Comments on: L! B! S! What you really want? RIDE! OR! DIE! http://makergo.com/shutup/?p=95 all things rennick Wed, 08 Sep 2010 23:24:28 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Dan http://makergo.com/shutup/?p=95&cpage=1#comment-1001 Dan Sat, 16 Feb 2008 19:19:17 +0000 http://makergo.com/shutup/?p=95#comment-1001 I made my first visit to HPC a year or so back, and immediately came home to tell my wife that I had "discovered" a gem of a store that had wonderful old stuff, and the prices seemed to be decent. Very excited, to say the least. Well, with each visit Jan's true character would emerge...just absolutely head-scratching stuff, but also unintentional comedy of the highest order. I pass him two to three times per year on the road (we commute from the same area) and his behaviour on the road is also funny...one of those guys who can't stand to be passed and will jump the queue at a light to take his rightful place up front...only to be passed all over again. He finally lost my business when he tried to sell me a $2 tube for $9. I made my first visit to HPC a year or so back, and immediately came home to tell my wife that I had “discovered” a gem of a store that had wonderful old stuff, and the prices seemed to be decent. Very excited, to say the least. Well, with each visit Jan’s true character would emerge…just absolutely head-scratching stuff, but also unintentional comedy of the highest order. I pass him two to three times per year on the road (we commute from the same area) and his behaviour on the road is also funny…one of those guys who can’t stand to be passed and will jump the queue at a light to take his rightful place up front…only to be passed all over again. He finally lost my business when he tried to sell me a $2 tube for $9.

]]> By: Living For The City » Fixated x HPC x Reebok http://makergo.com/shutup/?p=95&cpage=1#comment-684 Living For The City » Fixated x HPC x Reebok Mon, 12 Nov 2007 18:12:54 +0000 http://makergo.com/shutup/?p=95#comment-684 [...] High Park Cycle is one of the most successful and celebrated independent bicycle stores in the country? Really? This may be true if you ask anyone that has never actually stepped foot in High Park Cycle. I mean, I’ll go there because the dude usually has some very nice stuff to look at (if he’ll let you look at it) but the guy is so hilariously difficult to deal with that this becomes the primary reason for any visit; ½ Bike Porn – ½ Comic Relief. [...] [...] High Park Cycle is one of the most successful and celebrated independent bicycle stores in the country? Really? This may be true if you ask anyone that has never actually stepped foot in High Park Cycle. I mean, I’ll go there because the dude usually has some very nice stuff to look at (if he’ll let you look at it) but the guy is so hilariously difficult to deal with that this becomes the primary reason for any visit; ½ Bike Porn – ½ Comic Relief. [...]

]]> By: Wes http://makergo.com/shutup/?p=95&cpage=1#comment-296 Wes Sun, 19 Aug 2007 20:38:21 +0000 http://makergo.com/shutup/?p=95#comment-296 Yeah.. I agree with everything said as well. I'm a most frequent customer of Cavern and Cycle Therapy just because I gotta support my bros. Curbside guys are great.. love the gallery! Nadir is on the level, and the shop is great for bike pr0n (plus he's on my commute). A couple other places to mention.. not really the type of place where I've done much business beyond buying the occasional tube/etc, but Derek @ The Bike Joint is a super down to earth guy as well. And for more bike pr0n, a visit to La Bicicletta is in order (BMC, Colnago, Look, Time, Pinnarello, Ridley, Empella, etc). Lorne/Tovi there are good guys too, from my experience. Urbane has a huge selection of parts, but I've gotten the 'tude there a few times and they also put the wrong length crank bolts on my fixie (!?). Yeah.. I agree with everything said as well. I’m a most frequent customer of Cavern and Cycle Therapy just because I gotta support my bros. Curbside guys are great.. love the gallery! Nadir is on the level, and the shop is great for bike pr0n (plus he’s on my commute).

A couple other places to mention.. not really the type of place where I’ve done much business beyond buying the occasional tube/etc, but Derek @ The Bike Joint is a super down to earth guy as well. And for more bike pr0n, a visit to La Bicicletta is in order (BMC, Colnago, Look, Time, Pinnarello, Ridley, Empella, etc). Lorne/Tovi there are good guys too, from my experience.

