I had a good experience when I went to Bike 4 Life. I talked to Sam, who was very personable and told me that he and everyone else is a volunteer and that 100% of the profits go to helping with with health issues. I bought a tube and something else and it was quite expensive, but I was willing to pay more to support them and their mission. I have read a lot of the other reviews on here and I'm deeply saddened by what I see. I did not feel pressured by Sam... we talked bikes and classic cars for a solid half hour and got along great. A couple bad review could be ignored but it sounds like there may be some issues here. I guess the answer is go in and see for yourself. read more

This guy is rip off artist. I walked in with a flat and he somehow ended up charging 50$! He does this fast talking thing that's super sleazy. Stay away! read more

Came in hoping to buy a toddler helmet for my nephew and support a local shop instead of ordering online. That's not how it went. When my sister asked how we'd know if the helmet was fitted tightly enough, the associate helping us just said "you should know" which is not exactly helpful when you're trying to get it right for a toddler. He stood with us the entire time we tried the helmet on and never once mentioned that there's a $15 "try on" fee. We only found out when we said we wanted to look at other options before deciding, and he suddenly informed us we owed $15 because he wasn't going to "lose business" so we could "look it up online for a cheaper price." For the record, price wasn't the issue; the helmet just seemed low quality and we wanted to check reviews before buying anything for a toddler's safety. If the fee had been mentioned upfront, we would've made an informed choice from the start. Instead it felt like it was sprung on us only once we tried to leave, which came across as pressuring and manipulative rather than transparent. I haven't seen this fee mentioned in other reviews of this shop, which made the whole interaction feel even more off and predatory to make customers buy something before leaving. We really wanted to buy local. Unfortunately, this experience means we won't be back. read more

I had a very disappointing experience with one of the associates. He was extremely rude and spoke to me in a way that made me feel like I was being talked down to. Instead of being helpful or respectful, he acted as if my questions were stupid and had a very unprofessional attitude throughout the interaction. Customer service should make people feel welcome, not uncomfortable. I hope management addresses this because no customer should be treated this way. read more

Sam is the best, set me up with a rad new single speed bike. Took my measurements so everything felt just right on my new bike. Awesome tunes always playing in the shop as well. read more

We purchased a bike here over the summer. Within two weeks the pedal came off, shaft and all. This shop refused to repair it; they claimed it was regular "wear & tear" and therefore not covered under warranty. Of course they offered to repair it for $250! . I have had bikes for years and never had any pedals fall off. I have a GIANT bike from 1994. And a GIANT I purchased in 2007~ both still have pedals in tact. This bike shop does not stand behind its products. Additionally the customer service is extremely poor. I would highly recommend you find another bike shop for your bicycling needs. read more

Since I now reside on the west-side of Chicago, I put together a collection of bike stores near my apartment via Yelp. And as of now 'Bike 4 Life' just made that list. I honestly did not expect to visit this location because I had my sights set on 'Pedal To The People', but due to them being busy and out-and-about, I looked up the next closest store which was 'Bike 4 Life'. I called them up, and I was invited to bring in my 'Giant TCR Composite 1', which recently had a flat due to glass being in the roads. Upon entering I was greeted by, Sam who informed me a lot about 'Bike 4 Life', and also their feed the homeless food drive, which individuals deliver food via bicycle couriers to Chicagoans in need to raise awareness of the stores cause. While waiting for my tire to be fixed and looking around at the stores huge selection of fixie bikes, Sam also informed me that proceeds for the shop go to AIDS, Cancer and Diabetes. I love cycling, however I dread purchasing new tires when one gets damaged, but to hear that proceeds go towards a cause, it eased that feeling of purchasing an expensive tire for my road bike really quick. I felt very welcome at 'Bike 4 Life', and I will most definitely return for future repairs, plus other events they have which I have subscribed to via their website. I took a deep interest in the homeless food drive because I take part in many volunteer activities at my church, and around Chicago that involve feeding the homeless. And what better way to do it than while on my beautiful road bike along with many other riders. I'm actually very excited that I encountered 'Bike 4 Life' because I wouldn't have been aware of their cause. I hope this review helps all, but meanwhile I leave you all with this quote by Dave Eggers "I am a bike enthusiast; there's a certain amount of romance to bikes. They're both beautiful and utilitarian." Thomas Gouard read more

