Rip off! I've been there a couple of times and picked up a pump, a bike tool, amid other things. The good thing about this store is that serviced my bike in under 4 days and there was no wait. The bad? I asked if they sold dropper posts. The staff said, "I could order you one but it's $300". I asked what brand it was and he said, "Transx". Bloody rude and a total rip off. I'd take a RS reverb for $300. Lol. Or a Fox transfer. But really? Quoting me $300 even before asking what size, routing, travel, etc I needed? Bottom line: go only if you are in a desperate need to pick something off the shelf and don't even bother talking to the staff. read more

My wife and I purchased a new bicycle and accessories for our son at UF. Raleigh was nice enough to agree to transport the bicycle to our son at his dorm the next day, as he doesn't have a car. The prices at the establishment were reasonable and Raleigh included a maintenance agreement. Unfortunately, there was a mixup at the warehouse and the bike delivered was the wrong size. Raleigh handled the matter professionally and accepted the return and delivered the right size bike. Customer service and the willingness to correct mistakes to the customers satisfaction are an important measure of a businesses quality. Overall, I am pleased with Chain Reaction Bicycle read more

Great place to buy a bike, accessories or get repairs! Totally recommend it! Most people don't know why you go to bike shop over Walmart, go here and you will quickly understand. read more

At the time of my order they said 3 in stock. Nothing shipped but got a refund later. False Bait and no productt.. Bad business! read more

This is the place to go to get a bike or get your bike repaired! Had a great experience with these guys. Fixed my bike the same day, made it look and ride like new. The price was reasonable and less than half of what another bike shop quoted me a year ago! Love this shop! read more

Ben and his assistant were extremely helpful in finding the right bike for my wife when she couldn't ride the first bike we purchased. Hastle free exchange for the new bike. read more

Great shop and great people. Wouldn't buy my bike anywhere else.

Raleigh, the owner, runs his business in the best way possible: the customer comes first. I had been scouring the internet for a used single speed bike for months and couldn't find the one I wanted for the price. Raleigh offered to get me a brand new pure fix cheaper than I could buy online new. I declined and ended up getting an amazing deal on a used single speed bike at the shop and they fixed it up and made it run like new. He is a man of his word and when something on my bike broke, he was right there to fix it. I wouldn't buy a bike from anybody else, the level of care and customer service that Chain Reaction offers can not be beat. Not to mention, Raleigh has the biggest horse of a dog that stays in the shop. Whenever anything is loose on my bike I stop by and they immediately offer to fix it. I've been mountain biking for over 5 years and now use a street bike to Commute around campus and I wouldn't go anywhere else. read more

Chain Reaction Bicycles - Awesome deal on this bike that I bought at Chain Reaction - Bikes Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Honestly would give them a zero if it was an option. Besides how I started off this review I'm just very disappointed with this business. Customer service goes a long way and that wasn't ever presented to me from the get-go. Their prices are ridiculous and overall my experiences with them have really put a "I am never going there again" stamp all over this bike business. read more

