I'm extremely disappointed with the customer service I received at Big City Bikes on Ashland Ave. I came in with my son to pick up his bike after paying $680 in repairs, so I expected the bike to be properly adjusted and ready to ride. As soon as we checked it, we noticed the seat was too high. The employee made the adjustment, but his attitude made it seem like our request was an inconvenience. We then took the bike outside to test it and immediately noticed the handlebars were way too low. When I asked if he could adjust them, he told me he was busy taking care of another customer and that he "couldn't just drop what he was doing." The problem is, we were the only customers there, and when my son and I walked in, he was sitting down. After spending $680 on repairs, I don't think asking for a couple of basic adjustments before leaving with the bike is unreasonable. More importantly, there was no reason for the dismissive attitude. A customer picking up a bike after a significant repair bill should at least be treated professionally and given a bike that is properly adjusted for them. Unfortunately, based on this experience, I would not recommend Big City Bikes. The customer service was horrible and completely overshadowed the work we paid for. read more

In the dead of winter, I bought my Aventure level 3. Brad could have upsold me on a number of things -- extra gear, a different model -- but instead he walked me through the two models i was looking at and gave me the pros and cons with each. When i bought it, he helped me lug the thing to my car. That was awesome. Recently, due to an issue of my own deivising, I had to bring the bike into get something fixed. Not only did he help via email, not only did he help me move the bike when i brought it in (by help I mean he pulled it out of the trunk and carried it,) Brad and his team fixed it EARLIER than expected. All in all, this is great experience. Go local and buy your bike from big city! read more

Big City Bikes - thisis my amazing aventure 3! - Bike Repair/Maintenance Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I've needed multiple repairs on my commuter bike--always fast and friendly service at a great price. When my road bike was damaged, they assessed and repaired quickly. Highly recommend! read more

Adam helped me purchase a cargo e bike with accessories to help me transport 2 kids and all my crap. I'm so excited to use the bike as a car replacement and his advice and support gave me the confidence I needed! read more

I had a great experience buying an Aventon E bike today. Big City Bikes is the only Aventon dealer in Chicago. Adam did a fabulous job explaining the different models and made it easy to test drive the ones I was interested in . He answered all my questions clearly . I left thrilled with the experience read more

Brad is the best! I came into the shop 15 minutes before closing time with the intent of just taking a quick peek to see what was available. Instead, Brad kindly offered to stay late and help me pick out a bike! He also encouraged me to try out each bicycle to compare and find the best fit. I rode three different models before finally deciding. He was incredibly patient and I never felt rushed. He also helped me purchase a lock and bell. He could've sold much more (I'm a newbie) but instead he gave honest opinions on all the additional gear. I truly appreciate his patience and assistance, and I love my new e bike! read more

These guys definitely know their stuff! I did sense a little bit of a hipster cool guy bike culture energy, which was kind of intimidating. But would recommend otherwise! read more

Went in for help with adjusting my bike's seat and the worker was super helpful!! He showed us how to adjust, gave us air, & did a quick look-over on the bike. Really great place!! read more

Highly recommend Big City Bikes. Brad was very helpful. He picked up our bikes, dropped them off once they were finished, had a quick turnaround and overall, very pleasant to work with. Will definitely be back!! read more

Went to Big City Bikes for some help, new cyclist here and couldn't get comfortable for long rides. Brad was incredibly helpful, insightful and really explained why I was having some issues. So much better now after having stopped in! Thanks a ton! read more

Friendly service, and my bike rides like brand new after only $100! I found my new bike shop.

I am an avid bicyclist (ride 2000 miles a year) and have taken my bike to various bike shops around town. All of the shops are very good but this shop goes above and beyond. They are an authorized service center for Aventon ebikes (which is how I found them). Initially I went in for a tune up after crashing my bike. Turn around time was excellent and they did a couple things extra that really made me a fan. They extended my adjustable kick stand (had no clue it was adjustable) so my bike no longer fell over, they tightened down my rear view mirror so it didn't constantly come loose and finally, they adjusted my droopy headlight so it stayed where I pointed it. Attention to detail is excellent. Fast forward about a month and my bike was back in the shop for an unrelated issue. The controller on my ebike was acting up causing my bike to take off from a dead dead stop. They ordered the part, kept me updated and fixed my bike to brand new condition. Highly recommend this shop. FYI I love my Aventon bike but they are so popular that if you need a part ordered it can take awhile to receive it, so plan accordingly. Big thank you to Brad and his team! read more