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Everytime I come here to get my bike fixed one way or another (tune up, air in tires, chain fix,etc) I am always treated with the best customer service and advise for my bike. I've been coming here for years and it just gets better. Highly recommend this place! read more

Sells replica/cheap bicycle parts in name brand PACKAGING. Bought some Oury grips, turns out they're fakes in name brand oury packaging. Claims he doesn't know anything about it, which makes no sense since he's a bicycle shop owner that orders the stuff. Just made up some excuse so that he doesn't have to give a refund. Very over priced, wouldn't recommend. read more

Bike 4 Life - The fake/replica Oury grips, no name or nothing and flimsy. Bad business - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Not good! lol. Misdiagnosed an issue with my bike multiple times and gave it back to me worse than it was before. Go to Boulevard or Blue City or any of the other great bike shops in this city. read more

Took my nieces children's bike to get tire fixed and the other bike one of the training wheels needed to be put on loss screw. Dropped off was called later on to Pick up. Charged me $65 dollars to fix . I won't be returning. Too expensive. I could have brought a new bike. Repairs where easy general repairs nothing detailed. Don't go there prices are too expensive. It's a small shop no big deal. read more

This is one of my favorite shops. I have been to this shop over 3x so far and every time I go there it gets better and better. The first time I walked in was just to put some air in my tires. I got a really cool vibe, and some good advice. The second time was when I was just browsing around for a bike. The sales guy Moss said he had three things to let me know before I got started. First, I could ask him as many questions as I wanted. Second, I could test ride any bike in the shop as long as it did not have a deposit on it, and thirdly, just because I test ride a bike, it dose not mean I will be obligated to buy anything. That's exactly what he said to me. I was blown away. Absolutely, no sales pressure at all. I couldn't ask for a better deal. I finally ended up buying an SE Lager from them. Moss, matched the internet price, gave me great service and customized my bar tape to the color I wanted. He even gave me a trade in value for the existing tires I had on it so that I could get some Continental / gator skins that I wanted. How cool is that. They do however have these funky store hours. They are only open 5-6 hours a day. When I asked them why do they do that, Moss said, " This is a not -for-profit bike shop, and the money raised goes to help our cause. We are all just volunteers here and don't get paid to be here, but we do it couse we love it,.... as soon as we get more volunteers, we will be open more often." that makes sense. Thanks Moss for my smooth looking costume SE., you'll be seeing a lot more of me as time goes on. read more

Bike 4 Life - I got my SE from here. They got all kinds of cool acessories to choose form. - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I've been thinking about writing this review for almost a year now, but I've been afraid of Sam and the vitriol he unleashes on other bad reviews. However, with more people buying bikes this season due to COVID, I felt the need to say something. Here's the thing. Yes - I like the bike I got from this shop. It's single speed, super light, and it's fun to ride around. I was a new bike rider who wanted a light single speed, and Sam recommended this one. However, when I've taken it to other bike shops and asked about it, they said it's clearly a racing bike. The tires are built for speed, not Chicago streets. There are no knobs or places to add accessories and water bottles and baskets (again, it's a racing bike). And it's not the bike that should have been recommended to me given what I told Sam about how I like to ride. I also had issues similar to what people have listed below. Sam is a VERY fast, very smooth talker, but when I tried to get more info on his charity and how it operates (I'm very familiar with the non-profit space and how margins, inventory, etc work), he showed me some essays and noted a Thanksgiving dinner, but couldn't really share much more than that. Something just felt off. And I absolutely felt like I was being nickled and dimed at every turn. $100 to build the bike? (Village Cycle did not charge that when I opted to get a 15-speed with thicker tires a few months later). And a credit card fee. And a charge for the light, which, again, the Village Cycle bike came with a city-required reflector. And the bike I got most definitely retails for less online. Way less. Not to mention, most reputable bike shops have a very strong return policy, or at least a "ride it and if you don't like it, we'll help you until you do" policy. Not so much here. I very much felt like once I left the shop with it, I was done. No going back. I'm sure Sam will have many hurtful or snide responses to this review, but I just want people to know what they are getting into. Sam is friendly and a very smooth talker, but just know that going in and be prepared to back out if you aren't feeling like you're getting what you want. I was too afraid to say anything at the time and I regret it. That said, if you know EXACTLY what you want in a bike, and how much it should cost, this place might work for you. If you are a newbie who doesn't want to be taken in by a fast talker, I encourage you to look elsewhere. read more

