Moving to Phoenix from Eastern PA (sorta)
Anyway, looking for recommendations of friendly shops with good service (or warnings to stay away!).
It's kinda shocking to have such a big choice, because were I'm from there were two places to choose from. I've already searched out the retailers of my favorite bikes, but I'd appreciate any personal experience.
The "greater" Phoenix area is BIG! What city are you moving to? Phoenix proper or a suburb?
If I were you, I'd seek out a bike co-op. There is one in Phoenix called The Rusty Spoke and one in Tempe called Bike Saviours. These are "bring your bike in and the tools & assistance from a mechanic are free and the parts are cheap" places (non profits). If you need new higher end parts you can buy them from any local shop really (whichever one has the best prices) and then bring it to a co-op and learn how to actually maintain and fix your bike so you're not dependent on a shop to do the job.
When I do visit a local bike shop, I go to Landis Cyclery. Tempe Bike is good (the east one, where a mechanic named Marcus works). The thing about bike mechanic'ery in Phoenix is that of the mechanics I know from local rides, it's a bit incestuous in that again, those I know personally, have worked at several different shops.
We also have several Performance Bike stores here, a national chain, which leads some to complain that they're not a true LBS and take business away from local shops. I buy all my tubes at Performance as they're much cheaper and they're often on sale. All tubes come from asia and unless bike shops are buying really low quantity and paying higher prices, there's no reason for them to mark them up as much as they do.
It will really come down to what's the best bike shop that's a reasonable distance to where you live/work/ride.
If you're anywhere near Tempe check out our website http://www.biketempe.org, we're a local non profit bicycle advocacy and social rides organization.
-Tom
Thanks for the info. I had a local Performance shop back home as well (with mixed experienced when I shopped there). Really not sure where we are going to be ending up though, that hangs in the air.
BTW... I saw an article about your group in a magazine the other day
Find the locations for Landis Cyclery and move close to one of them. Floyd will be glad to help.
A mans gotta do what a mans gotta do! -The Duke
Yeah, If you do end up in Phoenix, I go see Rob at their 7th Ave and Indian School Location. I didnt have the best experience at Tempe South, they told me a part was needed and i couldnt ride my bike, then i tightened it and rode it up south mountain and it did great.
I guess it depends. I recommend Landis, and Bike Barn has treated me good there....except its way to far out for me to drive there.
Good luck!
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
2010 Focus Cayo with Ultegra....I named her Anastasia!
2011 Felt S22 Rolling on Ultegra....her name is Cleopatra!!! Cleo for short.
Which magazine? For some reason we always end up with mentions in random places that nobody tells us about!Originally Posted by Lizzylou
BTW... I saw an article about your group in a magazine the other day
Landis is a great shop. I have had great service at both the Phoenix and South Tempe stores. If you end up in the far east valley, I recommend Two-Wheel Jones Bicycles. Great people.
Landis - www.landiscyclery.com
Two-Wheel Jones - www.2wheeljones.com
Last edited by kabersch; 01-05-10 at 01:56 PM. Reason: Added links to websites.
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Kevin
South Mountain, somebody still rides South Mountain. I started riding that when I was ten on a beat up old Schwinn Varsity. Lizzylou, put that on your too do list? Someone should declare a group ride this spring, BBQ at one of the ramada's facing the valley. Graduated South MT. HS, '72! Pardon me Lizzy, just a bit of 'ole guy' reminiscing there.
A mans gotta do what a mans gotta do! -The Duke
The bike barn is pretty good. The store is kinda small, but they've always been friendly to me. I'm not a fan of the performance bike in Scottsdale; the times I've been in there the workers seemed clueless. The performance bike on Ray Rd. in Chandler is better.
Trailhead Bike Cafe is pretty cool. Again, it's small, but the people are friendly. They serve food too (cafe type stuff, sandwiches, pastries, etc...). I also like that they list their prices for repairs on the wall. The guy that runs it gave me a chainring bolt for free once even after I begged him to let me pay for it.
I've been to most of the shops listed here and all I'll say is I drive by most of them on my way to Focus Cyclery, it's out of the way if you're centrally located but from my experience they have the best service in PHX by a long shot.
Felt F4
I had good experiences with most of the LBS' when I was shopping for a bike. The one I liked the best was Swiss American Bikes though. They are in the NW valley. Landis and The Bike Barn were awesome , but Mark @ SAB was willing to take the time to answer all of my questions and give me a little more insight as to what I should be looking for.
Here is a link :
http://swissamericanbikes.com/
Anyway, welcome to Arizona. (Though you may not be here yet)
~Gary
My starter bike: Trek 4300.
Working my weight down 1 mile at a time.
I've had great service at Landis and also at Domenic's at Broadway and Rural in Tempe (my current LBS)
"Think of bicycles as rideable art that can just about save the world". ~Grant Petersen
Cyclists fare best when they recognize that there are times when acting vehicularly is not the best practice, and are flexible enough to do what is necessary as the situation warrants.--Me
while I was window shopping for my new bike I think I went to just about every lbs in the Valley and can only complain about 1 shop. I know it was only because of the salesman not the store since I had been there before to get stuff for my old bike and it was always a great experiance.
+1 on Domenic's 2 Wheelers.
I'm a bit new and it's been my observation that Landis is higher-end, a bit more investment in a boutique facade, and higher prices. At the other end is Tempe Bicycle. A bit more "what you see is what you get." Lower prices.
Domenic's (IMO) falls somewhere in the middle. Although, sometimes their prices are lower than Tempe Bicycle. (For example, something I noticed the other day: TB's Wald folding bike racks are about $25 each. Domenic's is $20.
