I've been going to Uptown Bikes since 1995, when it was Urban Bikes. I've bought 2 bikes there and love this place. They offer a range of services. They have a large stock of mid-range bikes ($300-600), some high end, and quite a big choice of cheaper bikes (new and rehabbed). Their mission is to be both a business and to serve the needs of a very diverse neighborhood like Uptown. They've got bikes that professionals might want and also that bike commuters (like me...also a professional) might need. They have cheaper bikes for kids, working class, poor and homeless people in the area. They're closed on Wednesdays but open on the weekends, generally 11-6 each day (but just till 5 on Sunday). If you bring your bike during the first wave of warmish weather in spring, be prepared for a wait to get it fixed up: maybe 3-6 days. If you bring it in during low season, this'll take just hours. People have always been very helpful to me, whether it's been trying to decide what items fit my needs and budget or when trying to learn how to do some bike repairs myself. The store is an active participant in all kinds of biking and social justice events in Chicago. read more

My partner and I have two very different bikes (hers - a 20+ year-old steel Huffy road bike, his - Cannondale 29-er mountain bike) that get a lot of use, and we have both had great experiences at Uptown Bikes. The techs are extremely helpful, will take the time to talk to you and get a feeling for what you really need and want on your bike and will try to suggest useful and effective changes and repairs. The Huffy has gone through wheel rebuilds, handlebar and break swaps and derailleur replacements at this shop and is much better for it. They even took the time to cut down and reuse the original handle bar grips during the handlebar replacement. The Cannondale has had its bottom bracket cleaned and repaired, also with great results. The shop has a lot of used and re-purposed parts that they are willing to use to keep your repair bill down and they have been able to turn around the repairs quite fast. All of the estimates and bills have been reasonable and the quality of the work is great. Highly recommended! read more

Great local bike shop. Extremely friendly service and the staff is very knowledgable. LOVE this place!!!

Brought my bike in for a much needed tune-up. Was quoted a price of $55. No problem. My bike is my primary form of transport and I'd happily eat the cost. Was told that there might be a wait as the other specialists were busy. Again, no problem. Five minutes later, someone else pushed their bike in and a specialist immediately walked over to appraise his bike. I didn't hear what the problem was but a repair price of three bucks was quoted. The specialist saw him immediately. What the hell, guys? Principle of the thing - I was there first. So me and my fifty-five bucks walked out the store and took the train to Cycle Smithy where they saw me and - more importantly - my money right away. read more

I'm new to cycling and I was directed to Uptown Bikes by friend who used to be a bike messenger. I knew I wanted a single speed, but that was it. I didn't know anything about bikes. So I stopped in to look around, see my options and check the store out. Pete came onto the floor and started talking with me (I mean with, he listened too) and patiently explaining everything. He is super nice and extremely knowledgeable. He set me up on a couple different models and let me test ride them. I felt really good about one bike, a Raleigh Back Alley, but decided to shop around a bit. After visiting a few other stores, I was sure I wanted to do business with Uptown Bikes. Their staff is so much nicer, cooler, and not snob-ish like a lot of the other stores I went to. So I went back and bought the bike. They set it for me, attaching the extra accessories, adjusting the seat, added air to the tires. Then Pete took the time to explain everything to me on the bike from the seat right down to the stems on the tubes. A side note that illustrates exactly how cool the staff is here. While I was waiting for my bike to be set up; a guy came in who clearly wasn't going to buy a bike. Everyone was very busy, but they still took the time to talk to this guy. He had a lot of weird questions and Pete took the time to kindly answer them or figure out what he was trying to ask. I'm sure I would not have seen this at most of the other stores I visited. So go to Uptown Bikes, this place is exactly what a local independent business should be. I know I'll be going back for all my cycling needs. read more

These folks are awesome! Extremely helpful. Great attitude. Friendly and patient. Had a big box of crazy bike parts and other shops turned us away. Uptown found it to be a challenge worth taking and my 17-year old was thrilled. Love them!!! read more

Fast, friendly, skilled and knowledgeable mechanics that somehow rarely charge me for their service.

