REVIEWS DEALS BIKESHOPS TRAILS

Best local bike shop(s?)

2191 Views 30 Replies 24 Participants Last post by roaddog, Dec 15, 2005

alaskarider

Discussion Starter · Dec 8, 2005

With the holidays fast approaching, I wanted to send out a big thanks to a LBS that's been really great to me ever since I started going there a little over a year ago: Sports Garage. I just got a lot of personal help there as I was picking out a gift for myself...er, I mean, for my fiance, that's right (maybe he'll let me use it?)...Anyway, I've never had anything but great service there, and I'd like to encourage anyone who's looking for a LBS to check them out.

Also, in the spirit of fairness, please let us all know if you've had great experiences with any other LBS's. Let's all make an effort to support the good ones instead of complaining about the bad ones.

1 - 20 of 31 Posts

MK_

· #2 · Dec 8, 2005

Don't mean to rip on your favorite LBS, but Sports Garage was mine, as well. Lots of helpful info, reasonable prices, etc. About two or so years ago, the shop expanded, the prices became completely unreasonable and good advice was scarce.

I always got brilliant advice at Vecchio's, even though it is a predominately road oriented shop, I've gotten more insight and better advice than anywhere else, save for suspension. In those matters, The Fix is a great resource. Everyone in there is always full of advice and the beaty of that shop is that they have ridden and broken it all and the few parts that have survived are definatelly worth the recommendation.

Finally, the closest one to me is University bikes, and even though all these kids which work there are young and know relativelly little about bikes (not to mention that their bikes fall apart of their own accord, when ridden, as I've witnessed), the atmosphere is good and the bill is always lower than it should be.

_MK

konacoffee

· #3 · Dec 8, 2005

Alpha Bicycle Company

The BEST Local bike shop around is Alpha bikes wich is located near arapahoe and yosemite. With a new ownership change a few months ago, these guys are aimed to please and meet your every expectation. Not only are these guys decked out with some serious awesome inventory but you really get their undevided personal attention when it comes to your bike. There prices are super reasonable also. I definetely recommend this store to anyone that wants to have an overall great local bike shop experience. Peace

S-Works

· #4 · Dec 8, 2005 (Edited)

MK_ said:
Don't mean to rip on your favorite LBS, but Sports Garage was mine, as well. Lots of helpful info, reasonable prices, etc. About two or so years ago, the shop expanded, the prices became completely unreasonable and good advice was scarce.

I believe that coincided with an ownership change. I had the similar experience after Tom sold it, and haven't been back since. Life is too short to drive to Boulder and get that type of service.

My recommendation would be Mountain High Cyclery in Loveland. Great CS, and very good prices.

mtbdirteater

· #5 · Dec 8, 2005

konacoffee said:
The BEST Local bike shop around is Alpha bikes wich is located near arapahoe and yosemite. With a new ownership change a few months ago, these guys are aimed to please and meet your every expectation. Not only are these guys decked out with some serious awesome inventory but you really get their undevided personal attention when it comes to your bike. There prices are super reasonable also. I definetely recommend this store to anyone that wants to have an overall great local bike shop experience. Peace

Well, I'd like to say that Alpha is pleasantly refreshing, the service has been excelent, and I'd like to see the shop grow. I was very pleased with how easy it has been to make special orders and how fast they get what I want. They are singlespeed freindly, and stock a lot of stuff I don't see anywhere else, like Surly chainrings and tensioners. And they are a Redline dealer and actually have built bikes in stock. I will be doing more business there in the future. Happy customer. Check 'em out.

Cheers,

Dave

mtbdirteater

· #6 · Dec 9, 2005 (Edited)

.....

delete duplicate post

sarcon69

· #7 · Dec 9, 2005

Larry's shop: Mountain High Cyclery is awesome. He's an amazing mechanic and gets the job done well. Brandon does too.

PattD

· #8 · Dec 9, 2005

Thanks for the Alpha praise..

Lots of cool stuff on it's way (2 Retrotech 29" SS and a Powder Blue Ventana El Capitan)
Just got some Mrazek 29ers in today and their ultra funky road bikes. Come check em' out. Tons of BMX stuff too. Got a couple Pugsley's too for those of you who want to ride all winter long.

