Cycles Pros in Pleasanton...gone..?
 

Windows are masked up, the locals speculate they have gone under. Local at the bank says Mike's Bikes off of Bernal killed them. I suppose they may be doing a major renovation or moving, but the shop looks like it's history driving by.

That's 2 out of 3 for Main Street.

Mike bikes killed one of the local shops in Los Gatos too.

I'm surprised Mike's hasn't killed off Performance in Walnut Creek - I really don't like Performance.

But one of the best mechanics at Encina bikes broke away to start his own store - that's kind of neat.
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=324714

Yep, Cycle Pros sent out an email to their mailing list a couple of weeks ago saying they were closing up the brick and mortar side of the business. Sort of hinted that he might continue to pursue something on the online side of bicycle retail business, and maybe bike repair, but there weren't any details.

I've been to only one Mikes Bikes - the one in Walnut Creek, and definitely came away with a bad taste of snobbery (what-noob-questions-are-you-sure-you-can-afford-a-bike feel) - never felt that at the Performance near my house. Maybe that is why Performance is still in business - it is definitely more approachable for new cyclists than most LBSes.

They're definitely total opposites - and they're only about 6 blocks away from each other in Walnut Creek. But the Performance shop hires people who don't know anything about bikes as salespeople - I've heard them giving wrong advice about things that were compatible with each other that aren't for example (easy stuff). Once I asked the cashier if they had any sew up glue and he said I should ask the mechanics in the back. The mechanic came up to the cashier's stand and it was in a display box right behind the cashier. Then the cashier looked at the tube like it was Martian toothpaste or something. Mike's is pricey and high pressure but at least they know their stuff.

Hell, I'd look at sew-up glue like it was Martian toothpaste too.:)

That's unfortunate. I was in there a couple of weeks ago and it seemed like business as usual. No sense that they were in trouble. I was pretty exited about Mike's Bikes when they opened. Based on their website, they looked like they have nice stuff. Nice bikes for sure but as mentioned there's a bit of a snobbish feeling in there. For accessories I'll go to performance (for tires, tubes, patches etc) or online.

Tricia and I have been to Mike's W.C. a few times and didn't get the snob treatment at all. They were very helpful in fact.
Tricia bought her Ruby at Berkeley Mike's (before there was a WC store) and they were great.
YMMV

I've done some business with the WC Mike's as well. Their staff seemed friendly, helpful and knowledgeable enough to me. No it's not like Velo Sport used to be up in Chico in the 80's, but then neither is the rest of the industry.