I want to ride my bicycle, I want to ride my bike
So I just got a new job that’ll allow me to ride my bicycle to work most days. Just in time for $12/gal gas season, too. I need a bike tune-up pretty badly, but I’ve never been to a bike shop in town.
Which bike shop deserves my business?
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I haven’t been to all of these places, but I highly recommend Blue Wheel. Those guys know their stuff.
Funny – I’ve done business at most of the bike shops in town (btw- the list should include Bike Factory) and of al of them Blue Wheel would have been my last choice. IMHO
The problem is, this time of year, you may be waiting for a week to ten days to get your bike checked/fixed because it ’tis the season and so many additional people are breaking out the old Varsity.
I commute on the bike almost every day. Wear a helmet. Make sure the brakes work. Had to slam them on this morning because someone in a car made the dreaded left-turn-in-front-of-me without ever looking. Very nearly became a hood ornament.
DF
Blue Wheel has been around forever, I would go there.
What about Syklo Bicycles? I haven’t been there, but they were recommended highly.
Personally I went to Performance when I bought my new bike several weeks ago. They were friendly and helpful and I’ve got no complaints.
I did however, have a similar experience this morning as DF at the intersection of University and Emmet. Whoo! Glad I have disc brakes!
i went over to blue wheel one time, and they changed out my rear spokes and gave me a tune up in 10 minutes while I waited. That was pretty awesome.
If someone puts a perfectly good bike behind a dumpster, are they hiding it or throwing it away? I saw this yesterday, and thought about taking it.
syklo has the coolest damn townie bikes I’ve ever seen and so cheap! If my bike is ever stolen or destroyed, that’s my first stop. In the meantime, I just visit their website every few weeks and go pretend shopping.
That said, I’ve had super fast nice service from blue wheel in very similar fashion to Gobbler, but I’ve never needed a big repair.
gobbler had two bicycle accidents before he decided to buy a helmet.
I own a helmet but never wear it. What’s worse?
My red vintage Schwinn beach cruiser disappeared off of Little Graves st. Anybody seen it?
My vote goes to the Bike Factory.
I have checked out Syklo. They do have very reasonably priced rebuilt bikes for riding around town. I don’t know about thier repair service, but lord knows they have the tools. I think I’d go somewhere else for parts and accesories, though.
I do always wear my helmet now. I almost got hit this morning. Some jackass tried to take a right in front of me. Then he honked at me. Who’s got the legal right of way. Of course, I’ll always let them go, if I feel like I can, cause it’ll hurt me more than it’ll hurt them. But still, who legally should yield to whom?
gobbler had two bicycle accidents before he decided to buy a helmet.
This elucidates much about his commenting style.
In this case Newton’s 3 Laws of Motion Apply. So legally speaking the car will run your ass over.
Bicycles are considered vehicles and have the same rights-of-way as 2,000 lb cars. If you were traveling in the bike lane and the car overtook you to turn right in front of you he/she was at fault. You have to follow the same traffic laws as a car.
it is my understanding that cyclists on the road are like vehicles… you behave in traffic like a car, obeying traffic signs and staying on the right like a slow moving vehicle. So if someone makes a right in front of you, they are a big jerk and also wrong.
in soviet russia his commenting style elucidates much about him.
i’m done here.
yeah, well in america, you suck.
I disagree. Most of us if we see a bike, we swerve to the left and go around it so that we don’t have to drive really slow behind it. If you’re both turning right, shouldn’t the car go first? If the bike goes first, The car is going to have to pass it in a few seconds. Also, isn’t it easier for a person on a bike to see a person in a car than vice versa?
they aren’t both turing right. I was going straigh, and he was trying to pass me, then turn right in front of me.
he gave up, i went straight, he honked, I turned around and flicked him off. I think that’s what supposed to happen.
It’s not clearly spelled out but infor is here: http://www.vdot.virginia.gov/programs/bk-laws.asp#Passing
Bike Yield or succumb to Laws of Motion.
gobbler is right, particularly about gesturing. And the law says bicycles are vehicles. Cortez, your link refers to passing and is correct, but what happened to Gobbles and what is typically dangerous is cars passing and cutting you off to “get ahead.” Here’s the deal drivers: momentum means a lot more to a cyclist than a car, even if this age of hypermiling. So don’t swerve and be sketchy. Don’t make me brake or come to a complete stop because you just have to turn right this second and can’t wait for me to continue on my path. Just pass safely and get far enough ahead to make your turn or wait your turn as if I’m another car. Predictability of movement keeps everyone safe.
/share. the. road.
Sorry to hear about Gobbler and the couple accidents. I’ve had a couple close calls, especially with people opening their doors on Main Street. Be careful around there guys & gals.
As for bike repair, I’ve always liked Blue Wheel and Performance. The guys at performance like talking about their experiences around town and can be pretty insightful on how to improve on your style as well as upgrade.
My recommendation is Charlottesville COmmunity Bikes. Although they are open Friday and Saturday afternoons, you can learn more by working on your own bike under instruction; for free. Check it out!
I really like Performance. I bought my bike there and they’ve always been super nice and really helpful every time I’ve come back for help.
Before buying at Performance, my wife and I had the misfortune of stopping into the Bike Factory to do some comparison shopping. The guy working there could not have been a bigger jerk. He was like the guy behind the counter at the Android’s Dungeon doing his best to make us feel like Milhouse. Guess he was expecting Lance Armstrong to come in the door any minute.
C’ville Bike & Tri is the shit…paul and chris are very nice and know everything about everything about bikes (and they are kinda cute, too). Go there, I guarantee you won’t be dissappointed.
Performance is a frickin chain. They’re the WalMart of bike shops.
Blue Wheel is old-school-bike-shop cool. At least in this town. They’ve always been knowledgeable and helpful. I bought my first serious bike in about ‘73 from Bill Gray (who I think started BW?) when it was in the basement of a house on Elliewood (before they moved down the street).
Crap, I’m old.