Wheels & Things

Rich at Wheels & Things - from: '' - Rating: 5/5 - 05-Apr-10
Wheels & Things is more than a bike shop, it is an experience. Being going there since the place was opened if only to visit with the dogs, the birds and the assorted characters that frequent the place. It also helps that Rich knows a thing or 2 about bikes and women's figures. He seems to specialize in Terry Bikes for women and fits them to scale. He's sometimes abrupt, even in a hurry, but he's always entertaining as are the assortment of animals which he keeps to entertain the customers. Only bike shop I'll ever go to. . .
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Public Hazard - from: '' - Rating: 1/5 - 14-Sep-09
Public Hazard

After buying an overpriced lock, I went to open the door to leave, and his gigantic dog (some kind of mastiff blend?) jumped off the couch and bit a large, bleeding hole in my hand. I had not even approached the dog. The dude had no response! I said, "your dog bit me." He said, "Really?" I asked if he had any first aid supplies. He let me wash my hand, but he did not apologize, and acted like it was nothing. I went back with the University Police later, and he said he wasn't keeping the dog in the store anymore--but even so, watch out.
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Crazy Guy - from: '' - Rating: 1/5 - 22-Aug-09
This guy is just plain nuts. They say his wife left him and his kids don't speak to him. Perhaps there is a reason?
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Good information - from: '' - Rating: 5/5 - 03-Apr-09
Rich at Wheels & Things spent about an hour giving me his undivided attention as I shopped for a Terry women's bike.

He asked specific questions to help me decide which bike was best for me, such as what kind of rides I would take the bike on, how a new bike might be different than my current one, how I might use an adjustable stem, and more.

He listened closely and gave me valuable information.

He impressed me as being very knowledgeable about women's bicycles and bikes in general. I learned a lot by talking with him.

He also let me test ride a bike outside his shop.

His attitude towards me was friendly and respectful. I would definitely shop at Wheels & Things again.
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Questionable billing practices - from: '' - Rating: 1/5 - 28-May-08
This shop is scandalous and over charges for sloppy service with poor communication to boot.

His receipt was poor and the services were not itemized. He did not report problems after his "tune up" such as gears being broken. If he did not notice the gears being broken, what type of tune up did he perform? If he performed one at all. He wasted no time performing services that offerred more charges, but did not even comment on the gears not working. Strange. When brought to his attention, he showed a different receipt than the one I received. Strange! He has been reported to the BBB!
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Aweful Experience - from: '' - Rating: 1/5 - 28-May-08
I believe the bad comments on this site are enough, but the experience was so bad that I will add one more. He should be investigated by the BBB! I am going to do that today. He can not perform an honest tune up adn returns bikes with broken gears after the tune up. I will see to it that he has no business in the near future.
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Least pleasant transaction of my life - from: '' - Rating: 1/5 - 22-May-08
DO NOT GO TO THIS STORE.

The man who runs this shop is the most unpleasant person I have ever had to do business with. After entering his store, he may not acknowledge your presence for 5 minutes or more, and when he does he is extremely rude and will openly tell you that his intention in serving you is to get you out of his store. Customer service is a totally foreign concept here. He installed a part on my bike, charged me too much for it, and when it broke immediately, tried to charge me for a new one again. I'm sorry, but if you install a defective part, you should replace it for free. The owner's creepy personality is sure to make every instant you are in his store uncomfortable, you will be charged too much, and what you get will be garbage. As I left, extremely dissatisfied, I ran into a guy on the street who asked me if I knew anywhere else to go for bike repairs. About this store he said, "I'm never going back there. I don't need that guy ruining my day, being all mean to me. I don't need that in my life." Indeed.
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questionable ethics - from: '' - Rating: 2/5 - 22-May-08
I got a bad vibe just walking into the shop. I proceeded to buy a can of degreaser which apparently rang up in the computer as $10. He wouldn't sell it to me at that price and, after giving up on getting the computer to charge me the $10.90 he wanted, he just made me pay that price anyway and didn't give me a reciept. Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure that's not legal. In my particular case it was only an extra .90, but that is seriously miserly and somewhat unethical behavior.
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Rude and crude - from: '' - Rating: 1/5 - 26-Apr-08
I have been in both new and old locations and everytime the guy has been totally rude...matter a fact, I was in there last week getting tube and as I was changing it, he cursed me, "G.D."! Then I told him, "Hey, watch your mouth in front of the ladies." I know he has a hearing problem, but he heard me!
Take your bike to the South Loop (as I am today, to deal with a crank problem), you'll be better off, but if you like mean, rude, foul-mouthed service, then this is the place for you. I give his business the Gasface.
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straight forward guy, good shop - from: '' - Rating: 4/5 - 05-Apr-08
Richard can be cantankerous, but that is exactly why I trust him. Might he be wrong about some things? Absolutely, but if any of you claim to be always right at your job, you're lying. Is he interested in making money by steering you to his product? Yes, him and every other bike shop in Chicago. Would I go back? Yes and I am today.
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Bummer - from: '' - Rating: 2/5 - 20-Jan-08
My girlfriend and I really tried to like this shop. And to be fair, for simple transactions, buying accessories and whatnot, Richard Padnos was pleasant enough.

