Walked into Cognition Cyclery expecting a standard tune-up and left feeling like I didn't belong. I was told--loudly--that they "only work on Specialized bikes," and anything else they can't do because of the parts. Had they taken the time to talk to me about switching parts, I would've easily been persuaded. I'm also a regular customer at the store. The fact that I was just treated like that saddens me. They simply don't care. That's fine if it's your business model, but the delivery was unnecessarily dismissive and came off as elitist. Not everyone rides a top-tier brand, and that shouldn't mean being treated like you're wasting their time. I was prepared to spend a few hundred dollars on a tune up and more for repairing my crumbling wheel, but clearly that wasn't the issue--the brand of my bike was. There are plenty of shops that value customers regardless of what they ride. I'll be taking my business to one of them. Note: I found a better bike shop that will support all bikes and treat you well well providing their service. You can avoid the snobbery of Cognition cycle. Go to Woodside Bike Shop. They're very friendly, very efficient, reasonably priced and they do great work. AVOID RUDE & SNOBBY SERVICE (aka cognition cyclery) Support a REAL bike shop: Woodside Bike Shop 1800 El Camino Real Unit C, Menlo Park, CA 94027 Phone: 650-299-1071 read more

Had chain problem and bike not shifting well. Turns out replacement chain was installed upside down by another sho. Went to another shop and they couldn't figure out. Thanks. read more

really helpful staff and experts about Specialized bikes. they have services and gear as well

These professionals are exceptional. I acquired my Specialized Global Haul ST there last year, and from the point of sale to picking up the bike, it was a seamless experience. Customer service is outstanding, and I recall the owner, whose name I cannot remember, being a very affable individual. Although I encountered issues with the second battery I received, they replaced it without hesitation. I would definitely return to this establishment and purchase another bike in the near future. read more

Cognition Cyclery - My global haul ST - Bike Repair/Maintenance Near Me - San Mateo, California

I purchased my Specialized Turbo Vado directly from Specialized's website and picked it up at Palo Alto Bicycles. Later, I brought the bike to Cognition Cyclery in San Mateo for service, where they promised to file a warranty claim for a wiring issue -- but never did. During my visit, I reported a problem with the headlight wiring. The staff told me they'd file a warranty claim and follow up once they heard from Specialized. Months passed with no update. When I finally contacted Specialized Rider Care myself, they had no record of any claim ever being submitted. This kind of follow-through -- or lack thereof -- is disappointing, especially from a shop affiliated with the manufacturer. When a customer is told a warranty claim is being filed and then nothing happens, it undermines trust and leaves people without support. I expected better communication and accountability. read more

Talk to Ben S. He has amazing bike selection and knows what he is doing. I trust him to get us the best bikes.

Ordered a tarmac sl7 from incycle and had it shipped to be picked up from cognition, everything went by smoothly! They were super prompt whenever I had questions and were quick to update me when the bike was ready to be picked up! read more

Cognition Cyclery - Road bike - Bike Repair/Maintenance Near Me - San Mateo, California

Came here and bought a new bike - the guy that helped me was super helpful, explained in detail different parts of the bike and helped me find the perfect bike to fit my needs! read more

Great service. Above and beyond help. I was not able to solve a drive train problem after re-installing Gen2 Turbo Levo motor. Cognition Cyclery crew took the time to trouble-shoot and isolate. Appreciate the experience and advice. read more

Jeff, thanks so much for your hard work selecting the Old Man Mountain rear bike rack and customizing and fabricating the hardware to fit my Turbo Levo without touching the carbon fiber! I feel so fortunate to have found you and am so glad I went to Cognition Bikes to help me solve this challenge. Thought I should share picts of my first big pack adventure...to Safeway! I choose 2 Ortlieb back-roller Panniers. The adjustable clips allowed me to scoot the packs to the back so they cleared my shoes. Without this feature, my heels would have hit the bag. The packs, bike lock, insulated bag and two large ice packs weighed 14 lbs. I was able to fit 36 lbs of groceries inside, by not rolling down the top of the panniers. This worked fine for groceries, but I would definitely want to roll down the packs tightly on on singletrack or if in the rain. I maxed out on volume, but in terms of weight, the bike and rack handled perfectly, and I am sure it will handle 70 lbs without any problem. Next time I will try the front rack. Riding didn't feel any different, except for one thing, the bike was much more stable,because of the low center of gravity. I could ride with no-hands and it tracked straight. My ride was just over 10 miles. From Canada Rd., up across the HWY 280 over-pass to Ralston, then on the road to Crystal Springs Safeway. I covered dirt, gravel and asphalt, a few hills and a couple curbs without any problem. I did feel the wind at one spot, but did not have any issues. My goal was to be able to carry a large volume of mushrooms on my bike, while deep in the woods while mushroom hunting. You have successfully done that and so much more! Thank you, Catherine G. read more

