If you know what Phil Wood smells like, this is a must stop. The one star reviews did not let me down. If you're a bike guy, this is a place where you can probably find Campy record friction shifters with a clamp. read more

Don't let this place fool you. Ellis is an amazing dude. He has everything, and knows everything. I decided to shop there because he stayed late after hours one night to help my wife with a last minute emergency repair. He spent a couple of hours with me fitting me correctly, narrowing down my riding style, and letting me ride a bunch of bikes. Once you get to know him, he's WAY friendlier then people give him credit for. I've never had anyone give me the attention at any bike shop like he did to make sure I bought the right bike. After the purchase, he took 20-30 minutes and went over every nut, bolt, and adjustment on the bike before I took it home. He's also a paisano, so we got to speak Italian with each other, which is hard to find around here! read more

Mr Eli's was by far the best guy I've ever met. I was looking for a very nice Mountain bike and he's the only guy around town that has inventory to sell. You do have to call him to book the appointment but for an 80-year-old guy he's in a pretty good shape and he has a great sense of humor. A lot of knowledge a lot to teach in great service.I also brought more clients to him and they were also happy with his service. The guy speaks Spanish English in Italian and you can go wrong anywhere else. At the end of the day you just have to understand his sense of humor. read more

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So glad I stumbled upon this place and the owner Elis. He's a crazy old man (said it himself) and he'll give you plenty of shit but it made for a fun experience, definitely not for sensitive customers. He told me "FU" when I tried to haggle him $40, but he knew I couldn't find a better price. He was right. He's got great deals and a solid selection - easily beats the nearby shops IMO. Bought a bike for $500 (KHS Urban Xtreme), the next cheapest price I could find for the bike was $750 online. It was new in the box and now it rides great. I'm a fan of Elis and will be back in the future. Old school and genuine guy, no credit cards here... he hates the internet... will most likely have some off color comments... but he cares and will work to find you a good bike. Thanks Elis. read more

TLDR- Casual/inexperienced bikers-don't come here expecting just to browse without annoying the owner. My boyfriend and I came here browsing for a bike. We didn't have anything specific in mind, and aren't bike experts. We just wanted to look. The owner approached us and asked if we knew what we were looking for and we told him no-- we were just looking. He told us he couldn't help us if we didn't know what we wanted. I told him we just wanted to browse and he said(irritated) "you browse at a library, here you buy." We decided to leave--we were there to buy, just didn't know what we were looking for yet. From reading other reviews, I am glad we left-- regardless of intellect on a specific subject, as a business owner, it's still important to treat people with respect and provide good customer service. It's how you get and keep customers. We are going to buy from someone less rude. read more

Ellis is VERY knowledgeable and has an impressive selection of bikes. He is 80 years old and knows his craft. Ellis seems like a genuinely good guy that if I had to guess, wants people to enjoy bicycling as much as he does. I can't speak for other people's experiences on here, but at no point did I feel he was being rude, condescending, or trying to be difficult. No doubt he comes off as rough around the edges and is not for the sensitive types. Do your online research ahead of time (know what type of biking and what type of bike you're looking for) and it'll pay off. As another poster said, if you're new to biking, make this your last visit and not your first. Due to the COVID Pandemic, Ellis is only meeting by appointment. read more

I fully agree with the above review in one respect. Elis is judgmental and he does tell you what he thinks you should buy. But he does it because he is very knowledgeable and wants to help you pick a bike you will actually use. As far as pricing goes the above critic could not be more wrong after shopping for bikes all over the fox valley area I returned to Geneva cycle and saved over 25%. I couldn't be happier with my recent purchase from Geneva cycles thanks Elis read more

If you know what you want and you've done your window shopping,then Ellis is the man to see. The discounted price surely out weighs the view and layout of the shop. But please, don't let this be the place you stop at first,make it your last. You'll thank me later,as Ellis can be hard to deal with,if you don't know what it is that you are looking for. read more

The guy is a bitter old jerk. He hassled me when I was 12 over a bike I got somewhere else and was looking for an accessory. I wouldn't piss on him if he was on fire read more

Do not go to the Geneva bicyle Shop! I stopped in with my adult son and 14 year old nephew just to check out the bikes. The salesperson was extremely rude, obnoxious and became angry and agitated when we asked questions. Scary! I'm pretty sure the guy was drunk. read more

I was driving through and stopped to view the shop. I parked in area that was not clearly designated no parking in the small parking lot. I was then approached by the owner, an older (not so much) gentleman. He first approached me polietely and asked me to move my car. Then proceeded to ask if the lot was full or was I just lazy? Excuse me? What little tact. I do not recommend supporting a business owner who is so outwardly rude to potential customers. How dare he make a comment suggesting I was lazy. Not OK. read more

