just looking for opinions on which shop you have had excellent service from...

ridley's or w/e they called on 10th

I use Vitasport on Center Street NE, I have always received great service at a very reasonable price. Always a very positive experience.

Hope this helps

campione!

i went in there to buy a chain and got given an espresso to drink while i was told everything there is to know about chains.

That depends on the type of service. Customer service, Ridley's cycle. Mechanical service, there are some great guys at The Bike Shop.

Conversely, I don't like the customer service at The Bike Shop too much, and there isn't much in the way of mechanic capacity at Ridley's like there is at TBS.

CyclePath South has been very good to me. I came in with a vintage bike and they actually listened to me when I said I wanted to upgrade components gradually while keeping the frame - they didn't try to upsell me or tell me I needed a new bike. I also like that they carry a range of accessories, for everything from racing to commuting.

I want to learn more about doing my own work but I don't have much in the way of tools or workspace. Might have to go check out that bike co-op!

the good life is the place to build those skills and find those parts. tomorrow's friday, so maybe head down there early, sign up and then hitch up with the critical mass that will be assembling on the other side of the mall.

Ahahah, yes. I forgot to mention the bike co-op, which has the best service, as you can do it yourself and give it your love.

Hope you guys are coming to the critical masquerade tonight, its going to be a good time.

I wish I had known about of ahead of time, I might have gone. I have seen the CM once in town, it put me off. I'd have as soon gotten involved with a bunch of soccer thugs swaggering down the road shouting " Liverpool! Liverpool!"

Another vote for CyclePath South, i had used to think of them as expensive, not so much now.

I signed up as a Good Life member on Thursday My Guide group will probably all join as well - they're pretty excited about doing their own bike repairs! (they're 12-14, the perfect age to get them launched on a lifetime of independence)

I'm not so comfortable with Critical Mass myself, but I am sorry to have missed the masquerade aspect - that sounded fun!

I do all of my wrenching myself these days, with Google and a good set of tools, I can do just about anything. However, when I use to get wrenching done by the shops;

A+
Single Track
The best service ever hands down. We bought my wifes MTB from Single Track and the staff made every accomodation to fit her and swap components (stem & pewdals) even though the shop had already closed. A friend bought his MTB there too and had the same excellent service. To bad Stu decided to close shop.

A
The Bike Shop
I had a spriing tune up done there a few years ago and everything was set perfect. A few weeks later, I had some creaking my BB. The wrenches at The Bike Shop remembered me, and fixed it immediatly without charge.

A-
Vitasport
Ed is great and knows bikes inside out and backwards. He built my first wheelset 30 years ago. Very limited selection on goods and parts but he will order if you want.

A-
Bow Cycle
Typical wrenching services from a typical big bike shop. Take a number...next, take a number ... next. They know thier stuff but there is no personal service.
The sales staff are awful. I once asked for a 56cm frame. One idiot took out a tape measure and measured from the bb to the top of saddle on a 50cm frame and said that it was close to what I was looking for, any adjustment can be made by raising the seat a bit.

it's all about the relationships you build with shops. I had a great one with Soma, they did good work for me. The Bike Shop, Bow and Ed at Vitasport are also very good.

It's really about the manner in which it was asked/demanded or not.

Eurotech definitely has the best service without question.
Small shop, and they don't have the stock as bow cycle does, but they are very personable and helpful in every way imaginable.
Great owners, great service.

I bring my bike there every spring for a tune-up... wouldn't bring it anywhere else.. Roy knows his stuff!

Well, I use my Son. As a former mechanic at Soma and a few other bike shops I know what he can do. Of course I taught him everything he knows . I don't wrench much anymore, I'll take the bike back to where I bought it (last one was Ridleys, they are OK). BUT, I check things after they do whatever they do.

Oh and I make sure that I do my own full checkups before and long rides.

BC Don.

Ridley's