Cognition Cyclery - Specialized Turbo Levo Carbon Fiber Mountain Bike, Old Man Mountain Bike Rack, Ortlieb Panniers, grocery shopping - Bike Repair/Maintenance Near Me - San Mateo, California

On 11/24/2023, Ben was able to get me an e-bike I had been trying to find on the internet to no avail. Note: One of the customer representatives (84795) from Incycle Bicycles told me they looked at very bike shop and couldn't find one in my rider size. I guess at that point I had to investigate on my own. I called his shop, Cognition Cyclery in San Mateo and he had one on the floor. I was very impressed with his professionalism and his willingness to help me with this purchase over the phone. He made sure I got everything I needed as far as any additions/upgrades (tubeless) to the 2022 Specialized Kenevo SL, S-Works. He also made sure my suspension was all dialed in. At the time my only concern was the location and distance of the shop since I was coming from San Jose. Man, this place was really easy to get to and the parking was super convenient. If you plan on purchasing an MTB, I encourage you to come visit this shop and ask for Ben. Of course his staff is ready and willing to help you with anything you may need help with. The vibe at the shop is very good. Come check this place out and I hope my review helps you out is someway. Julio, read more

Cognition Cyclery - Bike Repair/Maintenance Near Me - San Mateo, California

I'm not a bike rider, I'm a runner. I bought a jogger stroller to get into marathon shape while pushing weight. Not having kids or a bike, I filled the tires the way I thought they should be filled and for some reason they bubbled. Panic! I took off the tires thinking I would need new ones and headed to Cognition. They saved me! One look at those ugly, bubbled tires and they told me it was because I filled them too fast. They told me I was lucky not to pop them because it would have made a heck of a noise and I would have needed a hearing aid as well as new tires. But the tires were still good and just needed to be deflated and inflated properly. Whew! A few minutes later, my tires looked normal and they didn't even charge me for the fix. Of course, they gratefully accepted my tip and also sold me a proper pump for these tires. I'd absolutely come here again. If you do, make sure to bring them candy. Just trust me on this one. read more

Solid specialized shop. Sales mostly caters to road cyclists but plenty of MTB, commuter, etc Anything good that's on sale goes fast given there are a lot cyclists in the area that know a good deal. Everything new is MSRP. Mechanics are great, helpful, and friendly but they're always busy in nicer weather months so plan accordingly. If I didn't have a nice specialized bike, I don't think I'd service here. But because I do, I trust them the most with it and the prices are fair (but on the higher side). I only go somewhere else for minor stuff (brake bleed, tubeless conversion, etc) when they're majorly backed up. read more

Shop has been super helpful in managing Shimano's crank recall, really appreciate all they put into it. Making Shimano's not great situation a good bit better. Fitting services are also top notch, I'm two years into my fit and remain very happy. read more

They only carried e-bikes, should have been a sign. Brought in old bike for repairs, realized later, they swapped my handlebar grips to old worn ones. read more

It's all about the service!! I'm a frequent visitor to Cognition. They're a friendly bunch and answer all my questions, which are legion. Yes, they're pricey - but still a good value. Earlier this week I had a squeaky pedal during a ride. I went directly to Cognition and received prompt and courteous service - quickly diagnosed my issue and not only applied bike grease to both pedals but showed me how to do it myself. No charge of course! A couple of weeks ago, they held a free bike setup clinic after the store closed, showing us what to do before a ride (not just checking the tires and lubing the chain!). They even fed us - pizza, beer, and other beverages. Sadly, they're currently closed on Sunday and Monday. Not by choice - these guys need days off to ride and they're short staffed. Cognition has kept my 2009 Specialized Tarmac in great running condition. I will most definitely be purchasing my next bike from them! read more

