EffSizzle

I just got back from a 40 miler and I stopped at Gerk's Alpine Hut on Redmond Way in downtown Redmond. I must say that the guy there was so helpful that I already know next year when I buy my first road bike I'm buying it from them. Wonderful!!!

CerveloNW

It's in Seattle, but if you are coming from the Eastside the easiest route is across the I-90 bridge and then north on Lake Washington Boulevard. It is about a 20 minute ride from downtown Bellevue. If you want a good shop near the Burke, I forgot to mention both TiCycles and Recycled Cyles - both good shops too.

East Hill

Thanks! I am definitely going to have to do a mapmyride thing here.

hehehe

Perhaps I'll put it up as a public route!

East Hill

ollo_ollo

Not on the East Side but just a short trip across the floating bridge is Recycled Cycles on Boat Street near the UW & Montlake bridge/ship canal. Not as much used stuff as in years past but still worth checking out. I have had some great finds on used parts & bikes there. Don

smxbob

I would never use Gregg's. Not only do they have horrible service they will actually do damage to your bike and, of course, deny it! It's happened to me and several people I know.

If you have a warranty problem it can take weeks if not months. I had to call Trek myself and then push Gregg's service mgr to do something.

They make their money off of uneducated newbies. They don't sell many hi-end bikes.

Bekologist

bullcrapple.

FlowerBlossom

Troll!!!

FlowerBlossom

I can only suggest Gregg's or REI, because those are the only ones I know are on the eastside that I used myself in Seattle. Gregg's has always been helpful and had parts and knew what to look for and offered and explained the options, without being patronizing.

This is important. I have been patronized by all 3 shops in downtown Olympia. I have the luxury of working in Seattle, so I can and do take my business to Seattle now (until the new bike shop in Oly opens...I'll give them a try).

Gregg's carries (carried) shoes that fit my feet, and explained to me the difference between the shoes I bought (Specialized) and ones that other had recommended (Sidi), which didn't fit me. Happy feet, happy toes, Happy FlowerBlossom.

gregski

What, and where, is the new bike shop in Oly? Seems all the shops in Oly are lacking in some way. As far as customer service goes, Bike Tech on 4th Ave. East has always been helpful. Since I work up north, for most parts and items that I don't buy online, I stop at Performance in Tacoma. But you had better go in there with a clear mission in mind. Almost every employee I have met there seems to have the attitude that you are to blame for their career choice.

FlowerBlossom

https://www.theolympian.com/business/story/127997.html

Bike Tech sucks. They were probably the worse of the 3, in terms of being condescending.


Oh dear, you just got me started.

I had a chronic bike seat post problem. It kept slipping. But, it would take a couple days. I took the bike into several shops over the years, all of them diagnosed it as not tightening the bolt tight enough. Hmph.

Bike Tech also first diagnosed the problem as my not tightening the seat post bolt enough. Grrrrrrrrrr. After trying to loosen the bolt, they admitted that maybe the tightening wasn't the problem. So, they blamed it on my inferior (brand) allen wrench. Seriously. The allen wrench was the problem. Grrrrrrrrrrr.

And, what's worse was the guy who helped me was supposedly the local Trek guru, having sold and worked on Trek's for years. He claimed that he remembered my bike.

Now, add to this, when Bike Tech dude tightened down on the bolt, he ended up crushing the brake cable holder that sits between the two pieces of the bolt, creating yet another jam that prevented the seat post from staying put.

Granted, it's a bit difficult to diagnose because you can tighten down on the bolt and crush the brake cable holder and when you try to twist the seat (post) it won't budge. But, slowly, over time, you lose height. And, I TOLD THEM THIS. And, they basically said, don't worry your pretty little head about this because I've been working on Treks for umpteen years and I used the right brand of allen wrench. And he assured me that he tightened it very hard. He assured me it was fixed. And, the seat post slipped with about 2 days of riding, the usual time it takes when some mechanic tries to think they can tighten it tigter than me.

And, this was about 3 years ago, so I've softened a bit on what actually happened.

In hindsight, what he failed to remember about this bike is that there's no groove in the frame to accommodate the notch that is found on the inside of the seat post bolts you can buy today. That notch is enough to prevent sufficient tightening (necessary because of the design--remember the brake cable holder). But, I didn't know this at the time. And, in hindsight, you'd think if he was claiming to be a Trek guru and had ump-teen years experience working on Treks, and was using this fact as proof that he knew what he was going, he would have known this detail. Nope.

