What do you think of Conte’s

[Judd]

@KLizotte 140074 wrote:

When I was looking for my first bike, I visited Papillion on Columbia Pike and was treated like pond scum; the owner was obviously uninterested in making a sale or dealing with a noob. I’ve never been back; it was truly an awful customer experience. I still cringe at the thought of it.

I’ve also had two not good experiences at Papillion when getting service, which is a shame because it’s less than a half mile away from my apartment and I won’t go there anymore. I’ve been really pleased with the two tune ups I’ve gotten at Revolution in Clarendon and a rear derauiler fix from Freshbikes.

[Subby]

Bikenetic holds a special place in my heart. Always will. I love the people there and it’s hands down the best shop I have ever experienced.

That said, a while back when they were backed up on service (a good thing!) and I needed some work done really quickly, I took a chance on the new Conte’s on Rt. 7 in Falls Church. The head mechanic there – Brian – is a super nice guy and very knowledgeable. The other folks who work there were extremely nice, too. Really laid back and down to earth. They were very good and generous to me with their time when I had a need, and I think that says a lot about them.

[AFHokie]

I like having the discussion, but I do temper the observations by realizing everyone has a different perspective & standard.

I’ve had good and bad experiences at both Revolution and Spokes and like Judd refuse to deal with a specific individual at each location. For the most part, I’ve had good experiences with Papillion, but find their available stock limited and will no longer let one of their younger mechanic’s touch my bike. I really like Green Lizard & their mechanics immediately figured out a ‘mysterious’ shifting problem I had, but Herndon is very out of my way unless I happen to ride out that way on the WOD. As far as Fresh Bikes, I share the board consensus and only go there if I know they are the only shop carrying something I cannot get online.

Not a local LBS, but REI at Bailey’s Crossroads gets the majority of my business simply because they’re the closest and I’ve always had a pleasant interaction with their maintenance shop.

[hozn]

I think the distaste for FreshBikes is just indicative of a cultural divide in cycling. Fresh Bikes has a great reputation among the “faster” crowd for their mechanics’ competence and their inventory of latest, greatest bikes. And their bike fitting services (Clovis) are really well regarded. Probably fewer places have more experience with electronic shifting systems, tubular wheels, etc. I don’t think it would be considered a negative by most of their customers that they refuse to work on cheap bikes. Less chance of some grimy commuter bike rubbing against a carbon dream bike.

Anyway, I buy Specialized stuff there. I used to buy other maintenance stuff there (cables, lube, bottom brackets), but am making a concerted effort to give Bikenetic my business whenever I can. Bike shops could probably learn a lot from Bikenetic about how you can be excellent and still inclusive. Heck, we could probably all learn a lot from Bikenetic’s example.

[lordofthemark]

Wow, this sure went in a different direction than I expected. Really just wanted confirmation there would be no issues getting repairs done at the new shop (since I did have a minor problem with a repair at one LBS). I guess it may be too individual a thing for the question to be worthwhile.

[dkel]

@hozn 140082 wrote:

Anyway, I buy Specialized stuff there. I used to buy other maintenance stuff there (cables, lube, bottom brackets), but am making a concerted effort to give Bikenetic my business whenever I can.

Really? I thought you were an LBS unto yourself. (Like, really.)

[hozn]

@dkel 140087 wrote:

Really? I thought you were an LBS unto yourself. (Like, really.)

Well sometimes I need chain lube or brake cables and don’t see a need (or benefit) to ordering online. Picked up some new Salsa bars from Bikenetic recently (they ordered for me). And I plan to order some Hope hubs through them when this child bike project stops draining my allowance.

But yeah, I do my own work on the bike. That way I am the only one to blame when it isn’t right!

[Mark Blacknell]

Just a few additions:

1) Freshbikes is a great shop for the people in its target demographic. Outside of that? Ugh. They’re still my road bike shop, but I wish that second part would change (that’s a short version of my Yelp review from years ago).

2) You should alway support Bikenetic. They’re special. (And not in the short bus way. You know, despite them having a short bus.)

3) If anyone takes anything away from this thread, it should be to never ever ever support Big Wheel Bikes on Lee Highway. Ever.

[TwoWheelsDC]

@Mark Blacknell 140186 wrote:

Just a few additions:

3) If anyone takes anything away from this thread, it should be to never ever ever support Big Wheel Bikes on Lee Highway. Ever.