Cognition Cyclery - Free bike setup clinic! They even fed us! - Bike Repair/Maintenance Near Me - San Mateo, California

Great bike service, they were able to diagnose my loose cassette and had the part there to replace, overall very fast and excellent service. I was also looking at the Crux Expert or Diverge online as a potential upgrade and luckily noticed one in the front of the store. I was picking it up to see how light it is and examining it but was soon asked if I had any questions in a loud and rude tone. I said no thank you and I roamed the store while waiting for repairs. I eventually came back to the Crux, seriously on my mind to buy and since it came with the AXS system, I was tapping the shifters, however they quickly asked me to not touch the bike since it could lock up the shifting? I guess the axs isn't as sturdy as I thought? I was initially not going to mention this in my review, but the situation sat with me on the ride home and made me feel very unwelcome as if I were going to break it. Imagine going to a car dealership and they tell you not to touch the car. I bought two bikes there already, and love the brand, but I'm going to make a switch and go with the Trek checkpoint or Hakka instead, at a different bike store. read more

This is like shopping at Louis Vuitton, for "cyclers." They have some pretty cool products.... Their window displays and merchandising are amazing!! They have a huge selection of "Specialized" bikes. They also have great selections of name brand accessories including ABUS locks, Shimano, Thule racks and more.... But I think the best service here is they will fit you with the right bike. It's like having your very own private tailor, made to fit. Their customer service here is also fantastic. If you love to cycle like I do - call ahead and ask to join their Saturday morning group rides. It's a great way to meet new friends. I might jump on it at some point, but I have since upgraded to an electric bike (ebike) so I can tow my dogs behind. Overall, great place to get inspired and the staff are also very kind to provide you great education on how to care for your bike. Cheers! read more

Cognition Cyclery - "Turbo Levo".... amazing mountain bike! - Bike Repair/Maintenance Near Me - San Mateo, California

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The wheels on the bike go round & round.... Cognition Cyclery was a great shop to frequent and look around at expensive bikes and check out the newer technologies (e-bikes, etc.).. They recently shut down their MV location and moved to San Mateo. I'll have to go further to keep checking them out, but I'm sure I will as the staff there really knows their stuff. read more

Cognition Cyclery - Mountain View location is closed. - Bike Repair/Maintenance Near Me - San Mateo, California

So far I'm pretty pleased with the sales and service I have received at this shop since I acquired my Vado SL 4.0 here in February. Unfortunately I wasted trip to San Mateo for service only to find out they are now closed 'temporarily' on Sunday and Monday, contradicting Yelp information AND the hours of operation printed on the door. They should update their business hours on Yelp to reflect that the shop IS NOT open on Sunday and Mondays and include signage on the door with the correct schedule of operations. read more

I bought my 2020 Specialized Epic Evo there and they have taken care of me ever since. I ride the bike hard and wether it's warranty or help fixing a part I screwed up like the cassette and derailleur they have come through with quick fixes which has not been easy to get in the pandemic. I will continue bringing it there, Edgar and the team do a great job read more

Cognition Cyclery - New cassette and chain - Bike Repair/Maintenance Near Me - San Mateo, California

First off I want to say that I worked at a bike shop during college, was sponsored by another and have frequented many bike shops over the years but by far my favorite is Cognition Cyclery in San Mateo. I have many closer options but will make the drive just to buy from this specific crew. Somehow everyone at this store is focused on customer service from top to bottom and genuinely wants to make the experience awesome. I've now bought two bikes within the span of a few months from here. My most recent purchase was a road bike. When I bought my new bike, I knew right away the stem was too long and the stock seat wasn't comfortable on my seat bones. My original plan was to buy parts and adjust it myself...bc I'm cheap (about weird things, but not bikes obviously). I'm primarily a mountain biker and have always just made adjustments myself. Well turns out that's a terrible idea - especially for road bikes. My gf told me to go back to Torr and do a bike fitting so I did! Boy was that the best decision ever! I made an appointment two weeks in advance, drove 30 mins to the store, & went downstairs to Torr's lair not sure what to expect. I got on my bike and Torr immediately did a full diagnostic of my pedal stroke, knee angle, sit bones measurements, foot pressure, and arm positions. He asked me questions about any pain or other things I might be experiencing. Then he did all these little tweaks that made a huge difference on how the bike feels! He also suggested inserts in my shoes as I had a little bit of knee pain in my right leg which I am excited to try on a long ride! And of course most importantly he upgraded me to a mimic saddle which fits like a dream. Note my appointment was at noon and it took about 45 mins to fit me. All the while I'm sure Torr was starving but I never felt like he was trying to speed through his service. I'm not sure if I could get through being hangry myself! I'm now thinking about getting fitted for my other bikes...duh Thanks Torr for ensuring I love my new road bike. You just earned a lifelong customer. NPS = 100! Keep it up! Overall I can't recommend enough buying your new bike from Cognition Cyclery and, even if you already have a bike, getting a proper fitting from Torr! read more

