Sid's Bikes in NYC - never again
#30
"Got there at 6:45, they swapped out the stock bb and cranks, bars, adjusted brake, and shortened my chain. They kept the shop open late to finish my bike and even gave me a lower price than the estimate from Sid's."
And you tipped them for doing this after receiving dooshbaggery at the other place, or paid the bill and walked out like it was just another retail experience?
And you tipped them for doing this after receiving dooshbaggery at the other place, or paid the bill and walked out like it was just another retail experience?
#32
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,032
Likes: 1
From: Kitchener, ON
Bikes: 1994 Proctor Townsend Reynolds 753, TT S3 True North, Kona Major Jake, Kona Honky Tonk, Marinoni Puima, Cannondale BBU
hey, op, you're probably catching hell for your post because its really bad form to bash shops in the open forum. For every person that bashes the store, there are likely to be an equal number who were satisfied with it. You also gotta know that google crawls this forum, so your bashing isn't limited to BFFGSS or even just BF; randoms will see the archived thread when they google something innocuous, like, "sugino 75" or "Capo."
P.S. nobody cares what anyone thinks - you, me or even deathhare.
P.S. nobody cares what anyone thinks - you, me or even deathhare.
#33
noobster
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 94
Likes: 0
Bikes: 1980 Schwinn Le Tour
I agree with TR909. I mean, a barrel adjustment seems.. ********ly simple, and everybody hates the fixie hipster who buys their bike so that it matches their too tight shirt/pants/handkerchief/earrings/tats, but if I'm paying for a brand new bike, I expect it to be at least set up correctly. I mean, it's a bike shop, not Wal-Mart.
When I was buying music gear, my music shop would tune/set-up any new horn/guitar for free, and they would do it perfectly.
When I was buying music gear, my music shop would tune/set-up any new horn/guitar for free, and they would do it perfectly.
#35
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,572
Likes: 7
From: SF
Bikes: 1972 Paramount Track, 1972 Paramount P13 Road, 1972 Paramount Tandem, 1986 Paramount Road, Merckx MXL, Gunnar Cross Hairs, Samson Illusion NJS, KHS Aero Track, Titus Racer X 29er, Tom Palermo Custom Touring
#38
Double Agent
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,187
Likes: 0
From: your girl's bed
Bikes: Fly Pantera, GT GTB
Is it wrong that I've never been to a shop that I haven't had to prove to the mechanics that I'm legit before they treated me like a human being?
Doesn't matter now though because they let me use their tools and give me discounts now.
Doesn't matter now though because they let me use their tools and give me discounts now.
#40
knucklehead
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 520
Likes: 0
From: East Village, NYC
Bikes: Rocky MT Track, Vivalo, Pista Concept, De Bernardi Track
#41
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 97
Likes: 0
From: NYC
It was 6pm. They weren't closing for another two hours. There was one other customer in the shop. The mechanic literally said to my friend as I was paying up in front: "I don't wanna get started now because this is when EVERYONE comes in wanting to get stuff done." This was after my friend explained that it was my first new bike and that I finally wouldn't be borrowing his anymore. Again, this dude was just sitting on his ass looking bored. Of course this was just one mechanic, I'm sure there are many there who are of the less ******y variety.
Liberty finished my bike in 25 min. I showed up 5 minutes before closing. They had a customer in there buying a bike at the same time. For those eager to ish on the supposed noob who doesn' know how to adjust his brakez, the point was not that I don't know how, but rather a bike shop that told me it would take a few days to set my bike up once it was delivered, couldn't be bothered to send it out with brakes that weren't rubbing in the first place. Then as I was walking out it was "Well we probably won't be seeing much of you as you won't be needing any maintenance really, with a fixed gear." I said, "EXACTLY!". I mean they could have shown a little more courtesy and had a repeat customer or at least referals but they saw no real future dollars in me so couldn't care less. I'm sure if I bought one of their Orbeas instead it would have been a different experience.
