Needed a rear wheel replacement for my son's bike. I found this place no-nonsense and straight forward, which is exactly what you need in a bicycle repair shop. Looked to carry a solid inventory of bikes as well. Prices are reasonable. Will definitely go back. read more

1 Star - Disappointing Experience, Poor Service Attitude I went to Al's Bicycle Service for help with a single tire tube I had installed myself. I wasn't sure if I had done it correctly and just wanted a second opinion. Larry, the person at the shop, insisted that both the front and rear tire tubes should be replaced and asked me to leave the bike overnight for pickup the next day. The next day, Larry called and said the tires themselves were in bad shape and also needed to be replaced--adding significantly more cost. When I returned to the shop, he showed me the worn tires and quoted over $100 for the full job. Given the age of the bike, I chose not to proceed. To my surprise, Larry handed the bike back with the tire in his hand--no tube inside. I asked him to at least reassemble the tire the way I left it. He did, but casually told me that he had thrown away the tube I had originally installed. This felt unprofessional and dismissive. Instead of a helpful service, it came across like a "take it or leave it" money grab. Very disappointing experience. I won't be returning, and I wouldn't recommend this shop to others. read more

I highly recommend Al's cycle shop. I have an older bike that needed a tune up and multiple things checked over. He did a great tune up and adjusted minor things without trying to milk me for replacement parts. He is a personable guy and the whole service went smoothly. His turnaround and prices were reasonable. I would definitely go back to Al's for my bike needs. read more

Al's Cycle Shop - After tune up photo - Bikes Near Me - Skokie, Illinois

I had something happen to me that's never happened before - a tire popped while out riding, my front tire. I guess I was overdue for a popped tire in my lifetime and the good thing is, I was only about one mile from my home - so it was a nice walk with my bike on the Skokie Valley Trail - Cook County. Although Erik's on Oakton is an authorized Specialized bike shop, Al's is my neighborhood shop, so I came here for convenience. My bike hadn't been tuned up since ohhh.....I would say 10 years - so I had my front inter tube replaced, a tune up done and handle bar over endz installed (right, like there are that many mountains to challenge around these parts). I was able to drop off my bike easily and explain my situation. They were able to have my bike available two days ahead of schedule!! Everything looked good and the gears and brakes sound good. I just wasn't too clear on what was done for the tune up and if there were any other issues that were identified?? You know, like an assessment that your car dealership gives you as a heads up of what to expect, with respect to repairs. Anyway, I'm back on the saddle again!! read more

Al's Cycle Shop - My bike was ready ahead of schedule!! - Bikes Near Me - Skokie, Illinois

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Al's Cycle seems like they do good work. I brought my kid's bike in for service/repair. My daughter's bike is working better than when I brought it in. However, due to their piss-poor attitude on the phone and in person, I'll do my bike purchasing elsewhere. Seriously dude, when you're talking to customers, remember we keep you in business and could bring you more if we like our dealings with you. I didn't, so I won't. read more

He made my cheap internet purchase bike rideable. Thank you Al for making my cheap internet purchase bike rideable! He even helped me load it on to my bike carrier on my car. read more

A local honest & reputable bike shop with great customer service. They sell & service bikes of all sizes.

I couldn't decide if this was a 3 1/2 or 4, so I decided to round up. Stopped by here with a friend who was in the market for a bike. He'd done a lot of research and was deciding between a recumbent and an comfort bike. We made our way here to take a look and so he could do a test ride. The shop was empty when we arrived (though it did not remain that way for long). The owner, Larry, was really helpful; he showed us a couple of different Trek models and the advantages of them. (By the way, this shop sells mostly Trek bikes, with a few Schwinn's thrown in for good measure.) He was also extremely trusting with the bikes; my friend took two out on his own, leaving nothing for collateral, and when we both took out a bike to test-ride, he didn't require us to leave anything (though I left my purse so I didn't have to carry it while riding). My friend ended up purchasing a Trek, with some added accessories (including a kickstand, which does not come standard with any of the bikes in this shop). They were able to get the bike ready with a kickstand, water bottle holder and attach the lock all within about 10-15 minutes. They also do a check-up within a month or two to make sure everything is going properly. The only thing that nags at me about the experience is something he said when my friend was asking about the different bikes. He's a fairly large man, and was asking about what kind would be best for him, and the shop owner mentioned something about how "your people" do well on this type of bike. That just irked me a bit, but overall the experience was good. read more

They answer phone calls and questions you have about your bike! I also bought a bike from here! They are willing to help!

