| Shop Name | Subject | Comment | Rating 1/worst to 5/best |
Left By | Date |
| Kozy's Cyclery | good service | the best bicycles and product are made by specialized so if i need something i always go to kozy for any upgrade and as we all know cycling is beautiful |
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12-Mar-10 | |
| Ridge Cyclery | not for the enthusiast | Maybe this shop is OK for the casual cyclist, but not so for the enthusiast. Some time ago I went to this shop to buy cones for overhauling axles, and was told "cones are no longer available.". On further comment was told "our supplier does not carry them"...... |
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12-Mar-10 | |
| Terry's Bike Haus | JUST SHAMEFUL | I was disgusted to find a porno on the counter in the washroom in this filthy down right disgusting establishment, try burning the building down and starting over |
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09-Mar-10 | |
| Lugs | Re: Mixed bag |
: I think : success has perhaps ruined him, or : maybe he just has good days and bad : days. I take back what I said. The deal with my friend who had the problems with his bike was really trying to get the bike for as few dollars as possible so he specifically instructed Ron not to do anything to fix it up. Since this review I've been in the shop a few times and I'm still riding the bike I got there back when they first opened up. The sign always says "CLOSED", so if you peek in and see someone in there, just knock, wave, and look friendly. There's no phone number for the place right now as far as I know. |
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08-Mar-10 | |
| A Nearly New Shop | Nearly New | I drove all the way up from Northwest Indiana to check out this place with a friend who was looking to buy a bike. We shopped for about 10 min, then found the perfect bike for him. I was so impressed! They knew there stuff, and knew exactly the frame size he needed. He walked out with a nice red trek in awesome condition! I was so impressed Im going back up there this weekend to pick out a new bike for me! The guys that work there are easy to talk to, know there stuff and WANT to help you out and get a bike that fits you like a glove. Thanks for the awesome deal! |
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08-Mar-10 | |
| Smart Bike Parts | Eric is Great! | The owner Eric is great. I ordered a bike from him at a great price! Even drove from Indianapolis to get it. However, the build on the bike was the worst I have ever seen. I had to do the build completely over. Had to replace both of the brake cables and both of the shifter cables. The mechanic routed all 4 of them wrong and did not use ferrules on the brake cables. I would recomend buying parts, just don't let them install the parts. |
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07-Mar-10 | |
| Wheels & Things | Compassion | Have a bit of compassion for this guy. His entire family walked out on him, of course he is bitter. |
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06-Mar-10 | |
| Smart Cycling | brotherly love |
As Sir Winston Churchill said: "Don't give up! Don't ever, ever ever give up!" |
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05-Mar-10 | |
| Gary's Cycle Shop | Gary's is Great | I lived in Rogers Park about a year ago and stumbled about Gary's bike shop after having too many bad experiences with retail chain bike shops or trendy bike shops. It is a comfortable and nice atmosphere and you can feel the difference. When I moved from Rogers Park I was very sad because I didn't know if I would be able to continue going to Gary's but then I took a job in the area and was very excited to be able to get back to Gary's on my way to work. |
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05-Mar-10 | |
| Beverly Bike & Ski | really? wow. | I have never been to this shop, but I'll be sure to stop by if I'm in the neighborhood after reading all the positive comments. I've worked in bike shops big and small, and I know how hard it is to provide friendly and fair service. It's good to know there are still down-to-earth shops like this. |
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02-Mar-10 | |
| Mikes Bike Shop | bmx | i will never go to any other place but here |
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01-Mar-10 | |
| The Wheel Thing | Spin Classes | Excellent spin classes from knowledgeable instructors! |
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01-Mar-10 | |
| Trek Bicycles On Michigan Ave | Re: Great service-Great People |
Thank you for the kind words, we appreciate your business |
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28-Feb-10 | |