But for anything more complex than that, Padnos does not stack up. When my girlfriend went there for a new tube for her (admittedly old and poor-quality) bike, she got a lot of guff for the bike, and Padnos went on a sales pitch to try to sell her a Terry. When I went there to try to select and source a rim to build a new wheelset for an old Schwinn, Padnos expounded on why I am crazy for a half hour, belittling the entire idea of spending money to recondition an old, heavy, slow bike and how I'd be better off with his poorest, lowest-end Giant instead.

Now I can deal with his philosophy, however different from mine it is. But what really worried me was that Padnos had no problem telling me numerous lies in order to further his point. For example, he said that Sturmey-Archer is out of business (check their website), you can only get 26 x 1 3/8 rims in steel (check sheldonbrown.com), and that an "easy" wheel takes 2.5 hours for him to build. Maybe the last thing is true, but seeing as the standard wheelbuilding time in the industry is about an hour I will not be using his $65/hour labor anytime soon. And, even after I asked about the rims anyway, he basically blew off my request and did not even look at his catalogs carefully.

To Shira and everyone else defending Padnos - I have no axe to grind here, and I respect your opinion. I'm a regular working Hyde Parker. I simply wanted the shop closest to my house to provide a trustworthy professional for questions or tasks too complex for Internet shopping or do-it-yourselfing. Unfortunately, I don't feel like I can trust Padnos with any of that even if I could consistently overlook his unpleasant demeanor. All Wheels and Things is good for are the items Padnos keeps in stock that you can simply pay for without asking any questions. I guess I'll just keep going with my Internet retailers and copy of Barnett's, and when the day comes that I need something brazed or faced or tapped, I'll just have to go north. Bummer indeed.
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• Re: Bummer - from: '' - 11-Feb-08
  : I guess I'll
  : just keep going with my Internet
  : retailers and copy of Barnett's,
  : and when the day comes that I need
  : something brazed or faced or
  : tapped, I'll just have to go
  : north.
  
  To clarify, I have had nothing but positive experiences with Blackstone and TATI. It is easy to dismiss all of this businesses in Hyde Park reflexively, and in retrospect I can see that I too am guilty of this.
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not the greatest... - from: '' - Rating: 2/5 - 08-Nov-07
I still give this shop some business, although mostly I stop by because I like the animals. Grouchy Richard is knowledgeable and a competent bike mechanic, although I wouldn't suggest stopping by for his bitter company. As a bit of a curmudgeon myself I can appreciate his eccentricities, but as a former racer I've come to expect a certain level of service, especially as a regular. His prices are high, but not bad when compared to the dreadful Art's Cycle. I'd like to defend Rich further, but I have to admit that it isn't really unreasonable for paying customers - even UC people - to expect a business owner be nice to them. I haven't been to his new shop since he moved in October 07, but it seems reasonable to expect more of the same at the new location. It would help Rich's image considerably if he'd hire someone friendlier to work for him, so he doesn't have to talk to people.
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bike shop - from: '' - Rating: 5/5 - 24-Oct-07
hello,

I think from comments you made that you have no idea of how an idependnent business is operated. One can do as one pleases (perhaps this irritates you as you work for a big brother souless corp.

Richard does as he pleases. Personally I find it very refreshring to see someone run his business as he likes. He thinks you are a shit, he will tell you so and tell you to get out of his shop. How many of us are so lucky as to not have to kiss ass.

As far as his intregrity business wise, you are far from correct. I'd sue you for slander if it were up to me kid.He is the most honest old fart I've ever met.