This place is great! Not only did they put my trike together and make sure I could test ride it, they were very helpful when I took a tumble the first time I was out on it. Maria, the owner, even helped me bike home to spare Mom and me the trouble of carting the trike home and show me how to get back to use their pumps. The staff is very helpful and will answer all your questions. I have no reservations about recommending Uptown Bikes for cycling needs. read more

This place is great! The people are all super helpful. Their stock is a little pricey for a miser like me, but it is high quality. I'll go here if I ever need some help with my bike. read more

This is the coolest place! They are so thoughtful and thorough, and have really great prices. They go to extra lengths to explain your issue and how they solved it. I never take my bike anywhere else. read more

These guys are the best. They're super helpful, incredibly nice and do great work. I brought my cheap-o self converted single speed in to have them take a look and make sure I wasn't going to kill myself on it and they fixed up a couple things for a whole $10. Then on a lark I asked if they had this set of handlebars I'd been looking for that they quit making 20 yrs ago, or if I could leave my number if they came across a set. Lo and behold, they had a set in the basement. Just goes to show, it never hurts to ask. I highly recommend these guys. read more

I went there on suggestions gathered here. I needed to get my back tire replaced, a simple enough job and the next day the tire got loose or flat or whatever riding on a bike path. Fortunately I brought along a mini pump otherwise it'd really just have ruined a planned outing with friends...anyways, this type of thing happens but still, pissed me off. read more

I LOVE Uptown. - Fantastic customer service - friendly, helpful, full of advice. - QUICK turnaround. - Very skilled; my repairs and tuneups have never been anything but top-notch. read more

Ive been to many places.. Many shops cool people and all. But this shop is just robery.. There stuff is way overpriced. I guess they try to make profit. But TOO HARD! thats my 1 star for this place. They also dont have much in stock. read more

My girlfriend and I purchased 2 excellent Khs bikes there about a month ago. The price was very reasonable and their service is impeccable. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable. We've been back there several times since and it's always been productive and pleasant. They dispense great advice and make repairs on the spot. Maria, the owner is very involved and highly interactive with her customers. We live in Uptown and prefer to patronize the local merchants. Therefore we wouldn't buy online or from a big box store. You can't go wrong with these folks. read more

This is my LBS. I really *want* to like this shop, but they make it difficult. They have a couple of good mechanics, but several of the people in there seem to know next to nothing about bikes. An example: A little more than a month ago, I was there with a friend who's new to biking. He was looking at locks and asking the woman behind the counter about the various locks they carry. When I walked up to the counter, the woman working there was saying this: "I don't have a bike yet, but when I get one, I plan on just getting a cable lock because I think it'll be quicker to lock and unlock than a U-lock." Uh, seriously? Worst advice ever. It's bad enough that they're employing someone who doesn't even ride a bike, but to not have trained her on the basics of bike locks is unacceptable. A cable lock alone just won't cut it in Chicago, and that's one of the first things she should've learned. I'll go to this shop for the basics, but I'd rather pedal a little further for better service from more knowledgeable folks. read more

After deciding to buy my husband a new bike for his birthday I did a little research and was surprised to find the best-reviewed bike store to be in our own neighborhood! And the cool thing is, the reviews turned out to be true. Aaron spent nearly an hour with my husband, helping him decide what type of bike he's looking for, what features, etc. No attitude and no impatience. Even if we don't end up buying the bike from Uptown Bikes, it's probably where we'll go for any repairs or parts. read more

this place is as friendly and helpful as everyone says. but the best part, is they really aren't elietist or intimidating like so many other bike places can be. i walked in with my messed up old cruiser i got at the co-op and they fixed up my rear wheel good as new. They also, did a few other little maintence things for free, like tightening the front wheel and replacing a missing air cap thingy. plus, the mechanic was really hot. read more

