General Cycling Discussion - Performance Store, Charlottesville VA

The wifey and I jumped in the car (sorry Chris) and drove over to Richmond Virginia (from Illinois a two day trip). About 70 or 80 miles before Richmond we we're driving past Charlottesville. I thought I recalled that one of the Performance stores was there and mentioned that to my sweetie. She said that we should check it out......WHOOO HOOO! we did, after about a half hour later we found the place. Ohh I was like a kid in a candy store! We bought tools and shorts and grease and more tools and looked around for an hour and a half. Oh Boy was that fun!

Anyone else been to one of the Performance stores? I've been to one out in LA as well, I thought both were really good stores.

There's two of them in the Prairie State. One's in Northbrook, the other in Chicago (Halsted and Diversey). Both of them are a bikes ride away from casa Oscar.

They impress me because they even have Schwinn-size 26 x 1 3/8 tires.

Where are you at in the Land o' Lincoln?

IMHO, the Performance store here in nearby Greenwood Village (10 miles away since I have recently moved) sucks. They have too many customers (yes, truly) because of the popularity of biking here and their excellent location that they have no need to provide good customer service. You literally have to go and grab one of the 17 yo salespersons and get their attention to make a purchase.

Yet, there are some excellent bike sores within spitting distance, but without the the excellent location that are drying up.

I think that the Performance store's attitude will eventually come around and bite the store. At least I hope so.

We have lots and lots and lots of bicycle stores around my new home here - I have three within two miles, two of them good.

I think I am going to have to go back to the U.S. in January. There are several stores around the suburban MD/VA area that would be easy to get to.

In general, do they stock most stuff? If one is out, does it pay to go to another in the area to find it?

I will not cut my nose off to spite my face. :(

Cheers...Gary

Last Saturday the Van Nuys Performance shop had their yearly 15% to 80% off sale.

I couldn't make it but I could taste it.

Originally posted by Oscar
There's two of them in the Prairie State. One's in Northbrook, the other in Chicago (Halsted and Diversey). Both of them are a bikes ride away from casa Oscar.

They impress me because they even have Schwinn-size 26 x 1 3/8 tires.

Where are you at in the Land o' Lincoln?

About forty miles south west of Peoria, Near Canton. A small town called Cuba.

I haven't been there, but I've been close. It's kind of near Havana, isn't it?

Originally posted by DnvrFox
....have no need to provide good customer service. You literally have to go and grab one of the 17 yo salespersons and get their attention to make a purchase.



Sorry to hear that Denver. I was more than happy with the customer service at both this one in Charlottesville and the one in LA.

When confronted with lousy customer service, I never return to such a place and unless I really need the stuff I'm buying at the moment I put it down and leave.

We had several questions while at the VA location. A 20 YO (ish) kid helped us. I thought he was very patient, helpful and friendly.

If around your area, Denver Co right? I'll steer away from your performance store.

Originally posted by Oscar
I haven't been there, but I've been close. It's kind of near Havana, isn't it?

Yes about 18 miles from there.

We don't have the quality riding areas that we were accustomed to in Virginia, but we are along the Spoon river basin area, so there are some acceptable riding opportunities. The people are definitely friendlier drivers here as well, we are still astounded by the sheer numbers of drivers that give us a whole lane when passing us. In Virginia we felt lucky to get 5 feet clearance most times.

But Virginia scenery was a bunch better.