The guys were very helpful with recommending options for a fixed gear bike and they gave me a good price on my trade in which I appreciated. All around excellent bike buying experience. read more

Brad knows bikes. He's super kind and helpful and transparent. He put together my E-bike which has been running smooth for the first hundred miles. Super grateful to him for getting me set up as a safe bike commuter in Chicago. read more

Brad was such a help picking the right lock for my needs and thinking ahead and guiding with what tools I should have with me in case of emergencies! Nice selection of bikes and accessories! read more

i GOT A NEW BIKEEEE!!! After admitting my IKEA bike was not a good idea (and it got recalled anyway), and realizing that my mountain bike was causing back pain from the hunched over posture . . . . . . I came here! After reading a bunch of stuff on the internet, and consulting my bike-obsessed and knowledgeable brother (I actually ended up buying the exact first one he suggested), I zeroed in on the bike I wanted. They had the same brand here, but I came in all loaded for the 7 speed. Well. A discussion with the bike mechanic revealed the reason for the inexplicable low price of the 7 speed, vs. the 3 speed. A crappy derailleur! Since I realize that guys who work on bikes, know what is what with bikes, I listened to him, and took a spin on the 3 speed of the same brand. Also, since biking in Chicago is mostly flat, I really don't need a lot of gears. QUELLE GREAT BIKE!!! What I got is a Retrospec, 3-speed "Venus" bike. A "Dutch" style step in (better for hips!) upright bike - you're sitting up while pedaling, taking in your surroundings, back straight, which I much prefer. This bike just LOOKS COOL, I feel like I'm a stylish Dutch chick, pedaling along the gracht, in search of cheese. And it's easy and fun to ride. Judging on the amount of miles I've put on in the week I've had it - even riding to work one day, I'd say this bike is working out for me! And the shop is a small one, so I feel like I got personalized, knowledgeable service. Will DEFINITELY come back for any tune ups or adjustments, and recommend them to all my frieeennddss!! It looks like they specialize in fixies here, so if you're in the market for that, this is the place to go. They really had a LOT of different bikes in the shop though, so I'd say it's an all around great bike store for buying or fixing your bike. read more

Big City Bikes - My new bike!! - Bike Repair/Maintenance Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Thanks I got a new bike The owner Give me a great deal on my new bike I'm a regular customer I been here many times from my other bikes Lot flat tires But now I finally got my road bike Thanks read more

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Always a fair deal! I bought my bike here, there was a little rattle in the frame and it was attended to directly by the owner without my even having to ask. The attention to detail provided is fantastic, I've never been to a better cycle shop. I've gone back for additions to my bike, and again, everything was fairly priced and quickly done. I'll be going back here for any other bike needs I have. read more

I happened into this place the Sunday before last looking for a pair of gloves. And found out it was a store that dealt with mostly single/fixed gear bikes which I was mildly interested in so I guess it was destiny. Lol. The sales associates were knowledgeable and went above and beyond to let me try out some bikes. Javier was the one to help me out. It was almost closing time and having worked retail in the past I figured I should let them get out on time. They both insisted that it was fine and to take my time and keep looking. I ended up not buying one that night but came back about a week later. A very nice associateI don't know if I got her name) helped me out and I ended up going home with a new bike. I've ridden a few times and just fell in love with the bike. I highly recommend this place if you're looking for a single/fixed gear bike. The prices are great as well!! They were amazing and I will recommend them to anyone over going to a few more well known places where you'll more likely be ignored if there's a pretty girl in the room. read more

I was riding home from work, in the dark chill of a rainy fall evening, when I got a flat at Racine and Fullerton, at 6:39pm. I quickly searched to see if there were any nearby bike shops that were still open. I saw that Big City Bikes was open until 7pm (*****-open late!) and a 12 minute walk away. I rushed over to the shop with the mere hope that I would arrive in time to drop off my bike for a flat fix and planned to pick it up the next day. Imagine my surprise and delight when I arrived about 10 minutes before closing and the mechanic offered to fix my tire while I waited!!! My flat was fixed quickly and for just $25 and I was back on my bike and headed home. In really made my day! Thanks Big City Bikes! read more

This is my new go-to bike shop since Cycle Smithy closed last year. You absolutely cannot beat the turnaround times these mechanics are capable of...really affordable pricing as well for the area. I've had Adam help me most times, he is very friendly and knowledgeable. He also communicates the work he needs to do very clearly. read more