RUN! This is a long over due review because I didnt want to even think about this place or Sam. I came in because my favorite, Specialzed Langster got stolen so I came here based upon the reviews. Looking back, I should've ran far far away. Sam said the, Throne Bike, which is the one that looked cool & caught my eye was BETTER than the Specialized bikes & that he knew a lot of Specialized Bikes & this Throne brand was way better quality. I found that interesting because they are a well known bike brand w/quality bikes. So I'm like okay, the bike looks good, let me see if I can take it for a spin. NOPE. Not allowed to test the bikes out. I found that so strange as EVERY other reputable bike shop I had ever been to, ALWAYS let me test out their bikes BEFORE purchasing. So I'm like OK, he seems to know a great deal about bikes & seemed super familiar with the Specialized brand in terms of their ride and quality, so I took his word when he said the Throne bike would not disappoint, especially since I really needed a bike ASAP. I should've listened to my gut instead of this guy. So I ended up with a Throne bike which, was roughly $550, which did NOT include putting the bike together. That was an additional $100 b/c their bikes were "custom made". There was nothing custom made about the bikes. They got the bikes from the Throne manufacturer in a box which they put together. I could've done it if I knew how to put a bike together. He also charged me for "advanced measurements" to make sure the bike was a perfect fit. He grabbed a measuring tape & measured my arm & leg. What was so advanced about that, Sam? Upon getting the bike, it was TOO big for me. So much for that advanced measuring. I took it for a spin & HATED the ride. It was nothing compared to my Specialized bike AT ALL. It was worse. I felt like I couldn't really say anything b/c I had already put a down payment down & felt stuck. So I paid for the bike, rode it home, & cried to my BF about how horrible it was. My BF called Sam to see what could be done. He kept saying how they're non for profit, but you are a business & your customer isn't satisfied with your product. He said he can't do anything so we wanted to escalate it to someone higher. He gave us HIS work email, which of course he never replied, so we had to research who was in charge. Found him & his name was Dan A. Who was also VERY uninterested in helping us & was more concerned about the huge profit they just made off of me. Sam also charged me for using my credit card, which companies can't do that. They incur the charge when a customer uses their card. He just made up a number & charged me. All in all, there are BETTER bike shops with actual return policies & no gimmicks that'll sell you a great bike, way better than this place. read more

Nice little shop on Armitage Ave. They seem friendly. Just got a flat fixed, and they were quick about it. They are a non profit, so it makes me feel good about going there. Cool looking fixies, and a lot of misc bike accessories. They even price match. 1st time there so I'm gonna give it time before I give them a great review. This is now my 3rd time going in.. These guys always seem to amaze me. Fast, curtious, and knowledgeable. I'm totally digging the vibe in this place. read more

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Awesome bike shop! When I first walked in, Sam was ready to help and answer any questions that I had. He suggested a bike that would work best for my height/weight but after further looking around the shop, a different bike caught my eye. He gave me some tips and pointers on the bike that I was purchasing in which I appreciated his honesty. I was cruising the streets of Chicago in no time with a bicycle that rides as smooth as a hot knife cutting thru butter. Awesome bikes, plenty of accessories, top notch customer service. Will definitely return. read more

Make sure you double check prices online and at other bike shops before making a purchase here. I understand there might have been a slight markup because supposedly it's a non-profit, but a 159% markup is unbelievable. I went in to get my daughter's bike looked at because her gears were clicking, and to purchase a new bike seat. Sam said we would have to leave her bike and it would cost $12-40 for his assistant to take a look at her bike. We couldn't leave her bike so we passed on the service. He gave me a few seats to test and said the one I liked was $69.99. He charged me $5 labor to put it on, plus tax bringing my total to about $82. We took my daughters bike to boulevard bikes a few blocks away - they fixed her bike right away and charged me $5. (Much better customer service too!) I also noticed their seats were in the $25-45 range. I called Sam back for the make and model of the seat I'd just purchased. The seat he's selling for $69.99 is online for $27. Sam gave some story about the $69.99 being "MSRP" and they get their items directly from the distributor. Not true. I don't think this "non-profit" is legit, so make sure you ask a lot of questions and do your research before spending your money there. Sam talks really fast like a car salesman, so be cautious. read more

