New Bike Shop

Anyone know anything about a new bike shop going in at 4912(ish) N. Elston?

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Permalink Reply by Michael Perz on August 12, 2011 at 4:43pm

Community scrutiny of market players is very much an integral part of Smith's "invisible hand".

More specifically, it's the thumb.

John Sirovatka said:

Are we zoning enforcement, entrepreneurial police or cyclists? Let the city deal with their licencing and zoning. IF there is a shop worth patronizing, Adam Smith's "Invisible Hand" of economics will let it prosper.

I'm happy to see there are people who are willing to stick their fiscal necks out to serve the bike community.

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Permalink Reply by James BlackHeron on August 12, 2011 at 5:05pm

Read Smith again.

You are conflating "community" with "the state."

They are NOT the same thing.

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Permalink Reply by Juan 2-8 mi. on August 12, 2011 at 5:15pm

Ghetto shop...

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Permalink Reply by S.Presley☠ on August 13, 2011 at 10:14am

I stopped by at 10am this morning...the doors were locked

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Permalink Reply by Thunder Snow on August 13, 2011 at 11:21am

Maybe there's no bike shop at all, it's just a front for a bookie parlor. Or a secret field office for MI5, where the secret agents all ride single-speeds with weird brake handles in order to recognize each other.

S.Presley said:

I stopped by at 10am this morning...the doors were locked

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Permalink Reply by S.Presley☠ on August 13, 2011 at 12:52pm

O.K. "Chain linkers"...or Chainlinkians",

I stopped by XOLO Bikes again, just before noon, and they were...drum roll please...Open for business!

I had a great conversation with Jason, one of the guys running the shop. I say "great conversation", but he was probably like "who's this weirdo that comes in and talks my ear off and doesn't buy anything?"

The Internet can be a cynical place with haters and sarcasm and I am as guilty as anyone for feeding into the lulz, but it's a different story when you meet someone face to face. I haven't heard anything negative (outside of the gear shifter/break bike) about these guys. They are three friends that are doing something they enjoy...something we all enjoy...and on top of their regular "day jobs",they have a pretty nifty bike shop.

Sure,it's small...and it's hours of operation are erratic...AND they use gear shifters for breaks...sure they are an easy target...

Hears where I break into my John Candy from Planes trains and automobiles...

Any way...if anyone gets a chance, take a ride over there...just north of Tonys' on Elston. I believe in supporting the little guy and I'm tired of being soaked by the big bike shops. If anyone has first hand knowledge about their service, that would be cool.

BTW...the gear shifter/break bike is out there on the streets of Chicago,It was purchased by someone... so beware.

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Permalink Reply by Gopher Biker on August 13, 2011 at 1:42pm

Thanks for checking it out - did you let them know they were a topic of discussion on Chainlink (and if so, what was the reaction)?

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Permalink Reply by S.Presley☠ on August 13, 2011 at 2:26pm

Oh ya...That's how I made my entrance..."you guys are the hot topic on Chainlink this week" and then..."there's a lot of controversy around the shifter/break lever". He was a good sport about it and and said he was going to check out the thread.

Gopher Biker said:

Thanks for checking it out - did you let them know they were a topic of discussion on Chainlink (and if so, what was the reaction)?

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Permalink Reply by James BlackHeron on August 13, 2011 at 2:31pm

I hope he does. I would love to hear his side of things.

Gear-shifter brakes and all -I kind of like his style. Others may not, but is's a free world.

S.Presley said:

Oh ya...That's how I made my entrance..."you guys are the hot topic on Chainlink this week" and then..."there's a lot of controversy around the shifter/break lever". He was a good sport about it and and said he was going to check out the thread.

Gopher Biker said:

Thanks for checking it out - did you let them know they were a topic of discussion on Chainlink (and if so, what was the reaction)?

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Permalink Reply by Joel on August 13, 2011 at 6:49pm

Yeah, that brAke lever is truly the talk of the town.

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Permalink Reply by James BlackHeron on August 13, 2011 at 7:33pm

Press hard enough and it might actually BE a break lever!

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Permalink Reply by King CeZar on August 14, 2011 at 12:54am

I don't know who builds the worst bikes in Chicago, the fastlane, working bikes, or this dump, but one thing is for sure the all have shitty mechanics building bikes at these dumps!