Well.......Hadn't used the bike for several months and was disappointed to discover the front tire was flat. Put it in my Jeep and drove it to Spokesman on Vernon Blvd. in LIC. The flat was quickly fixed at an affordable Price. Drove the bike to my parking garage, took it out and rode it to my apartment 7 minutes away. All was well; I parked the bike in my apartment and sat down at the computer. While working at my computer heard a pop and a hsss and saw that the repaired tire on the bike had gone flat. Called Spokesman and was told someone would come over and could I send a photo of the bike, which I could not. I arranged parking which was unnecessary because the repair person arrived by bike. The repair guy replaced or patched the flat tire and said it had gone flat because of a crimp in the tube when the tire was fixed. It's sitting in my apartment now and looks OK. Will take it for a test ride later. The work was done quickly, the flat appears fixed, the repair was affordable. Thanks. read more

Spokesman Cycles - My bike. It is yellow and blue and has two tires. Have had it for 10 +years. Thanks for the fix. - Bikes Near Me - Long Island City, New York

Smooth sailing at this bicycle shop! Purchased a brand new bike afterschool for my 8 year old and within hours it was assembled. Picked up on the same day! There was no pressure to purchase but lots of selections to choose from!!! read more

I had my bike stolen, and needed to rent a bike for a ride with a friend of mine...it was only for a few hours but I looked at the options, and tested a few out...I am sure i was driving them crazy with all the switches in bikes but they were very patient and accommodating...The next day I came back and rented another bike, I complained the seat was too small and they swapped out for me...Great customer service. read more

Have had very negative experiences with bike repair. Brought my bike in for a tuneup (paid $99). First ride after the tune up the rear gears were too tight and changing themselves. Brought it back in to get fixed and they tried charging me. After I left I was now unable to move the gear on the front side. Had enough of having to visit the bike shop after every ride so brought the bike elsewhere. They pointed out my bike needed a few parts (tire tread was worn down, rear derailleur was out of place). Seemed as if the tuneup I paid for at the outset didn't really do the job. Needless to say won't be bringing my bike in for repairs here given the low service quality. read more

Absolute worst service. I'm a full-time wheelchair user with just the one chair. When the tire on one of my wheels popped off, I sat stuck on the couch, unable to go anywhere or do anything around the house, while Boyfriend ran to Spokesman to get the wheel fixed ASAP. The shop was empty when he arrived. He quickly explained that all he needed was the tire placed back on the wheelchair wheel. The guys at the store flippantly told him he could leave the parts behind and pick everything up the next morning. Boyfriend reiterated that this was a wheelchair wheel, and I couldn't be without it for an entire day AND night. It took him several minutes of explaining that I cannot walk at all and pleading for the guys to finally begrudgingly fix the wheel. It took all of 5-10 minutes to get the tire on. We chalked up the experience to bad luck and tried Spokesman again when the tire on my wheelchair mobility motor was worn down and in need of replacing. Again, the guy at the shop was rude and flippant with us, clearly not interested in securing our business. He claimed that the shop was busy and we'd have to wait at least an hour to even be seen. I told him I couldn't be without the motor for an hour, since I rely on it to get around long distances, but since I had a doctor's appointment later on that day, I could come by the shop before the appointment. I then asked clearly whether I could come at X time and not have to wait, then double and triple checked these details with him. Each time, he emphatically replied yes. I returned at the promised time, only to be told by the same person that I'd again have to wait an hour just to be seen. I pointed out that he had given me significantly different information earlier and that I had specifically made sure I wouldn't have to wait if I arrived at this time. He claimed to remember me but none of the time specifics we had talked about. He then remarked, "You can just go somewhere else if you want." Definitely advice I plan to take. read more

Friendly staff, I came in to get some parts for my build and they had exactly what I needed. They look very busy and short staffed so I did not want to take anymore of their time. I was in and out in less than 10 minutes. Will come back and support this local Bicycle shop! read more

Very rarely do I give a 5-star review for anything. In this case, it is well deserved. I had a front derailleur on my Specialized Hard Rock bike that was pretty much hosed. The bike had over 12,000 miles on I since I had purchased it in 2008, and I was considering "putting it down" after years of service and normal wear and tear repairs of the drive train, rim and many sets of tires and tubes. After receiving a quote for a new front derailleur, I thought I would replace it to take me through the end of my riding season and buy a new bike next year. They replaced it and informed me that my front and rear gears were pretty worn as well, which I was already aware of. I returned a few weeks later and had those replaced and basically the bike is like new again. This will become my around-town bike and I will be purchasing a new carbon fiber frame bike for touring. I won't hesitate to purchase it at Spokesman because of their excellent service. Kudos to Mike for delivering on his promises! I highly recommend this bike shop. read more

