All bike shops aren't equal. If you've been in a few I think you know what I'm talking about. I've…read morebeen an avid cyclist for decades and have had experiences in a ton of shops. Rudy's is a really good one. Took my custom road bike in for a tuneup once and they treated it like it was their own. The mechanic even asked if he could take it for a ride - he really loved it. (It's a vintage bike and quite spectacular if I do say so myself!). Even with vintage components they were able to work their magic and get it into perfect shape for another season of riding. When my wife's bike got stolen in broad daylight (it was locked and secured with a thick cable), we went right to Rudy's to buy a replacement. When they heard the story, they informed us that there is a national database of bikes listed as stolen. They offered to enter the serial number and picture (which we had) into the database should the bike ever be brought in to any participating dealer for service. Nothing has turned up but it's nice to know that such a resource exists. Every time I've been in there the people are friendly and the service is first rate. You can tell they really enjoy bikes and people who ride. Great place. My favorite bike shop in Chicago.

I live an hour away but Rudy's had a brand I was looking for and they were able to answer a bunch…read moreof questions for me and help me avoid shipping fees (the bike brand is mostly sold online). I ordered it with a deposit and they kept in touch throughout the process. I was pretty excited by the time I was able to drive out and pick up my new ride. What was very cool was how the folks working there came out to meet me and talk bikes for a bit. I got the impression they were genuinely excited for me. Anyhow, if you need a bike, bike service, or parts, I highly recommend Rudy's Cycle and Fitness (even if you're not super close). Can't beat a shop run by legit cycling fans.

Family business since 1911. Nice staff. I brought three bikes to them for minor repair. The bikes…read morewere fixed same day at reasonable cost. We also purchased a new bike and helmet for my daughter. With the purchase, you receive three free maintenance check ups. A very nice local business to support.

I'd heard of this store's century old rep. I have a schwinn…read moree-bike and bought one for my wife. We did not purchase these at Barnards. I was left with the impression that they don't do e-bikes. Which is fine. I get that. Just say it. But they do sell them. We were there for a build finish. Handlebars. Wheel, etc. Guys says it needs bearings adjusted and all this other stuff and he doesn't have a rack, etc. (which I doubt - from factory in box my guess is that's all good to go, but I'm not Greg Lemond.) So, these e-bikes you sell come assembled? Or does someone ride them to you and then they get driven back home. And, I guess you can't service these e-bikes that you sell? This is how big boxes like Dick's bury century old shops. Which is sad.

A great mom and pop business, with excellent service and great prices. You could consider this old…read moreworld quality.

I just dont understand why this business doesnt have 5 stars. FAST..check...Professional…read moreCheck....Easy to work with Check. Will definitely give them my business again.

So grateful to have this excellent shop in Oak Park. I bring all my bikes here (hybrid, cross,…read moreebike). The service is great. Drop off and pick up is always a breeze and the team is knowledgable and personable. Mostly recently brought my cross bike in for a full annual tuneup, chain replacement and new bar tape. John did fantastic work and I'm excited to have my bike tip top for a race at the end of the month. Highly recommend these folks.

James and the team provide expert services. The are professional and quite knowledgeable about…read morebicycles- highly recommend!

Skokie Lagoons is huge! Biking, hiking, fishing, kayaking, canoeing- it has it all. I had no idea…read morethis place existed, but I'm so glad to have been introduced to it. Was here recently to rent kayaks and it was great. Chicago Kayak and Canoe rental company sets up camp, and it was very busy with school groups and families on a recent beautiful September 2016 Chicago weekend. Kayaking the Lagoons you're bound to see cranes, heron, a few other people kayaking, and get lost in nature. From time to time there is algae on the water and it can be smelly. We went right into a cove of algae where nobody else was going, and it felt like something out of the movie Adaptation. I was jealous of all the fishing going on, and hope to be back for that. It's only 5 miles from Chicago Botanic Gardens, so if you park here you can bike on in for free, and have an easy short ride. A lot of people reviewing Skokie Lagoons complain about the trash, and how people leave lunch garbage and bottles laying around. To me that's not a reflection of the place itself- do your part- pick up some trash before you leave, or pull a bottle or two out of the water. Or just stay away, because I'll be back, and the less people the better!