| Trek Bicycles On Michigan Ave | Re: flat repaired |
: Thanks! We'd love to see you again! |
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28-Feb-10 | |
| Trek Bicycles On Michigan Ave | Woops |
So sorry, and you're entitled to a refund. We do try our best, and always are looking to improve. I understand you may not come back, and Cycle is a good store, but you're in our system and we'd like to make it right. We got no complaints in the store or calls about this issue. |
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28-Feb-10 | |
| Trek Bicycles On Michigan Ave | Re: Good Stuff |
Thank you! Jeff will be happy to see the positive review he earned with you. He has over 15 years experience, and is heading up the department this season. He's approaching master mechanic status, and is an excellent guy. We appreciate your business. |
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28-Feb-10 | |
| Trek Bicycles On Michigan Ave | Re: Thanks |
Thank you for the kind words. Indeed, we sell a fair number of Madone's, Project One and stock, and think they offer the best in U.S. made grand tour style racers. We also share your belief a test ride is reasonable. Your business and response is much appreciated. Denis |
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28-Feb-10 | |
| Get A Grip Cycles | Response to Suzy |
I find this to be a completely farcical review. I just searched through the last three months of bicycle fits that we have done for women at Get a Grip Cycles. Over that time period, 100% of the women we have fit have purchased bicycles from us. In the future, we hope that Chicagobikeshops.info will find a way to make sure that these reviews are accurate prior to their publication on-line. This site is at risk of becoming irrelevant due to the increase of unsubstantiated postings. I also want to stress that we are celebrating our 10th year in business, just voted the top bicycle shop in Chicago by Competitor magazine, and also named a top 10 shop for bicycle fitting by Triathlete Magazine. I am extremely humbled by these honors considering the high level of competition that we have here in Chicago. The Chicagoland area is blessed with exceptional shops that all have their own unique style and offerings. We didn’t achieve these honors by being scam artists. I can count the number of legitimate negative reviews that we have received over the last 10 years on two hands. Each one of them stings in its own way, but more importantly, has allowed me to make the appropriate changes to our stores to better serve our clients as we moved forward. To Suzy, who wrote the review, please call me directly at the shop. If this situation truly occurred and somehow the purchase history in our computer system is inaccurate, I will do the following: 1. Provide you with a custom frame of your choice at no charge to you. 2. Pay the retail cost for the Pinarello frame that you purchased at Mox. 3. Update Chicagobikeshops.info site with what has transpired so that everyone who reads these reviews will know the truth about this situation. I can be reached at 773-427-4747. I look forward to your call. Kevin Corsello, Owner Get a Grip Cycles In the interest of full disclosure, I have also sent a copy of this letter to Suzy’s email address that was listed in her posting. |
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25-Feb-10 | |
| Get A Grip Cycles | Scam Artists | I am not sure how this place really gets such good reviews. I paid $325 for a bike fitting because I was told that's what needed to be done first because the fit was the most important thing. After 3 hrs guess what I only fit a $4500 custom Serrotta. Imagine that a woman 5' 6" tall with good flexibility. Thank God I didn't fall for it. Bought a beautiful Pinarello from MOX on Randolph. Love my bike that fits perfectly. my advice is don't waste your money with GaG. |
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24-Feb-10 | |
| Grand Cycle | sponsers | hi you rember me im the cousin of fidel and love the venture trucks can you sponser ill swear by my heart ill answer your calls. be at all meetings and spread the word of grand cycle at locals skate parks in chicago, elmwood,besenville,and every where else if my mom can take me there. |
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23-Feb-10 | |
| Smart Bike Parts | Love It |
Don't believe any of the detractors. This place is brilliant. I've been in a few times, and every experience has been great. I'm not hip. I don't ride fixie. I'm a total square. The people I've dealt with in this place have been upright and helpful every time. And the prices are amazing. |
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23-Feb-10 | |
