SoCalAl

Just wondering what experiences (good or bad) people have had with various shops in San Diego regarding repair work.

neil0502

rumor has it, it's Danno at B&L Bikes in Solana Beach.

genec

Well I am still looking...

Performace in Sorrento Valley has a friendly mech (Russel), but the shop seems slow at everything... took more than 4 weeks to get a Mavic wheel rebuilt and the place has a huge Mavic sign in the front window... they just "didn't get around to ordering the rim." Have heard other customers comment while I was standing in line...

Performace in Kearny Mesa does not thrill me either.

The Trek Super Store in Kearny Mesa took the time to do what they could with the parts they had on hand. Have only been there once.

Quality Bikes in Clairemont just finally told me "well, we are pretty much an MTB shop... " after my umteenth time of no success there. Hey, I tried.

Bit of history: I have and ride 2 20+ year old bikes... so perhaps none of the above shops can deal with "vintage" rides... (one fat wheel, the other strictly "road")

But jeeze... 4 shops in the area and the "love" just ain't there.

Used to use Adams Ave... years ago... but moved from that area. They were pretty good back then. Not sure today.

La Mesa Cyclery was pretty decent too... Not sure today. Haven't used them in over 7 years.

Would love to find a shop that knows vintage bikes and has stuff in stock. I hear all too often "we can order that" (just a couple weeks ago was looking for a 7 speed 13-28 cassette... ended up ordering it from Sheldon Brown.) I mean golly, I can "order it" too. But does some guy on the east coast have to be my best source of bike stuff? Sheesh.

Gonna be watching this thread...

Good luck

peripatetic

I've gone into the Hillcrest bike shop a couple of times, and have always found the dudes there really nice and helpful. They have a nice selection of tools, too.

Place is on Washington, a couple of blocks west of La Posta and El Cuervo (mmm... El Cuervo.)

(though I now live in NYC, I lived in SD for 8 yrs.)

jhglaw

I have been pleased w the Trek store in Kearney Mesa and High Tech Bikes on Mission Gorge Road.

SoCalAl

It's pretty tough to find a LBS in which anyone really knows squat about "vintage" road bikes. I also have 2 20 year-old rides (a Calborn "Formula 1" and a Giordana Spica). I used to frequent the "Bike Lane" in Penasquitos (long gone).

John E

Tell that to Jim and Susan at CyclArt, Vista CA.

Fred, who owns Leucadia Cyclery, Encinitas CA, knows both vintage and modern equipment.

I agree that Dan at B&L, Solana Beach CA, is a top-notch mechanic. I don't know if he still has it, but he used to commute on a Peugeot UO-8, as I have off and on for many years.

Helmet Head

For all kinds of service, including vintage stuff, Kevin and company at California Bikes in La Jolla know what they are doing, and have an amazing stock of old parts. High-end inventory... prices to match. https://www.calbike.com/.

I have had great work done by Mike and Eric over at North of the Border on Mira Mesa Blvd. They've built bikes for me, wheels, everything. Small informal shop. Low inventory. Reasonable prices. Looks like a mountain bike place, but they know road bikes.

I too have heard great things about the guys at B&L (now merged with Bikes 101 at their new location NORTH of Lomas Santa Fe on 101 in Solana Beach).

I've also had good work done by Dave's mechanics at UC Cyclery.

Helmet Head

I used to have one... Simplex derailleurs. Mavic brakes, I think. Center-pull, of course. Mine was a blue-green color.

genec

Jeeze... Vista... man, that is way out there... At least some of these shops are really Local as in "LBS."

Just as a side note to this... Been in a few of these shops in the past couple of years while thinking "new bike," and was just amazed at how some folks in the staff just tend to lead guys with a bit of gray in the beard right toward comfort bikes... Com'on... I don't even have my AARP card yet.

And nope... didn't get a new bike either.

StormBringer

I just dropped my Softride off at the one on Adam's. Forgot the name, they are pretty fast on turn around and the price was right for the amount of work that my bike needed.

jedi_rider

-B&L Bike and Sport in Solana Beach
-California Bicycles in La Jolla
-Trek Superstore in Kearny Mesa

Not in any particular order.

So Cal commuter

Check out Adams Ave. Cycles, couple of the wrenches commute on "vintage" road bikes.

Gummee

Russ is a good guy. Former Pro mtn biker in 'the day.' I used to work at that shop when it was Cycle World, then when it changed to Bikes USA. IF I couldn't do my own stuff, I'd trust him. He's not in charge of ordering stuff, so bring up the slow stuff with the management.

Lessee, wrenches. The guys at Bike 101 are good. The wrenches at the Supergo in C-bad WERE good, but I do believe the good ones have moved on. Been awhile since I was in.

Haven't a clue about the guys at Adams Ave (reopened under different management) but I haven't heard BAD things about em either.

CyclArt in San Marcos (?location?) are THE people to talk to about vintage stuff. Everyone else is either not old enough, or don't stock stuff.

Rose Canyon cycles builds good wheels last I heard. The owner rides, so I know he's an enthusiast.

Buddy of mine really likes the guys at the Trek store in La Mesa. Haven't done much other than stop in, so I can't confirm nor deny.

Trek in San Marcos was looking for a mechanic last I heard. Buddy of mine worked there so I stopped in bunches.

Nytro had an issue with parts going out the back door. The guy I thought was my buddy I had working there turned out to be an ass (BS on a ride, nothing with wrenching) and I stopped paying attention to them. FWI have heard, if you're not a pro triathlete, the staff at Nytro don't pay too much attention to you.

Since I had what amounted to a full shop in my garage, I did ALL my stuff except HS pressing. When I needed a HS pressed, I basically bribed guys with beer.

HTH,

M

Gummee

Man! I keep forgetting about places I didn't go often. I didn't know about a BAD shop in town, but there were definitely some better'n others.

M

Allez3

Lived at Zumwalt's growing up there, that and College Cyclery (Jerry was a legend). I believe both are now one in the same today. Used to be a guy named Harold in town that worked at a small shop in La Mesa then moved to Zumwalt's in '86 I think. The guy could fix anything. Moved to Denver in 1987 though and haven't been back but to visit family. Best info I can offer.