Recommend a shop - Lincoln or Logan Squares

I have a close personal sister who recently bought a bike from the now closed Dutch Bike Co. She asked me to recommend a bike shop on the north-side for service. She lives in Lincoln Square and works in Logan Square (approximately). I'm not familiar with the shops in either 'hood. I do think it is good practice to use the most local good LBS, but if it isn't good then it does not matter how local it is.

 

Can anyone share their experience with say, Iron Cycles or On the Route or Boulevard Bikes? (I got a great deal on an old Trek 500 at Boulevard, but I don't know how they are for service.)

 

Any other shops thereabouts that you can recommend or warn us away from?

 

(My hands down favorite north side bike shop is Quick Release, and I'm also a fan of Rapid Transit, but I think she'd be better off with a place closer to work or home if possible.)

 

thanks!

 

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Permalink Reply by magomawe on October 8, 2011 at 4:37am

Smart Bike Parts is by far my favorite.  Knowledgeable and friendly staff with cheap service and parts.  If your sister is near Armitage, I would steer her in that direction.  They have literally just given me used parts for a bike that I was working on.
Boulevard Bikes is also a pretty good shop.  They're helpful and have always done a great job anytime I've gone in. 

 

Iron Cycles has friendly staff. I go there occasionally because they are a block away from where I live. I can't speak of their service, but their parts are about 2 times what I've paid at any other bike shop in the city.

 

I frequently trek down from Albany Park past several shops to give Smart Bike Parts my business.

Permalink Reply by Jeff Markus on October 8, 2011 at 6:01pm

There is a little hole in the wall shop on Lincoln just south of Bertau on the easty side of the street. He has been there for decades, helps evryone as best as he can and has reasonable hours (used to have a air hose out front but the yuppies in the hood may have ended that practice).

I do all my own wrenching but he was always helpful with basic parts and has the show room full of used bikes so you can look at them to see his work quality.

Jeff

The Chicagoan

Permalink Reply by Carly on October 9, 2011 at 2:59am
Oh yeah, Easy Rider.  That shop is nice.  Also... am I the only one thats had good experiences with On the Route in Lincoln square?  They always did little things for me for free, sometimes only charged me for parts, and both guys were really nice.  I agree with Smart Bike Parts, they're pretty awesome.  The owner is knowledgeable and always willing to give me a discount.  

Jeff Markus said:

There is a little hole in the wall shop on Lincoln just south of Bertau on the easty side of the street. He has been there for decades, helps evryone as best as he can and has reasonable hours (used to have a air hose out front but the yuppies in the hood may have ended that practice).

I do all my own wrenching but he was always helpful with basic parts and has the show room full of used bikes so you can look at them to see his work quality.

Jeff

The Chicagoan

Permalink Reply by Davo on October 9, 2011 at 4:47am
The first time I was at that on the route the employees seemed to act like I was waisting their time. Also, one time I went there when their sign said that they would be open and they weren't even an hour after opening hours. Fast forward 6 months and everyone their was nice and helpfull. Hopefully they just had some bad apples working there and got rid of them.  

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