55/Rad

Gonna help a friend buy his first road bike in the Sacramento area. Can anybody recommend a good fitter and a shop or 2 to consider? Thanks.

55/Rad

55/Rad

I might add that he will be looking for a roadie in the $1K range and that a Steve Rex custom is not in the cards - though I tried to convince him it should be.

55/Rad

DZA_LA

Friends dont let friends live in Sacramento

55/Rad

^^^that was helpful.

Your link is dead too.

caloso

I can recommend three places:

City Bike Works: I bought my Trek 5200 there in 2000 and it gets most of my business. I also took my parents there to buy their bikes (Trek 7100 and Bianchi Milano). I really didn't get fitted there--I just happened to hop on a 54cm bike and it fit me like a glove--but I was impressed with the amount of time they spent with my parents (my mom is only 5'0'' and so finding a small bike for her was a challenge). They carry Trek, Specialized, Cannondale, and Bianchi.

The Bicycle Business: High end road and track bike shop. The place to go in Sacto if you're looking for a Merckx, Look, or IF. Now they're trying to make a name for themselves as a fixie web shop.

Bike Chef: The former Pacific Bicycles was bought out by the old manager and it's reinventing itself as a major competitor to City and the Bike Biz. They carry Giant, Orbea, Time, and Merlin. Small shop but very good service and very knowledgeable staff.

There's also Mike's Bikes in downtown. I don't have much experience with them but it seems a bit corporate--more like Performance than a real LBS.

55/Rad

Thanks Caloso - City Bike Works seems to have a real good website for the beginner, which makes my job a lot easier.

If you were sending someone to one of these shops - someone who wants a decent $1K bike and isn't concerned with whether it's a Trek or a Specialized or a Giant or a whatever, where would you go first for a good fitting, decent selection and decent price?

Thanks again....

Hirohsima

Talk with Gordon Ong at City Bike Works. He works a sparse schedule but is the most knowledgeable there (Call for his hours, he usually works Fri/Sat). If he is not there, Zach and Jack (Jack is the shop manager) are also very nice. I worked at City for years and they are a good group of folks. Never been to Bike Chef. Mike's Bikes is a chain and not that helpful. Bicycle Business is a roadie shop, who is into vintage as well. They are knowledgeable but smaller. They cater to the "racer" type, rather than the recreational rider.

Gordon, Zach, Bowen (floor manager), and Jack can all fit you to a bike very well, and you should work with one of them first. They don't work on comission, will match other places prices, and have been around forever, so you don't have to worry about the shop not being there in the future.

$1k is in the middle range where your friend may want to look at bikes direct. But if he/she is looking for more custom service, obviously a LBS will be better.

PM me if you need more info,.... and let Gordon know that Jeff Hiroshima sent your friend, so that he knows why you are looking for him. Sometimes he is so busy, it DOES make a difference if he knows who sent you....

caloso

I'd try City first. Then Bike Chef. As for the Bike Biz, I doubt they have much selection under $2K. And try to go on a weekday afternoon or evening (they're open until 7). All these shops tend to be pretty crowded on the weekends.

VeloLisa

There have been a few good bikes on Sacramento Craigslist recently. You might want to check there.

SSP

I got an incredibly good deal on a Trek Madone 5.5 SL back in May at Bicycles Plus up in Folsom. They're a very complete shop, and they're right next to the American River trail so you can take your new ride out for an easy, no-cars shakedown ride.

Trevor98

Bike Business (near McClatchy HS on Freeport) used to have a USPS team car then a Disco team car outside it every once in a while- one of the wrenches works or worked for the team part time. It carried some high end stuff but also some stuff in your friend's range.

City Bike Works (k & 21st?) is a general shop that caters to multiple rider types (MNT, Road, Comfort, Etc) and was generally a good all around shop.

College Cyclery (down the road from Bike Biz on 21st?) is used bike and has some interesting finds. The owner is a little abrasive at times but if he knows your serious he's ok.

Bike Chef (J & 25?) changed right before I moved, replacing Pacific Bikes was the place for the hipster messenger types and pretenders. Some of the old crowd stayed around but as I said, it had just opened when I left.

East Sac Bike and Board (H & 58th?) is high end stuff and is fairly new.

55/Rad

Thank you everyone for the information.

I would naturally recommend going used or buying online, but this will be the first road bike for my friend. And for that, I always recommend going the LBS route for the fit and the service.

Jeff - thanks for the info. I think that will be the place to start.

55/Rad

VeloLisa

My husband got his Trek 1500 from Bicycles Plus in Folsom last year and got a good deal. If you want a good fitting, ask for Armando. Armando wasn't there when we bought the bike, and the guy we bought it from just had my hubby lean up against the counter for his "fitting". (While I was standing there rolling my eyes.) After a couple of miserable rides, we went back and Armando did the fitting. He changed out the stem and he recommended a different saddle and adjusted the saddle position. He spent a lot of time and my husband was happy with the results. And like the previous poster said, it's nice to be able to do a good test ride on the American River Bike Trail.

TSUTexan93

I was in City Bikes when I was there for the Tour of CA. They treated me really nice even though I was a non-local from Texas. I ended up buying a new Fizik saddle from them. A shop that treats an obvious "non-big purchase buyer" (my term) like myself very well would probably be a good choice fo a local to consider as well.

Chieftan

I've had excellent experiences at Mike's Bikes(Downtown Sac) and Bicycles Plus in Folsom.

Gibbygoo

I called Mikes Bikes and bought a gift certificate for my sister who lives in Sac. They were very accommodating to her. She just needed her commuter maintained.