I have to give a shout out to the village cycle center. I've been getting increasingly into cycling over the last couple years as it seems to be the only kind of fitness that doesn't absolutely wreck my body. And at the end of last season I decided it was time to upgrade the fx3 (which I also got from VCC during covid). Now for the last 8 months I've been browsing trek.com, specialized.com, reddit, facebook marketplace, etc., trying to get a sense of what I want. I'll say considering most bike manufacturers have a large range of bikes for each model, the marketing folks then don't do a particularly great job explaining the differences. Enter VCC. I stopped by because I wanted to know if I was 56 or 58cm, with a plan to go buy used in the approximate $2000 range. My man Tim spent maybe 2-3 hours with me walking me through the entire range of trek road bikes, teaching me the differences among the gearsets, alloys used in the frames, the brakes, etc. It really made me confident in terms of zeroing in on the bike that would fit my needs. And it just so happened they had a prior year model at a price that was close-ish to my original budget (lol). Walked home with a new Domane SL5, and now something like 6 weeks and 500+ miles later I'm a pretty happy camper. read more

I've been to Village Cycle many times to buy accessories and a bike. This review is for a recent basic tune up. It was a bit pricey but they did a fantastic job. Gears are back to shifting smoothly and they cleaned it well so it is like new. They even added new tape to the handlebars. Very happy with the service and will continue coming back! Once they previously helped me install some pedals I bought there for free. Just above and beyond what you get at other local bike shops I've been to sometimes. read more

Village Cycle Center - They even added tape on the handlebars where it was coming off as part of basic tuneup. Attention to detail. - Bikes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Spring Tradition - taking my bike into Village Cycle for a pre-season look-over. Love this store. Nobody makes fun of my old-tyme bike, kickstand or that I've never taken the time to learn bike care basics. Timmy (Tommy?) gave me a warm welcome back in the service area. After checking out the bike he explained the simpler, lowest priced service package would do. My hubby checked out the eye-candy bike accessories. Oh, my back was purchased at Village Cycle. Get in early in the season. I waited until early May. Two week wait, understandable given the quick winter/spring Chicago transition. read more

Straight up pricing and friendly staff. They have a good stock on hand, including older models, anything to fit the budget.

This was one of the best buying experiences I've ever had. My car and my bike was rear-ended while my bike was on a hitch-mounted carrier on the back of my car. I was of the belief that I would be without a bike this year because I didn't think the driver's insurance company would cover anything. Rus provided a very detailed report about the damaged bike that the insurance company needed in order to issue a settlement. Adam and Tim helped me find a replacement bike at my budget and made sure it was spec'd and sized perfectly. Everyone was so nice and professional; it was a pleasure working with them. I'm so excited about my new Domane and grateful that VCC helped me the way they did. This is the 5th bike I've bought here and I'll never look elsewhere. read more

Every visit to Village Cycle makes me happy. A few years ago, I stopped by for a new bike since I live in the neighborhood. The owner happened to be working that evening--he not only helped me find the perfect Trek bike for my needs but also took the time to ensure it was properly fitted to me. That level of care left an impression. Since then, I've returned many times--for a flat tire, seasonal maintenance, new handlebar tape, and more. Every visit reinforces the same truth: This is a shop I can trust. They do excellent work at a fair price, and they go the extra mile. If they spot another issue while servicing my bike, they'll fix it affordably or give me a heads-up about what might need attention in the future--never with pressure, just with honesty. I wish more businesses operated like Village Cycle. It's been around this long for a reason, and they've shown me why. I can't recommend them highly enough. read more

This is my $30 bouncy overpriced cell phone holder. Cracked the back of my iPhone and would hurt you if you attempt to buffer its ability to kill your mobile device. Figured the $5 Target competitor would suffice as it works better, so back to the shop right? WRONG! As immediate as I was explaining to a helpful clerk, his smug bald co-worker leaned-in to snark quite blatantly, "I don't believe that". So this city bike shop WON'T STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCTS! Will not remedy, return or exchange it, all headaches are final here. NOTE Every item I considered purchasing was totally overpriced compared to any Chicago independent bike shops I've been to. This snobbery excuse of a retailer is obviously on commission VS base and stereotypes your entrance to level their intentions on helping you. So if you prefer snarky bald sales guys when money's no object, this is your shoppe! read more