I brought my bike, a 2006 Specialized Stumpjumper, to Chain Reaction for a tune-up because my mom had found a good deal on Living Social where you could buy a coupon for $30 for a tune-up worth $60, which seemed like a good deal. When I took the bike in, the person I spoke with looked it over and recommended replacing both tires and the chain, which made sense because both were fairly worn. He suggested replacing the tires with mountain bike tires called CST Pro Copperhead which he claimed were a whale of a deal, as the tires retailed for around $50 and he had them on special for only around $32. Then he suggested replacing the grips and we selected a nice pair of grips. The Living Social deal included checking all bike parts and systems, cleaning the bike, and minor adjustments. A day later, the salesman called and suggested they also take the gears off and clean them because they were dirty and it made sense to clean them since they were installing a new chain. Well, that did make good sense, but wasn't cleaning included in the Living Social deal? Regardless, I said, yes, for $30 extra we'd go ahead and clean the gears--I could do it myself, I couldn't quite see why it wasn't already included, but it needed to be done and we might as well get it done and done--I assumed--perfectly. I didn't mind paying extra for getting professionals to do a top-notch job and that's what I expected. The salesman, by the way, tried even to sell me a biking jersey which was, of course, on special. That at least I declined. When I picked the bike up, the repairs/replacements made to it seemed done overall correctly. The new grips are good, and things seem to work alright. However, there was obvious dirt in a lot of spaces on the frame. I realize the mechanic probably rode it some in order to ensure the shocks and other aspects worked correctly--that's standard. You don't expect a mounatin bike to remain perfectly clean, no, but when your servicing includes cleaning it and you pay for additional services, you do expect it to come home clean. Beyond that, I decided to look up how much these CST Pro Copperhead tires cost online: they didn't look or seem to be the best tires while riding the bike--not as good as the factory tires. Online, most retailers sold these same tires for around $19. The highest price I could find for them was $27. Now, I have not checked yet with the company to see what the MSRP is, but will do that Monday. I have a hard time thinking it's around $50 when everyone seems to sell them for around $20 and not even indicate this is a sale price. I'm having a hard time seeing that Chain Reaction had them on "special" at around $30. The staff was friendly enough, but I felt that they took every possible chance to sell me something. Moreover, it appears some items and services were overpriced. $30 to clean the rear gears? Really? Tires that are ten dollars less when sold by most online retailers and you claim you're giving me a great deal on these? And I brought in a bike that retails for just over $2000 . . . I don't consider myself an expert but I'm serious about mountain biking. If they had tried to sell me a higher-end tire at a fair price, I'd have even gone with that, but don't overcharge me on something that I read online reviews about and people are saying is not that good anyways. Next time, I will be sure to read the reviews before getting an unfamilar part installed and next time, I will go to Super Cool Bikes instead of Chain Reaction. read more

Went to Chain Reaction looking for a bike lock for my son. I wanted one with a combination lock. We to another shop and they were out. But here they were adequately stocked AND the person who worked there informed us about the $100 fine if the student does not have lights on the bike. He took the time to set the lock combo and we were out in less than 15 minutes. I feel like it saved me $100 buck ticket in my son's future. It also might just save my son's life which is even more important. read more

I've bought my last two bikes from here. The last bike I bought was quite pricey and I expected them to fit me to this bike just as they would any rider looking to step up their experience and gear. (especially since this is Chain Reactions claim to fame). However, I had to take my bike back to get it all adjusted to fit my small frame. I recommend buying from here, just make sure they spend time consulting with you and your needs verses "just trying to make the sale." I felt I was given the latter. read more

It's pricey but you can't ask for more legit service, it's also the closest place to campus. If you want a full-proof diagnosis and repair for your bike this is definitely the place to go. I often took my bike here for repairs or new inner tubes if the free SG student repair at the Reitz didn't have the parts. The staff is courteous enough and they do have good deals/sales occasionally; my brother bought a brand new large frame Giant mountain bike with a U-lock and back/front lights for $300 in march 2009. read more

I came here to rent a road bike while visiting a friend here last week. I was originally planning on renting the bike the week before last, but then an unexpected summer rainstorm blew in and stayed for the duration of the weekend (and much into the next week). The guys here were very understanding and helpful in allowing me to delay the rental. When I rented the bike, a very nice Specialized Ruby (and a step up from my own Specialized Dolce bike at home), they were very accommodating in changing the handle stem and adjusting the seat to fit my 5'1" size. They also pumped up the tires, lubed the chain, and checked the cables right there when I came to rent it. I enjoyed the bike and the patches of good weather so much that I extended my rental another day. I got a four day rental special at $133; all in all a good deal for the quality of bike and service. I would highly recommend this shop to anyone looking for good, friendly service and a nice selection of road bikes. I'm definitely coming back the next time I find myself in Gainesville, and wish I could teletransport this charming LBS to my own neighborhood here in San Francisco. read more