Urbane has a huge selection of parts, but I’ve gotten the ‘tude there a few times and they also put the wrong length crank bolts on my fixie (!?).

]]> By: Robin http://makergo.com/shutup/?p=95&cpage=1#comment-295 Robin Fri, 17 Aug 2007 02:00:08 +0000 http://makergo.com/shutup/?p=95#comment-295 Thanks for the kind words about the shop, Matt. We always try to care of our customers, especially our friends. With the exception of my own whop, my fave is Wheels of Bloor. They really only represent the mid to high end market, but the stuff they carry is carefully chosen, high quality, and at reasonably competitive prices. It's a narrow little shop, and it's a bit of a ride out there, but the sweet customer service makes it worth it. Worth going and chatting up the guys there. Thanks for the kind words about the shop, Matt. We always try to care of our customers, especially our friends.

With the exception of my own whop, my fave is Wheels of Bloor. They really only represent the mid to high end market, but the stuff they carry is carefully chosen, high quality, and at reasonably competitive prices. It’s a narrow little shop, and it’s a bit of a ride out there, but the sweet customer service makes it worth it. Worth going and chatting up the guys there.

]]> By: Ben http://makergo.com/shutup/?p=95&cpage=1#comment-293 Ben Thu, 16 Aug 2007 19:34:59 +0000 http://makergo.com/shutup/?p=95#comment-293 Re: Racer Sportif... All the suspicions and conjecture were confirmed by a very reliable source last night... hahaha, "you shake his hand and you need to check how many fingers you have left..." classic. Re: Racer Sportif…

All the suspicions and conjecture were confirmed by a very reliable source last night… hahaha, “you shake his hand and you need to check how many fingers you have left…” classic.

]]> By: MattRennick http://makergo.com/shutup/?p=95&cpage=1#comment-292 MattRennick Thu, 16 Aug 2007 19:15:13 +0000 http://makergo.com/shutup/?p=95#comment-292 Re: Racer Sportif. Have you seen the CL posts about them over the last couple weeks? sounds like the worst of the worst... Re: Racer Sportif. Have you seen the CL posts about them over the last couple weeks? sounds like the worst of the worst…

]]> By: nick http://makergo.com/shutup/?p=95&cpage=1#comment-291 nick Thu, 16 Aug 2007 19:11:56 +0000 http://makergo.com/shutup/?p=95#comment-291 My qualm is not necessarily with Urbane as it is with a couple of their staff members. Actually, now that i think of it..its with one of their staff members. The lady at the cash is quite charming and a couple of their sales guys have come through for me in a crunch. However, on principle, I will not support that shop as long as they continue to employ a hack job mechanic that spews disinformation at the rate that a horse shits. Additionally, Duane, you are just an arrogant know it all who has no concept in treating your customers with common courtesy. The best thing about La C is that Nadir is straight up with customers about his 'premium'. For instance, he told Ben one time that his wheel building cost is by no means the cheapest in the city, but i challenge anyone to find a better wheel builder than Nestor. Two head on collisions and I ride like a jerk...wheel is as true as the day it was built. I also like that La C is really involved with building a community. I second Cycletherapy. Mike is super knowledgeable about fixed gears and he's really trying to cary more high-end track parts. They've got decent prices and the staff generally is always pleasant. Jon Bucco is a weird dude. I think if you can get past him being crazy and you have a solid 8 hrs of your day to look for parts, he can be bearable. I mean, hell. I did get some cinelli bars and a Phillipe stem off of him for $75 all in. Has anyone been to Racer Sportif? i think we should check them out sometime. My qualm is not necessarily with Urbane as it is with a couple of their staff members. Actually, now that i think of it..its with one of their staff members. The lady at the cash is quite charming and a couple of their sales guys have come through for me in a crunch. However, on principle, I will not support that shop as long as they continue to employ a hack job mechanic that spews disinformation at the rate that a horse shits. Additionally, Duane, you are just an arrogant know it all who has no concept in treating your customers with common courtesy.