Yes, the owner is an eccentric fellow. But he's good crazy, not scary crazy. It's a shop you only visit once every several years - you need someone who is knowledgable and fair, not somebody who you want to have coffee with. This is a retirement hobby/business for the owner. Ellis buys frames, wheels, seats, etc. at the end of the model year at deep discounts and then keeps them in his shop. He uses them to build top-notch bikes at very reasonable prices. He can also customize each bike - if you want higher handlebars or a cushier saddle, he just builds a bike with your preferred parts. The last time we comparison shopped, his prices were lower than the other two bike shops on State Street. They are still expensive by Big Box Store standards. We visited 3 bike shops before Geneva Cycle Shop. At each one, a salesperson proclaimed that a bike that they had on the floor was "perfect" for her. Each frame was a different size or style - they were trying to sell us a bike that was convenient for them, not one that was correct for her height and cycling needs. We stumbled upon Geneva Cycle I noticed a few new-looking bikes outside of a consignment shop. We told the owner the frame size we were seeking, and he pulled one out for our daughter to try. He watched her ride for a few minutes, then told me that the frame I had requested was the correct size, but that she was almost tall enough for an adult bike. He said, "I could sell you this bike now and have you come back in a year for a bigger one, but you could also get away with buying a small adult frame and have the bike last until her early teens." I really appreciated this. My daughter seemed hesitant, so he asked what her concerns were. She wanted more upright handlebars, so the bike he built her had them. He put together a bike for her, then we came back a few days later to ride it. We came home with a fantastic bike that will last for a very long time. We were so impressed by the quality of the bike and the level of service that we returned a few weeks ago for a new bike for my husband. Again, we purchased a phenomenal bike that was perfect for his needs and fairly priced. Again, we found the owner to be a little weird. We can live with that. read more

Old man is mean and rude. When he asked if I needed help and i explained I was just browsing he almost yelled at me saying how he found the term browsing offense, either " I was a customer or not" I told him I guess I wasn't a customer and he stared at me until I left the store. Made me feel very uncomfortable and unwelcome. His store is over priced anyways. read more

The owner is very judgmental likes to tell you what to buy. His prices are high considering there are 2 other bike shops10 feet away. When I told him I was going to shop around he started guilt tripping me for leaving his shop. VERY UNCOMFORTABLE. read more

Ellis knows more about bicycles than most people know about everything else combined. He is one of a kind and a throw back to a time when making a purchase was an experience and an event. I wish I had money to buy a new bike every week because the interaction alone is pure enjoyment. read more

We stopped in here on a whim while walking the nearby bike trail. This shop is not like most other bicycle shops, and to me that is a good thing! I had been looking for a recumbent bicycle for a long time, so I had been shopping around previously, often disappointed by price and how shops regarded the odd bike request a bit negatively. After stopping at the pricey shop across the street, we went to Geneva Cycle to browse. There was only one recumbent bike in stock, and the owner was very honest as to why. They just weren't profitable and were hard to sell, but he made me a great offer and worked out a deal that made us both happy. He adjusted the bike to my frame and gave me many great tips, all while the shop was quite busy. You can tell he is great at fixing the bikes so they not only worked wonderfully, but also fit the rider. Mr. Elis's shop is not like the others, it feels like a well used garage with a lot of work being done in it. He is very to the point, very honest, old school in a mom and pop shop feel, and has a great sense of humor! It isn't a fancy shop, but there are lots of great bike choices with a very knowledgeable owner who you can tell is passionate about his shop, loves to bike ride, and is willing to help a customer out as best and honestly as possible. read more

I must say, Elis is authentic, original and very friendly overall. As a small business owner myself, I appreciate Elis, who is extremely passionate about his bicycle business. Some people might be turned off by him, but I beg you to be understanding and open minded to this 74+ year young man. I just want to share with you the warmth that this man has in his heart. It's funny how we first met, while I was parked in front of his store (waiting for my wife to get out of the Consignment Shop), he yelled over to me to move my car. I was at this point out of my car and looking at his bikes. He seemed abrasive, telling me "You can't park there, because I'm blocking his sign. Park over here." I was laughing, but started up a conversation with him. We talked for quite a while, and ELIS knows Bikes and Business for sure. I find it wonderful to hear people passing by his shop yelling "ELIS". He is a great person to know and if you're looking for a truly enjoyable and different small business experience, please visit him and give him a chance to help you....as that truly is what he is trying to do (even though he might seem a little odd, he's just old school, very old school, and he really does care). My wife and I have both purchased bikes from him, and we will be back again! read more