Great neighborhood bike shop! They are really helpful, explain what they are going to do, and don't upsell. Really love having this spot close by and they also have a great mission. read more

I went to this shop a couple of time's but been overly charged I don't understand why being a non profit shop and all I saw most of his product's he has at another bike shop and was 70 percent less than what he's asking. I will not return for the owner charge's way too much for service's and product's I went to a recent bike shop where I was only charged 18.73. this shop was gonna charge me 50 read more

Sam was very knowledgeable and great help for me picking my first bike. He made me more interested than i were before i came in the store. Great salesman and won't sell you anything you don't need. read more

Sam is the MAN! He helped me purchased 2 bikes and he made sure to answer ALL of my questions. The turnaround time was like 24 hours, which was amazing! This is a great bike shop supporting great causes. What I liked most was the high school writing contest that promotes healthy living. Best essay wins a free bike! SO DOPE! read more

Super friendly and accommodating! Found and purchased two bikes with warranty. Amazing customer service! Highly recommend this shop! It is also a non for profit organization. read more

This is one of the more popular spots in Chicago for single speed bikes, and they've got an interesting variety of cool stuff.

So I was recently encouraged to get back into biking (I biked for years before I had a car, all over the city, from Cicero into Chicago and back again, and mind you I got my first car only years ago) and never had the fullest knowledge of bikes but always had that love for them. I've had a Schwinn Madison from Art's in Berwyn, a Trek from Village, a Pista from Boulevard, and just decided I'd rather shop local and support the cause since I wasn't trying to get anything too out of this world (Wife and I recently moved to Hermosa). Had been in here many moons ago and decided to come back seeing they reopened. Sam fitted me for a bike, recommended rims with sealed hubs over my desire for Gatorskins, and added a back brake, pedal wraps, and a kryptonite keeper chain lock (the bike comes with a front brake). To be fully upfront with the story I walked out paying 660. For brandless "sealed hub wheelset", my own fault, should've looked + a Golden Bikes Vader frame you can get for between 200-240 online (google it, or I have links for reference) a back brake and a basic kryptonite lock, which is nowhere near the cost of what I paid. The painful part is that when asking Sam what their Non-Profit does he references facts he has little support for. A Christmas meal donation and some sort of essay middle schoolers can write in for and maybe win a bike? What I'm saying is non-profits exist for the BENEFIT of something, and nowhere on their website can you find exactly how they aim to benefit anyone but themselves. Check it and see. If I'm correct they actually ask for small donations for you to use their air pumps. For literal air. In the end I feel disgusting about the whole thing, and I know most of these low end frames are all made in similar places not in America, but the feeling of trying to support the little guy and not thinking the little guy has your back, nah, not what I want for anyone. Sam's adamance and sharp mind ended up feeling like aggression and hustle. They need to refine their message and be honest with their customers because the neighborhood deserves better. read more

Long overdue review. Sam and crew at Bike 4 Life are amazing. I've been coming to them for over 4 years now and I can honestly say I've never felt overcharged and Sam is always open and honest from the beginning. I'm writing this review from outside as I just picked up my bike from having a tuneup by the best in the business. Sam always has a nice selection of bikes on display that are custom built in shop. If you're in the neighborhood and looking, you have to try here. I almost failed to mention, when I brought my bike to Sam this time it wasn't to get a tune up. I was about to purchase a new bike and he talked me out of spending my money....picture that, wow. read more

This shop is fantastic! Every time I go in the service is fast and affordable. The shops owner Sam is a great guy and is very knowledgeable he will help you make the right choice for your repair. Highly recommend!! read more