I went in with my husband on Saturday to see about tune ups on both of our bikes. My husband mentioned he was considering getting a new bike and Brad asked what it was about his bike that he was not loving and what he would be aiming to get out of a new bike. He told us he could adjust the handlebars so they are more upright and put on thicker tires for a more comfortable ride. He also helped with an inexpensive update to my bike to make it a more comfortable ride. We really appreciated him thinking of how we could change our current bikes instead of getting new ones. I would definitely return to Big City Bikes. read more

Thanks guys for putting together my new bike. It runs well!! The staff is friendly, knowledgeable, and faster than expected. So glad to have such a great bike shop 5 minutes down the road. I will definitely be back for all my repairs and upgrades!! read more

i get ther whit a flat tire they fix it in 10 minutes they charge $20 great service i will back and get a bike from there soon thanks guys read more

My husband and I just bought matching bikes from Big City Bikes and we can't wait for the warm weather to hit so we can ride them all the time! This was the 5th bike shop we visited, and the owner was so friendly, professional, helpful and honest. We really appreciated all the time he spent explaining the different bikes to us, and answering all of our MANY questions. He helped us make the best decision for us, and even encouraged us to not make any hasty decisions. We also loves that this place sort of specializes in the single speed bikes...we were sold on the first test ride! Could not recommend this place more, we will be going back for all our biking needs. read more

After a few weeks and lots of consideration, I decided I needed to add my experience at Big City Bikes. I didn't want to give a knee-jerk review just out of frustration. First, I'd like to say that I love bikes almost as much as life itself. It's one of the last things in my life that brings me joy. I ride year round in Chicago and never take public or Uber. However, I find bike shops to be less than friendly in general. I find this to be the case with the experience of other cyclists. It's like one needs be "part of the club". I guess I'm a lone wolf in the bike world. I chose Big City Bikes based on the stellar reviews on Yelp. What did I do wrong other than feel nervous and awkwardness due to my intimidation instilled in me by bike shops. I dealt directly with the owner, who seemed a little uncomfortable with me. Maybe my nervous vibe rubbed off on the owner. The main issue I have with the owner was his consistent "I have to save my ass" treatment I got from him. I wanted to switch my rack from my old bike to the new one. No one said no till after the fact, when I reminded him that I needed the rack placed on the new bike. He told me that he didn't want to change it because he didn't know if it was designed for that bike or something like that. He also sells the same rack in the store. I also wanted him to adjust the brake levers but didn't want to because it might scratch the paint. I planned on keeping the bike till It falls apart, like my last bike of 7 years did, so I don't care about the paint much. I never got the idea that he actually cared about the bike, but I did get a strong feeling that he had to cover his ass. I also got the feeling that he was more business than bike. Maybe he was sued? So, after I bought the bike, he gave me a cheap set of allen wrenches that I thought I would be able to use to switch the rack. I tried doing this before I had to be to work while in the hot sun. The Allen wrenches weren't the right format for my bike. I had to ride up the street to Menards and buy another set in order to put, what would normally be an easy switch that they could have done for me and saved me the trouble. I had more trouble than I thought I would. I went back to the shop and pleaded for help. Luckily there was an experienced mechanic there that helped me and and I'm grateful for his help. The part that really bothers me is that the owner was so unapologetic and indifferent. He just walked over and sat on his futon and played with his phone while playing cheesy lounge techno that was popular in restaurants and spas 20 years ago. He also never gave me a receipt and never mentioned a warranty. I think he just wanted to get rid of my nervous, awkward ass. He made sure that he was ready to collect the $20 fee for having the mechanic help me. If it were the business I work at, we would not have considered charging for the help in order to let the customer know we care and want to make up for frustrations. Again, all business and ass-saving up front. He was helpful in a very basic way and his mechanics were pretty nice. I honestly believe the owner is all business up front and bike way in the back. The extra star is for the minimum help and the mechanics. There was nothing about the owners personality that would make me recommend him to anyone. I'm still shocked at the 4.5 out of 5 reviews on Yelp. What did I do wrong other than feel nervous and a little awkward? Sure, my vibe was at least a little skewed, but I never became upset with anyone in the building and that should never make a "professional" treat me less. Thanks for reading. read more