My other vote is for Larry at Mtn High Cyclery. He's been great to work with and has done a ton of stuff for me. As a matter of fact, he's fully responsible for my Ventana addiction. I'm glad for it because Sherwood's bike are awesome, but I've gone too far. Even Sherwood knows me by voice when I call now! Now that's bad!

starladear

· #9 · Dec 9, 2005

I was a sports garage guy and will still be one when convienient as those guys have always come through for me and it was the birth place of my maverick. But being a Longmont guy and always supporting the best local shop (which their wasn't one until now) I now go to Blue Sky Cycles at airport and nelson roads. they've got all the toys. These guys are really cool and super technical. their website is blueskycyclesonline.com

alaskarider

Discussion Starter · #10 · Dec 9, 2005

Thanks for the contributions, and to most of you for keeping them positive. When I read posts from other parts of the country saying things like "I can't find anything I want to try out within a 50-mile radius," and then I read about all the positive things people here have to say, I think we can all consider ourselves fortunate.

sarcon69

· #11 · Dec 10, 2005

well said

jonny boy

· #12 · Dec 10, 2005

starladear said:
I was a sports garage guy and will still be one when convienient as those guys have always come through for me and it was the birth place of my maverick. But being a Longmont guy and always supporting the best local shop (which their wasn't one until now) I now go to Blue Sky Cycles at airport and nelson roads. they've got all the toys. These guys are really cool and super technical. their website is blueskycyclesonline.com

Hmm, I haven't checked out Blue Sky but now I guess I need to.

Sports Garage was good when Tom was there, when I bought my bike. I don't think I've had any bad experiences there; I just learned how to work on all the stuff on my own since.

High Gear in Longmont has been decent - good service, a couple guys know their stuff. I bought my first bike there when it was near 17th; then it went downhill fast; now it's better that they've moved to downtown Longmont and I'm guessing changed ownership, or philosophies.

Larry is great prices and service. He's busy though, sometimes difficult to visit him if you are on a schedule.

I have had great experiences at Vecchios - free hub adjustment when they hardly knew me; excellent advice and parts for building wheels.

billybobzia

· #13 · Dec 10, 2005

props to wheat ridge...

wheat ridge has been great to me this year...i purchased two bikes from them in the past, but this year i have been bringing in my ebay bike all year for this and that and they have been wonderful...i used to live in a small mtn town so i was used to getting the hook up, but never expected anything like it in the city, but those guys have hooked me up more time than i can count...thanks...happy holidays...

daveM

· #14 · Dec 10, 2005

Gotta give a shout out for Lyons' local LBS...

Check out the little shop with big shop service, Redstone Cyclery. Dave is an avid (rabid) MTB'er, a MTBR'er, great mechanic, knows trails on the Front Range like few others, will do special orders no-problamo, and is an all around cool guy. Very fun to stop by on your way through Lyons, after a weekend Hall assault.

Larry up in Loveland is also a great choice.

starladear

· #15 · Dec 10, 2005

daveM said:
Check out the little shop with big shop service, Redstone Cyclery. Dave is an avid (rabid) MTB'er, a MTBR'er, great mechanic, knows trails on the Front Range like few others, will do special orders no-problamo, and is an all around cool guy. Very fun to stop by on your way through Lyons, after a weekend Hall assault.

I agree

jimmy

· #16 · Dec 10, 2005

talking about service

Full Cycle is fine. They special ordered a brake boss for my 1994 Bontrager & it was quite a hassle, even getting an email to Keith B himself. I think their prices are a bit high but they are quite cheerful. U bikes has always been good for service, just drop in & many times they will deal with something. I recently had Vecchios break down my moots & send it back for a refurb & disc tab. They were quite nice about it & were reasonable. I am selling the moots frame--18 incher.

Now, if I had to buy a new bike I am not sure what I would do. Paying full retail would hurt. I was looking at Blur XCs or the RX at Sports Garage--WOW the prices are high, for an all XT bike. I doubt I could patronize a LBS to pay full retail for a new bike. Sorry. Do they deal at Sports Garage?

kinger9

· #17 · Dec 11, 2005

Mojo Wheels

My vote goes to Mojo Wheels. They stock a ton of stuff and have great service, They specialize in downhill and big hit bikes.

.thumper.

· #18 · Dec 12, 2005

kinger9 said:
My vote goes to Mojo Wheels. They stock a ton of stuff and have great service, They specialize in downhill and big hit bikes.

kinger9 knows what's up.

hardtail05

· #19 · Dec 12, 2005

Green Mountain Sportrs in Lakewood is also good. They have a few high-end Yetis and lots of high end road bikes and cyclocross bikes (if you are into that thing). Also a very convienient location if you have a problem and are near Green Mountain, Mathews/Winters, Mt Falcon, Dakota Ridge, or apex. It's not a large store, but it's a good one.....

alaskarider

Discussion Starter · #20 · Dec 12, 2005

jimmy said:
Now, if I had to buy a new bike I am not sure what I would do. Paying full retail would hurt. I was looking at Blur XCs or the RX at Sports Garage--WOW the prices are high, for an all XT bike. I doubt I could patronize a LBS to pay full retail for a new bike. Sorry. Do they deal at Sports Garage?

I've gotten some fantastic deals there (the most recent of which motivated me to start the thread in the first place). However, I admit to buying a full-priced Racer-X frame there last year and spending some time with Chris and some of the other guys there before I started getting the deals. (I didn't buy most of the components there, but built up the frame myself with components from various places, including used. It was less painful that way.)

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