I wanted to like this place. Then they scammed me out of $100 and practically refused to give me my own bike back after doing 0 work. This was flat-out one of the worst experiences I've ever had, in any business of any kind. Long story short: (believe it or not, it's actually longer than this) they overpromised, underdelivered, claimed later that they promised a different turnaround time, communicated poorly throughout, quoted wildly different prices at different points, and once they began to examine the bike (a week later), wasted a full day of mine avoiding giving clear answers to my questions about the cost and nature of service (via text while I was at work). They said they had a power outage; I can understand that. But every single way they handled the situation was unprofessional, disrespectful, and at points inexplicable. I came in to cancel the service, ask for a refund and pick up my bike. They said they couldn't do that, so I insisted they give my bike back at least. They went back and forth between saying they "can't do that" or that they "would be able to do that" if only I'd "calm down" and let them explain. Rather than simply responding to my questions and concerns, or apologizing for the experience, the manager consistently commented on my emotional state. He's a misogynistic hustler. I cannot fathom this happening to a man in my position. I finally said that I would walk out with my bike and forfeit the deposit just to move on and never have to go there again, and he refused to give it back to me. After I called the police (what the hell else could I do?), stood around for 15 minutes and pointlessly bickered with him some more, he finally agreed to give me my bike--but not before he attempted to prevent me from walking out *with my own property* so that he could then report *me* to the police when they arrived. This experience has taken years off my life. DO NOT MAKE THE MISTAKE OF GOING HERE. Also: I learned from a biker friend that this place had been operating elsewhere as Armitage Bike Shop (look at the reviews). They rebranded as a "nonprofit," a status for which they appear to qualify by simply holding a food drive twice a year. Need proof of any of this? Let's see how the manager responds, as he no doubt will. Sam: if you do choose to respond, the only thing I want to hear is when and how you'll be giving me back my $100. read more

I had zero knowledge on bikes/types, fitting etc. and they were so helpful with helping me find the right bike for ME. Highly recommend checking them out for all your bike needs. Great customer service and super friendly! read more

I had a very nice experience here the owner is genuine and trustworthy. The vibe of the shop is great! There is no pretentious attitude here like a lot of bike shops in the area. they fixed my old huffy seapine without any hiccups. This place is great and I will be back. read more

Bike 4 Life - Flyer/company card (front) - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Brought a rim in to get worked on: straightened out, new inner tube, a few new spokes and possibly more. The guy at the shop who helped me was pleasant and told me to come back Tuesday for my wheel, I dropped it off on a Saturday. Tuesday comes I call the shop a half hour after opening to check when I can get my rim, they must have been very busy because I was told they would need to call me back cause it was a bad time. I called them back at 1pm after not getting a call back. They told me to come in at 5 pm and it would be ready. Between 1 and 5 they called my phone multiple times to ask questions about the work to be done, then again to be told it couldn't be fixed, then again to let me know they close soon. I came in the next day to get my rim. They replaced three spokes and a nipple on the bike. Charged me for for the three spokes which came out to $8. I was quoted $40 for the repair before they realized they weren't capable of fixing it, which I thought was fair. When I came in the next day to pick my rim they couldn't find my rim and I waited 25 minutes for a rim they couldn't fix, paid the $8 in repairs and left. The next day I took my bike to Barnard's Schwinn at 6109 North Ave which I've delt with in the past for multiple parts and told them the story of the Unfixable hump in my rim. The owner, a real nice guy, took the rim in the back, came back 20 minutes later with the truest rim you could find. This guy is a real expert. I got the rim straighten out, new inner tube plus labor for $38 bucks and FAST. If you want to buy a new bike, you could always check out Bike 4 Life, if you want real work done on your bike go to Barnard's Schwinn about 2 miles from there. read more

If there was a 10 star option thats what i would rate bike 4 life !!! Sam is amazing and informative , I walked into the shop with no clue and walked out super informed . Sam is super thurough and has great customer service ethic . I would highly recommend this place to anyone looking to buy a bike . Sam took the time to measure to make sure we had the right size bike . We picked up the bike two days later because he insisted on building us a new one . He asked us to test drive it to make sure it felt good , also the bike has a warranty and he made it clear that if anything needed fine tuning to please bring it back . All i can say is this shop is a must visit not only because of the great customer service but it also supports a great cause! Thank you Sam !!! read more

