Great Lakes - Chicago LBS

Since I'm mostly new to the 2nd City, (less then 6months here). I do not know the "good" LBS's in the area. I live in the city, can someone suggest a good store. I know there are a ton of stores in the city and the burbs, but which ones are the ones that really know their stuff? I don't care if its in the city or a burb as long as I'm not driving more then an hour or so.

I've been mostly doing the mountain bike thing for the last few bikes, but now I want to get back into road bikes. I intend to at least train for a tri, but don't want to plunge into a tri bike until I find out if its really for me. Also because this will be my first road bike in forever, I don't want to break the bank.

Any suggestions on where to go for knowledgeable folks for fitting and not just looking for a sale would be great. I'm a tall guy and would probably need a 60-61cm frame if I'm going to be using it for tri's.

Thanks for any and all info.

Since I'm mostly new to the 2nd City, (less then 6months here). I do not know the "good" LBS's in the area. I live in the city, can someone suggest a good store. I know there are a ton of stores in the city and the burbs, but which ones are the ones that really know their stuff? I don't care if its in the city or a burb as long as I'm not driving more then an hour or so.


I've been mostly doing the mountain bike thing for the last few bikes, but now I want to get back into road bikes. I intend to at least train for a tri, but don't want to plunge into a tri bike until I find out if its really for me. Also because this will be my first road bike in forever, I don't want to break the bank.

Any suggestions on where to go for knowledgeable folks for fitting and not just looking for a sale would be great. I'm a tall guy and would probably need a 60-61cm frame if I'm going to be using it for tri's.

Thanks for any and all info.


...well that rules out the 'burbs then...:rolleyes:

Not an expert on the shops in the city, but you mentioned Tri....Mission Bay (http://www.missionbaymultisport.com/information.php?info_id=5&osCsid=0d9fb8a0fb714a8ba2105150da169853)did a great job with Tri guys when it was here in Elgin. I would assume their Chicago location would be good as well. Get a Grip (http://getagripcycles.com/index.cfm)is probably one of the biggest names in tri in the area and I think a pretty head-to-head competitor to Mission Bay.

Driving out to Oak Park to Licktons would be worth a trip. You can check them out at http://www.lickbike.com

Kozys is always a pretty good name for overall stuff - non-tri specific.

I've heard about a killer Tri shop that seems more geared towards coaching, etc. called Endure it Sports : http://www.endureitsports.com/home/index.php in Naperville.

The Bike Shop in Glenn Ellyn has opened a new branch in St Charles that I have been in. If I were closer I would definitely visit their Glenn Ellyn store.

Sky is the limit. There are so many fricking stores in this area it's pathetic. Just start going to them. Kind of like house buying and car buying....you will know the right one when you walk in.

depending when you go it could be an hour but spokes in wheaton is my lbs and i love them. they do have a fair share of tri bikes that i drool over when im there

depending when you go it could be an hour but spokes in wheaton is my lbs and i love them. they do have a fair share of tri bikes that i drool over when im there

they had a sweet pinarello prince all decked out when i was there about a month ago :D

Turin Bicycle in Evanston is worth checking out. The Pony Shop is also nearby in Evanston.

Take a look at this website: http://www.chicagobikeshops.info/
It contains almost every bikeshop in chicago and the 'burbs. Nice thing is that it use Google Maps, so you get a quick idea on how far a ride they would be. (driving an hour to a bike store? Am I the only one that thinks it sounds just plain wrong? Remember that you can reach most bike stores in the city within half an hour riding. :rolleyes:)
The site also contains user reviews.

A list to start with would be, in no particular order, and all within half an hour riding from my house:
- Turin in Evanston
- Get-a-Grip, downtown and Irving Pk Rd near Milwaukee
- Mission Bay, downtown
- On the Route Bicycles on Lincoln
- Cycle Smithy on Clark

As Psimet said: You will know the right one when you walk in
Duppie

Thanks for the info folks. From my new found research starting points it looks like I'll probably head to Get a Grip. However, my wife just told me she's been accepted to go to Japan to study this spring so there probably goes the bicycle money. Looks like I'll be sticking with my mountain bike for now.

Again, thanks for the info.

Slightly off topic -- does anyone know which shops in Chicago carry imported bikes (Colnago, Cervelo, Look, Pinarello, etc.)? I've always wanted to test ride some of them, and I don't own a car to head out to the burbs. (Well, I guess I could take the Metra; but last time I happened upon the Jazzfest and they didn't let me on to get home, so I had to ride).

aaa - I stopped in Turin in Evanston last weekend, and saw a lot of Cervelos and Bianchi bikes either on the floor, but most of them hanging from the ceiling. Staff seemed pretty friendly, knowledgable, and not at all snobby. I'm definitely checking them out when I get a new bike. They're at 1027 Davis...I'd say less than a 15 mile ride from the loop.

I'm selling a trek 2300 if anyone's interested :) ...55cm (too small for you, caffiend).