My son and I needed our bikes repaired and tuned up. We brought them over to Al's. My sons bike he got done right away. Mine needed a little more work but he got it done pretty quickly. It was reasonably priced and the work was great. I felt safe dropping and picking up. He does that on a side entrance thats outside. Just remember to wear your mask. read more

Great local business that's been in Skokie for many, many years. The owner Larry is a great guy that really knows his business. My kids just bought me a new Trek 1 for my 74th birthday and Larry gave them great service. Prices are competitive with all other shops. No need to look anywhere else for your next bike or biking equipment. read more

My bike had been sitting in a garage for years. I took it for a ride and it didn't feel right, so I took it into Al's for a tuneup. They inspected my bike right in front of me and explained everything that needed to be fixed in a way I could understand. They didn't try and push anything on me when they told me what my options were. They were transparent about what everything would cost and gave me a fair quote. My bike was fixed exactly when they said it would be fixed. Now it feels like a brand new bike! I'm so glad I took it in, I feel so much safer when I ride. Everything about my experience at Al's was what I was hoping for! read more

Great service and prices! I will definitely come back here again for tune up, accessories, and any bike related needs that I have read more

Al's Cycle Shop - Got a nice bike here for a nice price! Plus, Customer service was great! 10/10 will be coming back again - Bikes Near Me - Skokie, Illinois

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Awesome bike shop. The owner was real helpful and got my bike tuned up real fast and a great price. I highly recommend Al's! Definitely going to come back and get my bike fixed here from now on. read more

This is the only bike shop in Skokie, so I gotta represent. Even though the owner acts like a douche on occasion, but he can be pretty cool at other times. He once replaced an innertube, after I mangled the old one...and the man comped me on it. Score! Small store, but they've got a bit of everything accessory-wise. Haven't had the opportunity to buy a bike here, but it's usually a pretty quiet area to test-ride in. Oh yeah, they're closed Tuesdays. If you're like me, and often forget what day it is, this will mess with you. read more

Al's Cycle Shop assembled two bikes for us. Reasonable price to do so with a quick turnaround time (within a week). Other bike shops in the area had double the price and a month turnaround! They also helped us out with tips on how to keep our specific bike models rolling without problems. read more

Brought a bike for my kid. The owner was amazing. Highly recommend this place. Liked how they are practicing social distancing.

Spent $46 on tubes. Friendly staff. I cannot speak for the overall experience, as it was a quick in-n-out transaction. I would go back if I needed more tubes. read more

Larry did a great job helping me deal with bike tire issues and gave me some pointers that I didn't find online. The safety precautions are excellent! read more

Good selection of Trek bikes and friendly staff. The prices are reasonable, but I expected them to negotiate a little bit since we were buying two bikes. They had no problems with me testing out several bikes to see which one I liked best. Fast turn around on adding on upgrades/accessories. Definitely recommend. read more

We have had work done here a couple times and have been very happy every time. They are friendly and affordable. Recently my daughters bike chain needed an adjustment or tightening ( it kept slipping off) , they did the work right while we waited. Highly recommend! read more

My son Fixie needed tire replaced. I was able to get it replaced under $20, under 15 minutes plus added air to front tire. Knowledgeable and gave me tips to maintain bike. read more

This is a solid local bike shop. They have a good entry level selection of bikes and components. They excel at service, though. Always very helpful with advice and I've never had any issues with the quality of the repairs. If I need anything they don't have, including special bikes or odd parts, they have been able to order it. Finally, the owner is always around, which I love. read more

I brought in a jogging stroller that needed one of the tire inter tubes replaced. The guy who helped me was really nice. The whole process took maybe five minutes, and then he even checked the other tires and filled them to the correct PSI which I really appreciate. Although I only came in for a small fix, the customer service was great and would definitely recommend this place to others and will definitely be a returning customer. read more

I was just there, I left my bike I overnight, nothing was wrong with my bike but the guy who helped me gave me some great advice & he gave me a new kryptonite Ulock.. which was wayyyy better than the piece of shit that I had. They cost $45 but he let me had it for free. He only charged me $5 for his service on my bike. read more

Update: I've used this store several times for service or repair since writing my original review, and they never disappoint. They are absolutely my go to guys for all my family's cycle needs. Original review; After reading some of the negative reviews, I felt compelled to write a review on my experience at Al's Cycle Shop. I have a Trek bicycle that has been hanging from hooks in my garage untouched for 7 years. Recently, I've been telling my 5 year old son that when he learns to ride without training wheels, I would get my bicycle service so that I could ride with him. On Tuesday, the day after taking the training wheels off his bike, he mastered the skill. He was so excited and so proud and he wanted me to get my bike cleaned and working right away. On Wednesday morning, my son and I packed my bike into the minivan and we went to Al's. I found them online but after reading some Yelp reviews, I was hesitant to try them. I can comfortably say that I am glad that I did. I was served by Danny and he told me that it would be a few days before they could get the bike back to me. My son, in his naive 5 year old manner, told Danny that he wanted daddy's bike back today! At first Danny responded that they wouldn't be able to get it back to me for a few days, but then he said that he would do the best that he could and he would call me back. While in the store, we also looked at a toddler trailer and a bike for my son. We weren't ready to make either purchase. At 3pm the same day, Danny called me to say that my bike was ready. My son was so happy that the bike was ready, and we went to go and pick it up right away. I paid $65 for the service plus some costs for additional add-ons that I requested (a bike stand, a lock bracket, etc). I thought that the fee was reasonable (I haven't shopped elsewhere so I have no basis of comparison). I was just so appreciative the quick turn around time that they were able to do to make a 5 year old happy. I did have two brief encounters with an older gentleman whom I presume is the owner of the business. He was polite enough, but to be clear he is not a conversationalist. Some of the other reviews have criticized this. For me, I went to the store to get a good service at a reasonable price with a fast turn around time. I did not go there looking for personality or conversation. I love supporting local businesses and, in this case, I'm very pleased that I did. I am awarding this review a 4 star rating as I felt that they did everything that they should have done and I concluded my transaction feeling that they did not disappoint me or let me down in any way. I reserve 5 stars for the truly exceptional. read more