I love Bike 4 Life. I'm recommending it to all my friends. Sam helped me with my bike that has been in my parents garage for years. Other bike shops were charging $200 for the repairs but Sam helped me figure out what was actually necessary to fix, instead of wanting to up-sell or waste money. The bike had major issues, and the repairs were only $90 AND ready the next day. I also needed a helmet, lights and a lock. Sam educated me on what products were the highest quality, which often times were the ones with the lowest price! Later learned that all the proceeds for the shop go to AIDS, Cancer and Diabetes and everyone who works in the shop is a volunteer. Love it and I'm so happy this place is right up the street from me. I find it has everything you could want to support: local non-profit with amazing customer service that cares about your happiness more than money. I'll be back soon to buy my boyfriend some birthday gifts and next summer when I intend to buy a road bike :) read more

The crew here is amazing. They didn't try to sell me things that I didn't need which ironically lead me to buy more things. I will be back soon to get more gear to try my best to support everything they do. read more

So one of my goals is to own a fixie bike. This shop has everything i needed!!! Not only the service is awesome but there bikes are just beautiful. A work of art. I recommend if your interested in buying a bicycle come here first! You would be disappointed... sam is a awesome and thanks for everything. I will be back for more thats for sure! read more

My fiancé previously had a great experience at Bike4Life a few years ago, so now that we live downtown, we decided to head back over to the shop to get a bike for myself. To our surprise, Sam remembered him and the bike he bought! He was so welcoming and thankful that we returned. Sam explained everything in a way I could understand and helped me build an amazing bike I can't wait to enjoy all summer. Thanks Sam! read more

Let me start off by saying that Bike 4 Life is a great shop fighting for a great cause.. Then again, a shop is only as good as the workers / volunteers. I've been to this shop twice! My first was seeking a bike to get around with, I met Mas. He seemed down to Earth and was friendly enough. I didn't end up buying a bike from this shop because I found another elsewhere. My second time coming in was VERY different. I came in with my BRAND NEW BIKE which Mas flat out called a "Piece of crap", denied to work on and continued to ask why I didn't buy a bike from him. During conversation with him he called my friend and me 'Lower class citizens' when compared to him. I quote, "Someone who isn't lower class (Pointing to himself) but likes to work with them (Pointing at us) at bike shops". I have never been so insulted in my life! I couldn't believe it. Before leaving I bought some tools here because I respect the cause but I know I won't be returning to this shop anytime soon. read more

Where to begin. My overall experience at Bike 4 Lyfe, particularly with Sam, has been amazing. I had been browsing Craigslist for a bike when I came across a white fixie for an amazing price. I called the business and Sam explained the type of business they were and was very thorough with the process. When I explained to him that I probably wouldn't make it out of work in time to go in and see the bike, he offered to stay open later to accomodate me. Score! When I arrived, he proceeded to show me the bike and went over what to expect. The bike was exactly as pictured, and at the same price listed on Craigslist. I went ahead and bought the bike and was able to pick it up the next day fully assembled. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone looking into getting into cycling! read more

I had a really fantastic experience purchasing a bike here. The owner Sam has been wonderful in helping me design a bike that would best fit my needs. I highly recommend Bike 4 Life if you're in the market for a good bike at a reasonable price. Thanks guys! read more

I was in need of a bike repair and was told about this place from a friend of mine. I actually took my book in to get some things fixed. After speaking with Mos the owner he told me that it was a much better idea to get a new bike or even a used one which would cost the same as repairing my bike. So i took his advise and get a great used bike that he tuned up and it runs great. The price was way better than i expected and have since told friends about this place. Great bike shop read more

There seem to be a lot of recent negative reviews about Bike4Life and I have no idea why. I have been here many times over the last several years for various bike related purchases (two replacement bikes - one was stolen thanks to such high demand for bikes during the pandemic - and a variety of upgrades) and Sam has been incredibly helpful every time. I've been to several other bike shops in Chicago and have always had the best experience at Bike 4 Life. The quality of the parts sold by Bike 4 Life is just overall better than other shops I have been to, which is why prices do seem to be a bit higher, but very reasonable in my opinion. Sam is always very upfront and clear about what kind of bikes they sell and his attention to detail is superb. They primarily deal in single speed/fixed gear bikes (no, these are not "racing bikes" like another reviewer posted in their review) which are so popular because they're easier for patrons to maintain themselves. I've been riding bikes around Chicago for 10 years and Bike 4 Life never disappoints. read more