I needed a new seat, post and saddle so I rode in on my bike with no seat. Obviously the goal was to ride out actually sitting on my bike. After paying $77 on the post, seat and saddle, they wanted to charge me another $10 to tighten one friggin saddle screw so that I could ride out. Really? Really? Seriously? I just dropped $77 in your store and you won't comp me on a tightening of fV(king screw? I went out of my way, past other bike shops to come here cuz I had heard good things about it. Never goin' back again. (And no, I did not pay the $10. If it hadn't been Saturday close to 5p.m. I wouldn't have bought the seat here either, but I needed it quick.) Adios, uptown. read more

Love, love, love. Maria and the other staff were incredibly friendly, patient and helpful when I was buying a new road bike, spent lots of time explaining features and options, and let me test ride as much as I wanted. Selection isn't huge, but I was able to get a new road bike for much cheaper than I could at any of the other bike shops I visited. More importantly, many of the other bike shops on the north side have a holier than thou/you're not hip enough/not enough of a biker attitude about them - at Uptown, they know their stuff, but you don't have to, and you'll never feel less than. Service & repairs are also quick and high quality. read more

Best service, best prices, none of the usual bike shop attitude.

This is an awsome shop. They staff is very helpful and friendly. I brought my 1972 schwinn paramount in there to have it worked on and they treated it like it was their own. Staff is knowledgeable, friendly and helpful. I would recommend this place to anyone. Thay have real cool vintage parts also. If you are doing any vintage rebuild projects this is the place to go. Awsome shop, you guys rock! read more

I brought my mom's bike in there - thought i'd get it a tune up for mother's day. It took 4 weeks and cost $110 just to adjust the brakes, oil the chain and true the wheels. I dont feel like I got a very good value - you can buy a halfway decent bike at target for a hundred dollars these days. read more

this is not the biggest store but its does have some nice bikes. i bought a bike there about a month ago. they were nice and helped me to find the right bike. its winter so and the bike was marked down almost 100 dollars. they did a tune up for free. and they are going to do a 30 day tune up as well. so i got a good new bike for 300. i would tell anyone who is looking for a bike to check this place out read more

So I inherited a bike and needed to replace the tires/tubes and get a safety check to make sure it's ready to ride. I came here because my friend John works here, and he's a good dude, so I know the place has got to be good. I was so pleased with my experience. Hannah and Nora totally helped me out. They let me know what needed to be done, and told me what could wait - definitely could have told me anything and I would've been like, okay. Even as a bike-riding noob, I felt like I was treated with respect, and given a fair deal. Not to mention, they finished my bike same day!! I will definitely come back here with any maintenance/equipment needs. Thanks, Uptown Bikes, for being so welcoming! read more

This is hands down the best bike shop I've been to in Chicago. The staff is extremely knowledgeable & attentive. They make great recommendations when needed and they are also really quick with repairs. I love this place! read more

I am an absolute novice, and one of those stubborn people who try to figure everything out using youtube videos. So when I finally gave up and took my wobbling bike into Uptown Bikes I expected a bit of a snicker. I'm not the bike-shop type, and I'm very intimidated walking into a place where everyone has the type of bike-shop cool these guys exude. But, never fear, they are super kind, and not condescending to the likes of me. Not one snicker. If I hadn't asked for new non-quick-release posts, their fix to my bike would have been free. Also, the bike mechanic (John, I think) told me if I brought in my bike pump he would show me how to use it. Being the absolute bike dolt I am, I purchased and returned two bike pumps on Amazon, believing them to be faulty. I kept the last (and most expensive) pump because I just didn't return it in time. This pump seemed to be faulty as well. John patiently gave me a lesson on how to use my bike pump...at no charge. I may have felt like an idiot learning how to pump up a bike tire in front of the other customers, but John patiently answered my constant questions "really, it seems like I'm pushing too hard on this handle, won't the tire explode?" Honestly, I cannot rave enough about the service or the kindness I encountered in this shop. I will never go to another bike shop in the city. If you love the freedom of the road, but aren't blessed with mechanical know-how, let them show you the way. I wonder if they also meditate in the back... read more

My Best friend told me about the Bike shop years ago and went once and have been going ever since...the service is amazing and quick(compared to others) and the people that work there are grat and knows what they are doing and the prices are good as well. [ read more