Liberty finished my bike in 25 min. I showed up 5 minutes before closing. They had a customer in there buying a bike at the same time. For those eager to ish on the supposed noob who doesn' know how to adjust his brakez, the point was not that I don't know how, but rather a bike shop that told me it would take a few days to set my bike up once it was delivered, couldn't be bothered to send it out with brakes that weren't rubbing in the first place. Then as I was walking out it was "Well we probably won't be seeing much of you as you won't be needing any maintenance really, with a fixed gear." I said, "EXACTLY!". I mean they could have shown a little more courtesy and had a repeat customer or at least referals but they saw no real future dollars in me so couldn't care less. I'm sure if I bought one of their Orbeas instead it would have been a different experience.
#42
knucklehead
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 520
Likes: 0
From: East Village, NYC
Bikes: Rocky MT Track, Vivalo, Pista Concept, De Bernardi Track
#43
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 97
Likes: 0
From: NYC
I was paying off the capo after putting a deposit down two weeks earlier. They were holding the bike for a few days before I could pick it up because I was waiting for my next payday. I had started putting cash away towards a new bike in October while I was still trying to find a frame I liked.
#44
knucklehead
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 520
Likes: 0
From: East Village, NYC
Bikes: Rocky MT Track, Vivalo, Pista Concept, De Bernardi Track
thanks for filling me in on your situation.
If I was buying a bike and wanting them to swap the cranks/BB for me I would have given them the heads up when I gave them the deposit and brought the parts in ahead of time so they could put 'em on when they assembled the bike. Thats just me though.
If I was buying a bike and wanting them to swap the cranks/BB for me I would have given them the heads up when I gave them the deposit and brought the parts in ahead of time so they could put 'em on when they assembled the bike. Thats just me though.
#45
first of all, this guy shouldn't have to defend himself after getting ****ty service from a bike shop. Second, why do we have to prove ourselves to bike mechanics? Isn't working on bikes their job? Just sayin'...
#46
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 97
Likes: 0
From: NYC
thanks for filling me in on your situation.
If I was buying a bike and wanting them to swap the cranks/BB for me I would have given them the heads up when I gave them the deposit and brought the parts in ahead of time so they could put 'em on when they assembled the bike. Thats just me though.
If I was buying a bike and wanting them to swap the cranks/BB for me I would have given them the heads up when I gave them the deposit and brought the parts in ahead of time so they could put 'em on when they assembled the bike. Thats just me though.
#47
knucklehead
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 520
Likes: 0
From: East Village, NYC
Bikes: Rocky MT Track, Vivalo, Pista Concept, De Bernardi Track
#48
plus...my dude...the master...is the mech at LIberty...he is nice at what he does...straight up...no one at sids could compare because they cater to hipsters (as you mentioned)... at LIberty they fix bikes of people who ride reaaaaally really hard... like food delivery cats
no comparison actually...completely differnt kind of shop
no comparison actually...completely differnt kind of shop
#49
Kanye West
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 140
Likes: 0
went to sids bikes on 34th.
the guy wanted to charge me 300 dollars for a new back wheel to convert my schwinn world to a fixed gear. it is a 27 inch frame and he was going to put a 700c tire on the back and keep the 27 in the front. i know its not a big difference but for 300 dollars cmon..give me a break. to make a long story short i went to the bicycle station in Brooklyn and the owner mike is going to order me a 27 inch aluminum wheel with a fixed gear hub and cog. for 90 bucks. i cant wait!!!! i am so happy i went to the bicycle station....now i can rock my 27 inch tires and not worry about lowering my BB to the ground any more.
bicycle station in brooklyn all the way.. i will be a customer of that shop for as long as i live in new york
the guy wanted to charge me 300 dollars for a new back wheel to convert my schwinn world to a fixed gear. it is a 27 inch frame and he was going to put a 700c tire on the back and keep the 27 in the front. i know its not a big difference but for 300 dollars cmon..give me a break. to make a long story short i went to the bicycle station in Brooklyn and the owner mike is going to order me a 27 inch aluminum wheel with a fixed gear hub and cog. for 90 bucks. i cant wait!!!! i am so happy i went to the bicycle station....now i can rock my 27 inch tires and not worry about lowering my BB to the ground any more.
bicycle station in brooklyn all the way.. i will be a customer of that shop for as long as i live in new york