Village Cycle Center - Defective Cell Phone Holder - Bikes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

A little background. I was an avid cyclist in my 20's and 30's. Stopped in my 40's. And now getting back into it. I've only known the world of road bikes as I cycled only as a sport and never for commuting. Commuting is a very different beast and one I knew nothing about. A coworker at the office recommended I visit Village Cycle Center. She mentioned that they were very helpful and nice when she needed assistance with her bicycle. I decided to give them a visit. They were instrumental in helping me choose a commuter bike. Very knowledgeable. They were also very helpful in helping me choose accessories I would need for commuting. Such as fenders, rack, basket, etc. My whole experience was positive and I highly recommend you give them a visit. When I get back to cycling as a sport, I'm planning on getting my next road bike here. read more

Village Cycle Center - Trek Verve - Bikes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This place is great! Haven't rode a bike in years and they were more than helpful in setting me up with the one. They gave me useful tips and equipment on how to secure my bike and free tune ups&checkups. Cost: I bought a $350 bike, but with extra equipment (kickstand, back brakes, lock) so total was about $550. (They do not sell used bikes) This is probably the cheapest bike you can buy. Overall this place is very friendly and helpful for buying a new bike. I rode 10 miles my first day and couldn't be happier! I forgot how much i love riding Update: I put a conversion e bike kit on my 1 speed bike and wanted some work done but unfortunately couldn't service it due to liability (insurance). They sell E bikes and can only service the ones they sell. But they helped get the equipment I needed. Very nice place, good people willing to help. read more

This started when I tried to put in air in my tire and I couldn't do it outside so I brought it in and the nice manager helped me. Then the tube popped when I brought into my heated garage, assuming from the temp diff the gas expanded, VC did this to me once before and apologized and replaced the tire For free. This time both the tire and tube burst and Tim the very unfriendly service manager said it was my fault that the two year old tire that they originally replaced was dry rotted from storing in a heated garage. Really? And then he snarkily told me to put air in outside myself next time. Which is funny because the other manager said the inner tube was installed incorrectly (also by VC) and it was at an angle which is why I couldn't get the air in, in the first place. Maybe a good place for new bikes but avoid for service. WTH read more

Dave Wilson. All you need to know. The staff was extremely knowledgeable and had just the right amount of reckless. We found each other there. Josh & Claire read more

To say I am a novice cyclist would be a massive understatement. I went into Village Cycle Center with some ridiculously simple questions and a high-level of intimidation. All of that changed when Adam began to help me. He made me feel welcomed and comfortable, despite knowing nothing about bikes or cycling. His advice was straightforward and simple. He has such a warm demeanor and answered my questions without a single eye roll! Don't hesitate to bring your business here even if you have no clue what you're doing, like me. read more

The best service department in Chicago. Skilled mechanics who love bikes and treat their customers with respect.

Came in as someone pretty new to bikes (other than 30 years ago in my teens). So had no idea of what the cycling world currently looked like. Worked with Adam who was awesome. Took his time, explained things carefully to me, and showed me all kinds of options in a casual, no pressure setting. Great experience at Village Cycle - will definitely be returning! read more

I have been going here for many years. They have bailed me out many times with flat tires, tune-ups, brakes and today Russ installed a new seat on my bike in ten minutes. (something my DYI husband couldn't do in an hour). ACB read more