Window says "all customers must wear a mask" Owner NOT wearing a mask neither inside nor outside and talking close to customers Messy places...tons of bikes outside taking up public space (likely illegal) read more

so I got my inner tube changed ,the repairman did it fast ,but he clamped the new inner tube he put on ,and less then a hour I had a flat again $40 waisted read more

I love this place. Everyone is nice and helpful. If you buy your bike here, you can come for repairs anytime. When I messed up my bike chain, I was able to swing by and they helped me no problem. A true neighborhood bike shop. Thanks for everything! It's a crazy time and you make a difference. read more

If I could give 0 stars i would. I don't know how the owner of the place promises a bicycle on the day they're closed. Definitely one of the worst cycling shops I've been too. It's crowded. I often saw that People don't wear masks in there but chose not to say anything. They never have have anything on the date they say they will have it. Being that someone spends money on an expensive bike you would think they'd want to keep you. Never again ! read more

Nice local, bike rental place ran by people who know their craft! Recommended! Got 2 bikes for a full-day, and took off to the Prospect Park. Bikes were in a good condition and did not cause any problems. read more

This shop is a couple blocks from my apartment so I took my road bike in for a $100 tune up. Picked it up a few days later and there was a rattle when the front break was applied. The mechanic said they couldn't figure it out and that it was probably a bad headtube. I took it to another bike shop and found out that it was a loose break calipher. I won't be going back and would rather travel a bit further to get work done correctly. read more

The service is standard but this store is just over priced on all items for the only reason that it's the only store around the area and some folks just don't know any better. So expect to pay about 30% of what you can get the item anywhere else. read more

This is an awesome shop in LIC. Carlos and his mechanic was very helpful. Thanks man!

Refused to sell me new grips for my Trek because I, a middle aged woman, wouldn't walk 5 miles in 100 degree weather..to get my other bike, a brompton, to show him. Biked 20 minutes in 100 degree temps to get to LIC shop from Brooklyn on my day off to get new handlebar grips for my 12 year old Trek. The guy begrudgingly asked what I wanted. I said the handlebars were making my finger numb and needed to fix this. I also casually mentioned that this doesn't happen on my other bike, a brompton. His reply was that I had to bring in my other bike to compare to the Trek. I said I can't ride 2 bikes. I was told that I was to walk home and fetch the other bike or he would not help me. I said it's 100 degrees out, I'm 50 years old and it's unreasonable to spend the next hour walking back to get my Brompton. His response was to get on the phone and talk to his friend about a 4th of July party - ignoring me. I was stunned and walked out. Later I called Irving Place branch and asked to speak to a manager. I explained what happened and was rudely told that the salesperson was totally in the right. When I asked "How do you help people with worn out grips that only have one bike", he cut me off and replied, "ah, but you have two bikes, so you have to bring them both in. He was yelling at me about what a complicated, technical problem this was, etc, etc. I've been biking in NYC for over 30 years and if you think replacing a grip is complicated... I feel it's outrageous to refuse service to a middle aged woman during a heat wave because she's can't walk 5 miles to get her second bike. Just for new handlebar grips. Don't go to this shop just on principle, even if you can afford the high prices read more

Worst bike shop I've ever been in NYC! Store was completely over crowded barely enough space to walk through! Not only that but the older gentleman don't if he was the store owner had the nastiest attitude and even wh n I chimed in to help answer his question he was a complete douche about it. Looks like my bike wasn't expensive enough for him to be polite. Definitely not worth going here!! read more