They sell the brands of bike that I prefer and I never had any issue getting help. When I unknowingly broke a part of my bike they were able to explain why so I wouldn't repeat the mistake instead of just taking it into the back like the other bike stores. Some of the gear is pricier than Walmart but it's nicer quality stuff that'll last longer. I've made that mistake before, you're just throwing your money away. They've also always been really nice and able to offer me things that will actually benefit me instead of just their bottom line. I've never felt rushed as a customer despite them being busy at times. read more

Chain Reaction came through for us in a last minute mechanical while out of town for a race. When in Gainesville we will definitely hit them up again. The guys were so helpful! read more

Raleigh & Ben are awesome. They really took good care of me and my friends bakes in a really cool guys as well. All my bicycle needs are deathly going to be mad at this shop. #Dohashtagsworkhere #genuine read more

After discovering I'd be spending a good deal of time in Gainesville, FL, for the next few months, I decided to buy a loaner-bike to pass the time, stay in shape, and minimize my car usage. I walked into CR and explained my situation to Raleigh, one of the awesome dudes that works there. He pointed me towards a sick, refurb'd road bike, that happened to be my two favorite colors, and had practically all new components. Considering my situation, and that I may suddenly get called away from Gainesville, he offered me not only a reasonable discount on the bike, but also a 60-day return policy, and a substantial discount on all the gak that I need to ride properly (lights, lock.) I popped in later to ask about a good skate shop, and he directed me to one, but not before offering me his personal Longboard, a killer-sounding Sector 9 deck. Unfortunately, it turned out it had been sold, but the gesture still meant a lot to me. I'll visit these guys everytime I'm in town - they're a tremendous source of friendliness, knowledge and compassion, and, as I came to find out in the weeks to come, truly represented the spirit of the people of Gainesville. Great town, Outstanding bike shop. Check it out. read more

They treated my sister unfair when her bike broke down the day after she purchased it. They didnt want to replace or refund. This place is a rip off read more

This shop gets some very good reviews, mixed in with some moderately bad stories. Some, but not all, of the bad stories are pretty old. I bought a mountain bike here about two years ago. Love it. My complaint about the store, however, is that tthey are always trying to saell or push sometihing new. I resisted buying extra stuff when I got the bike, and with hindsight I am very glad I did resist - it would nto have been very useful. Recently, they have been asking more to service the bike. First, I asked them to adjust the front derailleur because it rubs in some gears. (They promise free adjustments for life if you buy a bike there.) I didn't get charged, but neither did they do the adjustment well. Most recently, I had a tubeless tire flatten less than a month after I had them put in Stan's. The tech didn't think that less than a month was unreasonable and charged me for more Stan's. I will find another shop for repairs - hopefully one where I worry less about being taken advantage of. read more

Good bikes, good service, good people. I used to ride a very old bike. When I went to this bike shop for some repairs, everything on my bike started to fall apart. The guys and I didn't realize how much work this bike needed. It took them hours of labor and 30 years of experience to fix my strange, old bike. They gave me a temporary bike for a day while they worked on mine. In the end the repairs became too high for me to bother with, and I decided to buy a new one from them. They gave me a discount on a new bike and included a discount equal to the cost of repairing my old bike. They were patient with me, and they didn't try to cheat me. Now I have an awesome bike and free maintenance for life at their shop. read more

