RyanR6

I live in Downers Grove, IL, and am seriously considering road biking for fun and exercise in the spring/summer. I am wondering if anyone can recommend an LBS, or let me know of any to stay away from. So far I've visited the following:

American Bike in Downers Grove
Hartley's in Hinsdale
Bicycles Etc. in Lisle

I've been taking Spin classes the last few weeks trying to get in shape, and am thinking about shorts/bibs and shoes for class, which I could then use when I purchase a bike. I would like to consider buying the equipment from an LBS I could possibly purchase a bike from, to establish that relationship. FWIW, there is a Performance nearby as well, and have thought about getting the shorts and shoes from there, because their prices are quite low.

Ryan

aham23

I didnt care for American in DG as they showed little interest the last time I was in there. Bicycle Ect in Naperville, rt 59 & Aurora, seems friendly, professional, and interested in getting people on the right bike. I also like Performance on rt 59 in the plaza with Circuit City. They have the best deals or prices and they are clearing our their Giant line of bikes and offering $400 to $600 off certain models. All that being said I bought my 05 Trek 1000 at Richards Bikes in Palos. The offered the best price in the burbs. Later.

iamtim

Totally off-topic, but holy crap! There's an actual Downers Grove?

I thought Emo was just making that up.

Heh.

RyanR6

Yep, there is. Not sure who Emo is, but the National Criterium (sp?) Championships have been held there the past 15 years or so (I think?). I watched some of it last year while I was at the bar waiting for my movie to start.

Ryan

Nubie

Hey there,

I grew up in Naperville, so I can pretty much only help you there. I bought my bike at the Performance in Naperville (Rt59 and Aurora rd) and they were pretty good. Across the street from them is a Bicycle Etc as aham23 said. In the Market Meadows plaza (75th and Naper Blvd) is a Bike Line, they have a nice selection. Also Lickton's in Oark Park on Lake street is a little bit of a drive, but they're super nice there.

https://www.lickbike.com

There's also Spokes in Wheaton on Butterfield rd, they have group rides and stuff too. Hope that helps some!

Propofol

I haven't lived in Chicago since 1997, so my information may be old.

I bought my first Cannondale (a 1994 R600) at DuPage Cyclery in Aurora in 1995. The guys there were fantastically nice and gave me a great discount on the bike. I see they're still listed on a few websites, so they're probably still around. Check them out.

Kurto

Spokes is good people. But, if you're cool with a Giant, go to that Performance by Fox Valley Mall. The prices on em are pretty bomb until they're gone. But Spokes in Naperville or in Wheaton is what I'd say for lots of good fuzzy customer service.

Nubie

I almost forgot - there's a Pearl Izumi outlet in Aurora at the Prime Outlets out there. It's awesome. My friend got some SPD shoes there for $40! And I got a Vagabond jacket with zip-off sleeves for $80 and I wear it all the time. Definitely worth checking out.

MrEWorm

Performance in Napervillle is very good. Spokes in Wheaton and Naperville (two locations) and Prairie Path Bicycles (Wheaton I think) are all good shops in your area.

Performance built my steel Surly Cross-Check and sold my son-in-law a Giant foofoo carbon bike. Reasonable prices and good people. If you do buy a bike from them, join their club, you get 10% back in merchandise.

Spokes is alright but sometimes I think they try to move their stock rather than find the right bike for you.

I have heard good things about Prairie Path Bicycles but have never visited therte.

MrEWorm

Another shop you might want to check out is The Bike Rack in St Charles. My wife got her recumbent there. The sales people invested a great deal of time and patience in that sale. I have seen them give as good of care to road bike clients. They carry Trek, Klein, Fisher, Lemond and Merlin bikes as well as a specialty bikes: tandems, trikes and recumbents.

duane041

Dang! I gotta get out there. Finally, an outlet that isn't Mikasa or Jones NY.

johnnyb1726

I recommend J & R Cycle and Ski in Lombard. That is where I got my bike this December and the service is excelent. The owner knows a lot about bikes and I believe they have good prices.

RyanR6

Wow, thanks for all the responses. I will definitely check out the Performance on 59, as Giant is one of the brands I've seen already, and from this thread it sounds like they're OK. I will look into the other shops as well, but it kind of stinks having to go a little farther than one of the 3 closest to my house.

Thanks for the Pearl Izumi outlet info, maybe I can make it there this weekend to check it out.

If anyone else has had good or bad experiences locally, please post up, I'd like to hear them and I'm sure others would as well.

Ryan

RyanR6

Anymore info/opinions out there? This could turn into a whole western-suburb thread for all I care, the more info the better.

I think I'm going to hit the Pearl Izumi outlet tomorrow, I'll post up my thoughts if I do.

Ryan

aham23

when i have been to spokes in naperville i get the feeling they just want to move bikes. they dont negotiate on price either. later.

Nubie

How about north/west burbs? There's Higher Gear in Highland Park, another Performance in Schaumburg (? I could be wrong - maybe Arlington Hts?), Turin in Evanston, and Alberto's in Winnetka.

https://www.highergearchicago.com

https://www.turinbicycle.com

RyanR6

I'm not willing to go to Evanston or Winnetka personally, but maybe someone else is. Obviously, I'd like to be as close to home as possible, I suppose I'm willing to go about 10 miles. I'd go more for a great deal or bike, but if any free service is included, it kind of makes it pointless.

Ryan

dekalbSTEEL

Both Spokes locations are known for swapping components to get the bike you want down to the price you are looking to spend.( so you never know if you're getting the bike as equipped from the mfr.)


https://prairiepathcycles.com/ is good, very friendly people, just moved to the other end of their strip mall into a bigger space.

https://www.midwestcyclery.com/ is good nice people there too

Performance in Naperville has good deals, just steer clear of the tall bald guy with glasses, look for the guy with the black and greying beard and pony tail, he knows his stuff

RyanR6

Saturday my wife and I drove out the the Aurora outlet mall, and went to the Pearl Izumi store. To be honest, I wasn't that impressed with the selection of clothes in my price range. When I think outlet store, I think decent selection for good prices. That being said, I did get a pair of bibs for $50 marked down from $100, and wore them in my spin class yesterday. They are definitely nice, and I'm glad I got them. I wanted to spend $50 or under for some MTB shoes, but there were none there.

I also went to the Performance on 59, the black/grey bearded guy helped me, and I got some Diadora MTB shoes for $45, and Performance cleats for $10. They are comfortable standing on, I'll wear them to spin class Wednesday. Their Giant prices are excellent. They have a 2005 TCR Comp 3 for $1099, in the small size. That seems to be a great deal.

Ryan

aham23

yes they are splitting from giant and have most models 400 to 600 off. get one while they last. later.