I was first introduced to this shop during the 2011 Bay View bash where they had a display and a raffle (I didn't win, boohoo). I was interested in one of the bikes they had but wasn't going to purchase it right then and there. I did show enough interest, however, for the person working there to be really nice and give me a $10 gift certificate.
Fast forward to December 30, the day before said gift certificate expired.
Oh my bank account hurts but I'm still happy. New bike and accessories, I decided I needed a decent bike because I pretty much use it as a car and the ones you can buy at the major retailers don't cut it for the work I put it through (city roads, heavy groceries, the occasional bulky load, etc.). I also didn't want to buy a super expensive bike, but I went in knowing this was not going to be a cheap trip either.
I was greeted by Steve who asked what I was looking for. He showed me a few bikes which were within my price range and could handle the work load I required of it. I picked out one of them and spent at least an hour looking at and picking out toys to tack on (rear view mirrors, rack, giant front basket, lights, clown horn, etc.). He helped me out with the toys too, showing me the advantages/ disadvantages of some items (such as the different mirrors and a neat bungee mesh thing). If I wanted to see an item in action he opened it and let me play with it (putting together a mirror so I could see it, putting batteries into lights, etc.). I left with my credit card on life support and my bike in the shop to have the new toys attached free of charge since I just paid for a new bike.
Fast forward again to today: I picked up my bike and put my credit card into a slight relapse of the trauma I put it through on Friday. My bike was ready (he forgot the mirrors, which he very quickly remedied by putting them on) and I needed a few more things: a new helmet (mine is pretty old and needed replacing, he even helped me adjust it to my head so it was ready to go), more reflectors for the wheels, and some reflective leg straps. He didn't have enough of the reflectors I wanted to buy (I bought two packs instead of three) but he had a few miscellaneous ones on hand he just gave me for free (score!).
The whole time Steve was helpful and polite. Very patient because I was looking at and playing with and asking questions about everything. Quiet, customer oriented guy. He even opened the door for me when I left so it was easy to get the bike through the door. He told me after a month of actually riding the bike to take it in to make sure it was holding up alright, how many other bike stores have this?! I don't know when I'll really be able to ride (at the moment it feels like 5 degrees out there and I would end up with flat tires) but when that month is over I'm sure they'll do just as well as I have experienced these last few days at their store.
The funny thing is that I've been talking about getting all this with my hubby for over a year. If it weren't for seeing them at the Bash and getting the certificate I probably wouldn't have known about this shop or had the incentive to visit here at all and would have gone to the place closer to home. Please give this place a visit if you are a bicycle rider, it is a great place with great customer service and lots of neat old bikes and gear to gawk at. You can even watch them working on bikes, no hiding in some back room. A+++ :-) read more