Pacific Northwest - Elliott Bay Bicycles makes the "big time"

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BengeBoy
08-10-08, 12:36 PM
Current issue of Bicycling Magazine has a feature on Elliott Bay cycles of Seattle:
http://www.bicycling.com/article/0,6610,s1-3-12-17718-1,00.html
I love the shop...have gotten great advice and work from the folks there, and as the article states they do some amazing restoration work. But the quote they chose from Bill Davidson made them sound a little unfriendly to casual customers, which is not (in my experience) correct. The thing I like best about EBB is that you can walk into a shop of over the top, outrageous and beautiful bicycles from around the world (including those made in the back room), and there is Bill Davidson, patiently and cheerfully explaining to a newbie how to patch a flat...
(BTW, anyone visiting Seattle ought to stop by the store if you like bikes; it's right by Pike Place Market. The collection of vintage bikes hanging from the ceiling is worth the trip).
riversiderider
08-10-08, 06:52 PM
I'll second that BengeBoy. EBB is a great place to visit. I dropped by on a weekend afternoon and got a tour of the shop, great fun.
When I get the point of buying a custom ti bike it will be a Davidson.
Ride safe
Jasper Storm
08-10-08, 08:13 PM
"Great."
I've already talked at length with them about getting a new Ti made.
I better hurry in before the price/ wait time increases.
Bekologist
08-10-08, 09:23 PM
Elliot Bay is a great shop. Good people.
Eclectic collection of products as well. you need a carradice bag in the Seattle area, you go to Elliot Bay.
FlowerBlossom
08-11-08, 12:45 AM
Damn them <<shaking fist in the air>>! Now I'm going to have to wait longer and pay more.
Self-centered desires aside, this is great. It is a wonderful shop. I tried figuring out what I want in a new bike by going there, and had to leave per the sensory overload. My goodness, talk about functional eye candy!
Tourmalet
08-12-08, 08:06 PM
Oh wow... I've lived in Seattle for 15 years and I never knew about that shop. One of my favorite shops is Federal Army/Navy Surplus; apparently this bike shop is a block or two away. Still I never even saw it. Western Ave. is kind of out of the way. They should advertise. ;)
EBB is one of my favorite shops in the PNW. When I was restoring my '79 Raleigh Comp GS this winter I needed 3 new bolts and shoulder nuts for the chanrings on my 3 bolt GS cranks. They're different from the 5 bolt NR crank bolts by just a hair in diameter, the 5 bolt type won't go in the hole at all. I tried, literally, every high end shop in PDX and Seattle. When I asked them at EBB he said "hold on a sec, let me look." He came back up front with 3 new bolt/nut combos in a sealed bag, NOS Campy. Asked [I]me[I] how much I wanted to pay for 'em. Called it good at $10.
I will certainly throw business their way on any bike needs when I'm in their area.
heavyMetal
08-14-08, 11:31 AM
I got my Davidson Stiletto there in '95. When I crashed it a couple of years ago, damaging the down tube, they were able to repair it and match the original paint job. Remarkable because the company that made the tubing is long gone. EBB just happened to have a stash of Tange Prestige steel tubing hidden away somewhere just for these occasions. Bike is as good as new!
Jasper Storm
08-14-08, 07:56 PM
Just ordered a Ti bike today.
No "Bicycling Magazine article-caused" delays to report.