aluckyfiji

I am writing on behalf of my sister-in-law who is interesting in getting an entry level road bike. She lives in Chicago, on Michigan Ave. maybe three or four blocks from Lake Michigan, and I know how a good store and a good fit can make all the difference and I was hoping that someone can help direct her to a good LBS. She does not have a car, but the subway is good. If you have any suggestions of good store or bad stores that will be great, and if you remember what street it is on even better.
Thanks

Guest

Ummm... like where? Michigan Ave. is all kinds of longness. Not really long, but is she looking for something close to home, or something that's convenient to get to? What is her primary purpose for the bike?

I think beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and so is ugly. I think Village Cycles should be avoided at all costs. Kozy's over on Erie, between Wells and Franklin has an awesome staff. If you want a small LBS with quality stuff, I recommend Yojimbo's- but he's a one man show, so my caveat is be prepared to wait on things for repairs from time to time when he gets backed up with work (well worth the wait). You can also go to Mission Bay Multisport. The guy who owns the shop is uber cool, and they have some really great bikes- high end to mid level road bikes. Rapid Transit Cycle on West North Avenue has some super cool guys that work there. Jen works there (I think that's her name), and I really thought she was a cool chick. There is a woman mechanic that can tear a bike apart and put it back together in no time, and you can take a project to her when you don't know how to get an accessory on your bike, and she'll conceptualize what you want and bang it out for you. Rapid Transit also has the folding bikes, so if you want to go that route, then that's a good shop for you to start.

Hmmmm... public transportation- Red line to North and Clybourn for Yojimbo's, then walk south on Clybourn to his crib. #56 bus northbound to Milwaukee/North/Damen for Rapid Transit, then walk half a block on North Ave to Rapid Transit. Kozy's she can walk to- just walk down Erie to the store- right after Wells is Kozy's. For Mission Bay, take the 20 West bus from the loop heading down Madison (or the bus that's going to the United Center). It should drop you within a block- like to Halsted and Madison, then you just walk a block south on Halsted to Randolph, turn left and walk about half a block (maybe less) to Mission Bay.

I think the addresses are: 738 W. Randolph for Mission Bay Multisport, 1348 N. Clyborn for Yojimbo's, 1900 W. North Ave. for Rapid Transit. I absolutely have no idea about Kozy's, but she has a phone book. Let her fingers do the walkin'.

Koffee

dekalbSTEEL

I'll second the motion on missionbay I frequent their suburban store in Elgin. They gave me a killer deal on my CAAD7 frame (see below)

Moochers_Dad

I was just in Mission Bay for the first time two weeks ago and really found the staff and store to be really great.

Stay away from Village Cycle at all costs. Wait, Koffee said that too so it must be true. They don't let you test ride bikes, which is a joke for a bike shop. Also, while salespeople are not on commision there; you will be swooped down upon by one of the employees the other employees there call "Dracula." He will then proceede to pressure you into any bike you look at, and convince you it fits.

I also like Cycle Smithy at 2648 N. Clark Street and LOOOOOOVE Upgrade Cycle Works at 1062 N Milwaukee Ave.

jtm1631

Higher Gear in Highland Park is the best bike shop I have found. They have a chicago location at 1435 W. Fullerton. I don't know the staff at the Chicago location, but it may be worth talking to them in addition to the other suggestions.

Guest

I heard great things about Higher Gear in Highland Park. My only problem with them was distance- I didn't want to get a bike from them and drag my carcass all the way up there if I had bike issues. The one on Fullerton is a closer alternative definitely, but I haven't ever heard anything abou that location's reputation.

I've done Cycle Smithy too. They're ok. My only problem I had with them is that when I questioned the mechanic after I brought my bike in to get fixed, and it still had problems, he got all uppity with me. Plus, they didn't fix the problem, and I didn't get my money back, since clearly, the same issue I had before, I still had. And they didn't fix it! I did, right in the store. To get to Cycle Smithy, you just take the #36 bus north on State Street, or catch the #22 North on Dearborn (from downtown). to north Clark Street (located next door to the Baskin Robbins... yum!)- on the west side of Clark (on the left).

Koffee



Koffee

Nubie

It's not a Baskin Robbins anymore. It's some other ice cream place now.

Higher Gear has a lot of nice bikes, but they are a little snotty. Actually, so is Cycle Smithy, for that matter. Yojimbo's is the best, Marcus is the opposite spectrum from snotty.