I went to Village Cycle for the first time to purchase a bike helmet. Shortly after I entered a salesperson greeted me, asked what I needed and took me to the bike helmet section. After showing me a few helmets our interaction started to feel rushed. It was at that point I realized they must be on commission and I could be taking up too much time for a bike helmet purchase when the salesperson could be helping a customer with a bike purchase. I also noticed a different salesperson kept interrupting us to ask her for what looked like a price sheet that she kept rolled up in her back pocket like a newspaper. By this time I started looking on my own for a helmet and found one I liked by the brand Giro. Since I was at a bike shop I also want to look at, not purchase, a bike but it appeared she had very little time for that unless I showed intent to purchase a bike. Fine, but my philosophy is, take the time with the customer now. You never know who they are, who they know, or if they will come back to buy more. It just so happens I do plan to purchase a bike in the near future but will most likely steer clear of this place. My impression is the interaction could be rushed and it seems they would spend more time trying to sell me a bike that I don't want just for the sake of selling instead of putting my needs, the customer priorities in the forefront. read more

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I bought a Trek bike here in 1989, and I'm going back today to buy another. They only sell Treks, but that line has something for everyone, from a cute Loft Electra step thru to a $$$$ super fast bike for Tour de France aspirants. Unlike some bike shops that get a little pretentious (I'm looking at YOU, Johnny Sprockets), the staff here is really friendly. More interested in getting you on a bike that's right for you, than pushing their own preferences. Ohhhhh, so many pretty colors. I'll take that black one, there, to replace my black bike that got stolen. Two days later. I LOVE THIS BIKE that I got from VC. A sweet black Trek FX Stagger, women's frame style. It rides like buttah! read more

I haven't bought a bicycle in ages and wasn't acclimated to what's available. I called around and they were the only bike shop that was friendly over the phone AND had inventory. I took the long drive and was treated to the best buying experience I had in a long while. I really enjoyed that bike and with time I came to the conclusion that if 1 bike is good then having 2 might be better so I called again this year and spoke to Alex and he spent time explaining what was available and the attributes of each model. I told him I'd come out in a few days but had a change of heart after getting off the phone and brought my bike up to get the over due tune up. I was thinking I'd drop it off and chose another bike and they'd have both ready the next day because it was 1 hour before closing. Oh no not with Alex and the team....they had both bikes ready before closing saving me a 2nd trip and parking. Alex even helped me load the bikes outside to make sure everything was good. This is a very friendly, top notch place with plenty of inventory and accessories that's pleasantly devoid of sales pressure. read more

Village Cycle Center - Both bikes ready to go home! - Bikes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I contacted Village cycle and asked, Do you repair chains on spin bikes? To which they said they did. They ended up destroying my spin bike, and putting a cheap quality chain on it I could not ride the bike the chain kept breaking and I ended up throwing the bike away :-( That was an expensive lesson learned. read more

I was looking for a road bike, and I asked to see two options. They took it out of the back within minutes and Luke helped me to pick out one that would work for me. It was on sale, like most products, and they also had accessories available. I highly recommend Village Cycle Center read more

Village Cycle Center - Bike gallery - Bikes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

How fantastic that this bike shop which carries, biking items, bikes, Chicago-Themed Shirts, Beer Glasses, Bike Pajamas, as well as all the necessary tune-up and other gear each avid biker whether a racer/competitor, transportation to work, or leisurely biker can appreciate. I love that it is a small owned family business as are many of the shops on North Wells Street in Old Town. It is refreshing! I also love that they offer unique items and gear as well as their location which is only a few blocks from the Bike/Running Path that runs parallel to the West Shore of Lake Michigan! read more

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Very friendly, job is done right. I did the tune up of my bike last year and they helped fix a brake issue I had this year. I will continue to go there whenever I need repairs on my bike. read more

This is an AMAZING bike shop! Tim Clinard set me up with a sweet ride. Outstanding customer care from start to finish.

village Cycle Center of pre COVID times is back. The have inventory again and their service is once again over the top friendly and helpful. I recently had an issue with my gears on a bike I bought from them a year ago and they were able to fix it instantly without charge and a few weeks before that I needed help installing new pedals I did not buy from them and they only charged $10. I would highly recommend buying from them. Their prices are very competitive but most importantly their after care is just amazing. read more