Regarding Tempe Bicycle, I don't know what's going on with them. I hear a lot of negative stuff about them. Their google reviews are pretty negative. (Everyone gets a bad review occasionally. But, TB gets quite a bit more.). I've met quite a few people who say they'll never shop at TB again. It always has to do with bad attitudes.
I like the Tempe Bicycle location on W. University. The mechanic (Rene) is really nice and helpful. But, I've seen customers treated pretty roughly (by others) there. One day an older couple were there, ready to pull the trigger on a bike. I left, and as I was unlocking my bike they came out and asked where a good bike shop is. They felt the store manager (Ron) wasn't interested in selling them a bike.
I don't know what's going on with Tempe Bicycle. They've been in business about 35 years. They must be doing something right. But, the staff seems to be offputting. I personally like Ron. If you catch him in the right mood he's very generous with information, showing how to do things, etc. But, sometimes he can be in a really foul mood. (I think he may be going through some personal problems, like a divorce of child custody. I've overheard a few drama-laden stories he's told to Rene.).
I go to all three. I set my expectations accordingly. But, I go to Domenic's most. They're just nice people. For example, I was looking at a Trek 7.3 on Craigslist. I went to Domenic's and explained what was going on. Sean spent quite a bit of time with me showing me a 7.3 in 22.5". (I ended up not getting the C'list bike. But, that kind of helpfulness means a lot to me. If I end up getting a new one, I'll certainly get it there.).
If I would have done that at Tempe Bike there would have been a lot of melodramatic eye-rolling, huffiness about how they have other things to do, etc. (Not sure I'd blame them. But, it is a big difference in behavior.).
Last edited by az2008; 06-11-10 at 05:59 PM.
So glad to see that Domenic's lives on! I don't live in the area anymore, but a friend that does told me they had closed. (Guess they combined two stores, I didn't know about the other.)
I often find myself in a huge bicycle store that doesn't seem to have what I'm looking for, just row upon row of junk. My experience with Domenic's was that they had such a small space on Mill, yet always seemed to have just what I was looking for.
Long live Domenic's!
I was never at Domenic's on Mill. Can't say how Wheeler's (now Domenic's 2 Wheelers) on Rural compares in size. It seems pretty large.
They're just good people. Today I figured out (a different thread) I could replace my nutted rear axle with a hollow one (and quick-release skewer). Took the wheel to Domenic's. The mechanic spent 5 minutes trying different things just to sell me a $13 axle. And, Sean gave me a free skewer from their spare-parts box. All for a bike I bought at Walmart.
I don't think a lot of stores would help a person out like that. (I approached this topic at another local store two months ago. They dismissed it as not worth the time. That's probably true. But, again shows a difference in attitudes.).
Curbside Cyclery on SE corner of 48th and Warner in Ahwatukee is great!
Awww Yeahhh
I like Fetish Cycles(airpark cycles) in north scottsdale, Steve the owner is very knowledgable and has some highend bikes, always has parts on hand also.
I agree on this one. Recently i went in there, because they carry Cannondale, and the Mechanic took the time to answer my questions, and briefed me on new products. I even took a sticker and put it on my car. They really stepped up. IN fact, they are my new LBS! i'll be stopping by really soon to get my parts that i need.
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
2010 Focus Cayo with Ultegra....I named her Anastasia!
2011 Felt S22 Rolling on Ultegra....her name is Cleopatra!!! Cleo for short.
For those in the Ahwatukee and Tempe area, there is an interesting and relatively unknown bike shop in Guadalupe at the SE corner of Priest and Guadalupe. Just a mile west of Kiwanis park. (The Garage Bike Shop)
The owner is really nice. He has years of experience, very eager to serve, and low prices on service. I see him do free stuff frequently.
To me, the most attractive thing about this shop is that it's located within a huge enclosed courtyard containing other shops and restaurants, restrooms, etc. It's a nice destination to hang out.
The only downside is that his hours are weird because he hasn't achieved enough business to be full-time yet. He's only there evenings and weekends. Otherwise his wife keeps the place open. She's ok for selling stuff, or accepting/releasing bikes for repair. But you can't get any actual repair work (or in-depth discussion) until he's there.
I hope my post isn't viewed as overly promotional. But, it's an interesting, small, old-school store in an interesting (fiesta-themed) location. Somewhat new and obscure. I think locals would enjoy checking it out.
Last edited by az2008; 11-17-10 at 07:15 PM.
Thanx for the info i live right down the road from this place and see the sign but have not actually made it in the shop.
might have to swing by there.
and yes i have been to curbside cyclery before and that place is awesome.
okay So I am bias... I had a sponsorship from Bicycle Showcase (northern phoenix area) and they were great! just to far from where I lived. But i dont have one single complaint. I now have my sponsorship from Focus cycles in gilbert and they are GREAT group. not one complaint and have always walked in there and everyone has a smile and an upbeat attitude
well, i recently moved, and i found a new lbs, its on 32nd street and bell, they are called Sunday Cycles.....no negatives, all positives, and its a very cool kick back place! Definetely recommend it for service and sales (they are not pushy at all)
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
2010 Focus Cayo with Ultegra....I named her Anastasia!
2011 Felt S22 Rolling on Ultegra....her name is Cleopatra!!! Cleo for short.
Bicycle Vibe opened in north Phoenix last fall.
http://www.bicyclevibe.com/
I had a custom fitting there and was happy.
Also, last Friday I needed a derailleur adjustment, I called them up and asked if I could bring the bike in and if they could do it while I waited. They said to bring it in. Not only did he make the adjustments, he took me back into the shop and went over everything he was doing. He did some other things for about a total of 30 minutes.
The final bill came to $8.74!
I've had terrible service from Landis and judging by review comments so have many other people.
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