Best bike shop in Orange County?
 

I'm so frustrated with the bike shops I've seen around since I started cycling a few months ago. If I'm looking for Giants, Specialized, Treks, etc. I have to go to a different bike shop for each. So far the best bike shop with the best selection of bikes, IMO, has been the Performance shop in Fountain Valley, but the problem with this place is that you don't always get the best service.

Can anybody recommend a shop in Orange County with a large selection of road bikes (multiple brands) and decent service?

I'm very happy with, and totally recommend Two Wheeler Dealer in Brea (Imperial Highway and Randolph). Tim, Paul, Brett, Banning, all the mechanics and sales folks there are excellent! I've also heard great things about The Edge on Irvine Center/Moulton, but only been there once myself since its so far from home.

Best Regs,
Rick / OCRR

I think that Edge Cycle Sports in Laguna Woods (Moulton & Ridge Route) is by far the best shop but they don't carry those brands. They mostly sell Cervelo, Felt, Seven, and similar.

If it must be those brands, try Jax on Culver in Irvine. I bought my Specialized and my wife's Trek there.

Rock 'n Road has Specialized, Trek, and Look, but I heard they may be swapping out one of the brands.

I like Whittier Cyclery in Whittier, CA. Again not technically OC but since I live so close to the LAC/OC border it works for me.

'Course other people have relayed mixed feelings about Whittier Cyclery. They've been *GREAT* to me, though.

I would have also recommended The Bicycle Lane in Fullerton, but they've recently undergone a shakeup and I'm not certain how that's going to play out.

I've heard lots of good things about Two Wheeler Dealer in Brea, as well, and not just from Rick either. I've never used them, though.

I really like the service department in Jax's Fullerton shop. They have a super quick turnaround time and they did wonders with my trek tt bike. Jax is the only store I know that carries both Specialized and Trek. Most stores only carry one or the other.

Ive also heard good things about Two Wheeler, but I've only been there once. Very small selection of stuff, but I guess they make up for it in customer service.

My brother and sister-in-law both swear by Jax's Fullerton. They get treated REALLY WELL there -- my bro just picked up a Madone at some unheard of price because of some wacky situation.

The few times I've been in there they've treated me really well, too, so I can't complain. I went in for a fitting once, intent on buying a new stem, but they achieved the same result without having to buy any new gear; they sent me away with a fully fitted bike for the cost of nothing, and no purchase when I told them from the get-go I was intent on making one.

That's a pretty decent shop, IMHO.

Yes, I agree about JAX in Irvine, particularly the head mechanic Mark Hatahsheta is excellent, very talented and high standards. Plus Pat DeVries, the manager there, is a great guy and very customer service oriented.

Best Regs,
Rick / OCRR

The bummer about Jax, though, is that they're pretty much a Trek-only affair.

Two Wheeler Dealer (Brea) is the LBS that I $upport. I have used them to perform regular maintenance on my bikes for the last two years. I feel that they provide good input and discussion on road bikes and mountain bikes. The shop always seems to be busy, so finding time to pick their brains can be difficult.

They did a nice job fixing my ATB tandem after folding over the small chainring. They spotted a cracked rim on my road bike that I never would have found. The service has been very good. I have not been entirely satisfied with the wheelset and rim recommendations. But a lot of that has been the result of 20/20 hindsight. They recently built up my LHT, from a build-kit I brought in. I have been very satisfied with it.

The Bicycle Lane (Fullerton) recently openned on Orangethorpe in Fullerton. They don't seem to be very busy, but I expect that to change. Marty is very helpful and knowlegable.

Jax in Irvine for me is hit or miss (the two heads older mechanics are top notch). I got my bike serviced there once and it took a week and a half (granted Irvine has a ton more cyclist than in Fullerton so I can't fault them for being buy) and it came back looking the same. When I got my tt bike back from the one in Fullerton, I literally had to look it over to make sure it was the same bike. The cassette looked brand new, the chain was squeaky clean and even my tires/wheels were cleaned. All that and they finished it in two days.

In this day and age of competition between LBS and different manufactures - there is no longer a one stop shop store - just have to see them all and find what you want. The internet is helpful in that regard. The stores I patronize locally (in no particular order) are:

Two Wheeler Dealer (Brea)
Sand Canyon Cylery (Irvine)
Edge (Lake Forest)
Laguna Cyclery (Laguna Beach)
Rock'nRoad (Mission Viejo and Anaheim Hills)

Both Edge and Laguna Cyclery specialize in high end bikes and components. Shops are owned by knowledge cyclists. Sand Canyon is new and the owner (Jim) very enthusiastic. He's trying hard to please. Two Wheeler is a long time established shop athough ownership has changed. I think everyone knew Sam. Tim's focus is alittle different. Brett is still a good mechanic.

If anyone is looking for a mechanic only shop - I have a friend (Albert) who started a shop with Juan (formerly of Edge) to do only mechanics. I alwys forget the name of the shop but it is excellent. I now take all my bikes there. If interested PM me and I'll give you the name and location. They are in Lake Forest off El Toro.

Now if I seriously want to purchase a bike, I drive all the way up to Main Street Cycles in Santa MAria. Just really worth the drive.

Dag nabbits!!! They better be giving away bikes to justify that drive!

I heard that Juan was just building wheels now. That guy was the master at tuning my bikes. His son still helps out over at Edge from time to time...I think he had a pretty good summer racing in Europe.

I think the problem is that the major brands are now doing contracts with their retailers that allow them to only carry one major brand. Hence why jax carries Trek and their subsidiaries but no specialized. and the shops that carry specialized, won't carry giant or trek. I recently started going to kings bicycles in seal beach. They have a good selection of high end bikes but are willing to order the cheaper bikes from the manufacturers they carry. They are friendly and seem to have good mechanics. They were restoring a beautiful paramount last time i was there.

hmmmmmmmm my bike shop carries both trek and specialized********************?

I do my own work on the bike but if I do need anything I use Buena Park Cyclery on Beach Blvd. near Artesia for parts basically. They have most common parts in stock which is nice.

Nope he and my friend Albert opened the shop and are now the master mechanics for Paramount and BCI. Their business has taken off. When I get home will post the shop's name and location. Well wortht he drive to Lake Forest for a good tuneup. And service is usually next day.

Jax carries specialized and trek...although it seems to be heavily favored towards Trek. They never seem to carry the high end Specialized road bikes. Wonder if the Trek mafia had something to do with that.

OK - info on Albert and Juan's bike shop:

http://cyclecareservice.com

The CycleCare number is 949-597-1100.

Mon - Fri 10:30am - 7pm

Saturday 10:30am - 4pm

Sunday by appointment only

The shop is on Aspan, which is off Lake Forest between Rockfield and Muirlands.

These guys are trying to build a great shop - please support them!!!

SurfCity Cylclery in HB
 

SurfCity Cylclery in HB, Try them they just opened great service. I tried Bicyle Lane in Fullerton They did a real crappy job tuning up my bike. The Edge in Laguna gets Great (really great) recommendations.

I love to look around Surf City Cyclery. :D We were just there today.

Just out of curiosity, when was that and who worked on it?

I go to Tim and Sherry at Switchback Cyclery in Orange.

The Jax in long beach used to carry mostly specialized, and now carries only trek. they put all of their specialized stuff on clearance about 6 months ago. Everything there is bontrager or trek now.