I had to stop by on a raining night to get a flat fixed on my commute home. The guy who took care of me was helpful and nice. Although he said my tire was serviceable, he suggested that I should replace it and offered me a discount on it after he realized he didn't have the less expensive option in stock. I had been looking at bike panniers online for awhile and saw they carried a some of one of the brands (Ortlieb) I was looking into. Happy to turn a flat into an opportunity, I bought a pair of the Ortlieb's Back Roller City panniers. They adjusted them to my rack and showed me how they worked. After getting home, I realized they didn't give me the discount on the tire. When I called they were friendly and credited me back the discount, which solidified my positive impression of Village. Later on, I looked up the price of the bag on Amazon ($124) and saw it was quite a bit cheaper than Village's price ($155). Unfortunately, it also turned out to be $10 more than the actual list price from the manufacturer. I appreciate being able to go into a store and look at a product like this in person and having someone install and show it to me has value too, so I wouldn't mind paying the extra $21 over Amazon's discounted price. However, I resent paying higher than list price so knocking off a star for that. read more

I was interested in getting an electric bike and did a little research online before going to Village Cycle. I am certainly glad that I chose this spot as the help I received was exceptional. The sales rep was super patient and walked me through the wide range of e-bikes they had on sale. He answered all my questions, did not pressure me and helped to pick a bike that fit my needs. Further to this, they were able to make the bike available to me in just 90 minutes after I decided which one I wanted. Another sales rep walked me through all the paperwork, what prep I needed to do before riding it extensively and answered more of the questions I had on the bike. There are SO many different options when getting an e-bike and I'm glad that I went to Village Cycle to get my questions answered. Please don't rely on YouTube or online reviews - you will make a better decision by going to a place like Village Cycle! read more

This place came in clutch today as I decided to do a 20 mile personal marathon on my bike. I was on my way to Lincoln Park when all of a sudden I got a flat tire. On this busy day I was told they couldn't accommodate anything further than a flat tire & that I had to drop it off. They whole process took maybe fifteen minutes & for an in & our job this meet my expectations. The employee were courteous & answered my other inquiries such as a new bike seat. I'll definitely be returning for further service as the workshop in the back seemed to be stocked with people who knew what they were doing. There may be a line but social distancing is enforced. With stickers on the floor & mask are required & worn by the staff. read more

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I liked this place at the first time when I visited it. They are a dealer of Trek and have a number of different models of that brand. Consultants are great guys. They could explain all of the differences between the models, and give me some great advices. They also provide you 2 check ups during the year ( the basic one after 30 riding hours and the one after a year or so). So I bought my first brand new bike there! I realized it was a right place! read more

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Was biking far from home last week and my tire came loose. Found this place and they had my tire fixed & I was out the door in a couple minutes. I unfortunately didn't get the name of who helped me but thank you for saving the day! read more

Great service work: I took my vintage Stumpjumper in for a general tune-up plus a new chain and cassette. The bike still had mostly original equipment, including the integrated shifter and brake handle mechanisms, one of which appeared to have given out, and I was resigned to the possibility of losing the original look and feel. The shop was able to repair and adjust the original parts instead of replacing them with new ones. Along with all the other work, this was finished in just a few days and at a fair price. It's great to have this old bike working like new again, but when the time comes for a newer one, this is the place. read more

Village Cycle Center - Specialized Stumpjumper - Bikes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Adam and the guys here are just so great. They are always so helpful and kind. I really appreciate all they've done for me as I have gotten into cycling over the past year! read more

I recently bought a Retrospec bike for short city commutes and casual lakefront trail rides. Nothing crazy. I am a new bike owner, so don't know a whole lot. I decided to pop into Village Cycle on a Monday evening, as I assumed the weekends were more crowded there. I needed to purchase a tire pump, basket and cup holder, but also needed help in how to use the tools/put on the accessories. Within 15 min., they were able to show me several accessory options and attach everything to my bike. Thank you so much for the education and assistance! read more