The staff at Uptown Bikes has been busy posting positive reviews here to counteract the real ones, which say how the shop has changed from a great shop, into one that overcharges and exploits the most minor issue, (like a missing screw) for the most it can get out of you. The manager, Nora, is terribly unfriendly unless you happen to be her type. Unfortunately no one is her type. All customers are fair game for exploiting. Take your business elsewhere until management changes, and the shop is back to being reasonably priced instead of greedy for every nickel and dime, and shows some appreciation for it's customers. Not the nasty attitude of Nora. read more

Patient, respectful, good people. They took the time to explain to me things about my bike and the work they were doing on it, and I left feeling more knowledge (as a woman and being out of my element, it's super cool to not feel intimidated in a bike space). I had a small issue with a tire that required a fix two days later and they took the time to look at it, give me options and handle it on the spot and then subtracted the price of the original work from my total. Leah, Maria and the person working the front (They introduced themselves to me and I didn't catch it) were the three people I worked with and each of them was friendly, and just super cool. I also appreciated that they used gender neutral pronouns when referring to me, instead of assuming ("can you ring them up?"). My bike is super happy and feels better than ever and I feel empowered to handle it a little bit better. Thanks for making a welcoming space for all types of bike people, Uptown bikes. read more

Outstanding shop. Competent and exceedingly friendly staff. Nora and John are a treat. They welcome questions about bike maintenance, and give you none of the snarky attitude you occasionally find with other shops. Would be nice if they expanded the selection of new bikes somewhat, but that is not their bread and butter. Repairs are. read more

Came in to repair a tire on a Saturday and even though they were busy, they took care of me and were very friendly. I will use them from now on for all my bike repairs. Thank you guys. read more

Great shop, helped me pick out my bike, excellent at repairs

this is a quality bike shop. i've been in here only a few times, and the staff knows me by name already. i brought my hybrid in for repairs/new parts, and the turn-around time was very fast, and customer service has been fantastic. the price was great, and the bike looks and rides like new. definitely my go-to for all things service-related. i can't wait to check out their 2012 selections! read more

first of all, the repairs are really affordable and the turnaround time is great. we've brought two bikes in for repairs and tune-ups and both were ready days before the stated deadlines. their selection of accessories and bikes isn't huge but from what I can tell, they carry only quality or reasonable stuff that you would probably end up choosing anyway. second of all, the staff is attentive and unpatronizing, though I have gotten some conflicting opinions from different people who work there. they definitely don't give you a hard sell, though they do let you know what your options are. but probably my favorite thing about Uptown Bikes is that even though my boyfriend is an experienced bicyclist and I am not, I've never felt that anyone at Uptown Bikes has talked down to me or treated me differently than they treat him. Even better, they ask me questions about MY opinion when it comes to MY bike, rather than asking HIM what HE thinks. Sadly, this is a rare experience from service people, so I appreciate it all the more. I'm likely going to be purchasing a new bike in the next year or so and Uptown BIkes has more or less guaranteed my business due to the equitable way in which they've treated me on my visits there. read more

Only been here once, but great experience! Needed to get a wheel for friend's bike. More than one staff came up to ask me if I needed help. They gave great advice, explained choices and overall took great care of me. Would definitely go back! read more

Awesome, honest staff by people that actually bike.. and love it .. and are knowledgeable about biking... we love this place.. much better than Cozy's , etc.. read more

Great service... I have even seen them recommend other shops because it would be better for the client! Bikes sold at this shop are a bit pricey because they typically sell high end bikes. Techs who work in the shop are super smart about bikes and will help you with all kinds of issues. I take my bike here for check ups and parts ... and trusted bike education. read more

Walked in looking for an affordable bike to handle my limited needs and walked out with a new bike and happy. They didn't try to sell me something out of my price range and answered all of my questions and some. Great customer service goes a long way. read more

Great store! Their staff is great, especially John, he did a great job repairing my bike. It is worth it to come here from miles around.