The owner, who works at the shop daily and works with the customers, is a complete scum bag. He will tell you whatever you want to hear in order to get your money. I'll tell you my story. I brought in an old bike I bought for $25 just to ride to class before I graduated in two months. I knew the bike wasn't worth much but I brought it in to see if a tune up would do it any good. I know nothing about bikes and told the owner this. He looked the bike over and told me $50 he would do his tuneup and make the bike like new. I told him I spent $25 on the bike and only needed it for two months going between campus and my house and I didn't want to drop $50 on the bike. He then told me if I spent the $50 now he would guarantee me that he would buy the bike back from me for a minimum of $50 in two months. Well that sounded like a good deal so I took it. I also had him put on a new tire I had bought. I stopped in there the day they told me it would be done and it was not done. No phone call or anything. They said it would be done the next day. That night I got a phone call telling me that the gear cables were rusted so that they wouldn't move and it would cost $100 to replace them. They suggested on just ripping them off. I said fine because again I know nothing about bikes. So when I go to pick up my now gear-less bike I ride the bike home and the tire was flat, all the shocks were squeaking, and the bike actually rode worse than when I had brought it in originally. I told the owner I just wanted to take him up on his offer of guaranteeing me the $50 back and he refused to honor his offer which was the ONLY reason I agreed to drop $50 on a bike I paid $25 for. Remember, this $50 would have cost him next to nothing since I had already PAID him $50, plus $5 for putting on a tire that they ruined, for a service I question if they actually did. I relied on his expertise to tell me that it was worth dropping the money on the bike. Obviously he did not actually look at my bike to see if the bike was in a condition worth of dropping $50 on a tuneup on. Again this guy is a terrible business owner, a complete scum bag and will not honor his promises. The company cannot meet deadlines and will ruin whatever bike you bring them. I had another friend bring them a BRAND NEW bike for a tuneup and when he picked it up the gears no longer worked and this SCUM BAG refused to fix it. DON'T BRING YOUR BIKE HERE AND DON'T GIVE HIM THE BUSINESS! read more

Tune-up Groupon deal was $80 for $40 In addition to the tune-up, I bought a rack that attaches to the seat post, and I mentioned that my front brake sticks. On my first return trip, i found that the rack interfered with the rear brake light (my mistake), but I was surprised to find that the employee removed it and did not give it back. So I asked to downgrade to a cheaper rack so I can put my light back on, but the bracket was lost. Also, the brake pads were replaced, but the front brake still sticks. After a new $30 chain and the $50 rack, my total for the tune-up was $110, which means the tune-up cost me the $80 from the groupon plus another $30, for a total of $110, which seems extremely overpriced. I left the bike again to change the rack and get my light bracket replaced, and returned to find a broken spoke and no light bracket. I waited for that to be fixed, and left with a non-matching, front light bracket for my rear light. The light fell off on my ride home. On top of that, an employee tried to charge me labor to downgrade to a cheaper bracket. I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS PLACE TO ANYONE. In addition, I tried to email the shop, but that didn't work. So I tried to fill out the contact form on the website...that didn't work. UPDATE: My tire now rubs against the inside of my frame. read more

I am not a customer of Chain Reaction. I'm a former employee and I am very familiar with the way the current owner practices business there. He knowingly sells stolen bikes. He outright lies to customers and charges for work that wasn't done to their bikes at all. The prices of repair parts are outrageous in some cases, and he lies to customers about the quality of parts used. A friend of mine took a bike there to have him assess the value, and he gave her a new bike to test ride. While she was out on the new bike, he sold her bike without permission, then refused to give her the money he got from it (who really knows how much?)... only store credit toward a new bike. THAT IS LITERALLY THEFT. You vote with every dollar you spend. Give it to someone who deserves it more than Raleigh Faust. read more

I bought my first bike here and I am in love with it! They adjusted my fit, showed me how to lock my bike up with a U-lock AND a cable so it doesn't get stole, and showed me little things like how to pop the tire off. There's a pump around the side of the shop so you can go by and get free air for your tires. The guys at this shop are super nice and chill, and they don't mind if you watch them work on your bike in the back! read more

I was very pleased with the service here. My wife and I went in to rent two bikes. I'm not all the way moved down here, so I have a bike up in my prior state of residence. The owner said that we could apply the amount we spent on the rental of both bikes to the purchase of one bike, so we basically got a bike for free, or to rent a bike for a week for free, however you want to look at it. After everything was set, and we had already agreed to what we were doing, we said we didn't want to buy helmets because we have them at home. The owner just let us borrow two helmets for free because he didn't want us to get hurt. They happily adjusted the bikes a few times to our specifications when we brought them back a few times. Next, a week later, I took the bikes back, but after that, the expected credit didn't appear on my credit card. I went back to tell the owner, and I was worried because I didn't have my receipt. But he didn't say anything about me not having a receipt, and wrote me a check, which I deposited with no problem. The staff generally were extremely friendly, made jokes, and the old dog's name is "Pepper" and he likes to eat pepperoni pizza. Whether that's how he got his name or not, I'm not sure, and whether he especially likes pepperoni pizza over other types of pizza is something I don't trust the owner's word on either. So don't trust what he says about the dog, but do trust what he says about the bikes. My name is Carl Klarner and I am a research associate at the University of Florida, and I don't know any of the people that work there. read more

