Review Date
November 22, 2009

Overall Rating
 1 of 5

Customer Service Rating
 1 of 5

Technical Expertise Rating
 1 of 5

I visit this shop:
Been there once

Reviewed by: CheweyDC ,  Cross Country Rider

Shop Summary:
Issue arouse with a service notice regarding certain lefty forks. Apparently the loctite used during some assembly runs became contaminated and bolt could potentially vibrate loose. Dealers were to remove the bolt for inspection.

The DC shop sent the fork to their cannondale ‘expert’ at the MD store. A week went by and no word so I called. They said they would check and get back to me. Nothing for another week. I had to press them a bit because I had a race coming up so I called the Cannondale rep who said he would look into it. The rep calls a couple days later to say he is looking at my fork and it is Humpdy Dumpty. The mechanic took it apart and couldn’t put it back together. They even removed bonded parts, apparently with a chisel and hammer. FYI City Bikes - bonded parts are not to be removed because they are affixed with industrial strength glue! The shop took a Lefty from another bike and put it on my bike so I could race while a new fork was ordered (which they never ordered).

So I have a few days before the race to ride my bike and the fork just doesn’t feel right. I run ridiculously high pressure to keep it from diving on me. Several times during a ride it bottoms out with a thump. I call the Cannondale rep and he advises me to TAKE MY BIKE TO ANOTHER CANNONDALE DEALER! Turns out City Bikes replaced my fork with a fork from a 26” bike, installing restrictor clips from a 9er conversion kit but not the cylinder (sorry if I’m not using the proper terminology) designed to take up some the space in the air chamber. There are specific valve settings set at the Cannondale plant for Leftys going on 9ers which can make a slight difference as well. So I was running through the travel during my rides and the slamming into the restrictor clips. I haven’t stepped foot in the store since.

Review Date
March 23, 2009

Overall Rating
 2 of 5

Customer Service Rating
 2 of 5

Technical Expertise Rating
 2 of 5

I visit this shop:
Every few months

Reviewed by: traildemon ,  Cross Country Rider

Shop Summary:
This shop is really designed to do two things: to service bicycle for weekend riders and to steer people with older bikes brought in for service to new bikes. Nothing wrong with that; they're often right to tell these people that a $200 tuneup on a 1973 Raleigh 3-speed is a waste. But this is not a shop for riders in need of reliable and knowledgeable people. Go to the Adams Morgan location for that.

Customer Service:
The repair shop has been a complete disaster for several years. I could tell several stories, but suffice it to say that the last 4 consecutive visits resulted in four separate completely botched repair jobs, including leaving parts off, making completely incorrect recommendations (a bearing replacement that disintegrated in 2 weeks, resulting in a seized hub) and forgetting repeatedly to even start work on a job for several weeks--and then failing to fix the problem at all. They've revamped their repair shop recently, but you can only treat a customer badly so many times.

Other Comments:
Some of the incompetent wrenches are still there, I know for a fact.

Review Date
February 6, 2009

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: downhillah ,  Downhiller

Shop Summary:
City Bikes is located right off the Crescent trail and is super convenient. There are several new faces around the shop including the managers, so I don't know what these other haters are talking about. Their service department has taken care of me really well and has been willing to show me stuff as they work when it's not busy, which I really appreciate cuz it's cool to learn what's going on with my bike.

Review Date
October 23, 2008

Overall Rating
 1 of 5

Customer Service Rating
 1 of 5

Technical Expertise Rating
 2 of 5

I visit this shop:
Been there once

Reviewed by: Hornet's Nest ,  Cross Country Rider

Shop Summary:
Never actually been to this shop, but could not find a listing for the DC shop. Had been a long time customer of the shop, however recently I special ordered a wheelset, paid up front for it, waited several weeks. After waiting weeks, stopped in and was told the wheelset was no longer available. Never received a phone call, email or anything, but they were more than happy to hold onto my money. Got an attitude when I requested the money refunded. Thankfully I have plenty of great shops in Baltimore; Lutherville Bike Shop, Bike Doctor of Linthicum, Joe's Bike Shop, Federal Hill Bikes, Princeton Cycles, and even Performance. F--K this shop!!!!

Customer Service:
The young clerk that took my order was very helpful and knowledgable, to bad about the rest of the shop...

View Comments (1)

Would you like to Comment?
Join MTBR.com for a free account, or Login if you are already a member.

Review Date
September 16, 2008

Overall Rating
 1 of 5

Customer Service Rating
 1 of 5

Technical Expertise Rating
 1 of 5

I visit this shop:
Every few months

Reviewed by: rebircs ,  Cross Country Rider

Shop Summary:
Earlier reviewer was right on the money -- this place over charges. I asked two of the shop clerks which pedal wrench was a better buy and they both (separately) told me the higher priced one -- it has to be better because it is higher in price.

Customer Service:
I made the mistake of taking my bike here for service once -- never again. One clerk was too busy talking on the phone (to a friend about racing -- couldn't help but over hear it) to acknowledge my existence. The other clerk, who eventually stopped working on a bike and came to the counter to ask me what I wanted done, carefully wrote everything down I asked be serviced and quoted me a price. When I came to pick up my bike, the quote had gone up significantly and not all the service had been done. When I pointed and asked why something wasn't done, I got the eye-roll and was told I hadn't asked for that. What a rip-off!

Other Comments:
Don't bother going to this place -- go somewhere else.