| Trek Bicycles On Michigan Ave | Thanks |
This is the best Trek shop in the city of chicago. I visited village cycle center and even turin up in evanston for the purchase of a new project one madone. michigan avenue is the only shop that allowed me to TEST RIDE a bike prior to ordering. Is it too much to ask to test ride a bike that is $3000 plus...apparently so at turin and village. Trek michigan avenue is the only REAL trek shop in chicago... |
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21-Feb-10 | |
| 21st Century Cycle Ltd | omg | I have flat tire down street dem come down street by grave yard fixem my tires and send we way . I love yous guys service . tankyous guyz |
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19-Feb-10 | |
| On The Route Bicycles | It's about time! |
I've been waiting for about 10 years for Lincoln Square to get a REAL bike shop. I snagged a chrome bag and a great rain jacket a few months back and have gone back a few times since for tubes, lights and a trainer. This place has a large selection given its comfy, mom and pop size. Knowledgable mechanic, and friendly sales staff. I wish you all the best in your new location. Thanks for answering my call... |
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19-Feb-10 | |
| Cycle Bike Shop | stop in once a year | If you want someone to kiss your ass, then this is not the shop for you. If you want to support an independent who has been in the business for ages, then hit them up. My bike, that takes me all over the city year round, gets a tune-up there once a year. A few times I've dropped by with a question or a quick fix, and they have taken care of things with ease. Also, there is a great dog named W there. Cheers! |
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19-Feb-10 | |
| Roscoe Village Bikes | Boutique at best |
I am a new resident in Lakeview and was out and about this week looking for a new hybrid bike for commuting downtown. I had heard very good things about Roscoe Village so I decided to take a detour from the closer shops in my Lakeview neighborhood. Huge mistake, this is a bike-boutique at best. Coming from the lower east side in nyc, these type of shops have always been a dime a dozen. They have like 8 bikes hung in what looks like clothing racks in a Ralph Lauren Store. The staff was nice but uninformative, giving me one word answers to about 3 legitimate questions. Also, this shop has a very weak selection of clothing, bags, and overall accessories. If you're a serious rider or one who rides more than 2 days a week, I would defiantly recommend pedaling past this small "niche" outfit. I checked out a few of my neighborhood shops a few days after this experience (Johnny Sprockets, Cycle Smithy) but ended up getting a great deal on a Gary Fisher Kaitai at On The Route. Their selection was healthy in addition, this purchase came with free service and long warranties. |
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14-Feb-10 | |
| Trek Bicycles On Michigan Ave | Good Stuff |
I needed some service on my full-suspension mountain bike a week back, there were several problems diagnosed, but I was thoroughly explained and shown what was wrong and the most cost/efficient route to remedy the issues at hand. Jeff was the mechanic that assisted me, and was arguably one of the most knowledgeable mechanics I have dealt with in my time in Chicago (8 years). Given their quick and honest service, I plan on purchasing a new road bike from them in the spring. |
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14-Feb-10 | |
| Gary's Cycle Shop | Integrity | I have gone to Gary's shop for years and I notice that the owners operate in an old-school manner. They do not attempt high-pressure sales; they give you information that is accurate and trustworthy and they will not fix anything that needs no fixing. I moved farther away from the shop recently, but I go out of my way to get back there. |
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12-Feb-10 | |
| Glenview Cyclery | JUST A THANK YOU FROM GLENVIEW CYCLE | HELLO EVERYONE THIS IS CHRIS THE MANAGER/ HEAD MECHANIC AT GLENVIEW CYCLE. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE WHO HAS RATED US. IT'S BECAUSE OF ALL OF YOU THAT WE ARE STILL OPEN AND THAT OUR REPUTATION IS GREAT. WE TRY EVERY DAY TO SATISFY EVERYONE WHO WALKS IN THE DOOR. ONCE AGAIN THANKS AGAIN FOR HELPING US SERVE THE NORTH SHORE. IF THERES ANY WAY WE CAN HELP PLEASE CALL OR COME AND VISIT. 847-998-5900. THANKS |
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08-Feb-10 | |
| A Nearly New Shop | Re: good guy | You entered your name as 'James' but signed your email 'Tod'? |
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07-Feb-10 | |