Shady business. The guy who assisted me, Rawley, was especially pushy. He took advantage of me not knowing enough about bikes to tell whether or not a bike was worth the RIDICULOUS price he charged me. Less than a week later, i had only ridden the bike once and the tube had a leak. They then charged me even more money to fix it. Greedy, greedy, greedy. read more

Shady owner n sales person. Will sell you anything you don't need. Don't trust him. go to multiple bike shops to get a better idea what type of bike you need. the wrong bike will cause back n knee problems. read more

Sales: If you're looking for a new bicycle, go to Chain Reaction first! I upgraded to a new commuter here years ago and was extremely satisfied. If you want to buy used, don't think you can wait around for the perfect steal on craigslist; these guys have curated a selection used bikes at good prices, and you can be assured that it will ride nice and won't have mechanical issues. Service: I recently brought in a bike with some derailer issues. Rather than trying to up-sell me on a new derailer for $30, they were able to fix it by finding a part in their used/salvage components stash and only charged me $10. My bike shifts perfectly now! read more

Very helpful!! I had a problem with a bike I realized after I bought it, they were so helpful set me up really nice within like 20 minutes on a busy day!! I would definitely say if you are a uf student to get your bike from here, they have great options for students and will help you a lot with your concerns and the best values!! :):) read more

I ordered a bike with them and had to pay up front. After telling them my size and what type of bike I wanted, they told me it would come within the week. After a delayed period, they called and said the bike didn't come in the right size and then tried to sell me on a much more expensive frame. After telling them I didn't want to do this, they magically found a frame my size and said they would build it. After another delayed period, I finally was tired of their shady service and asked to have my money refunded (note I had not yet received any product from them at this point). They said they couldn't do this and offered to refund me with about half of what I paid. I gave this business several chances but here's what turned me off: -The man that seemed to be the manager was constantly in sell-mode and wouldn't let me get in a word without offering me what he described as "an awesome deal". -They overpriced me to replace a single tire. At the time I trusted them because I wasn't knowledgeable, but now I realize I had been taken advantage of. Please if you need to buy or service a bike, seek a different location. It wasn't worth my time or money. read more

During my initial confrontation with the business owner with my specific issue regarding wheel replacement he was polite and straightforward in assisting my needs. I had bought the items required for the repair and planned to come back the next day for the said repair. After an hour I came back with the items fully intended to return and come back another day to buy another product. When we started the discussion of if it was possible for a return, he stated "we can only do store credit". There wasn't a sign posted that stated this clear and conspicuous by the register, which is required to be posted. I had attempted to bring it up for discussion and the only response that was given was "we can only do store credit". In addition to needing a repair for a flat from said replaced wheels. I accepted that I had made the mistake in purchasing my necessary items from this small local business and would be taking my chances with either another bike shop or take my chance with doing the repair myself. read more