Cognition Cyclery - Specialized Roubaix Expert - Bike Repair/Maintenance Near Me - San Mateo, California

Torr is a fantastic bike fitter - you should not ride your road OR mountain bike without scheduling a fit with Torr. I am a 5 foot tall, very athletic perfectionist with numerous injuries. My size means that nothing fits out of the box, even when it is supposedly made for very small people. While I love riding bikes, I have literally never had one that didn't hurt me, usually sooner rather than later. Mind you, these were high end, expensive bikes sold to me new, in high end expensive local bike shops. I first came in to see Torr with a 47cm bike. It was more of a "comfort geometry" bike that was sold to me to accommodate some neck and shoulder injuries. And it always hurt. And after an hour of changing this and that, we figured out there's no way to make this bike small enough. So that went to a new home. That's when I found "Essie" - an S-Works Amira beast of a bike, in 44 cm. So pretty much as aggressive of a bike as it gets. I fell in love and the deal was so good that I felt it was worth the risk to try to get this bike to fit me. The first time on Essie, I felt like I didn't even know how to ride, it was so fast and different. Well, Torr has succeeded in making Essie fit me 100% perfectly. This involved changing the bars, the stem, the saddle, and even tires (among other things!) As a result, I can ride, faster than I ever have, for hours, with zero pain. Being on that bike is a pure joy, and feels like a miracle. This would have never been possible without Torr's skills, expertise, knowledge of available products and how they perform, and patience. Now we are working on fitting my two mountain bikes - fitting mountain bikes seems to be even less widespread of a practice than fitting road bikes, but I believe it to be just as beneficial. On one visit, we found issues with suspension, tire pressure, bar width, and saddle distance from the bars. I have already changed out the MTB saddles for the MTB version of the road saddle that Torr found for me, and all 3 fit perfectly. With those quick changes made, the bike performs better, is more fun to ride, and gives me much less pain than before. So, in case you haven't figured it out yet, I recommend you take all of your bikes to Torr, and see just how much more fun and pain free riding can be! read more

Cognition Cyclery - Essie!!! - Bike Repair/Maintenance Near Me - San Mateo, California

Thanks goodness this place was open during the COVID-19 pandemic shelter in place! Biking is one of the few things we can do safely and I need to keep my children physically active or they will be even more hyper and annoying than usual, so here we are. The 8-year-old's bike is way too small for him and the 10-year-old's bike gears are all jacked up. Bikes are expensive! Ouch. But as my wise friend told me many years ago, you get what you pay for, and Specialized bikes are very high quality and last forever. My children got new bikes, my bank account has been violated, and I inherited the 10-year-old's former bike with the jacked-up gears. Naturally. read more

I couldn't be happier with the outstanding service I received here. I had a warranty issue with a Turbo Vado purchased several years ago. The Store Manager Ben and Service Manager Jeff went above and beyond in getting support from Specialized to resolve my issue. It took several weeks of back and forth and trying numerous replacement parts before the problem was fixed. Throughout the whole time, I was kept well informed and felt I had an advocate to make sure my needs were met. Bottom line, I would happily buy a new Specialized bike from Cognition knowing should I have an issue down the line I'd be taken care of. read more

An amazing shop with very friendly and knowledgeable staff. A Specialized owned shop with the backing of a big company. Highly recommend.

Leah was the coolest! She helped me out with everything that I needed at Cognition. She was well informed about the products, making it a seamless process. I was in and out with my first hybrid bike in under 30 minutes! This was my first "big" bike purchase, and it was stress-free and fun! (especially because I had a very small idea of what I was looking for) Thank you! read more

This is the best shop on the Peninsula. They sell Specialized bikes. They do great service. Highly recommend them!

