shop.

Word.

Did they ask you anything when you went to take it out along the lines of "okay, so you know how to ride brakeless, right?" I'm just curious; I'm thinking of the first time I went to a pistol range in the suburbs and I was decidedly NOT asked if I knew anything at all about loading or shooting handguns (which, as it happened, I didn't).

I do!

Oooh, you wanna go shooting?!

I got my 9, we'd be fine!

And call me crazy but I didn't think many (if any) shops let you test ride something brakeless.

By the way, why did you head west (towards Ashland - the busy, busy 6 corner intersection) instead of down towards Greenview?

raygunner: answer your PMs you lazy***

I like Yojimbo's, but its nice to ride two blocks and pick something up in a pinch. Chicago is alot bigger than bum**** Bloomington IN.

obviously. bloomington is small, but has no good bike shops. there's 3 and they all barely carry any components. you have to order everything unless you want a brand new bike.

if you're anywhere close to or in downtown, i don't see any reason not to.... unless you think riding 5-10 miles is a pain in the ass.

i didn't realize chicago was so ****in elite either? who the **** are you?

Yojimbo's is awesome, but since we all go there, it's hard to count on getting things done as fast as other places WHICH IS NOT TO SAY that's it's not amazing the volume consistent with quality that Marcus turns out. Now that I work out of the city, I appreciate the later hours that other places have more.

raygunner---well, I know how to shoot now! In fact, I've got my FOID and everything. I haven't been to a range for almost a year, and I was shooting the .45s and hitting nothing, but you're a cop, right? Show me the ropes? Ride out to Elmhurst, shoot a coupla boxes?

mike, it's only a bum**** town 'cause you live there.

yeah because i'm a bum that likes to ****

[mod edit- please don't try to get around the censors]

You guys live in Chicago. YOU HAVE YOJIMBOS. How could you go anywehre else?

Because at Yojimbo's I don't get my bike parts at cost plus shipping! ;)

I do like the fact that he has so many esoteric parts/frames right there in the shop, and not just "available to order" though. Whenever I go in there, it always makes me want to buy some shiny new stuff, I have to remind myself that I'm a shop-rat.

yeah if you work at a shop that's a different story altogether!

I like Yojimbo's, but its nice to ride two blocks and pick something up in a pinch. Chicago is alot bigger than bum**** Bloomington IN.

Bloomington will stomp you...

I lived in Bloomington, that ****stain of a town, for a year. I can talk **** about the place because I lived through it.

Edit: to add something useful to this thread - I have gone to a few LBS in Chicago and found most of them to be helpful. Kozy's on Halstead treated me just fine when I went in there, Marcus' shop is great, and Performance on Halstead wasn't bad either.

I lived in Bloomington, that ****stain of a town, for a year. I can talk **** about the place because I lived through it.

Edit: to add something useful to this thread - I have gone to a few LBS in Chicago and found most of them to be helpful. Kozy's on Halstead treated me just fine when I went in there, Marcus' shop is great, and Performance on Halstead wasn't bad either.

that makes it even better... who are you, i'm sure i know or know of you. did you move out after bloomington stopped being squatter pc punx paradise, did you go to school, just ****ing about?

I was @ IU for a year. I knew the guys who ran True Skateshop on 5th and hung out at Space 101 once in a while (indoor halfpipe was awesome).

Funny enough.. I'm wearing my Bloomington Bass Syndicate t-shirt (from Syndicate Strikes Back on 3/10/02 at space 101)

hmm... so that was like 3 years ago. so you hung with d britts + co? good dudes. i miss space 101.

Jason is the best!

You know what's scary how many bike mechanics in Chicago I
know on a first name basis. Oh wait that's not scary, that's cool.

jeff


On The Route is nice because there's a guy named Jason who works there. He's very helpful & nice!

I'm still going to give them my business. Only Jesse Jackson can tell me where I shouldn't shop.

does bloomington still have a free store?

I'm thinking about taking my stoner rock band on tour this summer, and wanted to hit up that town, is it worth it?

does bloomington still have a free store?

I'm thinking about taking my stoner rock band on tour this summer, and wanted to hit up that town, is it worth it?


well worth it...

stoner rock will be well accepted... i don't think the free store is still rolling. come on down!

sweet, we like alcohol and drugs, please stock up on both for Bog Wraith.

yeah the crustpunx sect hass been dabbling in china white not unlike the rich kid dudes, and trees are always a staple. and in bloomington the spirits are quite plentiful

seems like coca plant is making it's rounds pretty heavily lately. it's like everyone wants to be in Scarface.

say hello to my little friend.

ps, round these parts we call it booger-sugar, snot-rot, or powdered sparks...

