Review Date
September 5, 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: armanius ,  Weekend Warrior

Shop Summary:
Shop is located in residential neighborhood known as Rice Military less than a mile east of Memorial Park. Building looks old and dumpy, but don't let the looks deceive you. Lots of bikes in there, and the two main primary brands of MTB bikes are Specialized and Gary Fisher. There's also a wide selection of gears, parts, and accessories. Listed prices are retail prices. I have not bought a bike from West End yet, so I don't know if they bargain the prices or not.

Customer Service:
Super friendly and knowledgeable. I'm a noob that started MTBing just a month ago. Brought my new MTB for a "fitting" at West End after being told by the other LBS (where I bought my bike from) that they don't do "fittings" for MTB. Unlike the other LBS, West End really took their time making sure that the bike fit me properly even though I didn't buy the bike at West End. Being a total noob, I had no idea what questions to ask the other LBS when I first bought the bike. But at West End, they asked me questions regarding my comfort and fit on the bike. West End did not charge me for over two hours spent with me adjusting and then riding the bike. Ended up adjusting, tweaking, and then swapping stems and saddles out 2-3 times, and was only charged for the parts that I decided to buy. After the fitting, my bike handles much better, and fits me much better too.

Other Comments:
Definitely recommend West End. Dealt with Blane, Jason and Trendon at West End. All very nice guys and also very knowledgeable. Blane did the fitting, and he is awesome. In the future, I will be buying all my bikes there even if I have to pay retail. The people who work at West End are great, and that's definitely worth the investment on a local shop.

Review Date
September 4, 2009

Overall Rating
 1 of 5

Customer Service Rating
 1 of 5

Technical Expertise Rating
 1 of 5

I visit this shop:
Once a week

Reviewed by: HoustonCyclist ,  Weekend Warrior

Shop Summary:
This shop is terrible. I used to love them as they are a neighborhood shop and cater to the locals who ride at (nearby) memorial park. I have bought 2 bikes from this shop in the past, however, after a recent experience, I will never go back.

Houston is the starting point of an annual ride of 14,000 cyclist who ride from Houston to Austin to support MS. (www.MS150.org) In order to receive rest stop support and bike repair, you must take your bike to a certified bike shop to be inspected, whereas they put a sticker on your bike indicating your bike passes inspection.

Prior to the inspection, I checked with West End to see what their queue was like for minor repairs - i needed my rear derailleur adjusted. They told me that they didnt have time before the ride to get my bike in for repairs, which was just fine. There are a number of bike shops around, so I went to another one for the adjustment. (Urban Bike Shop). Unfortunately, the Urban Bike Shop was not one of the inspection shops, so I had to get my bike repaired, then take my back back to West End to get inspected. Should be no big deal.

I take my bike in, along with my Wife's. One tech is working on my bike, and the owner of the shop is inspecting mine. Inspection includes checking the brakes, headset, gears, chain, and tires. I'm standing there watching as my bike is inspected. Everything checks out until the owner takes my bike off the stand to test the headset. You can do this by bouncing the on the front tire. He does, its fine. He then takes the handle bars and starts turning them all the way until the bar end is hitting the top tube of my frame?! I'm watching this and ask him what the heck he is doing. He states this is his extra test of the headset - which I vehemently disagree. No bike is meant to turn that type of radius - what the owner has instead done is stretched out the derailleur cables and thrown both front and rear derailleurs out of adjustment. He then checks my gears - which will no longer shift and says my derailleurs need replacement and my bike does not pass. Well, i'm standing there with the receipt from the other shop that the derailleur was JUST adjusted and working fine when i walked in. I dispute this with the owner, and instead of discussing it - he just tells me to get out of his store?!

Customer Service:
Continuing from the shop summary...

I show the owner the receipt of my repair that had just been made 15 minutes before and tell him my derailleur was working perfect until his "headset test". He says, "Are you saying i broke your bike?" I tell him exactly, "No, you didnt break anything, but when you were turning the headset like mad, you pulled the cables loose. I would appreciate it if you would adjust it back - here is my receipt that I JUST had that fixed". Any bike junkie knows this is a quick fix and the owner does too. He says - I didnt hurt your bike its just junk and needs too many repairs - get out of my store. My bike is a 2008 Cannondale Caad 8 with full Campy Record Components. I've been riding for over 20 years - it is NOT junk and I keep the bike pristine. Owner then takes my wifes bike and rolls it out the door and drops it on the ground. Knowing I wont leave her bike outside - its a Trek Womens Specific road bike mix of Ultegra and DurAce.

I secure my bikes outside then go back in the store. I'm really pissed off now. I ask to speak to the manager (when I start all this, I thought the guy was just a bike tech.) He indicates that he is the manager

Other Comments:
Continuing further.

So, I ask to speak to the Owner - which is also claims he is the owner as well and that all he will do is show me the exit and he never wants me to come back to his store. I look him right in the eye and ask him if this is the way he treats people that have bought bikes and supported his store? All he can say is get out. At this point, even his techs start cursing at me - which is beyond reason.

I filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau - but unfortunately his shop, not surprisingly, doesn't participate so nothing is resolved - nor any blemish on his crappy record.

His treatment of my as a local cyclist and a client that has spent good money in his store is abhorrent. I have never been treated with such disrespect ever. I hope you read this and choose to go to any other store but this one - there are tons of options around the neighborhood that are much better and far friendlier.

Review Date
July 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: HellMuttCracker ,  Cross Country Rider

Shop Summary:
This shop has a lot of character, they have a antique/vintage bike museum, an art gallery, and they keep cats around too. They carry several custom bike brands that are custom built for you. West End is the only bike rental in Houston and it is located roughly 1 mile from the city's main park, Memorial Park. At Memorial Park they have roughly 10 miles of xc trails and you can ride both ways, so it comes out to about 20miles. Also there is a road track referred to as the fruit loop.

Customer Service:
they usually have a ton of bikes to work on, and they can get the work done in less than a week.

Review Date
July 1, 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: HAL 9000 ,  Racer

Shop Summary:
A great bike shop inside the loop nothing fancy and neon here the friendly staff is what makes the shop. I've never had an issue with service or know anyone that i have sent to the shop that has not come away pleased with the attention they got.

Customer Service:
The sales and mechanical staff are very knowledgeable and will answer your questions with out looking down on you like some other shops that I have been to. They will take the time to answer your questions and get you exactly what you need.

Other Comments:
A neat old shop with lots of personality and a few shop cats wandering around.

Review Date
May 1, 2009

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Customer Service Rating
 5 of 5

Technical Expertise Rating
 3 of 5

I visit this shop:
Once a week

Reviewed by: 53119 ,  Cross Country Rider

Shop Summary:
the original MTB shop in Houston. They've been involved with the scene since day one. No smoke and mirrors. Cool "smaller brand" bikes. A little mtb museum happenin'. Selection and knowledge backed by experience.

Customer Service:
Great turn around on repairs. Most importantly the staff is friendly and customer oriented. They're not burned out grumpy bike guys like another shop I've been in (you know who you are)