| Get A Grip Cycles | ALMOST perfect |
I bought my wife a Specialized Roubaix Pro on ebay. She was experiencing wrist and saddle problems, and Bicycling Mag. said get a professional fitting. We went to the Irving shop, and were enthusiastically greeted by Kevin, who expressed confidence they could retrofit her bike for a better experience. No problem that we didn't buy it there. We made an appt. for a fitting at the Fulton store, by Adam. We've both been roadies for decades, and are familiar with the basics of fit adjustment, but this is a whole 'nother level! Three hours of question & answer, feedback, micro-adjustments, video of your pedaling stroke and position. Best $325 we ever spent on a bike. The wife is riding in style on the trainer with no problems so far, and we can't wait to get out on the road. Thanks GaG, for renewing her interest in riding long distance with me! Other issues: I'm not crazy about dogs in the workplace, but it's not a deal-breaker. The bathrooms in the Fulton store are immaculate and well stocked. A+ on that one. There is a decided bias toward higher-end bikes and equipment, but then, that's what we ride. Entry-level riders might be better served at another store, and that's too bad, since they are the ones who need guidance the most, and usually get the least. |
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06-Feb-10 | |
| MOX Multisport | Value | This store has such a friendly vibe and such a knowledgeable staff. Anything you need to know about Triathlon they have the answers. They all have raced one! You can't put a value on that kind of expertise. If your doing a triathlon talk to them. |
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03-Feb-10 | |
| On The Route Bicycles | New to the Hood! | I was glad to see a shop opened up in Lincoln Square. It's little, but quite nice! I got some parts hung on to a frame and had a wheel built there in recent weeks. As far as bikes go, it seems like they have a lot of commuters, some nice single speeds. Good work, I'll return. |
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30-Jan-10 | |
| A Nearly New Shop | good guy |
This place is a great value. They have a lot of tuned-up Schwinns, Panasonics, Miyatas - all the stuff that rides well but doesn't cost a bunch. I'd check this place out if you are looking for a road bike to get around, but something a little better than a Schwinn varsity. They also have some nice framesets if you wanted to build up something a bit more sporty. The staff is also really cool. Today, they gave me an old aluminum wheel so that I could have something to practice building a wheel on. No charge. That's cool. I'll be recommending them to others. Tod |
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30-Jan-10 | |
| Trek Bicycles On Michigan Ave | flat repaired | Just had a flat fixed. Very fast and polite service. I'll go there again. |
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30-Jan-10 | |
| Fast Lane Cyclery | they have my bike | they have had my bike since before they were open dude does not pay his workers and he is a lier |
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27-Jan-10 | |
| A Nearly New Shop | A shiny new bike | Both men who work at the shop were very helpful. I found a nice bike for a reasonable price. They gave me instructions on how to ride in the city and also how to register my bike with the city. |
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24-Jan-10 | |
| Bicycle Heaven | Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Location and products | Oops.. you're right. Updates made. |
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19-Jan-10 | |
| Bicycle Heaven | Re: Re: Re: Re: Location and products |
: I'll update the site when the move : is complete in May, 2010. : : Thanks for the update! They moved May 2009. The have been in the new location for MANY months. |
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16-Jan-10 | |
| A Nearly New Shop | Good Shop | This shop is great for anyone into biking. Used parts and good bikes make it a great choice for anyone |
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14-Jan-10 | |
| Kozy's Cyclery | Had some bad advice | Was sold fenders: "sure they'll fit under your rack." (no) Was sold tires that were paper thin (3 fast gravel flats). Was sold cheap tubes, one blew spontaneously at right pressure. Was sold patches "ten to the box" (there were 5). Was sold an expensive lock, promptly cut, bike stolen, then "of course! The locks just deter casual theives." At least some guys there are nice, but some are almost surly. In past, had shifters replaced, bad luck with them too. Not so happy. |