'He may act like an old curmudegon (actually he is onne)but it is his shop, he waits on people on a as they arrive basis and to the devil with you if you are fooling around on your cell phone to while away the time. You will be skipped.

The animals are there in part for protection *Richard is quite deaf and also for company.

He is the most honest merchant I have met in years. You must have pissed him off with yuppified ways or something or you would have been treeated with the respect he gives to those he respects.

My advise, go up north to a nice clean shoppe where they know a good line but really don't know their as... from a hole in the ground.

P.S. I've gone in there for years just to visit the animals.

PPss, get a life, or spend your time screwing around with your own bike instead of blogging. This is the first time I've done this and only because someone told me about your nasty comments.

Do us a favor and stay out of the shop. We don't want people like you in there in the first place. I am suprised he did not just kick you out or call security to do it.

You should be flogged for your blog.

Best,

Shira
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• Re: bike shop - from: '' - 08-Nov-07
  What exactly do you mean by "people like you", anyway? Would that be "people who desire customer service and respect"? Or even "people who don't celebrate Hyde Park's gleefully dysfunctional businesses and uniformly woeful service as 'colorful' local character"? Friendly service matters, regardless of its absence in Hyde Park.
  Rich is a bitter man who treats his customers with contempt. If you love him for it, that's fine - many people have trouble removing themselves from abusive relationships - but don't badmouth his (ex)customers for complaining about his bad attitude.
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• Re: bike shop - from: '' - 11-Apr-08
  Wow, I will never ever stop at this shop if you're the type of employee that works there.
  
  And no, I'm not a yuppie, nor do I work for a big brother souless corp.
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WARNING- - from: '' - Rating: 1/5 - 30-Jul-07
DO NOT FEED THIS PERSON YOUR MONEY! once he has it, he will [do you wrong]. he offers a "two year parts and labor" warranty on all bicycles he sells. However, unless you come in for anything other than a flat tube that needs replacing, getting him to work on your bike is like pulling teeth. once he finally does get off his ass from surfing the net or watching daytime court shows on tv, the rude, arrogant judges of which he obviously emulates and attempts to imitate, he will give your bike the sloppiest once-over this side of sloptown, slap maybe one or two parts onto it, and throw it back at you. this whole process could take up to 3 days. every single time i have left his store after a repair guarenteed me by my warranty, there has been a COMPLETELY NEW problem with the bike, unseen before i brought it in. he fucks up bicycles. i don't think it's fair to say that he doesn't know what he's doing. it's just that, unless he is going to get more money from you, he does not [care]. he's careless, rude, sloppy, and intolerant. his outright neglect is, in my opinion, worse than if he was simply clueless. he strikes me as a person who used to be passionate about bicycles, but now has sunk into [dispair].
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• Re: WARNING- - from: '' - 31-Jul-07
  edited to remove profanity and overtly negative statements (although poetic).
  
  Let's keep it clean and civil, 'eh?
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Is that the owner? - from: '' - no rating given - 04-Jul-07
Is that the owner on the porch?.. Look here guys and gals. I have no idea where this place is. But I think the majority of the situations here do justify our own behaviour as a costumer. I don't believe in good or bad service. "either you have it, or you don't!......I'm a beginner in this trade nevertheless mentioned or imply at any bikeshop that I have no knowledge on bikes. "never reveal your weakness to a potential enemy" especially if you knew it's coming. Simply it's up to you to refuse the service. if you let it, I don't think you have any excuse to say the service is high. All bike shops I went for tweaking, overall Price is a MUST confirmed! before I even let anyone touches my GT-I drive. I am the type of costumer who's in control all the time not being led by any mechanic knowledgable to my needs or not, I don't care!. You must follow my instructions. if a mechanic achieve it? I don't think "there's a price of a talent". You win I win!..you refuse!, go somewhere else. do you think I have something to say to you? why bother??????????
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AVOID AT ALL COSTS - from: '' - Rating: 1/5 - 11-Jun-07
Horrible service. Guy is sloppy and slow, and incredibly rude. He makes people stand around and wait for him to do tasks in whatever order he prefers, when a better approach would be to just get those who were there first or who have quick issues on their way. I think he does this so people are forced to listen to him pontificate.

Three women were standing in the shop while he was SLOWLY fixing something and running his fool mouth, and one of the things he said was that it's hopeless to try and use logic with women.