Guest

Yeah, I know Baskin Robbins is gone. But you can take away the name... the sign still looks like Baskin Robbins, so it's still an easily recognizable landmark for his sister-in-law to use if she's on the bus.

I would definitely say stick with Yojimbo's, Mission Bay, or Rapid Transit. I've had service from all three, and they're all great.

Oh- Yojimbo's has a bonus, because he has used bikes, so if she's on a budget, she can perhaps find something used.

Koffee

MICHAELM

There is a Performance store in Northbrook. I travel and found the folks to be fairly nice for northerners.....just kidding. Might be a good place to find a deal on some of the bikes they stock. They also have a service department. Once again, I only found the place by mistake, so when traveling to Chicago, I will stop and see what I can find. All of the guys working in the shop have always been nice to me. They must of figured I was a foreigner (from Kentucky).

Guest

I think Performance is ok for accessories, but I would not recommend them for getting a bike. No way.

Koffee

Psimet2001 

I'm all the way out on the West Side, but I know my local Mission Bay does rock. I do the Performance thing all the time. I was at the one in Naperville last night, and my step-father-in-law bought a new Fuji Pro at the one in Northbrook today. I've been ther a couple of times and, while it's too small for the ammount of product (can be overhwelming for a newbie) they do a good job.

As for buying a bike at Performance...I bought my Giant there last year because they were the only people that could get one, I couldn't beat the price, and I knew exactly what I was looking for. I had to ignore all of their advice on frame sizing, setup, etc. To be honest I was disappointed that they "had" to assemble my bike for me instead of letting me assemble it myself, but they did do a great job of assembly.

All-in all I have no complaints....now let's see how my step-father-in-law (Mr.EWorm) did...

Nubie

I bought my Fuji from Performance. Haven't had any problems with the bike or the service. They swapped out my brifters for free, installed Kool Stops for free, and are extraordinarily patient and nice. The people at the Naperville one and the Lincoln Park store are both great (haven't been to Northbrook one). To be honest, the people at Performance are nicer and friendlier than those I've encountered at a lot of other Chicago bike shops - Upgrade Cycle, Cycle Smithy, On the Route, etc. And the lady at Rapid Transit was so eager to make a sale, she talked my ear off and wouldn't let me leave. And I won't even get started on Village....

jtm1631

I used to buy some things from Performance but the issue I had there is the advice you get all depends on who is working that day.

I don't know that I will buy from Performance any more since Higher Gear in Highland Park has helped me out so much. I currently have a set of speedplay pedals and cleats that belong to John Olin the owner. He is trying to help me resolve some knee problems and gave me some pedals to try out. He said if speedplay's don't help, well try another platform next, all at no cost until I decide which pedals I like. John Olin has earned himself a life long customer. I will never buy another bike from any other shop and with three kids and wife who is just getting into cycling, that could be a number of bikes over the next 10 years.

Guest

I've had the same type of service from Kozy's on Erie. I took a trip back to Chicago, and I realized I left my pedals at home... but I had my bike! Aaaaugh! I called around, and I got ahold of Kozy's on Erie. The guy was like "what kind of clipless are you used to?", and I told him spd's. He had me stop over to the store, and he gave me pedals to use while I was in town. He just told me to return them before I left. Now that was extremely nice and trusting of him, since I could have left town without ever returning the pedals.

It's stores like that where they earn the customers they get through great customer service.

Koffee

aluckyfiji

You Guys and Koffee are great... I am going to send my sister-in-law this link and let her go from there, hopefully we can get an other member
Thanks again...

Guest

I'll just make the suggestion for her to go to all the shops. Put together a list of questions, and write up what you want for sure. Then take a notebook to take notes for each shop and to get names of the people you deal with. Get familiar with their policies for repairs and tune ups. Then take it home and do a little comparison and see which shop comes out on top.

If I had to go with four shops, I'd go with Mission Bay, Yojimbo's, Rapid Transit, and Kozy's. They're all comfortably within her apartment, so that's also a bonus for her, especially if she needs to run over and get some basic maintenance done on her bike.

Koffee

xCherokeex

Go to "Get a Grip" its on irving park road. Its not too far west, I think its near the kennedy. but look it up on google. Its well worth your time and the people know what they are talking about. They get the best bike for YOU, and they have the best fitting you could possibly get!!! It's like going in for a physical.