Life Cycle Bike Shop

10/07/09

Great Shop!

by Kate Fauvell at Citysearch

I have such a hard time as a women getting good service in bike shops. This shop has it all. they are friendly and down to buisness and really helpful to the beginning rider.

• Pros: great for lady riders

10/07/09

WOW...This bike shop is amazing

by Joseph Bricker at Citysearch

These guys are amazing. I got talking to these folks and they have been in the exact location for over 30 years. They are extremely informed about everything bike related. They are happy to answer questions, they are fair, honest and unusually friendly. The best part about this store is it is family owned; a brother (Dave) and sister (Lynn) and her husband (Vince), and when you come in you feel like you are part of the family. I would spend money in this shop just to hang out with these people. Oh and by the way, Lynn,Vince and Ryan all hammer. I mean really hammer.

• Pros: best bike shop I have ever been to!!!
• Cons: to bad more bike shops are not like these guys

10/06/09

Great Bike Shop!

by Glenna23 at Citysearch

I read the negative review of Lifecycle Bike Shop in Arcata and just had to write and defend it. I have been dealing with Vince, Dave and Ryan form many years. I always receive excellent service and have been given free and/or reduced prices many times. I am an avid biker, riding 20 miles a day. The guys at Lifecycle have always been there for me when I've needed them. I can't imagine them doing the things that the prior reviewer said. I would highly recommend Lifecycle for anyone interested in their biking needs.

Glenna Urton

McKinleyville, CA

• Pros: Excellent Service
• Cons: Not in my town of McKinleyville

09/16/09

Your Money Could Go to a Better Business

by careful consumer at Citysearch

I went to Life Cycle looking for a trail bike. The kid who helped me was nice, but I have substantial complaints about the service. First of all, the kid helping me test bikes was pushing a bike that was too big for me and told me to put my seat up in a position that would have easily allowed me to hyperextend my knee. Second, the older guy spent more time trash-talking the other shops and bike brands than he did telling me about the bike I was looking at.

I wasn’t interested in the bottom-end and when the kid pointed out the cheap Treks and I said so, he tried to sell me on the Trek being what Lance Armstrong won some race with. Yeah, maybe so but Lance’s Trek and the cheap one on the floor in front of me probably didn’t have one part in common. That tactic didn’t seem very honest.

When I put down a lot of money at any store, I expect a little deal, some money off the big ticket or a percentage off accessories or after-market parts so I mentioned it to the older guy at Life Cycle and he just said no breaks, he’ll sell everything…Perhaps so, but not to me. I’m guessing he gets by taking advantage of the college kids in the neighborhood who are probably a little too wrapped up in their lives to pay much attention to price and quality of service.

I found the right bike for me at Life Cycle, but I didn’t feel like these guys would be very accommodating if something went wrong with my purchase and, honestly, I’m careful about what kind of business I give my money to. I went home and started pricing out the bike I wanted only to find Lifecycle is charging $40 over MSRP. I found another shop that carried my bike, Henderson Center Bicycles just a few miles south. I was very pleased. They were charging $40 less than Lifecycle. The salesman fit me correctly for my bike and threw in discounts on accessories and after-market parts. He answered my concerns honestly and didn’t waste my time trashing the other stores and bikes although he did acknowledge that he was offering far better service and a better price. He told me Henderson offers free lifetime adjustments and emphasized the importance of taking care of the bike so it will last. He seemed genuinely interested in me coming away from this experience with the right bike for me. I couldn’t be more pleased to give my hard-earned money to a business and I would recommend Henderson Center Bicycles to anyone looking for a bike.

• Pros: Carries some good bikes
• Cons: Not the kind of service I expect.