Great place for hiking. Not too crowded and not far from home for me. Lol. Will definitely visit…read moreagain.

This review is a hearty, full throated recommendation for Bikefix in Oak Park, Illinois. As their…read morename makes clear they fix bikes, but so do lots of places. They know their stuff, they're more than willing to explore various fixes for tough problems and to give advice about the alternatives. Their work is careful, thorough, and above all, expert - powered by the kind of knowledge that can only be gained by years of experience. I'm a long-time rider who has had enough experience with bike shops and mechanics to know that all bike mechanics aren't equal and neither are all bikes or their problems. I can also swear from experience that even "simple" problems may be symptoms of something more serious that's going wrong and needs fixing before your bike is fun and safe to ride again. And I know that bike that's properly set up is a pleasure but a bike that's badly setup or needs work is just miserable. Every bike rider should have a really good mechanic and Bikefix is simply the best of the best.

Very experienced people on all things regarding bicycles. Kurt took time on several repairs, bike…read moresizing for my body & riding style for purchases. I have been a rider for 50+ years and wretched back in the '70s. I couldn't be happier at my finding a true shop and staff.

I had some major surgeries recently and so looking forward to getting on a bicycle again! Recently…read morewent to the store for the first time and Ian and Steve both helped me that day! Of course I had a lot of questions and some decisions to make to ensure I was making the right purchase. Thank you so much Steve and Goodspeed Cycles! You both were extremely knowledgeable and went out of your way and above and beyond to make this happen for me. I will be picking up my cycle in the next few weeks! This is wonderful and family-owned business and all the employees definitely take pride was my observation. Please know that sometimes there might a small wait while they are assisting other customers. It is definitely worth that wait so they can then provide you with the best experience with your purchase and they will certainly take the time to make sure you are making the best choice for your cycling needs! I hope to be able to make some of the weekly group neighborhood rides they do. Check out their website or call for more info!

This is an awesome bike shop. I went in looking to buy a fat bike and the guy helped me decide that…read moreit really wasn't for me. There was no pressure. He just helped me out. I bought a number of accessories from him that I needed for my bikes (I have many!) I really love that they have an appointment system for bike repair. You don't have to leave your bike there hoping they will get to it within the next two weeks. I definitely recommend this bike shop.

I frequent the Prairie Duneland trail starting in Hobart because it is close to where I live…read more Trailblazers is located right where I start my walks on the path! Previously my mom had bought a bicycle here but I had never visited the store. Since I was in the need of a new bike, since my original bike was accidentally donated, I figured this was a great place to start after my mom had such a good experience. Social distancing measures are still under affect so when I stopped by only four customers were allowed in at a time. While I did have to wait a bit to be helped it was worth it for the customer service. When I mentioned what I was looking for the employee (who I believe was one of the owners) was very knowledgeable and pointed me in the right direction. Of course it is best to test drive a bike just like a car so I rode around the parking lot for a couple of laps while he explained how to shift gears and shared other information about the bike. I ended up trying two the second being the one I ended up buying! It rode similar to the first but has that retro look which I was sort of looking for. Overall the experience was amazing and I will definitely stop by again especially because I want to try one of their protein shakes.

Why Trailblazers Bike Barn Is Just Awesome A Full-Service…read moreGem with Real Heart Trailblazers Bike Barn isn't just any old bike shop--it's a full-service bicycle boutique where you can breeze in for a bike tune-up, browse new rides, or stock up on accessories. They've got everything covered: sales, maintenance, repairs, and more. Chill Factor: The Recovery Café Need a pit stop after cruising the trail? They offer health drinks, smoothies, and refreshments, plus a comfy seating area to catch your breath--or just people-watch like a pro Trailblazers Bike Barn feels like your local ride's clubhouse--only cooler, because they actually know your favorite trail.