+1 I was just afraid to be the first one to say it….although I would expand the critique to the whole chain.

[rcannon100]

@ShawnoftheDread 140072 wrote:

Wait, how were you pronouncing Bianchi?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

“Biankabuttt” – it is also pronounced at times as “With $$$$ in my pocket, I can pronounce it “beef biskets” and that should be okay.

I will say that I have exposed my ignorance and stupidity to the hipsters in Falls Church and they try hard not to laugh at me too much and generally help the infeebled with useful advice like “pedaling backwards no longer stops the bike”

[huskerdont]

Care to elaborate on BWB? I had decent luck with them, and they are on my way home.

I’ve also had good luck with Papillon, although I admit they’re probably best for certain types of riding. Really good helping folks fix up old bikes, and they were great in finishing off a bike I put together but couldn’t get quite right.

Bicycle Space is great for emergency repairs/parts when at work, and for commuting stuff.

The one I won’t ever go back to is Revolution in Clarendon. They were oh so proud that W. had shopped there but couldn’t be bothered to fix the Gary Fisher Tass they sold me. Ended up spending money to get it fixed elsewhere, and have never spent a penny there since.

Spokes in Vienna warrantied an aluminum Trek that broke, but the salesperson at Spokes in Alexandria was like a used car salesman, which sent me elsewhere.

I’ve only bought a couple of parts so far from Bikenetic, but they seem just about right. Test rode a Raleigh there that wasn’t in my size, but ended up getting something else. As someone else stated, I understand they can’t carry everything in every size, but if what they have doesn’t line up for you, it’s hard to buy. I’ll likely support them first when I can.

[americancyclo]

@Mark Blacknell 140186 wrote:

Just a few additions:

3) If anyone takes anything away from this thread, it should be to never ever ever support Big Wheel Bikes on Lee Highway. Ever.

Ask me about my experience there the one time I went in, sometime.

[Mark Blacknell]

@huskerdont 140219 wrote:

Care to elaborate on BWB? I had decent luck with them, and they are on my way home.

From my 2010 Yelp review:

Quote:

[FONT=&amp]I would push my bike home with a flat rather than give this shop my business. I cannot say enough bad things about the Arlington location of Big Wheel Bikes. Over the years, I have personally witnessed:[/FONT]

[FONT=&amp]1) a hard-sell for an obviously wrong-sized bike to a customer[/FONT]
[FONT=&amp]2) an attempt to send a bike out on a test-ride with a loose stem[/FONT]
[FONT=&amp]3) bait-and-switch rental tactics[/FONT]
[FONT=&amp]4) ridiculously rude behavior to customers
[/FONT]
[FONT=&amp]And that’s just my direct experience. There’s not enough room on this page to repeat the stories of other people’s experiences with this shop. There is not, as best I can tell, a single redeeming thing about this place.
[/FONT]

That covered my experience with them from the late 90s until then. Looking at their Yelp page, it doesn’t seem like anything has changed. And if you ask cyclists who have been riding in Arlington for decades, you’ll get even worse stories (and speculation), I bet.

I have lots of experiences and opinions (positive and negative) about lots of shops across the DC area, but it’s only Big Wheel Bikes that gets my open disgust.

[Steve O]

klizotte;140074 wrote:

rcannon’s experiences (and i know he is a really nice guy!).

ymmv

[Steve O]

In talking with people over the years, and my own experiences, there are a couple of themes I believe help create a positive experience.

1) Most importantly, if you can become a known customer and build a relationship with a shop you will have much greater success. This is part of the reason, I think, we hear differing opinions about the same LBS. I agree that a good shop should treat every customer with respect and good cheer, but since it doesn’t always happen, it’s good to have your own personal go-to place where they know you.

2) Low turnover. That is a good sign overall: that they treat their employees well, those employees have experience, and they know you because they don’t keep changing.

3) This is more of an add-on and not necessary to have a good experience, but I do appreciate shops that get involved in the community. FB in Ballston sponsors the Tuesday night rides and hosts BTWD, and that is awesome. Bicycle Space does the cool theme rides (Luau, Plaid..) Revolution Clarendon just hosted a great Taco Ride that was loads of fun. Proteus is well known for being integrated into the community over there in Merland, Green Lizard hosts FCC III, etc.

[Author]

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