Bicycles At St Clair

I have had no problems with this bike shop. I started coming here a couple years ago when I needed minor adjustments to my Wal-​mart bike. The first time I came here, the older gentleman (with the Eastern Europeon accent) pretty much aligned my bike for free and then I decided to give the bike for tune up and they did a pretty good job.
I was on the market for a new bike a few months ago and walked in to check my options. When I mentioned my requirements, they didnt try to sell me an expensive bike at all which I found really refreshing considering how everyone in this city gouges you for money. But I did end up buying a bike that was a little more highly priced and they gave me a little seat lock with it for free and I also got my first tune up for free! I also love how they give useful advice.
All in all, a great place!

Over-​priced and under-​friendly. An older guy who seems to be the owner does not speak to or greet his customers. 2 younger guys are approachable, but not going out of their way to give good service. They do repairs (at a high cost) and only sell new bikes (they scoff at the idea of anything «used»). The selection is small.
One would imagine that a neighbourood bike shop would try a little harder. I will not be returning other than to use the free air pump outside.

Last week I had a flat on my bike. I had been refilling it but it kept slowly going flat. I thought I’d try a local place for repairs since I am relatively new to the neighbourhood.
It was brought in to Bicycles on St Clair at 10 am and promised for a few hours later. I went back at 6 and Hernan P. Burgos, the owner was not even aware the bike was there, had not been informed by the flighty woman working there.
He told me to come back later– I did, in 30 minutes, and the bike was ‘fixed’. $ 6 for an inner tube and $ 16 for labour.
Yesterday it went flat again. My husband thought he’d have a look and took the inner tube out — it was old and patched. They had either just patched the old tube or simply just put air in the tube.
They charged me for a new tube and did not put one in.
Besides disappointing and a huge inconvenience, that is fraud. Please do not use them for service, you don’t know if you’ll be defrauded too. This is a small thing but who knows what they might do.
I’m going back to Vince at the Bike Clinic, 800 Bloor Street West. He has never ripped me off.

I went here just to buy a few things, so I can’t account for their repairs/​tune-​ups yet, though if I need one, I will go here.
I came in and was greeted right away. I was looking for cycling gloves, a tool to adjust my spokes and some chain lube. The people there were very knowledgeable. At least I think so. I am unfortunately not so knowledgeable.
The girl fixing a bike at the back had a glowing review of the gloves I was looking at and said that they are the best she’s used yet. She also gave me tips on how to clean them (warm water wash in the laundry machine, hang to dry). For the chain lube, the guy at the counter recommended «White Lightening» because it has some wax in it that will make the lube flake off when it gets too dirty, instead of gumming up the gears like mine has.
They were both very friendly and funny. We had a pretty funny conversation about opening a bike shop/​funeral home.
I will definitely visit again, particularly since they are a 2 minute bike ride away. The pricing seemed fair, but I haven’t bought bike stuff in a while.