Get a Grip

Does anyone go to Upgrade on Chicago/Milwaukee? Or Higher Gear on Fullerton/Ashland? I rode past that place the other day.

I've been to Upgrade - in fact I bought a frame there. Good peeps if you get the right ones (Nat or James, there's a guy in there who's all kinds of tweaked) and Doug the owner is super nice - I've conversed with him over email before.

Higher Gear is a so-so place. It all depends. It's a high end roadie shop (get fitted for a custom Seven there!) and their prices match that. They're a bit snobby though - the kind of place where youhave to "prove" you know your stuff or look hardcore before they're more open to you. But I also think sometimes it all depends on the mech or salesperson you talk to.

Some are cool, some are just not.

uptown bikes

Wilson/Broadway

One of best LBS in chicago

agreed. they're super nice in there, completely straightforward, and perfectly willing to give the DIYer helpful hints.

hmm... so that was like 3 years ago. so you hung with d britts + co? good dudes. i miss space 101.Oh ****. I hung out with Britts and all those kids. I was there from 98 -02. I miss Rockits pizza and the vid...not necessarily in that order on a friday night.


R.I.P. TD - Best Guy Ever.

I promise this will be the last OT post I make in this thread.. but Rockits pizza was the best thing Bloomington had going for it. I went back last year to visit some friends and found out they had closed down.

What a shame

I moved to chicago in September, and living on the south side all the shops are pretty far so I've hit a bunch of them.

Yay:
-Yojimbo's (duh)
-Boulevard (again, duh. Best experience I've ever had in a shop and I wanted to like bake them cookies or something when I didn't end up spending money there)
-Turin (carry some lines others don't, but turbo-far. Worth the trip if you're buying a frame or complete, tho)
-Rapid Transit
-Uptown
-Performance (yeah, they're big and corporate, but everybody who works there is cool, including the manager, and they know their stock. Good selection and cheap if you need clothes/shoes)
-Art's Cycle (Hyde Park. OK local shop, kind of Soviet - they have one and only one option for everything, take it or leave it.)

Boo That Ish:
-Village (They seem to hire some people who don't know bikes)
-Wheels & Things (Hyde Park. Certifiable Hole. Owner is a jackass, could give any shop a run for its money as worst LBS.)
-Kozy (Not sure why so many people like this place, but I went to the one next to the Lincoln Park Ballys back when I didn't know better. Good mechanics I hear, jury's still out I guess.)

Oh ****. I hung out with Britts and all those kids. I was there from 98 -02. I miss Rockits pizza and the vid...not necessarily in that order on a friday night.


R.I.P. TD - Best Guy Ever.

Yes. RIP TD. Now there is a ****** running his store. At least Michael Tapscott is gone. The Vid Rockits combo is only topped by a whole strom with extra pickles at nick's.

Britts is still up in indy... saw him last week.




Boo That Ish:

I love this dude's vocabulary already

I love this dude's vocabulary already

Well, with the Carlin filter on this board, I figured using "Ish" or something like that was pretty mandatory.

I am I Sticking it To The Man™ yet?

Yay:
-Turin (carry some lines others don't, but turbo-far. Worth the trip if you're buying a frame or complete, tho)

I'm not a fan of Turin, never have been. But recently I had even more reason to not be. My friend and I were playing around skidding and such, then decided to hit a movie so rode up to Evanston (We're from the north side, so not turbo-far for us). On the way she says something feels like it's lose. I ride her bike and going forward is fine, a VERY slight amount of backpressure and the cog unscrews a bit. I rotafixed it down, and it was a long way to go down, I seriously worried that the threads were stripped. I told her no more skidding until she gets the lockring tightened.

She's barely been skidding on her bike and it came VERY LOOSE. I've been skidding/skipping a fair amount on my cheap Suzue wheel and the cog has not moved at all. (I got the wheel/cog/lockring from Boulevard.)
It is however possible that Bianchi installs the cog/lockrings, not Turin, but if it's a known issue then a LBS should know to tighten them. Turin installed a brake on the Pista, they knew it was going to be ridden on the street not the track.