I found his prices on the high end of acceptable, and his work so far (one day of riding later) seems to be holding up, though he did make a bit of a mess of the bike.

Basically, just go to Blackstone or Tati or, if they aren't open, some shop in South Loop. We have got to let these horrible Hyde Park shops wither and die.
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Wheels and Things - from: 'Bryan' - Rating: 1/5 - 25-Mar-07
This shop isn't worth going to unless you have an emergency.
The owner is rather mean, and it's not like his shop is good. His selection of parts is mediocre at best (although he carries a pump I like as well as Terry bikes) and his character isn't my type. I have no knowledge of his servicing my bikes, I wouldn't let him touch it, I'll do it myself thank you.
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Overpriced and bad - from: '' - Rating: 2/5 - 24-Feb-07
I hate to go to this shop because the proprietor is such an ignorant jerk, but this week I was in a hurry to get a cotter pin replaced, and Art's was closed.

As always, the proprietor's workshop manners are discouraging -- he slams your bike around, drops tools, acts clumsy and careless even if there's no hurry and it's a simple job.

It took him way longer than it should have to replace my cotter pin, and then he charged me $16. My friend had told me that Art's charged around six dollars for the same service, so I asked him why it was so expensive. He said the cotter pin cost $5.50, and labor was $10.

Today, I went over to Art's and asked what they charged to replace a cotter pin. They said $1 for the pin and $4 or $5 for labor. I went back to Wheels and Things to let the proprietor know that he's charging way above the market price, but he told me that he doesn't care what anyone else charges.

I don't know whether he realizes he's ripping people off or somehow thinks he's charging a fair price, but I'm never going to this store again. I'm okay with a certain rough-hewn quality in my bicycle repair professionals, but this guy isn't just charmingly brusque, he's incompetent and dishonest.
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Richard Padnos profiled in Bicycling Magazine - from: '' - no rating given - 15-Feb-07
Merely as an FYI, Richard Padnos, the proprietor of Wheels and Things, was written-up in the March '07 issue of Bicycling Magazine. The article (at the time of this posting) can be found at http://www.bicycling.com/article/1,6610,s1-3-12-15642-1,00.html
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DO NOT GO HERE - from: 'Still Fuming' - Rating: 1/5 - 28-Nov-06
This is the worst shop in the history of bad shops. He trates you poorly, overcharges you, and then puts on subpar material like bad tires. I hope he goes out of business and has to eat his parrots for sustenance.
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• Re: DO NOT GO HERE - from: '' - 07-Dec-06
  I edited your comment to remove profanity and your (obviously) fake email address. Let's keep it clean.
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• Wheels and Things - from: '' - 09-Dec-06
  The owner of this shop is an eccentric character. I would not say that he is rude, as some others have claimed but he definitely has a unusual attitude.
  He likes to joke about everything and his brand of humor is not going to be appreciated by everyone.
  
  Also there is an element of condescension as in "Didn't you KNOW [such-and-such obscure bike statistic]"... But I have encountered the same thing at other bike shops where the technicians apparently think what they are doing is rocket science.
  
  There are animals in the store usually a gigantic dog and some pet birds, some people might say this adds character to the business but I'm not sure. One usually doesn't plan on encountering or having to avoid large animals while waiting in a bike shop.
  
  OK, so his personality is unusual, once you figure him out and get beyond that, what can we say objectively about the service? Mostly it has been fine, I rarely had anything done besides replacing tubes and tires.
  
  However there was one time when my girlfriend's bike was broken and he said that the entire rear wheel would have to be replaced (at a cost of $90 plus labor) when actually the problem could be fixed by replacing one of the gears (which we did have done at the other bike shop for $30 including labor).
  
  There are two ways of looking at this -
  (A) an outright rip-off attempt, or (B)in his particular store he didn't have the replacement part and therefore for HIM to fix it at that time would require an entire new wheel. But he didn't mention anything of the sort and neither interpretation is flattering.
  
  
  : This is the worst shop in the
  : history of bad shops. He trates
  : you poorly, overcharges you, and
  : then puts on subpar material like
  : bad tires. I hope he goes out of
  : business and has to eat his
  : parrots for sustenance.
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This place is awful - from: '' - Rating: 5/5 - 15-Aug-06
As you can see, one man can write 20 bad reviews for one shop with out impediment. Don't trust online ratings. Judge for yourself!!!
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• Re: This place is awful - from: 'Use your brain' - 28-Nov-06
  : As you can see, one man can write
  : 20 bad reviews for one shop with
  : out impediment. Don't trust online
  : ratings. Judge for yourself!!!
  
