kosherdave

Hey guys, I searched the forums but could not seem to come up with much on a good bike shop in New York City.
This weekend, for my birthday, I went with high hopes to R&A in Brooklyn (I live in Bensonhurst) to test out a few bikes, and hopefully leave with a winner. When I got there, the older guy started to show me a few in the 2grand or so range. Then when I started to ask questions, he said they are all basically the same. I wanted some pros and cons of the bikes, and to know why one might be better for me than the others, he said nothing. Then he said he'd go write down a few names for me and never came back. I found him 10 minutes later, still had not written anything down for me, and was reluctant to continue helping me.
I asked if I could ride the Cervelo Soloist and he said no.
I asked to test another of the bikes he initially showed me, and he said there is nothing in my size on the floor (here I thought a 54 was fairly common). Lucky for me there was a local guy, maybe a bike messenger, and another guy looking for a similar bike, so we all talked for a while and looked and bikes and swapped advice. Unfortualty, I did not get a bike on my birthday though. I left empty handed.

I have also tried the Verazano bike shop, but the "sale price" the guy quoted me on a Specialized Roubaix was actually a few hundred more than the msrp!! (and even more so than the 2006 model)
Also, yesterday, I was at a bike shop near Chelsea, they were friendly but did not have anything in my size, so they sent me to a bike shop a few blocks away that they were part of and who would apparently have my size in a trek 5200, they were supposedly open for another hour and a half. It only took me 15 minutes to walk there, but when I stepped in, the guy gave me attitude right away and said "I'll show you a bike if you buy it now, if not, we're closed." I asked if I could test one, and got attitude and a solid "NO."

What the F is up with all these shops? I mean, I want to drop 2G or more likely 2,500 bucks on a new bike. I would NEVER buy a $35,000 car without driving it, or even a $10,000 car! I'd get better service at f***ing Wal-Mart (if only they had good bikes, ha!).

Sorry about the rant. Did not realize I was so pissed off!

wheezl

I really don't know. R & A blows hot and cold. I have been in there when they are awesome and when they are just crappy. A few of the guys in there are nice, and a few need a punch in the mouth.

There are a few threads hanging around about NYC bike shops. I have found Bike Habitat to be friendly if kinda busy and staffed by many stoners

R & A has WAAAAAAY better stuff than BH though. I think for my next bike I might try out Gotham.. but more likely I will just order parts and put the damn thing together myself.

The best part about crappy bike shops is there is no guilt when ordering online

.

egonlou

I got my Roubaix from Toga/Gotham.

Last night I read an article in Bicycling (Lance on the cover) about a local guy in Brooklyn who opened up his own shop and makes custom bikes for relatively cheap.

kosherdave

Oh, and despite the bad service on sales, how are the bike shops, like R&A and such, when it comes to the actual servicing of the bike, when I bring it in to get it tuned up and so on... I mean, I can kinda deal with crappy sales, but not crappy services after the sale... then I might as well buy on ebay!!

wheezl

Do we have to buy the magazine or are you going to tell us who it is?

Brooklyn is a big place.

antiquebiker

Toga has everything, but at double or triple the price you pay online.

I do go in and buy stuff from them from time to time, because I believe in supporting your LBS. So things like shoes, little accessories (pumps, handlebar tape etc.). But wow are they expensive.

My LBS (Metro on W. 96th st) seems to have more reasonable prices, and a smaller selection.

Jose R

The best bike mechanic in NYC that I have come across is Yee at Conrad's Bike Shop. I have been to most of the other major shops in NYC, and always come back to Conrads. John, who is the sales guy, is a bit stand-offish, but I guess he's used to dealing with people dropping $5k-10k on bikes.
And I am not one of those people.

For purchasing a frame, I would just order on line and have the LBS put the bike together. If you know exactly what you want. If not then go the LBS and get fitted or try to get a test ride on a bike. But, as you have recounted, its a lot easier said than done.

Conrad's is a quiet bike shop and it doesn't have *punks* with attitude on the sales floor. But, they are one of the pricier shops in town.

New York Velo, a new bike shop on 2nd Ave and 4th, is also good. They are very friendly. But, I am not %100 on there mechanical service. Yee is still the best in that regard.


I can only guess that the builder is Johnny Coast, as he is the only frame builder in the NYC area that I am aware of. (I picked up my custom frame from him a couple weeks ago.)

Unless, there is a newer and *second* frame builder in Brooklyn?

ericd74

I've had great luck recently at a somewhat new shop on W 77th (78th?) between Amsterdamn and Broadway called Master Bike. It is a one-man shop run by a guy named Imbert (or something like that) who used to be the head mechanic at Toga. I've only used him for repairs as opposed to new purchases, but when I was shopping for new wheels, he said he could order me a pair of Kysrium SLs for $800, which is about $50 lower than I've seen online and at other NYC shops. Imbert quickly turned around my repairs and did an excellent job. He looks to have a few frames in stock, but mostly high-end stuff. Could be worth popping in just to see what he can do for you - it's unlikely you'll be able to test drive a bike that day, but I also am quite certain you'll have a better experience than at R&A etc. In any event, if you are on the UWS and need repairs or a tune up, you'd do well to give this shop a try.

