I've been to Working bikes 3 times now and am yet to walk away with a bike. I actually find their system to be quite flawed.
Each day they are open (wedn/sat) there's no guessing what type of bikes will be out. So you can't plan to go and get a 10 speed, a general road bike, or anything specific because there is no real pattern to what's on the sales floor each day.
Also, be warned that if you are looking for a road bike of any kind. It will be gone in the first 10 minutes. Having been there at opening twice, both times people walk in, grab a bike and go. There is no testing/riding, or anything. My point here is that the system at working bikes is such that people must quickly grab whatever they can rather than finding a bike that 'fits' them properly or that function to their liking.
I'm done trying and will be back on craigslist looking at bikes that actually exist, than can be trialed, and bought without a frenzy. If that doesn't work, I've heard that blvd bikes is a good alternative.
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They're no longer open on Sunday.
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This shop is unlike most bike shops, its small and looks as if its not even a bike shop but they are nice and the prices are excellent. I just got an alloy wheel with cassete for 35 bucks. Fit my bike perfectly, thanks.
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I got such a good deal on my first city bike, I felt guilty enough to thank them here. Can't speak for it during the summer rush, but right at noon on an October Wednesday with grey and chilly weather was an ideal time to beat the crowds. Volunteers staff was super helpful, knowledgable, and completly snob free.
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got an awesome vintage schwinn varsity there on a saturday. true, it's a madhouse free-for-all when you get 50 people scrambling for bikes in a tiny store, but i managed to find one that's almost the right fit for only $55, and the adorable bike boys running the show were sweet, patient, and helpful. good place to go if you are interested in reviving your childhood love of biking..not if you're looking for an excellent bike.
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how bout selling/reserving bikes online? i mean, you know. show us summa what you got.
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This was my first bike purchase since I was a child, so I didn't really know what to check before purchasing a bike and assumed that these bikes would be usable. Turns out, you might want to take a very close look at what they have deemed to put on the showroom floor.
Purchased a raleigh road bike here that had been "reconditioned". It took a full three days for the chain to snap, the rear brakes to break, the wheel mounted reflectors to come off and nearly kill me and the brake levers to slide around on he handlebars.
VERY DANGEROUS.
That being said, there was a 30 day return policy, which they happily respected, so I got my money back in full with no hassle. I also thought the staff was friendly.
Since went to Blvd. Bikes and love em.
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As you may or may not know, Working Bikes has many volunteers coming in and out of their doors, myself included. It's unfortunate that the bike you picked turned out to suck miserably. This is in no way a representation of all repairs done to recycled bikes. Chances are, someone who didn't really know what they're doing repaired that bike and passed it off as fixed when it obviously wasn't.
What's amazingly wonderful about Working Bikes is that someone like yourself, who hasn't ridden a bike in years, can get back into it without dropping a lot of money. Generally, someone will start with a crapper from WB; they become more accustomed with bikes in general and their own personal preferences; THEN you take the next step and you'll know what to look for when shopping for your new bike.
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I bought a great beater Schwinn here for very cheap and I enjoyed riding it knowing I could abuse it, ride in lousy weather, lock it up overnight without fear of theft. It was a very sturdy bike and had a cool chrome headlight and huge wrap around fenders. All for under a hundred bucks. The people were nice, and the bike was really fun to ride.
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Only flack points are for the occasional issues with some of the volunteer sales people who are around on Saturdays during the busy season. You're best off going after having read several guides on "buying a bike" or with a knowledgeable friend. Any questions need to be directed to somebody inside the shop and not the (admitedly friendly) people miding the bikes they've got out on the walk. Go on a Wednesday right after noon if you can; you'll stand a better chance of finding something that fits you and is in good shape, and the more knowledgeable people there will be more readily available. Don't expect a *ton* of hand-holding, because a storefront operation powered by a volunteer-driven cooperative is going to almost expect you to be a little more DIY -after all, you're looking to get a bike assembled by volunteers in a cooperative. Exponential bonus points for the whole reuse/recycling thing. :) Check out the warehouse for parts, and volunteer some time there if you wanna learn lots of cool bike stuff.
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i would like to donate a bike because one of your guys helped me with my TREK 6500,plus I commend you on your work with helping other finding transportation in the 3rd world situation. The other two bikes I would like to sale at a price that we all will agree upon.
Thank you
Paul C.
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Working Bikes -does not- buy bikes
They'll gladly take your donations :)
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