lperkins

Anyone use these or am I better off spending an extra $15 for the Salsa Cyclocross brake levers?

https://www.nycbikes.com/item.php?item_id=361

brunning

order what are probably exactly the same thing from nashbar and save yourself $10.

the salsa levers are really nice, though.

late

Hi,
they look almost identical. The Salsa has some holes. I have Pauls and Tektro inline levers.The Tektros look like NYCB ones to my eye. The Pauls seem to stop a little harder. The Specialized inline levers have a long handle, would prob work well.

lightgraphs

Go with nashbar or tektro or other than NYCB. I've done business with those guys on two occasions. First time they were jerks. Gave 'em a second chance and they were jerks again. No appreciation for local business. I won't buy from them again.

wangster

Agree with lightgraphs, those guys are a-holes and very shady. I wouldn't trust anything they sell, their wheels are crap and the new frames they have coming are probably gonna be bigger pieces of crap. They probably will be ripped off rebadges of some other makers. So the answers no, go with the nashbar or tektros.

peripatetic

I third the opinion on NYCB. I went in a couple of times, the owner tried to convince me that rather than building up my own fixie conversion, I should spend $500-$700 to get them to build one up for me. Also, I bought my girlfriend a commuter bike from them off of ebay, but the owner told me that since I bought it through ebay, and not locally he 'couldn't give me the free servicing for a year.' Technically, he didn't do anything wrong, but come on, what skin is it off his back? And where is the appreciation of customer service? They're like snake-oil/used car salesmen, with little appreciation for your business and no attempt to create customer loyalty (as evidenced by us three posters!)

Slightly off-topic but related: can anyone recommend a decent LBS in/around Williamsburg/Greenpoint?

lightgraphs

If you find one, let me know. I'm still looking for anything in the Queens/Brooklyin vacinity.

I too got something from them off ebay and when I went to pick it up they charged me the shipping fees. WHAT! They said they had to charge it because I bought it off ebay. Bunch of shmucks with no appreciation for the cycling community.

logicproblems

there's the bicycle doctor on grand, but i have mixed feelings. sometimes the guy can be a pain in the ass, but then again, he hooked me up with a hard to find 110 bcd ring the other day, so...

peripatetic

That's lame. I must have bought after you--I e-mailed them before pick up and asked to pay cash in person. I bet they'd HATE to read this discussion right now. Serves 'em right.

Seems ridiculous that in such a bike-friendly area, the good LBS is such a rarity. So another tack--anyone recommend Manhattan shops? I've been to Bicycle Habitat, and they seem up-and-down, hit-or-miss. And Trackstar's a cool store, but I always feel like a pathetic rookie with my conversion job in front of all of their swanky track bikes. And they don't seem to have much in lower price ranges. What about Bike Works on the LES? Or some of the bigger shops? I road bike, also, but only for fun, so I wouldn't mind being able to get help with non-fixie related items, also.

And off-topic: anyone go to repair nights at Time's Up on Houston? The thought of free advice and use of tools is great, but I'm not really much of an anarchist/punker dude.

FixednotBroken

both trackstar and bikeworks are reliable shops. no need to feel outclassed - they're friendly, and after all, who cares what other people think about your bike. bikeworks will likely have road bike parts for you as well. a bonus - they're both very close to the WB bridge.

brunning

i've never bought from nyc bikes/spokes and strings, but my friends have and almost all of them have commented on the attitude/pushiness of the staff. in any event, i've heard enough bad things that i wouldn't shop there.

as for manhattan shops, they've been discussed to death on this board, do some searching. the general consensus among my friends seems to be:

- bike habitat is hit or miss (though i've never had a problem with them - it gets busy sometimes, but folks like erin and hal are quite helpful)

- trackstar has a healthy dose of style, but the guys who run it have been nothing but great to me and often do work while you wait. prices on parts are a bit high, but no small city shop can compete with internet prices.

- bike works is a good shop, if not a little intimidating (kind of a thunderdome atmosphere in there), but again, i've had generally good service there.

more road oriented stores i like are sids and conrads. r&a in park slope has an amazing stock of high-end frames, but i've received crappy labor from them on more than one occasion.

wangster

-bicycle station on vanderbilt is pretty good for labor, but not a retail type of store and the hours are iffy, but Mike's a good guy and will not over charge.
-r&a is like a giant candy store for bikers, I go in and I just feel so inadequate(bank account wise) but they've been very helpful towards me in the roadies dept and have been very cool. Never had work done there, too expensive.
-brooklyn heights bicycles on atlantic is cool too, the guys was helpful and I like going to him if i'm in the area and just need something small.
both trackstar and bikeworks are great, not a bike retail type, but what they do have is nice, especially trackstar, just wish i can afford stuff in there.
I was looking at the NYCB frames they have coming out, but decide against it, one of the few good choice i've made in my life, and when i was getting my Mark V from Tony, he was telling me they used to sell his frames without the logo behind his back so he stopped selling to them. I think any shop that would stab a fellow biker in the back is worth boycotting, plus they're just a$$es there.

brunning

oh yeah - recycle-a-bicycle. i've been by there a few times with random problems, typically looking for bits to get old stuff running, and they've either come up with the part or done some work, typically not charging me for quick jobs or small parts.

i wouldn't trust them to work on expensive equipment, but they're always great to deal with.

peripatetic

Cool, good stuff, guys. Think I'll have to check out Bikeworks sometime soon.

brunning

great recycle-a-bicycle experience last night.

went over to pick up a cheapy headset and have them install the cups and fork race and see what they had in the way of old stems.

they sold me a cheap 1" threaded headset, installed it and sold me an old 3T quill stem, all for $15.

can't beat that.

rithem

wow..I have dealt with them on 2 occassions one for a wheel set over the phone and another in person for another wheelset 2 weeks ago..I walked to the shop from Bedford Ave. with my friends, while we were walking we were having a conversation about how bike shop workers can at times be real jerks and how I hoped they would be cool to deal with in person. My first experience with NYCB went great so naturally I checked them again, I had another good experience and bought another wheelset and tires for a my buddies S/S project. We walked away saying how cool and helpful they were. I am surprised to read all the negative vibes towards them... too bad they have some good deals...

wangster

you must've caught them on a good day, but they have good deals on the wheels because they aren't very good wheels. but as long as it works for you then that great. at least NYCB aren't totally useless.

rithem

Understood...but if your on a budget the wheels are good enough...while I would love to have to Phils or something of the like, I have to say I have hit, many a mean New Eng. pot hole and cobbles with my NYCB Deepv's and they are true and the sealed bearings are still solid..go figure..

auk

That's because they didn't build them (not a slam, just fact). Those are built by Velocity. They will build you about any combination you want so long as the rim drilling matches the hub drilling. Very solid builds from my experience.

GoJavs

I've been looking at the NYCBikes Coaster Brake wheel for a little ridearound bike for the summer, but now that I keep reading all these negative comments about them, I'm inclined to avoid them....so, not to hi-jack a thread, but where else can I get a 700c coaster brake rear wheel for cheap over the net?

mcatano

My one experience with NYCB (ordering some hubs over the phone) was positive. They were friendly and the stuff I ordered came quickly in good condition.

m.