FWIW, when I was shopping for a new bike earlier this year, I tried R&A first. I was looking to spend approx $5k all in, and still couldn't get the time of day there. Fantastic selection aside, that place left a very bad taste in my mouth and I won't be back.

Aus_X

I bought my bike from the Larry and Jeff's on 2nd and b/w E.87th and 88th st.

They were very good on my initial visist, so good that I returned 2 days later and bought my bike, about a month before I planned.

The guy, I think his name was Harry, offered me a ride on a six13. I stupidly said no!
In the end I did get a good deal by paying cash and it's free gearing tune-ups for as long as I own the bike. So far they've been pretty good. I just stop in before or after a ride walk to the back of the store and they stop what they're doing and adjust the gearing for me right away.

Didn't like the Larry and Jeff's on 3rd Ave and E.79th at all. I'm not sure if they know there's a difference between leaving a customer to browse and totally ignoring them. I actually bought my wife's first bike from there and didn't like the idea of their first free service finding wheels out of true and screwed up gearing after the bike had been ridden 4 times. It's amazing how a free service can all of a sudden be $70. I told them that I'd take the bike home and check it myself. There was nothing wrong with it that I could see at the time and for as long as she owned the bike, we never had problem with it.

I can also recomend Dark Horse cycles in Orange County NY, if you want to go that far. Prices are excellent and they have a nice selection of bikes. I've only bought accessories from there though. I did buy a pair of Specialized sport road shoes from there this weekend for $45, better than anywhere I've ever seen on the internet.

acathi_cyclist

I read the article in bicycle about the brooklyn bike builder. I'm pretty sure the company is called citifixed or something along those lines.

jyossarian

I've had the same problem w/ the mechanic at that Larry & Jeff's. Brought my bike in to have him adjust the magnetic sensor for my cyclocomputer when he did a tune-up the week before. He spun the wheel, saw the computer wasn't working and told me it was broken and I had to buy a new one. I figured he was full of it so I went to a film developing store, bought a new battery and slapped it into the computer. Adjusted the magnet and sensor w/ some zip ties and voila! fixed my broken computer.

The rest of the staff is cool, but I think their interests in cycling don't lean towards high end roadbikes.

brokenrobot

Yeah, it's Spokes and Strings / NYCBikes. He sells total garbage, with the worst customer service in the industry... (Do a search here on NYCBikes for more info) - nobody can figure out how or why he got the Bicycling profile.

Oh, and he's NOT a framebuilder. He imports off-brand Taiwanese aluminum frames and slaps his own decals on them - so they're "exclusive" to the store, but they're not built or designed by anyone connected with teh store.

wheezl

One day I got a flat without my gear with me. Since I was by the Williamsburg bridge and Bicycle Doctor doesn't open until the hangover wears off; I walked to Spokes and Strings. It took me about 15 minutes to be helped with 2 other people in the store.... Everyone was friendly.. but damn... sooooo... looooong... waiting

Yeah I'd go back there if I had to. but not on purpose

bhh

that is so spot on it is unbelievable. I live near there and these two choices of truely local (walking distance) LBSes is what led me to led me to learn to do all my own wrenching. I normally stop by Gotham or Toga during a ride if I need to pick up something and I like Paragon for clothing.

wheezl

word. Every LBS in NYC makes me learn more about fixing my own bike every day

It used to piss me off, now I love them for it.

EGreen

For repairs/tune ups in Bklyn, a word for The Bicycle Station in PH (Vanderbilt btw Dean&Bergen) I bought my bike at Toga, took it back several times (To Toga and Gotham) for a much needed front deraileur adjustment. Each time the difficulties persisted. At one point, it was becoming clear, the attitude that since I didn't spend over 5 grand, I really shouldn't be expecting much.

I went over to The Bicycle Station where Mike (and crew) had different ideas/expectations, spent some time. did it right, informed me all the while, and finally I had a new bike working as such... all for $35 (actually he waived the fee, as I also made some purchases)

Moreover, I continously experienced rear flats. Toga/Gotham had nothing to offer beyond keeping them at Max pressure, glad to keep me in tubes. Mike took a look at them, pointed out the flimsy rim tape and unsuitable tires ... 800 miles later not a single flat (prior every 40 miles or so.)

...Just putting it out there. A lbs offering good, ******* free service should be mentioned, rewarded I believe.

oboeguy

Sooooooooo true. I recently purchased a work stand and a truing stand out of frustration.

My local one-man-hole-in-the-wall shop is really good for repairs, though. FYI, if you're near the GWB and need something done fast and right, he's the guy, "Manny's", on Bennett Ave, just off of 181st. I took Ubie (forum member) there once so he can also vouch for the guy's coolness and competence. No road bike stock (but plenty of parts if you're Shimano-enabled), so not useful for the OP.