I'm a prospective bike buyer who moved to the neighborhood recently. Buying a bike has been on my list of things to do since i moved in dec 2012. the area is perfect for it, and my home is just far enough away from the shops on vernon that a bike would be really convenient. My last bike was stolen a several months ago and I'm still a novice biker. I showed up at this store, expecting to walk out with a bike. I tried talking to the salesperson, telling him that I'm interested in casual riding and a low price point. I'm thinking about a cruiser bike. He offered to show my some hybrid bikes instead. Fair enough, I suppose. However, all the bikes he showed more pricey than what I was willing to spend. I kept asking questions about buying advice, e.g. how to size, what to look for in a bike, and he didn't give helpful answers. His demeanor seemed like i was annoying him by trying to find out information. He was the only person in the store on a weekend where there were a several people to attend to. Someone walked who needed a previous repair redone and he basically brushed them off. The customers asked to speak with a specific person who wasn't around. The salesman told them to leave the bike and come back later. All in all, I wasn't impressed with the attitude of the salesperson nor with the bikes/value I saw. As a new biker looking for guidance and reasonably priced entry-level bikes I didn't feel like my needs were being catered to. I understand the young man working there probably had a lot going on since he's the only one in a busy store, but why would the owner leave a single person in the store on a busy weekend? I heard of another store by the bridge that has good reviews on Yelp that i will be checking out instead. read more

Unhelpful and rude. Let me start by saying that I work in the area and I would normally go to my local bike shop instead. These were convenience visits. I am predominantly a mountain biker but I use a road bike for training purposes. Went here twice a few months apart figuring I'd give them the benifit of the doubt, unfortunately they failed. I should have known that, given the hipster nature of this neighborhood, I wasn't going to find anything much other than fixies and messenger bikes. The first visit I was going there to get some Stan's NoTube sealant and to browse their general selection of gear and bikes. The store in general is small, cluttered and dirty. Their stock of items looks as though it has been sitting on the shelfs untouched for months. Sun faded and dusty. They had no sealant stocked and was told they didn't know when more was coming. I asked if they carried any shock pumps, was told no...that's it. No request to order one for me or recommendation as to another LBS to check out. Walked out unsatisfied Second visit I went to check out what they had in terms of apparel. More specifically, Lycra shorts. Again, cluttered and just unkempt. One employee seemed to be building up a BMX bike in the middle of the floor. On an already cluttered and small sales floor that's pretty stupid personally. The Lycra shorts were behind him on a rack and I was directed by another employee to "step over" the bike that was being built in order to get to them. They had about 7-8 pairs of shorts, mostly women's. When I asked about the men's and a specific size he said "They might be up there." Simply pointing to the top most rack but offering no assistance to help me look. After stepping back over the half built bike and nearly tripping in the process I walked out again...disappointed in the complete lack of desire to make your business money. In hindsight I should have tripped on the bike. Then I would be a prototypical american, sued, bought the business, and turn it into a proper LBS that would cater to all disciplines of cycling. Not just the Ugz and flannel wearing youth culture of LIC. And yes I am not the biggest fan of LIC DON'T GO HERE read more

Walked into Spokesman Cycles, my local bike shop, looking for a tire tube. The employee said that they didn't have the exact size tube for my tire in stock, but I was told that a different size (in stock) would work. When I asked whether I could return it if it didn't work, the employee tersely replied, "Then don't buy it!" So I didn't and walked out. It's nice to know that they don't stand behind their product or their recommendation and knowledge. read more

My bike had a flat, that's what happens when you run over a nail so I called Spokesman in Long Island City and asked very nicely, how much does it cost to fix the flat? The guy on the phone says, bring the bike in, I have to see it first. I then asked, if its a patch job how much will it cost? His reply "it all depends, bring the bike in." I didn't bother to bring my bike in this time, I just avoided this place altogether. I have dealt with this place before, last year I took my bike to get a new chain and they quoted me $35. After they got me on the chain the so called mechanic tells me I needed (must get) a new rear cassette (this is the ring with gears that attaches to the rear wheel) and I also need new bearings on my cranks. So $35 turned into $150. This place is awful, I notice why it's always empty. No one knows what's going on there, everyone is clueless, each person tells you something different, quotes different prices, different protocol, the only thing that is the same is their scam to take your money and put it in their wallet. read more

The owner is rude. I needed help with air and he couldn't be bothered! When I told him you had no problem helping me when I purchased the bicycle here neighbor, he got up and helped read more

Sometimes I choose to shop at a place because of their customer service - to know that my patronage will be met enthusiastically and that I will walk out with more than just a product, but also a renewed relish of human fraternity. Sometimes I choose to shop at a place because of their cost-savings - to consider my budgetary concerns and take pride in the prudent sensibilities necessitated from adulthood. But sometimes, even in the absence of the above mentioned qualities, I choose to shop at a place because of the child-like impulse to buy a bell for my bike because my friends have one and I don't want to be the only one without a bell and the shop happens to be right near a major bike lane. I wouldn't shop at this place otherwise. BRRNG! BRRNG! read more