Best cycling shop I've ever walked into. I find cycling shops can often be intimidating if you aren't a hardcore cyclist and Cognition couldn't be further from that stereotype. They are welcoming and always help answer all of my silly questions as a new cyclist! I used to live around here and now drive all the way from San Francisco to give them my business. Most recently I went in to see if they could convert my 1X drive train to a 2X and Edgar helped me source the parts (very hard during Covid!) and ultimately the cost outweighed the benefits. Long story short I walked out with a new bike and Edgar helped teach me how to ride with Shimano since I only know Sram, explained to me the bike, changed my bar tape and was just the kindest and easiest person to work with. I would hire Edgar in my line of work if I could and always will come back thanks to his knowledge and customer service!!! Thanks Edgar and Cognition! read more

Cognition Cyclery - New bike - Bike Repair/Maintenance Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Stopped by on a Friday afternoon to look at a hybrid for my son and me. The staff were in deep discussion on weekend plans. After comparing two similar bikes I briefly interrupted but got a short reply brush off. Clearly I was mistaken! These guys were resolving the nuclear stand-off with North Korea and who am I to intervene? I let them to get to it and completed my transaction at Sport Basement. Your results may vary. Selection and presentation are excellent. read more

These guys are awesome ! Bought a new bike and it had some issues. Took it in and Ben was simply great. I'm also new to biking so he helped me get fitted out with stuff ( helmet bike shorts shirt). No one was pushy and just great help. Would recommend and definitely go again for when I need pedals. The shop is cool later back and a very happy and cool office dog running around. He doesn't t need pets but he seems happy to receive them. Very happy customer. read more

Prepare to be ripped off. We initially brought the bike in for a quote, and the manager said it would be around $100. Our bike was $500 when it was new, so we thought it would still be nice to fix it without buying new. After one month of waiting in the wait list, we finally got to bring our bike in for fix. The manager looked again and said, $150. Thinking of the annoying efforts wasted on bringing in the bike back and forth, we said ok let's still do it. A week later we got a call, the manager said, due to unforeseen circumstances the current quote is $300. Take it or leave it. This time, we decided to leave it. read more

This is my second review about the cognition crew. Highly recommend them and their shop. I finally shelled out, after two years of serious riding, for a new bike frame to go with all my other go fast upgrade bits from my old bike (should have just bought a complete tarmac from the start from Ben) I'm really happy with the Retul bike fit from Torr who really spent the time and effort to set me up - I'm totally comfortable on the bike now, and highly recommend a fit for any serious road rider to avoid injury. After a small hiccup on some lose parts (recommend you always have your own tools and check yourself before a ride) and specialized SL7 steerer tube Recall fix today, which by the way Ben, Edgar and his team not only got parts replaced on the first day they came out but also got hold of a rare, backordered roval rapide aerobar to finish the build. Bottom line - if you want a great bike buying, fitting, tuning experience and ok with spending $$ for your passion, these guys will treat you right ...and don't be frightened by the boutique shop window....there are 'entry' level bikes available. However, it's an easy slide toward the more expensive gear if you ride longer.....and cognition has it read more

I recently got into cycling so stopped by to pick up a few things. The staff was friendly and they sell mostly Specialized things. It's such a nice bike shop, you can easily spend a lot of time and money here. read more

I've been looking at an e-mtb for quite some time. Francisco Colon and the whole crew at cognition Cyclery finally helped me get a new bike. I used Klarna on the advice of Francisco, got a 0% interest payment plan and was picking up my dream bike( on a pretty good discount) the same day. the mechanic's are spot on, had me dialed in immediately with sag and changed out the tubes for a tubeless wheelset in no time. what sold me was the service before. I bought in my second hand Vado when it blew the motor. they contacted specialized and got me rolling again. that kind of service( the Vado was not purchased at cognition), was what sets the crew here apart from other shops. Also, please be nice to the sales staff and mechanics. Buy them good beer. Tell them how much you appreciate the service. I don't care if you're 5 years old or 55 years old. New bike day rocks. thanks crew. read more