Chain reaction bike shop is the only place to go in Gainesville! There are several bike shops in the area, but if you want honesty, hard-working, patience, super customer service, and fast turnaround, then this is your bike shop! I originally liked a different brand bike from another bike store in Gainesville, but that shop was very rude and had no customer service skills, and had more expensive bike accessories, so I did not want to purchase from that shop. I went to Chain Reaction and they found me a comparable bike and outfitted it for me with fenders, bike rack, phone holder, lights, and bike lock, and at a better price than the other shop! After taking my new bike home and riding it for about a week, I realized it was a little too big for me, so I called Raleigh at Chain Reaction, and he said bring it back in. I took it in, and he took the time to listen to what I wanted and ordered me a different bike. He built a second bike for me and I took it home and rode it for about another week, and realized it was a little too small for me. I was scared to call the shop and tell them now that this new bike was too small, but I was pleasantly surprised when Raleigh said "bring it back in and I will make it right for you!" After changing out the stem, tires, seat post and seat, I felt bad because I still wasn't happy. The patience and kindness shown to me by all the guys in the bike shop who kept changing out components for me, and the customer service of listening to what I wanted, supersedes any store in Gainesville! Raleigh ended up building me a third bike, and you know what they say, "third times a charm!" It's my perfect bike!! Thank you Chain Reaction for showing me such patience and kindness, listening to my wants, and coming through for me!! So if you are looking for a bike for school, exercise, or to commute around town, definitely go by Chain Reaction Bike Shop and talk to them BEFORE buying anywhere else!! You'll be glad you did!! I know I am!! Thank you Chain Reaction Bike Shop!! Also, they have the coolest Great Dane, Angus!! read more

This bike is so overpriced and charge you double for what parts are actually worth. The owner, Wally or something like that, is a con artist. he guilts you into buying or purchasing something and says that he is taking all of the labor off for you and giving you a deal. Its a lie!!! Yea he doesn't charge you for labor, but makes up for it by charging you so much for the parts. I recently got my refurbished there and realized afterward how bad he had screwed me over. He said he was going to "touch up" the white paint on my bike and got the paint all over my two toned bike. I spent a whole day fixing it. A 5 yr. could have done a better paint job. Also he said he had forgotten to mention that I was missing these other two parts and it would be an extra $150. I lucky had signed the agreement before and gotten out of that, but then when I went home and looked up the price of the parts, I got even more angry. They were worth $50. I also wanted a silver chain ring, which he said would cost a lot more and of course after researching I found out that was a lie. My advice: Go to any other bike shop in Gainesville! This store is a piece of shit. Don't get screwed over like I did. Also do your research before heading to a bike shop. Goodluck. read more

DO NOT bring your bicycle here to get repaired. They are notorious for ripping off college students. There have been numerous times I have brought my bike in for one thing and then they lie and tell me all these different things need to be fixed. Bring your bike to the Schwinn Shop down the street they are always fair and honest. read more

These guys helped me find the right bike for me, at a great price, with a great service deal! I recently brought my bike back for a check up after my brakes seem to be engaging randomly, and they quickly diagnosed and fixed the problem - at no charge! They helped my friend pick out a great bike for her activity level, showed her how to use her new equipment, and she, too, has been enjoying bike rides ever since. These guys know their inventory well and they're happy to help connect you with the right bike. read more

I bought my bike here as a freshman. Over the years I have continued to come back for service and have never been disappointed. The guys who work here are always super nice and knowledgable, and the owner is always around. They're also super close to campus, so the convenience factor is great. If you're looking to buy a bike, I recommend Chain Reaction. They'll take care of you and make sure you get just what you need. read more

Went to buy a presta valve adapter - these things typically cost 99 cents - the guy made up some story about the old company going out of business and tried to charge $4 - when I protested, he lowered the price down to $3 but insisted that it be paid in cash and rung it up under miscellaneous repairs - it seems there are some shady dealings going on here... read more

Read the reviews. Pricey for what you get, forget your groupon or other coupons as the parts and materials prices will exceed the discouts if you compare. I my bike in for a clean and tune,,, well it was not cleaned and the tune , guess we'll find out, but the wallet was much lighter. read more

Few places in Gainesville Florida, (not even just bike stores) have as good customer service as these guys. I needed new tubes for some new slicks I picked up elsewhere, when I realized they werent the right size, the guys at the shop swapped them for me no problem. When my gears werent shifting right, one of the bike techs took a look for free, applied some oil where it needed oiling, and vwalla! gears were shifting perfect. The guy didnt charge me a dime. For that, I went back to purchase light for my bike. They not only helped me with selection, but helped me out with the the price, and installation. This bike shop is the essence of why you should buy/shop local. Fellas, if you're reading this, thank you again for everything. read more