Review Date
May 6, 2009

Overall Rating
 1 of 5

Customer Service Rating
 1 of 5

Technical Expertise Rating
 3 of 5

I visit this shop:
Been there once

Reviewed by: willyd ,  Weekend Warrior

Shop Summary:
The background of my story:
I travel all over the US with work and I was in the area, so I visited GNO Cycle, which was the closest shop to my corporate apt. The week prior I decided to replace my custom built hard tail I have owned for 6 years that I practically wore out. I wanted to replace it with a higher end Cannondale, possibly a Rush Carbon 1 or 2. I called this shop, all they had were the lower end bikes, and I did not want to buy a lower end bike that would need the entire component groups replace right after the purchase that just makes no sense! Therefore, I decided to build an Ellsworth Empathy ground up. Most everything was purchased new online and I figured since all my bike tools were in another State I could just bring it here and pay GNO to build it for me and of course pay them for the build and other small parts I needed for the build, Man was I wrong!

Customer Service:
When I arrived at the store I wanted to buy a seat clamp, because the Ellsworth frame I just got in didn’t have one and I wanted to visit the store anyway so I could look at the mid level bikes in stock to replace my 11 year old sons and my wife’s MTB. They do not ride as much so a mid to low level one was fine for them. Well I started talking to the sales guy about the seat clamp he asked what it was for and I told him I was building a bike ground up and I wanted to buy a seat clamp and check on the price for my bike build up since I didn’t have my tools in state. He immediately asked were I got the bike and I told him I purchased most of the parts online, right them he let out a long OOOOOHHH and told me they don’t deal with online purchases, I was stunned, WTF... I told him I want to pay this shop to build this bike for me and he told me they are in the business of selling bikes and servicing their customers and do not support anything coming from the internet, and they were backed up in the shop and did not want my business anyway. Before that rude comment I planned on buying 2 complete mid level bikes for my wife and son $2500.00 + and have them build my Ellsworth $200.00 +.

Other Comments:
This rule about not dealing with internet purchases is a load of cr$p, this shop lost allot of business from me right then as well as any future business. I understand supporting the local shops as I have purchased 3 other bikes from shops in the past and spent thousands in support equipment, tools ect. But when this sales guy told me he didn’t want my business all due to a internet purchase, well they lost all my business including the 2 complete bikes I was going to buy for my wife and son, my build up, and misc other items I would need in the future, tubes, tires, CO2, ect. Also shortly after he found out I bought parts online he told me they were closing soon and I needed to leave. Yes, I bought parts for my build online due to the lack of selection at this shop, but I had plenty of business to give them other wise. The real test is meeting the need of fellow cyclist regardless, and they lost all my business. I will now go elsewhere to buy the other bikes for my family and have another shop build my Ellsworth, its a shame they do this its hurting them when they throw their arrogant attitudes around and shun you out over something so petty, I bet they don’t do this when they are slow!

Review Date
November 20, 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: micmo ,  Weekend Warrior

Shop Summary:
cool shop, wide selection of bikes and gear for every price range.

Customer Service:
great service, very helpful.

Review Date
October 20, 2007

Overall Rating
 1 of 5

Customer Service Rating
 1 of 5

Technical Expertise Rating
 2 of 5

I visit this shop:
Once a week

Reviewed by: richstolz ,  Weekend Warrior

Shop Summary:
I just moved into the area, and found a shop pretty close to my house, tried to establish a good relationship....

Lame shop though.

Customer Service:
Special orders take forever (tried to order a 650c wheel (admittedly a tough task) after a month and a half they had nothing for me)

Repairs a little more costly than expected ($60 or $65 rather than the $45 I am used to) and didn't hold up all that long, the commuter they did a full tune up on has been out about two months (ride this bike about 3 days a week) and it is ready for another tune up.

What GOT ME:
I was super bummed this shop didn't stand behind their recommendations. I went in looking for the Specialized Armadillo tire. Turns out they aren't a Specialized dealer, so I went with the tire they recommended for our road conditions. A week later I had a huge hole in the tire. My old bike shop would have given me a new one, no discount, no "crap, man that didn't hold up at all." They wanted to sell me a new tire at full retail price.

I have spend probably $400 at this shop (two tune ups, lights, locks, clothes, CO2, lots of tubes) AND I will not buy so much as a tube in the future from them.

Staff wasn't very helpful in getting set up with local rides, (check out New Orleans Bicycle Club -Great Club) and offered very little in the way of good places to ride.

Other Comments:
Don't shop here!!!