I've used Spokesman many times the last five or six years for small items. Last summer, I did a tune up on my 20-year-old Diamondback, and bought a new seat and new zippered storage bag for under the seat (Topeka). This weekend, the zipper on the bag broke. I went in on Sunday and showed the broken bag to a fellow named Mike. We agreed it was well past warranty, and so technically wasn't Spokesman's responsibility, but he also agreed that the zipper should've lasted more than a year. Bottom line: Mike asked for my phone and said he'd talk it over with his boss and call me the next day. He kept his word, called back and swapped out the bag for me, without charge. Classy, and the kind of customer service that deserves a shoutout here. read more

It really is as bad as they say. I needed them to put on a new rear wheel on my bike, which was a pretty simple task if you had the right tools. I was a little hesitant to come here due to the reviews but figured such a simple task would be fine, especially if I kept a close eye on what they were doing. I noticed they had to adjust the seat post to put it on their stand, then saw the guy tighten the clamp real hard after finishing. I was a little concerned but the everything seemed fine on the surface. Turns out I was totally right to be concerned. My bike was just shipped to a real pro bike shop on the west coast to be assembled and they reported that the seat post was totally cracked and warped. Staying close and local to my apartment with Spokesman's incompetent staff set me back well over $100. I could have paid for a roundtrip car ride to a real shop like Nomad Cycles, plus enjoyed a nice dinner at Casa Enrique. Instead, I'm writing this review to warn others to avoid this shop. DO NOT trust them with your bike. read more

I've had a good experience every time I walked in this place. This shop is luxuriously spacious compared to most NYC bike shops, which is nice. They have a cool chick bike mechanic who seems to really know what she's doing. When your bike needs service, they are honest and upfront about the pricing and fully explain what needs to be done and why. If you're looking to buy a bike, in addition to new bikes they have a rather large selection of used bikes, which is rare. They also have a very good selection of accessories, including bags, computers, gloves, etc. This is nice because at most small NYC bike shops, they don't have room to keep anything in stock so you have to special order everything. Not so at this place. Cons: They don't seem to have an awning or any sort of identifying sign. You just have to look for the store at Vernon Blvd & 50th Ave with all the bicycles. Also, the pricing is not the cheapest in town. But many times the service is worth it. read more

I've been going to this place on and off for years out of sheer convenience. I bought my first bike, here, and that was the one and only time I have received courteous service. This last time, they changed my rear tire, they totally disregarded every request I had made and then did something really weird to my rear brake cables that I can't figure out and found out at the wrong time that I had no brakes. When I called to complain, (they told me that there was NO way they did that). The guy was a total asshole. I will never, ever go back and will send everyone to the Queensboro Plaza, instead. Also, I'm reversing the card charge. read more

I am all in favor of using the local shop and made a point to try them twice. Twice was enough, they won't see me enough. They seem to know what they are doing but their lack of customer service is abysmal. I rented a bike for the day, which was actually very rusted, and when i returned it they tried to charge me by the hour while it was cheaper for the day. They did not apologize. Each time I go I feel I am bothering them (may be because I am not buying the $ 1,200 bike). Even when you ask for advice you feel you are bothering them. I had better service at Bike Habitat. It's further from my place but nice to be treated decently. read more

They failed to fix my bike. They couldn't tell what's wrong and convinced me everything was fine. Five minutes after I left the shop my bike broke again so I brought it right back. They said they would not return the money whatsoever. The guy was arguing with me very rudely the whole time. read more

The location is VERY convenient if you live in LIC. I'll go back for emergency repairs, but other than those, I'll be huffing it further away. Two primary issues. They are SUPER busy. Their customer service and the quality of their work relfects that they don't need any individual customer's business. Second issue. The space is very small and cramped. I've dropped my bike here 3 times, each time my bike has come back with additional minor issues that reflect the bike getting banged around while there. For instance, the last time a dropped off for a tire issue, my bike was returned with new gear issues and my bell was broken. They also never call back when they say and require one to stay on top of them. read more

I wish i can give this place zero stars. I left my bike for 6 days and it was not touched at all. I called them multiple times to see if it was ready and they told me that they will call back. Which they didnt. So i decided to walk over there and i dont live in queens. I show up and they are surprised and took my bike back. They didnt show any remorse and they all suck major dicks. read more

