Northeast - Good Bike shop in Manchester NH area?

I am looking for a good bike shop in the keene/Manchester/Nashua area. I am pretty much in the middle.
I am looking for a road bike that I dont need to take a 2nd mortgage on my housse for and a shop that is helpful to Newbies.
Thanks,
LJ

Norms in Keene is Great. JC and the crew will be extremly helpful. I go in a about once a month and but my second or third visit he knew me buy name.

Where are you from the Peterborough area?

About 20 min south east of Peterbrough.
I go to Keene a lot so I will stop at Norms, Thanks.
LJ

I just got back from Nault's in Manchester, picked up a TCR1 carbon frame and new shoes for under 2K. They're blowing out all their Giant's so you can get a good deal on last years OCRs and TCRs while they last. If you're looking at an aluminum frame you can get a real good OCR for $700 -$800, the carbon frames are running about $1300- 1900. Also lots of good deals on last years Treks and Lemonds.

I hit Norms in Keene, no bikes till april. I went to Cycleworks in Fitchburg yesterday and Naults on Saturday. Both places have a good selection and the people where very decent and helpful.
Now I just have to wait a bit for weather to ride in to try the bikes out.
LJ

I've been to Goodale's in Nashua (relatives in the area). They are very well equipped. Very good service, but I have not tried to buy a bike there. That said, my wife went there a year ago to buy a new bike and was put off by the shopping experience there. She wound up buying an Orbea Mitis Dama (~$2200) from another shop that was going out of business. The issue as she explained it was not technical competence. "They didn't listen to me." was the problem...

A few good ones in the NH/ME Seacoast region too...Papa Wheelies in Portsmouth, Tony's in Dover, Gus's in North Hampton, and KTP XSports in Kittery ME to name a few.

Revolution Cyclery is great in Concord. Herb(if Ii remember correctly) is the owner and keeps up a great, while still small, shop. S&W and goodales are also in concord

I found a used bike at work and bought my accessories and trainer from Soughegan Cycles in Millford , NH.
Real nice people and nice shop.
LJ

I've been to Goodale's in Nashua (relatives in the area). They are very well equipped. Very good service, but I have not tried to buy a bike there. That said, my wife went there a year ago to buy a new bike and was put off by the shopping experience there. She wound up buying an Orbea Mitis Dama (~$2200) from another shop that was going out of business. The issue as she explained it was not technical competence. "They didn't listen to me." was the problem...




Yes, dont go to Goodale's. They have mechanics that seem to have no experience, and some of the salespeople seem to want to push you out the door....I can def. see where your wife is coming from. One of the mechanics snapped a bolt off my crank when trying to replace it, then replaced the bolt with one that wasnt even the same size. They acted like I was bothering them when I wanted it fixed properly. Thankfully I had things checked at another shop that actually cared.

The next time you are in Manchester, you should consider stopping buy the Bike Barn on South 33 Commercial street. The owners name is Tom and the main salesman/mechanic is Ryan. They will help you find what you need.

Yes, dont go to Goodale's. They have mechanics that seem to have no experience, and some of the salespeople seem to want to push you out the door....I can def. see where your wife is coming from. One of the mechanics snapped a bolt off my crank when trying to replace it, then replaced the bolt with one that wasnt even the same size. They acted like I was bothering them when I wanted it fixed properly. Thankfully I had things checked at another shop that actually cared.

Interesting. Goodale's (Nashua) are my LBS and I've purchased bits from them (rims, spokes, hubs, ball-bearings, cables) but I've never had them work on any of my bikes. I usually deal with the same person when I call; that way I find I can build up a relationship with them, and it avoids starting from scratch each time. Some of my friends take their bikes there and I've never heard any bad stories. YMMV I suppose…

- Wil

Interesting. Goodale's (Nashua) are my LBS and I've purchased bits from them (rims, spokes, hubs, ball-bearings, cables) but I've never had them work on any of my bikes. I usually deal with the same person when I call; that way I find I can build up a relationship with them, and it avoids starting from scratch each time. Some of my friends take their bikes there and I've never heard any bad stories. YMMV I suppose…

- Wil

Well, all I can say is that my wife was very disappointed because she grew up in Nashua and was well acquainted with the shop.