I got two bikes worked on here. On my single speed they replaced a failing freewheel and the chainring to fine tune the gear ratio so I can cruise fast. Second bike I brought in was a 10 year old Cannondale that that they updated with Campagnolo wheelset, Zipp handlebars, Sram components. They took off about 3.5lbs and it rides much better than most 3k+ bikes I have ridden without spending nearly as much. Jake was awesome about service and following up. This is a great shop that specializes in single speeds and the guys are great about helping with custom work and orders. read more

The staff helped me select a high quality bike at a fair price, even talking me out of paying extra for modifications that I was on the fence about. I certainly appreciate that over going along with it just to get more of my money. At times when I returned to the store, they were super cool about giving me free valve caps and truing the wheel for zero charge. If you are looking for a durable bike for commuting around the city, Big City Bikes will hook you up with a fine product. read more

Just upgraded my Prime fixie bike, originally purchased here from Big City Bikes. I was able to get everything I needed for my new bike and more to make it top speed on the road. I continually come to this great spot because i feel attended to right away. I recommend it to future bikers as I myself have learned other bike shops do not inform you on what you really need to know. Overall, great spot and great location, see yourself there for a great Chicago bike. read more

Big City Bikes - Bike Repair/Maintenance Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I got a flat tire while biking to work on Clybourn Ave., luckily the flat occurred near Big City Bikes, I locked my bike up and took the CTA redline to work. After work I took the bike over to Big City bikes and they were quick to repair the puncture in the tire. Its great to have these nice local bike shops around and support them. read more

If you're looking for SS or FG bikes, these guys have a LOT of options. If you're looking for inexpensive versions of either, they have a LOT of options. Nothing too high end, but that's fine, you're in there to buy a SS bike, it should be on the lower end of the bike spectrum. Nice staff, solid prices on all their other stuff. I've never had them fix something so I can't comment on that, but I've talked shop w them a lot, and they seem pretty knowledgeable. read more

Great place for bikes, lots of variety. But what makes this place truly great is the customer service. He ll let you test ride as much bikes as you want till you find the perfect one, he doesn't rush, and provided me a lot of information since I'm such a newbie. Bought a bike from him today, and it's wonderful. read more

Big City Bikes - Bike Repair/Maintenance Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I went in on Saturday to upgrade my 10 year old bike. Jake was extremely helpful and let me test ride six different bikes to see which one fit me best. I ended up getting a much nicer bike for less than my original budget of $600. Anyone who needs a bike should check this place out and support your local business. The guys couldn't have been nicer. read more

Great selection of fixed gear bikes the service was more than great! I spent almost an hour trying to chose between two bikes and the staff was extremely helpful in hiding me to my decision. I left a happy customer and would definitely recommend this shop to purchase a bike or service it. Best bike shop in town! read more

Big City Bikes - Bike Repair/Maintenance Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

New commuter who came in looking for a budget-friendly bike; very pleasant experience with the store owner. Walked me through the differences between all of the bikes and let me test ride all of the one's I was interested in, so I felt like I knew exactly what I was paying for. Didn't feel like I was being upsold, which is a great feeling for a newbie. Within 45 mins or so I was able to choose a bike I am very happy with and have it tuned and ready to go. Would definitely recommend, and intend to return for any servicing. Only negative: Didn't have a lot of helmets, but was able to get everything else I needed. read more

I was riding my bike passed Big City Bikes and was interested in purchasing a single speed bike. This is definitely the place to go for single speed bicycles, they had so many options to choose from. The staff was very good about asking me questions in order to get the perfect bike for me. I will definitely come back here again and would recommend this place to anyone! read more

Place is awesome and they had everything I needed. The guys working were very patient and helpful with me even though I knew nothing about bikes but kinda had an idea for what I was looking for. Thumbs up for sure read more

As good as it gets! The staff at Big City Bikes are passionate about EVERYTHING concerning bikes, you can not go wrong with this shop, highly recommended!! read more

I purchased a bike at Big City Bikes yesterday. It was without a doubt one of the most pleasant retail experiences I've had in recent memory. In my experience, niche/specialty shops tend to have employees that can be rude or stand off-ish, however this was not the case at BCB. The staff member that helped me was friendly, informative, and patient. I was able to try a number of different bikes to find what fit me. I will definitely be back for all of my bike needs! read more

In a world of corporate conglomerates, this store is such a breath of fresh air. From the owners to the very knowledgable, helpful, friendly staff members, I cannot say enough about this place. No question will go unanswered and your time and money will not be wasted here. read more