KingTermite 

Hi...I just moved to the area. I live in Bellevue. I'm in the market for a new LBS here.

So far I've heard Gregg's Cycles recommended who was supposedly voted best bike shop in Seattle area and their website says they've been around 75 years.

But I want to hear some other opinions too.....what bikes shops in this area do you suggest I look at? It's not that I have any problem with Gregg's cycles (been in once and picked up some items), but it's always good to know a few good shops in case you are closer to one at some point.

What are some good LBS in the Bellevue/Redmond area?

John H.

Sammamish Valley Cycle in Redmond is one of the best in the area.

https://www.sammamishcycle.com/

MillCreek

Sammamish Valley Cycles and the REI at Redmond Town Center, both in downtown Redmond, are my other two favorite stores on the Eastside. I also go to Performance and Gregg's. The sticky wicket with Performance these days is that they are really running their inventory at minimal levels, and when I go in for a specific item, they are often out of stock. I have better luck with Performance ordering online.

Bekologist

Gregg's is one of the biggest independant bike shops in the country. Local, 'family run' business.

3 locations, the original Greenlake, Bellevue, Lynnwood.

they recently moved their eastside store into a spanking new storefront just down from Bellevue Square mall on Bellevue Way.

There's a nice shop on Monroe if you're ever riding the north end. Velo-city cycles, I think. on Main Street in old town Monroe.

East Hill

Whoa, KT went upscale on us . Where are you riding now?

East Hill

KingTermite 

Really haven't hit the trails yet. Planned my first trail ride (Sammamish River Trail with a BF member in the Clydes forum).

My riding so far has just been local near my home....down to Crossroads mall, library, started commuting to work, etc...

KingTermite 

Yeah...I've hit the REI at RTC a few times. Great store. I did buy some new lights (head and tail) for the bike I'm commuting on now when I was in there last weekend.


LOL...that's the one I went to. The one just down from Bellevue Square Mall. Nice shop....just wanted to learn about other options.

East Hill

A few runs through Mercer Island and up and down the I-90 bridge will make you know why we love those hills here .

East Hill

2wheeled

Hey KT welcome to the NW, weren't you in Florida?

Greggs is great and go there often at the green lake location. Performance is also good although I've only been to the one in the U-dist. I don't get over to the eastside much.

KingTermite 

Thanks, 2wheeled. Yes, moved here from FL about 6 weeks ago now.

Performance is good? Being the big online e-tailer, I thought they would be one to be avoided.

M. Rhoten

I would take the freaking bus to the Greenlake Gregg's before I'd go to the Bellevue Gregg's again. The help there were, shall we say, not the sharpest knives in the drawer.

I like the Kirkland branch of the Montlake Bicycle Shop, partly because it's good, and partly because it's conveniently close to my house.

markjenn

Greggs in Bellevue. Don't get me started....

I liked the old Gregg's in Bellevue, but the new upscale store near Bellevue Square really has some problems.

Getting into their private parking lot is virtually impossible unless you're heading S on Bellevue Way. If the lot is full (which you can't tell if it is until you drive in), you have to negotiate a u-turn in their tiny walled-in parking lot to get back out. The limited street parking in the area is a good hike away.

Once inside, there's two flights of slipperly concrete stairs to climb to get from the garage level up to sales level and parts/service is yet another two flights further up. If you have a bike, the stairs are especially treacherous, so you either have to lock it to the tiny rack they have in the garage (totally out of sight from the store levels), or use the elevator which is one of those really slow ones like they have in chain hotels.

Despite the huge store, parts/service has almost nothing on display, so you get in line at the service counter for most needs. They seemed badly understaffed. Every time I've been there, they've had a single person working the parts/service counter who can easily spend 15+ minutes writing a service order or advising a customer on something. Customers get so frustrated they end up walking back into the service area to waylay a mechanic to help them. I was in there today to get a stupid handlebar plug and after waiting nearly twenty minutes, I gave up. On two other occasions, I've gotten poor service and/or bad advice that had me walking out with parts that didn't fit my bike.