FWIW, a female mechanic figured this out, only last summer. She did it by studying the situation, listening to me, asking me more questions, discussing it further with the other mechanic, and ta-daaa, figured it out. That was just last summer; I have had this problem for over 20 years...occurring more frequently in the past few years because seat post bolts don't come w/o notches anymore. She fixed it, by filing the notch off the bolt, but, getting the brake cable holder in the right place was a bit tricky. Until then, all I ever got was "you aren't tightening it tight enough".

After having yet another macho bike mechanic squish the brake cable holder just this past spring, and I lost seat height, I finally took it to Elliot Bay Bikes. A Seattle shop. A bike builder. They listened, gave me a couple options, we chose one, and then he came up with a 3rd and wisked my bike to the back room. Because they are bike builders, they had the machinery to cut into the seat tube and make more space for the cable hanger...no more tight squeezes (forgive the pun).

THEY listened. THEY believed me. They said, "this is badly designed". They did not say, "you have the wrong brand of allen wrench".

gregski

Wow FB, sorry to hear of your troubles with Bike Tech. I know how one bad experience can set your opinion in stone. Granted I do most of my own maintenance and repairs, so I don't have too much experience with them doing work on my bike. I usually come here, or other forums, to get my info. But every time I have gone there with questions, they have been fairly helpful, and usually right on. I will, however, look forward to Old Town Bicycle opening. I wonder if their wrenches ride nothing but mountain bikes and are covered in tattoos and piercings, with attitudes to match. That gets old fast.

CliftonGK1

I go to REI for accessory things like lights and reflecty tape when I see they're on sale. Same thing with Performance; I'll go there for clothes when there's a good sale. Not for expert service and repair.

I haven't been to Gerk's Alpine Hut, but I've heard good things from many friends.

I didn't like Redmond Cycle because they were standoff-ish about working on my very old beater commuter bike. (In general the shop seemed to cater to the high-end carbon crowd, not the 17 year old steel beater gang.) I'm sure they're a good shop, but I caught some 'tude when I went in and I never went back.

My favourite is Sammamish Valley Cycles. The reason they won me over is because of Synth (one of their wrenches, and the best wheel guy I've met.) He's done some awesome work to save me having to buy a new wheel, and in keeping my wheels in proper working order. He does a lot of tandem and touring wheels, so taking care of a clyde's wheels is second nature.

FlowerBlossom

gregski, as long as they listen, don't patronize, and otherwise respect, everyone, they can have as much attitude and tats piercings as they want. Time will tell!

Layback

I agree. Gerk, Venny, Ryler and the rest of the crew there rock. I travel from Snohomish to see them b/c they know me by name and are always helpful. Good selection and great closeout prices too!

MillCreek

Noting that there are several posters in this thread in my neck of the woods, I can also speak highly of the two Bicycle Centers: one in downtown Everett and one right by me in Mill Creek. The downtown Everett shop is somewhat larger, but both of them offer great service departments and a wide range of accessories. They carry more Trek and Specialized bikes than other brands.

CliftonGK1

*bump*

I may have been harsh with my previous statements about Redmond Cycle. I did sorta get the bum's rush first time I went there.
I went back today, searching for a cable anchor bolt for a 1991 105sc rear derailleur. No other shop had such a thing. Only 2 other shops even looked through their parts boxes. The wrench at Redmond came out with a bolt, but it was not right. I described what I needed, and he disappeared in back. I could hear lots of rooting around in what sounded like a bathtub full of old parts. He came back with the bolt I needed, and said "It was in our old parts bin. You can have it for free."
I may not go there on a regular basis because they don't carry a lot of things outside the lightweight carbon fibre racing realm, but when I need weird fiddley-bits, I know where to check first.

East Hill

Thanks CliftonGK1, that's good to have you update your original assessment.

East Hill

87Ranger

New to this Forum and thought I would add my two cents on bike shop recommendations. I couldn't help but see that most everyone likes the big boys..Greggs, REI. How about the smaller shops? There are a number of great small bike shops that do great work and I believe have better gear or can get you better gear. Velo on Capital Hill and Pedal Dynamics in Greenwood both are smaller shops that have folks that know the industry and know how to tune.

BengeBoy 

I ran across "Veloce Velo" in Issaquah on the web. According to their website they just opened; they are on front street in Issaquah. They feature Specialized, Bianchi, Pinarello, Colnago in road bikes. Anyone been there?

www.velocevelo.com.

EffSizzle

I just picked up my first road bike from Pacific Bicycle Company on the Sammamish Plateau. Wonderful people, incredible service, great products, fair prices. I'm a customer for life.