this place is not too great. the employees were a little arrogant and made me feel like i didnt know anything about bikes. too bad, i ended up buying a scattante for 479 from a spot in chicago. employees are jerks. read more

Love this place! Old, small town feel. Not half as overwhelming as some of the other shops I have visited. Great selection of quality bikes and accessories. The prices are lower than surrounding stores and the customer service is supreme. You can tell the employees take pride in their work and know their shit. I had a vintage Schwinn that needed some work done. Danny recommended new tires, tubes, brake pads, cables, etc. Two days later (yes, very quick turn around time) my bike was like new! Rides like a champ! Highly recommended. read more

Gave it 2 stars because price of the trek road bike was decent, customer service needs a tune up. Overall little selection & service not so great. Went there looking to spend and support the local but ended up with a waste of time and gas read more

Service was excellent. A great shop for those who don't plan on riding in the Tour de France, but who need good bikes from recreational to moderately dedicated rider, repairs, supplies, accessories. read more

Great place! Larry, the owner, helped us get bikes and was very helpful and friendly. We got 2 treks for a good price. He was very knowledgeable and wasn't pushy at all. Will definitely recommend to family and friends. The other workers there were very friendly, too. Thanks for a good experience buying our bikes! read more

While some reviewers have wrote negative comments about this shop, in particular a ho hum kind of atmosphere, keep in mind this shop has been around for well over 30 years and it's a one man operation. Once you get to know the staff here, they really do go out of their way to help you completely. I know first impressions are always lasting but of all the shops I been to, I did get great service and great advice. read more

I didnt read anything about Al's Cycle shop before going yesterday. I had an ok experience. I needed a U-lock for my and my husbands bike. The price was great for the Kryptonite brand (which is the best). They did not have a large variety of Kryptonite U-Locks, or u-locks in general. The reason why i'm giving them 3 stars is because the hours are not convienient and are a little short on some supplies. I stopped by on Tuesday I belive and they were closed! On regular days they are only open until 6. read more

This is my second time to use their services for a flat tire and both times they delivered. This time they went above and beyond. I called the store and they picked up after hours. They waited for me and fixed my tire in minutes. The pricing beat a chain repair shop that I called in Chciago! Very happy with my experience and will return again! read more

Al's Cycle Shop is the best around. Service is great and their prices are reasonable. Everyone at the shop, especially Larry, the owner takes as much time as you need to go over what ever problem or request you have. I've bought three bikes from Larry in the past ten years. They carry Trek and Electra bikes along with other brands. I highly recommend Al's Cycle Shop. read more

I have given these guys three chances to make me want to go back. After this last time, I definitely will not even though I prefer supporting local shops. Instead, I will travel to Uptown bikes, miles and miles away, so that I can be greeted by pleasant people who actually enjoy working on bikes and have a positive, "can-do" attitude. You will not get that kind of service from Al's Bike Shop. read more

My bike was repaired quickly. The bill was reasonable.

I went in to buy two bike locks and the two gentleman that helped me (I'm assuming they were the owner and his son) were very informative and patient. I would go here again for anything I need for my bike- although their selection is a bit small. Maybe I'll buy my next bike here who knows. . . Plenty of parking outside too. read more

I've been coming to this shop sine I was 10 years old and not much has changed. It's a great shop for bikes and accessories, even though the selection might be limited. If worse comes to worse and you do not find your bike, you can always ask them if they can order it from the manufacturer. I just bought a trek bike here about three days ago, after a ten year absence, and negotiated a decent price for a trek bike. I'm from Skokie, so it's always a good feeling supporting local shop around this town. read more

I stopped in at Al's to see if they could adjust the brakes on my Schwinn Voyager. Not only were my brakes adjusted immediately, but when I asked how to turn on and mount a rear blinking light I had brought with me, the young man put a battery in it for me and mounted it on my bike. I thought this kind of "above and beyond" service was a thing of the past. Not at Al's. They go out of their way to be helpful. I can't say enough about their generous attitude and exceptional service. Bravo! read more