Slightly off topic -- does anyone know which shops in Chicago carry imported bikes (Colnago, Cervelo, Look, Pinarello, etc.)? I've always wanted to test ride some of them, and I don't own a car to head out to the burbs. (Well, I guess I could take the Metra; but last time I happened upon the Jazzfest and they didn't let me on to get home, so I had to ride).

cbike.com carries colnago and BMC. they are on kedzie ave.

Slightly off topic -- does anyone know which shops in Chicago carry imported bikes (Colnago, Cervelo, Look, Pinarello, etc.)? I've always wanted to test ride some of them, and I don't own a car to head out to the burbs. (Well, I guess I could take the Metra; but last time I happened upon the Jazzfest and they didn't let me on to get home, so I had to ride).

I can give you want to specifically didn't ask for....shops in the burbs that carry them....;)

Mission Bay carries Cervelo - or at least they did when they were in Elgin. Spokes in Wheaton has had some Pinarello. Had a nice Prince built up the last time I was in there. I've seen Look and Colnago, but I can't remember where.

Looking at the Look site for dealers they list:
Bicycles, etc.
The Bike Shop
Hartley's cycle shop
Licktons
Get a Grip
Chicagoland Bicycle


Colnago has a lot listed in the area:
Check here (http://nt1.adventuresports.com/shops/veltec/asp/vtdllist.asp?Vendor=vel#Illinois)

Slightly off topic -- does anyone know which shops in Chicago carry imported bikes (Colnago, Cervelo, Look, Pinarello, etc.)? I've always wanted to test ride some of them, and I don't own a car to head out to the burbs. (Well, I guess I could take the Metra; but last time I happened upon the Jazzfest and they didn't let me on to get home, so I had to ride).

no shop is going to let you take high end bikes out on test rides. even if they had them all built up they wouldn't let you out the door with it. If I'm buying a $7k bike (or even $3k) the first guy that rides it is me. Maybe maybe maybe, the mechanic.

My advice, don't even ask: on a good day they'll laugh you out of the shop, bad day they'll turn on you like pitbulls.

no shop is going to let you take high end bikes out on test rides. even if they had them all built up they wouldn't let you out the door with it. If I'm buying a $7k bike (or even $3k) the first guy that rides it is me. Maybe maybe maybe, the mechanic.

My advice, don't even ask: on a good day they'll laugh you out of the shop, bad day they'll turn on you like pitbulls.Seriously? I mean, if I'm dumping $5k+ on a bicycle I want to test ride it. My brother test rode some Colnago's and eventually fell in love with the C50. But he lives on the West Coast. I guess I can stop into those LBS when I'm visiting and not worry about being laughed at.

I go to Kozy's sometimes. They are on Polk and DesPlaines south of downtown. They actually have more than one location. It's a fairly big store.

http://kozy.com/page.cfm?PageID=12

Thomas

no shop is going to let you take high end bikes out on test rides. even if they had them all built up they wouldn't let you out the door with it. If I'm buying a $7k bike (or even $3k) the first guy that rides it is me. Maybe maybe maybe, the mechanic.

My advice, don't even ask: on a good day they'll laugh you out of the shop, bad day they'll turn on you like pitbulls.

......you serious??!! Every shop will let you take a test ride. I would leave any shop that wouldn't. Leave a license and you're good.

Do you not buy a car if it has been test driven before you got it?

I'd be PO'd if a shop didn't urge me to take a test ride first.

Now...that said I don't know how happy the owner over at Spokes would be if you wanted to take his $10-$12k Prince out for a spin.....

I've seen a lot of people on blingy test rides. I've even heard stories of some shops that say bring all your gear and plan on riding for at least an hour.

I go to Kozy's sometimes. They are on Polk and DesPlaines south of downtown. They actually have more than one location. It's a fairly big store.

http://kozy.com/page.cfm?PageID=12

Thomas

I saw a rider test riding a super bling Cannondale "something special" 6 when I was in there. They had no issues with it. Guy brought in all his gear, etc.

......you serious??!! Every shop will let you take a test ride. I would leave any shop that wouldn't. Leave a license and you're good.

Do you not buy a car if it has been test driven before you got it?

I'd be PO'd if a shop didn't urge me to take a test ride first.

Now...that said I don't know how happy the owner over at Spokes would be if you wanted to take his $10-$12k Prince out for a spin.....

I've seen a lot of people on blingy test rides. I've even heard stories of some shops that say bring all your gear and plan on riding for at least an hour.

Spokes in Wheaton. They ripped off my nephew (13yr old) on a simple pedal fix. To rip a kid off of small change is way beyond me. The worst part for Spokes is that the kid's Dad is a prominent Wheton businessman and has relayed this story to MANY people. The types that would plunk down thousands on a bike. I have spent big bucks on bikes but after hearing this, it was not at that store. Sometimes taking care of the small sale will yield big bucks later.