The best thing about La C is that Nadir is straight up with customers about his ‘premium’. For instance, he told Ben one time that his wheel building cost is by no means the cheapest in the city, but i challenge anyone to find a better wheel builder than Nestor. Two head on collisions and I ride like a jerk…wheel is as true as the day it was built. I also like that La C is really involved with building a community.

I second Cycletherapy. Mike is super knowledgeable about fixed gears and he’s really trying to cary more high-end track parts. They’ve got decent prices and the staff generally is always pleasant.

Jon Bucco is a weird dude. I think if you can get past him being crazy and you have a solid 8 hrs of your day to look for parts, he can be bearable. I mean, hell. I did get some cinelli bars and a Phillipe stem off of him for $75 all in.

Has anyone been to Racer Sportif? i think we should check them out sometime.

]]> By: Anthony http://makergo.com/shutup/?p=95&cpage=1#comment-290 Anthony Thu, 16 Aug 2007 17:16:05 +0000 http://makergo.com/shutup/?p=95#comment-290 i like urbane, despite the complaints, being called darling and sweetheart by the cash lady is rad ... dudes in the back seem more flustered by being busy than anything else, when i'm in and they're just standing around, they seem to take the time to help out and show options. they definitely have times of being insanely busy, so its gotta be rough for a lot of the people in the back. that location is a blessing and a curse. i like urbane, despite the complaints, being called darling and sweetheart by the cash lady is rad … dudes in the back seem more flustered by being busy than anything else, when i’m in and they’re just standing around, they seem to take the time to help out and show options. they definitely have times of being insanely busy, so its gotta be rough for a lot of the people in the back. that location is a blessing and a curse.

]]> By: A Few Good Shops « 51% Motherfucker, 49% Sonofabitch http://makergo.com/shutup/?p=95&cpage=1#comment-288 A Few Good Shops « 51% Motherfucker, 49% Sonofabitch Thu, 16 Aug 2007 16:23:07 +0000 http://makergo.com/shutup/?p=95#comment-288 [...] Read it! <–Clicker [...] [...] Read it! <–Clicker [...]

]]> By: Ben http://makergo.com/shutup/?p=95&cpage=1#comment-287 Ben Thu, 16 Aug 2007 16:17:18 +0000 http://makergo.com/shutup/?p=95#comment-287 Great read Matt. I totally agree with every point made, The lady at Urbane is so nice she makes up for the sometimes ridiculous snobbery that one encounters in the back of the shop. That said, they do have a great selection and a couple of the sales staff there are hassle-free for sure. I'll add to the La Carerra post that it's the BEST place in the city to have your wheels built up, Nick's wheels have now lived through at least two head-on collisions, maybe it's luck but I'm convinced Nestor builds the sturdiest wheels in the city. HPC is, as you pointed out, an experience to say the least. Jon Bucco is the crustiest man alive, but he knows his stuff, perhaps too well. "this part was 100 dollar when it come out, so... I sell to you for 100 dollar" - a 30 year old part. If he had the wherewithall to clean that place up, it could be a museum. A few visits there though and you sort of get past his communist-block personality and he'll take the time to show you some stuff. Or just tell him you're Czech... I've heard this works wonders. Don't forget Cycletherapy on the east end! Great people and fair prices. Great read Matt. I totally agree with every point made, The lady at Urbane is so nice she makes up for the sometimes ridiculous snobbery that one encounters in the back of the shop. That said, they do have a great selection and a couple of the sales staff there are hassle-free for sure.

I’ll add to the La Carerra post that it’s the BEST place in the city to have your wheels built up, Nick’s wheels have now lived through at least two head-on collisions, maybe it’s luck but I’m convinced Nestor builds the sturdiest wheels in the city.

HPC is, as you pointed out, an experience to say the least. Jon Bucco is the crustiest man alive, but he knows his stuff, perhaps too well. “this part was 100 dollar when it come out, so… I sell to you for 100 dollar” – a 30 year old part. If he had the wherewithall to clean that place up, it could be a museum. A few visits there though and you sort of get past his communist-block personality and he’ll take the time to show you some stuff. Or just tell him you’re Czech… I’ve heard this works wonders.

Don’t forget Cycletherapy on the east end! Great people and fair prices.

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