Village Cycle Center - Bikes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I went last year to fix my tires and they did an excellent job. I also like that they have free use of air compressors if I need to inflate my tires every now and then. Today, I returned hoping to get the same level of customer service to fix my tires again. There was a sign outside that they were at full capacity and are taking flat tires only. I waited in line for almost half an hour only to be turned away because the person who assisted me said my handle bar was slightly loose. He said it was a liability if they will accept my bike even if I only came there for the tires. I did not know that. How I wish they were screening the people in line so as not to waste other people's time. They could also ask people to sign a waiver to not file any liability if something happens post service. I will definitely not return and will not recommend in case my family and friends ask. I was also planning on getting a new road bike to replace my old bike but I guess I will bring my business to another shop. I hope my experience today is an outlier but still I was disappointed. read more

This is probably a sign that I'm getting old but when I was a delivery biker and worked by this place I would come here and get reasonable deals on things. But today I went here to get a bike seat and a bike lock which I thought would cost $120 but it wound up costing 167.00. Not only was the cheapest bike lock $67.00 but I asked them if they would put on the bike seat and they charged me 15$ for the labor which is honestly insane. Pretty good service but they should offer more of a range of products bc not everyone who comes in is rich read more

Great bike shop with an excellent array of bikes, very knowledgeable salespeople, and a rock solid service department. They only carry Trek, but if you can't find a Trek to fit your needs, you probably need something custom built anyway. A Chicago bicycling institution. read more

I went to the store in search of a leisure bike, a cruiser, an urban commuter. I bike only during summer weekends. My budget was about $500. The GM pushed too hard to sell me a road bike that started at about $700. (not gonna happen for a weekend bike) Anyhow, this was the least of the problems. The facts that made me rate a 2-star are as follows: 1) GM tells me: "what we have in store is just the tip of the iceberg, you should check the inventory online." 2) I bought the bike of my dreams online. Free store pickup. However, in the order confirmation email, there are no instructions as to when the bike we'll be ready for pickup. 3) I call. After waiting for 10 minutes on hold, the guy on the other end says: "We are sending emails when the bikes are ready. After fully assembled. 4) I got the email a few hours later: "Your bike is ready. Status of order: waiting for customer pick up." 5) I went to the store, 1-hour later. We're sorry we don't have your bike, and we can't do anything about it. Either choose another or get a full refund. 6) After trying a couple of models, I decided to get a refund. 7) 5 hours later my phone rings: I am calling from Village Cycle to let you know we don't have your bike, do you want another bike? Don't get me wrong. These people are very nice but extremely incompetent. For those reasons, I would spend my hard earn money at unprecedented times elsewhere. My bottom line is that not because you shop online means you'll get what you're looking for. You might be exposed for no reason. read more

Got my husband a Trek hybrid bike from Village Cycle Center. The staff was friendly, knowledgeable, and extremely helpful. They had us riding out within the hour! Would recommend this place if you're in the market for a new bicycle or if you need to give your bike a tuneup. read more

Pros: AMAZING customer service! Adam was so personable, very enthusiastic about cycling. I didn't feel rushed and learned a lot. He also never pressured us to buy anything. Adam provided many options for different costs. He went above and beyond! Con: The items I purchased seemed more expensive than other locations. read more

This review is solely upon customer service, I haven't purchased or had anything repaired here. Full disclosure I have little to zero knowledge about bicycles. I purchased a bike from my friend over the summer, best decision ever. The thin tires were something I was unfamiliar with how to fill. This shop in Old Town has the manual and pressure pumps outside the shop so even if you need some air outside of business hours. I attempted to fill my tires and luckily one of the employees saw me struggling and came out to help me. This was near the end of summer. It being months into winter I have not rode my bike for some time so naturally the tires deflated and I brought it back in. Of course my memory is terrible and forgot what I was taught, a different employee helped me and showed me how. Very very helpful!!! Didn't make me feel silly either bonus :) read more

I called other bike shops in the area and they all had back orders. Ordered bike online Sunday evening and it was ready to go the next day! Customer service was terrific. Drew was patient and answered all of my questions. read more