  Clearly your comment doesnt help. What experience did you have at this store? Instead of critizing other posters, you should describe your experience at the store.
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please don't go here - from: 'HP_resident' - Rating: 1/5 - 14-Aug-06
the owner is blatantly rude to either me or other customers every time I've been in the store.
I took my bike in to get a tune-up and told him how my back tire was chronically flat. he said, "you're probably just not pumping it up enough." I picked it up, and within blocks of riding away, tire was flat again. when I took it back he said, "well, you could have ridden over something and gotten a flat after leaving the shop." I finally convinced him to have a closer look and he subsequently found a gash in the tire. he was still skeptical that it was there before, DESPITE the fact that I mentioned it when I first took it into the shop. he didn't apologize nor would he give me any kind of discount on the tune-up or a new tire.
never again will I go there! and I actively discourage anyone I know from going there as well.
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Might as well learn to fix your own bike - from: '' - Rating: 1/5 - 07-Aug-06
I have Richard Padnos to thank for the fact that I learnt to fix my own bike. I don't have to do it that often but waiting at least 90 minutes to get insulted each time you need your bike fixed is simply not time-efficient.

I live in Hyde Park but I refuse to buy any bike parts or accessories I need from either of the abysmal bike shops here. I'd rather wait a few days for online orders to arrive, or go to bike shops on the north side.
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• OVERPRICED / RIP-OFF - from: '' - 06-Sep-06
  This shop is terrible. I used to go here for bike repairs, but he is overpriced. One time I had to get new tires; the bastard just put on new tires without asking me what kind I wanted, then he charged me $80 for them. He did it so quickly that I thought this was standard. Unfortunately I realized later that this guy is a buffoon. He rips ppl off so he can feed his damn parrots.
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  • Re: OVERPRICED / RIP-OFF - from: '' - 01-Jun-07
    : This shop is terrible. I used to
    : go here for bike repairs, but he
    : is overpriced. One time I had to
    : get new tires; the bastard just
    : put on new tires without asking me
    : what kind I wanted, then he charged
    : me $80 for them. He did it so
    this was : standard. Unfortunately I
    : realized later that this guy is a
    : buffoon. He rips ppl off so he
    : can feed his damn parrots.
    
    the rip off is that ALL G.School of Bastards expect that the world owes them everything for nothing so that they can go to work for some rip off obnoxious bank. these same G.S.Bastards always object when they get the treatment that they earn. overpriced is when you get screwed and not kissed. i'll bet that the parrots kissed your obnoxious ass.
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Put together my bike incompetently - from: '' - Rating: 1/5 - 13-May-06
Sent my bike back from the summer in a box; took it here. Worst mistake. He bent and damaged several parts and did a horrible job. Never again.

I agree- someone with money should open a bike shop here. Anything is better than the two jokers we have.
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Simply Awful, how do they stay in business? - from: '' - Rating: 1/5 - 09-May-06
Amazing this place is still around. Guy treats everyone like dirt, doesn't seem interested in actually selling anything, and barely has any inventory anyway. Mechanically incompetent as well. Avoid at all costs.
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complete d*%$head! - from: '' - Rating: 1/5 - 27-Feb-06
I think the only reason this clown stays in business is that Art's is so bad. The owner/manager is truly unpleasant, completely uninterested in being of service and has disparaging things to say about everyone and everything. Also, the selection of gear is not that hot. There is money to be made in opening a decent bike shop in Hyde Park
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Agreed - don't go there - from: 'Ilya' - Rating: 1/5 - 06-Aug-05
I asked the guy to retighten the spokes on a wheel. He spent 20 minutes doing that, but the result was no better than before. Still, he charged me in full, claiming that "he couldn't know in advance it was hopeless".

Then, it turned out he over-tightened the spokes. So, I had to buy a new wheel.
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kind of an arse - from: '' - Rating: 1/5 - 05-Jul-05
I tried to by a Terry bike from this guy and he did nothing to help except put me off for several months and tell me horror stories about other bike shops in the city. He supposedly ordered my bike to arrive in May. When May arrived he told me there were no bikes to my specs available in the country.

I called a few other dealers in the country and had one shipped from a shop in Minneapolis. I love my new Terry bike but will never visit this shop again.
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