I went in to do a preliminary shopping round for a new bike on an under $700 budget. To some people that sounds ample but really even I know its pretty low . Spokesman was EXCELLENT, I worked with an employee named Hugo, he was super helpful, took the time to answer all my questions (and there were a ton of them) and work with me through all of my issues regarding what would be most suitable for my needs as a cyclist while staying in my budget. I cannot say enough good things about the service there. I highly recommend this shop! read more

The less-than-stellar reviews initially turned me off this store abut I decided to take my chances since the store was close and all I needed was a tune up. I had no issues whatsoever. I dropped off my bike and though they said it would take 2-3 days, I ended up getting it back the very next day. They called me before finishing it to suggest installing a new chain and it was completed shortly after. It was clean and in good shape, working flawlessly. Everyone was friendly enough and got the job done. On a bike ride with my girlfriend a little later, we noticed her tires needed some air so we pulled up to the store and used their free air-pump with, again, no issues. read more

I had my bike tuned and hubs overhauled. I found the folks here pleasant and responsive: after an issue with the overhaul--creak in the bottom bracket that wouldn't go away--they took the time to chase down the problem (seems to have been an issue with the press-in bracket); and when a brake cable snapped a couple of months after my tune up, they replaced it without charge. This is a solid neighborhood shop. read more

So far I have gotten very good service from this outfit. Unlike many gentry-oriented bike store / repair shops, they don't try to sell stuff you don't need and they don't have a slick bedside manner, so if that's what you're looking for, look elsewhere. Their one defect (so far) is that for some reason they don't sell Armadillo tires. It is true they may decline to do something they don't have supplies or equipment for, but I regard this as a virtue rather than a defect. read more

I came here with a Dutch friend on his last day in NYC of a 6 month trip. Our last to do on his bucket list was to ride a bike together but we weren't able to. We stopped by here, explained to them our situation and let us use two bikes to quickly do our last bike ride! Thank you so much! read more

This is an excellent bike shop wasted on a yuppie neighborhood like Long Island City. They have everything you need and the service is solid. read more

I wanted to give 0 stars but thats not an option. I took my cheap bile here to have the cassette changed which i was told would cost me $29. I was also told I need to replace the chain and it would cost me $17. Plus labor. I found the price reasonable so I also asked since im already paying for thr labor for that, if they could change my brake pads. The brake pads they gave me cost $20 for a set of 4. That is $66 plus the $10 labor I was told i would be charged, $76. Some how they managed to charge me $116 and when asked why, he changed the price of everything. I live across the street and trust me when i say i will never go here again. Not only that I recommend anyone who needs any work done on their bikes to head to Astoria, Corona or Greenpoint. Avoid these hustlers who take advantage of people. I hope they close down and i encourage anyone who has been ripped off by these dudes to follow my lead and contact the BBB. read more

Spokesman Cycles - **AVOID** - Bikes Near Me - Long Island City, New York

I went to get my rear wheel fixed, the rear disc hub. It was not centered and was leaning to the side. When I got there they happily said they could fix it. They charged me for a new rear disc hub, 10$, then they charged me 16$ to install it. About 4 days later I had to get my bike centered again, it was wobbly. I ended up going. To a different bike shop and they told me that "due to unprofessional installment it broke". They showed me the piece and it was clearly broken. DO NOT GO TO SPOKESMAN CYCLE. They are unprofessional and don't know how to do a decent job!! read more

I wish this was the same Spokesman Cycles that exists in Santa Cruz, CA. I broke a spoke on the way to work this morning. After work I found the closest bike shop that could possibly remedy the situation so I could ride home to Lefferts Garden. I stopped into Spokesman and was paid no attention until they were done with a couple customers (not a huge deal). Once he was finished he asked what he could help me with. I told him I had broken a spoke and without any further questions he asked when I would like to pick it up. (A broken spoke is NOT a big deal and takes 20 minutes to fix with the right equipment). He said I'd have to take a good spoke off of the wheel so he could measure it. I asked if he could measure the broken spoke and said that wouldn't work (it absolutely would as it broke right at the hub). I then said "Aren't there spoke length calculators?" with which he answered "Yes" to and then stared at me blankly with no further comment. I told him I'd go elsewhere and took the my bike to Greenpoint Bikes. I told them the problem and asked if they could fix it. The dude at the counter (super nice guy) said no problem and had me out the door in 20 minutes and charged me 20.00. Spokesman Cycles has a lazy staff. Do yourself a favor and go over the the Pulaski Bridge to Greenpoint Bikes. They care about bikes and they care about their customers. read more