It looks like they invested a fortune in this fancy new bicycle palace, but if they don't figure out how to serve customers better, they're going to be taking a bath. After a few bad experiences, I avoid the place like the plague and go to REI or Performance. Neither are great, but at least they have most stuff on display, so you find what you need and head for the nearest cash register.

- Mark

Daveyboy

I have no expience with the Bellevue Gregg's. However, the folks at the new(er) Gregg's in Alderwood are very helpful. I had an issue with my FSA crank where the chain would not stay in anythng but the small chainring. They had an FSA rep out the next day, who happened to have a new and improved chainring that solved the problem (at no charge.) If that's not service I don't know what is.

EffSizzle

I've lived on the eastside my entire 34 years and I've always been pleased with Redmond Cycle on Redmond Way. Very helpful and lots and lots of stuff on display.

I live on the Sammamish Plateau now and I've been pleasently surprised by Pacific Bicycle Company. I went in there once before a ride just after my pump broke and asked to borrow the pump. He jumped from behind the counter and said, "I got it." Now that's service. Great selection, fair prices.

I'm surprised that nobody has mentioned the Alpine Hut on Redmond Way. Knowledgeable staff, great products. Parking can kind of be iffy though.

KingTermite 

So far these are my favorite two as well, but I still have some to check out. REI is good for basic stuff, I was pretty impressed with Sammamish when I went in.

East Hill

Welcome to Bike Forums, EffSizzle!

I need to check out some of the eastside shops (after I check out the ones in Tacoma, that is).

East Hill

KingTermite 

I managed to get over and check out Redmond cycle and Alpine Hut over the weekend. Both were very good.

Redmond Cycle didn't have much in selection of what I was looking for, but a guy was going all through catalogs to try to help me. He wasn't able to find it, but was trying hard. I give him good kudos for that.

Alpine Hut had a very nice homey feel to it. I ended up scheduling a tune-up appointment with them for tomorrow (taking bike in tonight). I also bought a saddle from them while I was in there.

East Hill

What's the saddle selection like? I was THIS close to going and checking out the Bothell Bike shop yesterday, but did not have a chance to go in. Next time.

East Hill

KingTermite 

There were not many saddles (but more than many places I've seen), but the one I was replacing was a bit hard to find and one they had matched well. It was for my Trek navigator (comfort bike) which needs a bigger saddle. I've been having trouble finding saddles wide enough and long enough to match the one on there now.

That being said....I'm not quite sure I liked this one and Redmond Cycles also had the "exact" match for it. I chose the one at Alpine Hut because it seemed a nicer material, but once I got it home, I realized it was actually a bit smaller. It worked 'ok', but not quite as good as the original size. So when I go over tonight, I may see if I can return it.

East Hill

I think I will have to make a determined effort to visit more bicycle shops. I can see a road trip on the BG trail in the near future .

Anyone have a route mapped for hitting the maximum number of LBSs in Puget Sound in one day?

East Hill

KingTermite 

That would be a fun ride.

East Hill

Yeah--could be a wee bit expensive by the time I'm done though. I would have to bring along the bike with the trailer, too .

East Hill

KingTermite 

CerveloNW

I have had great luck lately with Triumph Multisport in Leschi. They are a triathalon store, but sell a lot of high end road gear. I got my Zipp 404s there and was really happy with their service and professional approach. Gregg's is good for kid's and starter bikes, but I don't trust them to work on nicer gear (I have had a few bad experiences). Montlake Bicycle (Kirkland) and Redmond Cycle are tied for my second favorites. Even though Triumph has the best gear - and probably the most talented athletes working at the store - they seem to put out way less 'tude than the 19 year old fixie hipsters that tend to work at many of the other shops around here.

East Hill

Can I get to Triumph easily from the BG trail? I can tell I'm going to have to do some planning.

East Hill