Review Date
October 14, 2009

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: bfdan ,  Racer

Shop Summary:
Sunset is on the far west side of Portland just a mere 3/4 miles from the edge of the growth boundry with plenty of country riding to be had. Shop is well laid out with any bike related wants you might have.Specilized,Felt seem to be the dominant manufacturers with some other options available.

Customer Service:
I am a 47 year old 6'4" 235 lb Clydsdale racer of mainly mountain biking and CX. I have been a Sunset regular for 6 yrs now and have been helped greatly by Roger,Chris,Aaron, and now Matt. I know they will listen to my needs or what I think I need and give me my best option. Roger did a bike "Fit Kit on me that I am happy with every time I get on the bike. My Brother just bought a Roubaux and he is bigger than I am and they fit him and help him get the right bike that he loves. And this spring I bought my wife a Roubaux. After Roger put her on a Womens Specific model (which I was conviced she needed)and Roger saw her longer than average legs, he put her on a mens frame and switched out he handlebars and the seat so the bike fits her like a glove. Last Year I bought a Specilized Tricross and had some good showing in my first year of Cyclo-cross. My brake lever shifter broke and when I brought it in they never gave me any guff. Said it was a manufacturer defect and got a replacment and installed it and had it ready before the next weeks race.

Other Comments:
Bike geek heaven. I rated Sunset top in all catagories because they truely have exceded all my expectations.

Review Date
August 7, 2008

Overall Rating
 2 of 5

Customer Service Rating
 3 of 5

Technical Expertise Rating
 1 of 5

I visit this shop:
Every few months

Reviewed by: sj.erickson ,  Cross Country Rider

Shop Summary:
I'm a 35-yr old long-time road cyclist/commuter/sometimes mountain biker. Relatively new to the Portland area. Found Sunset Cycles because it's near where I live. When my road bike needed some service (drivetrain clean, shift tuning, new handlebar wrap) I decided to give them a try. I'd visited Bike Gallery in Beaverton prior and had a great experience, but Sunset's closer to home.

Because of a series of service issues, I can't recommend them for any bike service needs. I can recommend Bike Gallery or Performance Bikes, both in Beaverton. I can't comment on the experience of purchasing a bike, because I haven't done that.

Customer Service:
Sunset Cycles did an okay job on the overall tuning of my road bike, but the mechanic removed and discarded my bar-end plugs. (The little brass ones made by Bontrager...they cost about $25 per pair). I noticed this when I picked the bike up, but the associate checking me out had no idea what to do. He commented that the trash had already been taken out from the store and didn't have any other solutions. I paid for my service and asked him to have the mechanic call me ASAP. I didn't receive a phone call from anyone for a couple days, so I called up and spoke with the owner. He said he was sure they'd be lying around the workshop somewhere and would call me back. I didn't receive a call back, so phoned the next day and confirmed that the plugs had been discarded in the trash. The owner offered to refund or credit the replacement cost. I went to Bike Gallary, bought a new set of bar plugs and decided to try Sunset one more time with my mountain bike.

Other Comments:
I made an appointment about ten days out for my mountain bike and came by on that day with my bike. Somehow, there was no record of my appointment and they offered to complete the work one day later than originally planned. Unfortunate pattern continuing... I'd had a recent chronic flat problem on the front wheel and thought there might be something rubbing on the rim. I discussed this with the mechanic when I brought my bike in for service. He said the tube might have been twisted when I changed my tire. I agreed that this could be the source of the problem and asked him to please check. I picked up my bike a few days later, brought it home, then noticed the next morning that the front tire was flat. i.e. Nobody ever checked the tire. I called and spoke with the owner, who responded that there was nothing he could do except to have me bring the bike back in for service. (He didn't offer a discounted rate or any other solution, which I would have appreciated at this point). We went back and forth a bit on the phone and I realized that this place simply wasn't living up to my standards. I recommend you go elsewhere.

Review Date
August 1, 2008

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Customer Service Rating
 4 of 5

Technical Expertise Rating
 5 of 5

I visit this shop:
Once a year

Reviewed by: mcgill94 ,  Weekend Warrior

Shop Summary:
I came here shopping for my first ever mountain bike and came away impressed. I went to three other shops first and I liked this one best. Although it's a small shop, it's very clean, well organized, and they cover all your needs. I decided to buy from here because of great customer service. The salesman I dealt with, was straightforward, honest, and had a great attitude. He spent a lot of time with me and he didn't try to get me to pay more than I wanted to spend. As a matter of fact, he found me a 2009 bike which was less than the similar 2008 model which I had been trying! The only minor problem I had was dealing with the owner, Roger. On their website, it says he "left the shackles of corporate life" to start the store. Well, I'm not sure if corporate life has left him! He's pretty darned uptight. I don't want to sound too harsh but I would say if you go there, deal directly with his associates, Chris and Aaron and you'll have a much more pleasant experience!

Review Date
June 10, 2008

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: SWH ,  Racer

Shop Summary:
Extremely helpful, knowledgeable and fast! The prices are competitive, the shop is clean and out in the "open." I would trust them with any of my bicycles

Customer Service:
Customer service doesn't get any better. The store is clean, well organized and has enough stock to usually meet my needs.

Quick special orders and willing to hunt for "special" wants.

I would recommend this bicycle store to anyone looking for bicycles and equipment from the low to high end.

Review Date
June 10, 2008

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: Phildlm ,  Racer

Shop Summary:
This shop has a surprising amount of gear in stock. The owner being very involved, avoids stocking the junk stuff and always seems to have a good range of colors (I wanted some socks to match a dark red jersey). There's a good stock of drink/food items and more lubes than I've seen anywhere else in the Pacific NW.

Customer Service:
I took my bike in right before the shop closed asking for some help getting rid of a creak in the crank. It was driving me crazy. I couldn't leave it because I had a race the next day. These guys jumped all over it, and despite the shop being busy with other customers they fixed it quickly and with a smile. I was impressed. Normally I would have expected to have to leave it behind for a few days. The best part? The price for the service was a lot less than I expected. Having been bamboozled in the past by other shops, I'm much more comfortable having these guys work on my bike and know they won't charge me an arm and a leg. There are closer shops to my house, but once you find a solid honest place, I figure why go elsewhere?