It's great that this place is taking precautions against that pandemic and that's why I'm giving them 2 stars instead of one. I brought my bike in yesterday, because I believed my rear tire had a leak. Edgar Sanchez was at the service counter. He asked me to wait a couple of minutes while he finished a personal text on his mobile phone. When he was done he asked me about my issue. I told him about the leak on my rear tire. He said I would need to buy a couple of valves and some sealant which he asked me to get for him in the counter. He said it would cost me $126.91 to change the valves on both my wheels. If it was that much I thought, I might as well put in a new tire in front and move the rear one to the back. I brought in a tire I got from Amazon and asked him if he thought it would fit. He said he didn't know. I didn't have my reading glasses, so I couldn't see the tire size currently on my wheels, so I had to call the manager to ask him what size my tires were because Edgar Sanchez didn't know if the tire I bought would fit my rims. The manager of the store took a rag and wiped my tire to help me find the tire size. Together we figured out that I had the correct tire size. The good news was the tire swapping would cost the same $126.91. He said it would be ready in a week's time. When I left that store I thought, do I really want Edgar Sanchez, who made me wait to finished a personal text before attending to me, a guy who couldn't get off his chair to get the materials he needed to fix my bike and let me l, the customer do it for him instead, nor simply help me figure out my tire size to handle this simple job for me? I didn't think so... So I took my bike back and brought it to Cyclepath of San Mateo instead. A cycling store 5 minutes away from theirs. Cyclepath took the time to look at my issue and told me all I needed was the rear valve replaced, added sealant on both my tires, updated my firmware on my eBike and charged me $10!!! Bonus is I got my bike back within a couple of hours too, instead of having to wait a week spite there being only one mechanic and 3 bikes ahead of me in the que. Cognition Cyclery used to be my go to place for all my mountain bike service needs. No longer after this experience. Who even hires a service person like Edgar Sanchez who has no idea what customer service is yet charges an incredibly high premium for it? read more

Cognition Cyclery - Receipt at Cyclepath for everything!!! - Bike Repair/Maintenance Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Not an expert biker but felt price for tuneup on Mountain Bike was steep. I compare it to service that comes to your house but they include cleaning of cassette ect for far less. [and they test rode} I had to make a return to store after 1st ride because bike was not properly tuned. Rode worse then when I dropped off. Another mechanic test drove it and did some adjustments...He did pull up service order On my bike I noticed probably to see who did the "tune up" and write up for my bike. Update: After about 3 rides while mountain biking on vacation bike began ghost shifting and I had to end ride early. After I began youtube research to fix myself I discovered bike rear thru axle was only Hand Tight!!!! Real wheel had a lot of play and it's clear mechanic Forgot to torque to spec after removing wheel to replace rear rotor! Ever since I tightened rear thru axle bike shifts better...... I rode bike for over a year without ever having to tighten but immediately after tune up it's clear they did not bother to torque to spec.... Can't believe I paid a hefty amount for tune up for a bike to be given back to customer in an unsafe condition. read more

ROCK STAR STATUS!!!! I was referred across to Cognition by a good friend of mine and at the time i was thinking "Hmmmmmm these guys are 50 mins away from me, seems a bit far!" BUT taking that drive was THE BEST DECISION EVER!! Torr, Taylor and the team truly are service superstars!! I got 100% customer service right from the start. It began with a pair of shoes and resulted in multiple pro bike fits and getting me race ready for RAAM 2021. (Race Across America) The professional knowledge base, customer service and level of teamwork is OFF THE CHARTS!! Regardless of where you live in the Bay Area if you want an EXCEPTIONAL CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE then come to Cognition, speak to any of their team and know that you're in phenomenal hands! I'm writing this review after only 90 days of continued customer success, i cannot wait to update it again when my new bike arrives in Feb 2021 and Torr 3D fits me with that one too. Thanks team! YOU ROCK!!! read more

Cognition Cyclery - Bike Repair/Maintenance Near Me - San Mateo, California

super helpful on the phone, and I was just looking for information on a bike they don't have, the bike tech spent 10min on the phone with me ! GREAT PERSONAL SERVICE read more

Came in because i was building a bike for a friend and needed a part for the bike. Corey came to help me find the part and he was super helpful. The part wasnt sitting properly so he filed the bike so it would fit. Would definitely come back if i need help fixing my bike read more