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04-Jan-10 | |
| Park Schwinn Cyclery | Park Schwill | Bought my 1st "real" bike from John 25+ years ago & bought over 15 bikes & 2 Airdynes for myself, family & friends over the years. Great service, fair prices and an honest dealer willing to make modifications or adjustments. |
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04-Jan-10 | |
| The Trek Bike Store Schererville | nice place | Nice store. Very clean, easy to figure out, etc. I love the staff! I brought in my bike for a winter overhaul and they had it back to me the next day. It looks like new again. Hands down the best bike store! |
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01-Jan-10 | |
| Performance Bicycle | Average; pushy sales people | I'm a big time purchaser using their online stores and catalogs but the store leaves me cold. I sometimes hate going in there. Very very pushy sales types and they do NOT know their product well. I go there when I know exactly what I want, buy it and leave. The store sometimes has decent deals but I've found better pricing online. I'm not fond of their bike brands so I figure to not ever buy a frame of complete bike from them. |
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28-Dec-09 | |
| Bike Line of Naperville | Not great; not bad | I got a great end of the season deal here, and overall the buying experience was fine. I had to pry some info out of them, but once they came to understand I know a bit about bikes they did open up. Not out and out friendly at first but warmer once they know you. I have a full shop at home and service my own bikes so I can't say about their service. They id turn me on to Rock and roll chain lube, and for that they should get at least three stars, |
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28-Dec-09 | |
| Mill Race Cyclery | Better than average store |
The owner and staff are very good people to deal with. I've bought bikes and apparel here and have never wanted for help when wandering around and asking questions. I've sent friends here and they have bought bikes. Once you are on their mailing list you get these email coupons which are actually good for useful items and will save some $$$$ - not always the case with other coupons I get. Liberal test rides offered; they will even deliver a bike to your house. Knowledgeable staff. Not the cheapest prices for sure but they will entertain negotiations. |
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28-Dec-09 | |
| Zion Schwinn Cyclery | sghazel1956@comcast.net |
Great shop! Kurt is the best mechanic in Lake County. We have mountain bikes, cross bikes and road bikes and he's our go to guy for anything mechanical that we can't fix ourselves. 5* |
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19-Dec-09 | |
| Beverly Bike & Ski | excellent repairs | I've had all 3 of my bikes serviced here in the last year. The quality of service has been excellent. I even brought in my folding bike - had a quirky problem that required a special part and Paul went the extra mile to get that part. Now the bike is working perfectly again. Keep up the good work, guys! |
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15-Dec-09 | |
| Bicycle Heaven | Re: Re: Re: Location and products |
I'll update the site when the move is complete in May, 2010. Thanks for the update! |
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13-Dec-09 | |
| Trek Bicycles On Michigan Ave | service |
I brought a wheel in around labor day to be trued here. I knew the wheel was in bad shape and wanted to know if it was worth it. I was given an estimate about the cost ($32.something) and told I would be called before any work would be done that exceeded that estimate and if the wheel was deemed too badly damaged they wouldn't even try. Well, the cost did exceed it by a couple of dollars, which isn't a real big deal, but after about 150 miles of very light use the same spoke that was replaced snapped. I can't expect that they're going to fix a wheel that's beyond repair, but when they told me that they wouldn't fix it if it wasn't going to work I took their word for it. Additionally I was kept waiting for half an hour to pick up the wheel. I showed up right when the shop opened, several people were helped who entered the store after me. Any 1 or 2 of these would be forgivable. Bottom line is the experience really doesn't give me any reason to believe that there is any commitment to service. If you wanted to buy a bike then I'd say go for it maybe. If you want repairs, go else where. Cycle Bikes has always been good to me, I don't know why I strayed, I won't do that again. |
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Ethan | 12-Dec-09 |