Review Date
May 11, 2009

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Customer Service Rating
 5 of 5

Technical Expertise Rating
 4 of 5

I visit this shop:
Once a year

Reviewed by: Mattlock26 ,  Cross Country Rider

Shop Summary:
Great shop that is equal parts bike shop (road and mountain) and advocate for mountain biking. Expect the products in the store to be tested, effective and good value.

Customer Service:
Customer service is what sets this great shop apart. Dan is generous with his time and believes in getting to a "win-win" situation where your needs are met. He's got a statement on his website that we're all in this together and he lives up to that when he does business with you. Dan helps you get what you need rather than trying to sell you everything in the shop.

Other Comments:
This is what a shop really should be all about. There is no pretense whatsoever, there is no pushy salesmanship. It is truly part of the community in that Dan organizes several events (many for charity) to promote cycling in the community. I believe that he runs group rides as part of NEMBA nearly every week.

Review Date
September 24, 2007

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Customer Service Rating
 5 of 5

Technical Expertise Rating
 5 of 5

I visit this shop:
Once a month

Reviewed by: IBG ,  Weekend Warrior

Shop Summary:
Not the biggest bike shop around and the selection of bikes to try is a bit scarce. The overall atmosphere of the shop is very laid back and friendly. Of all the shops I've been to in CT and MA Danielson Adventure Sports is by far the best. The big reason for that is the owner, Don Dauphinais. He is extremely knowledgeable and helpfully, and will go out of his way to satisfy his customers. If you're ever in the area stop by the shop.

Customer Service:
I originally went in to look at some Kona bikes. He didn't have anything to try so he called another shop for me to see what they had in stock. We got to talking and he recommended looking at the Yeti 575. I decided to shop around some more and try and ride some of the bikes I was interested in (Kona Dawg Supreme, Santa Cruze Blur LT, Cannondale Prophet, Specialized Enduro and Stumpjumpper, etc..) I was pretty set on going with the Enduro then I remembered Don said to take a look at the 575. I started reading the reviews and finally went back in to price out the 575 with the parts I wanted. Don was more than accommodating in meeting my requests. There was just one more thing to do and that was to ride the 575. So he called the other CT shop that sells Yeti's to see if they had a large in stock. They did, so I went over and tried it out. While I was there I was able to ride the 575 and the Enduro back to back. For me the 575 won hands down.

So in the end, all the driving I did from shop to shop was well worth my time/money. It also showed me that there are a lot of great shops in CT, but few of those can compare to the service and support that I got from Don.

Other Comments:
Proud owner of a '07 Ano Black Yeti 575. Thanks Donnie. :-)

Review Date
September 17, 2007

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Customer Service Rating
 5 of 5

Technical Expertise Rating
 5 of 5

I visit this shop:
Every few months

Reviewed by: mathesb ,  Weekend Warrior

Shop Summary:
A full-service bike shop in small town CT, run by Don Dauphinais. It is notably one of the few places in New England where you can order Yeti cycles. Don keeps a casual atmosphere, but his passion for the sport also pervades the shop.

Customer Service:
I was looking to buy a Yeti trail bike last fall and found Don's shop on the web. He and his staff were helpful throughout the process of ordering the bike and they built and adjusted it for no extra charge. Don also offered me a 30-day period for discounts on gear after the purchase. When the gears on my road bike needed adjusting I took it to him and he had it working flawlessly in less than an hour. Later that fall I broke the derailer hanger on the Yeti while on a trail ride, and Don replaced it at cost with no hassle.

Other Comments:
Highly recommended!

Review Date
March 12, 2007

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Customer Service Rating
 5 of 5

Technical Expertise Rating
 5 of 5

I visit this shop:
Been there once

Reviewed by: Jessep ,  Cross Country Rider

Shop Summary:
Seems like a great place, I talked with Don for a little while about bikes, snowboarding, and yeti. I plan on going back there if there is anything I need, so far this is the best place in CT I've been.

Customer Service:
Excellent, let me test out the new 575 and gave some great local trail advice.

Review Date
January 30, 2007

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Customer Service Rating
 5 of 5

Technical Expertise Rating
 5 of 5

I visit this shop:
Once a week

Reviewed by: shadowdrums ,  Cross Country Rider

Shop Summary:
Cultural hub of Danielson :-), smart and savvy owner, great trailbuilder, and has tons of experience riding, building, selling, and teaching, all over the states and beyond. Still building up inventory, but can get just about anything you need at more-than-reasonable prices... really good at getting odd and hard-to-find items. There are shops not so far away that have great inventory, but this is the place to go if you want everything to go right.

Customer Service:
Listens carefully to what you are looking for, and is a great resource for bouncing ideas off of. Not afraid of giving his opinion, but also will let you pursue the parts and build that you have envisioned. And the rides he leads... worth a visit to the shop just for that!

Other Comments:
Don is one of the tribe.