Bike repair in South Minneapolis (Richfield)

[carbonel]

In my garage, I have an old Schwinn bike. It was a fine bike once upon a time, even though it's decidedly retro now. But I assume it needs a major overhaul to get it going again.

Any recommendations as to where to take it?

The first thing that came up when I googled was Velofix, which is both near me and comes to your place in their van to do the work. But I suspect that 30-year-old bikes are not their jam, and almost the first word in the video that describes their services was "premium." I'm guessing they would sneer at my poor old bike.

I hear the name Erik's a lot, but I've also heard people warning others off about them. I went there once long ago and got a very hard sell for a type of seat I didn't want. That was just one salesperson, of course, but it does make me a bit wary.

I'd appreciate personal recommendations so I don't have to rely on just a web search.

ETA (6/27): Now on the waiting list at Farmstead Bike Shop, so will probably get a call around mid-July to bring it in. Thanks for all the suggestions!

Comments

[lydy]

I bought my bike from Freewheel in Richfield, and they seem fine, but I haven't taken it for a tuneup. Honestly, I chose them because they had the bike I wanted in stock.

REI is another option. I have a membership there, so might even get some sort of discount if we did it on my account.

And, as I have said in email, I have car-mounted rack, and a frame adapter! So, I can ferry your bike anywhere you like!

Someone

[lsanderson]

Was unhelpful, although that's not our part of town. You can buy 'refurbished' Schwinn bikes for $150-$200, so try to stay well under that. You're probably looking at replacing a lot of cables, brake pads, tubes & tires...

[lydy]

David went to Tangletown Bikes, and they tuned up his bike for $65. It has been sitting in our garage for at least 25 years. It would have been more if it needed brake pads, but it didn't. He says that he's happy with the results.

[quadong]

You've probably seen my rant about Erik's. If not, I'll share if you want.

I don't know Velofix, but I've never gotten shade for my fairly crappy bikes when I bring them in various places that have new shiny expensive bikes for sale. Also, bikes *ought* to last 30 years if they aren't being ridden through the snow and salt every winter, so I hope it doesn't win any prizes for being the oldest they've ever seen.

[dreamshark]

I have ABSOLUTELY gotten shade for my old crappy bikes. Most recently at Alt Bike (formerly my favorite bike shop) and before that at Freewheel on the West Bank after they converted their business model from shaggy hippie coop to serving upscale competitive bikers.

[carbonel]

I don't remember your rant about Erik's specifically, but that might be partly why I have a negative feel for the place.

Sure, please share.

[quadong]

In short, they refuse service if you don't give up all your personal information, even if the service takes 3 minutes (changing a flat tire in one case) and you're willing to stand there while they do it. This has happened two out of the two times I've gone into an Erik's, and in neither case did the employee bend one iota. The first time they *unrepaired* my brakes after I refused to give them my name.

[carbonel]

How very annoying. I would be tempted to flat-out lie.

[quadong]

I have decided that that would be playing into their game. Even though they wouldn't be able to spam me, it would be saying that I accept that their demands are legitimate, and *I'm* the bad guy. Instead, I take my business elsewhere.

[minnehaha]

The Freewheel on Penn used to be Penn Cycle and they seem fine. Freewheel is a good place to get a bike worked on. The Hub is slow, but also fine. I love the guys at the bike shop in my neighborhood, but I don't know the name of the shop. East of Turtle Bread and on the same street but the north side.....

The guy at Nokomis Bikes also seems competent.

I've bought bikes at Freewheel and Erik's.

K.

[dreamshark]

Oooh ooh, I know this one! I just got my 25 year old bike fixed up at the relatively new Farmstead Bike shop on Bryant and 40th. They are friendly and non-pushy, and perfectly happy to work on old bikes. I had been taking my bikes to Alt Bike and Board (where I bought my "new" bike), but they have gotten kind of surly and snotty and incapable of making the simplest fix on an old and beat up bike, so I'm not going there any more. Nico at Farmstead had no problem adjusting the front shifter that AltBike had declared unfixable, and replaced the wornout back gear set for a ridiculously reasonable price. My old bike now flies like the wind, and shifts into ALL the gears!

The only downside is that they are improbably busy. Which is good for a local business, but you may have to leave your name and get a call back when they have an opening. They are doing curbside dropoff, consultation, and pickup.


Farmstead Bike Shop
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https://www.farmsteadbikeshop.com/
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4001 Bryant Ave. South - Minneapolis, MN 55409
612-824-9300
greg@farmsteadbikeshop.com [I think Greg is the owner, but has several employees]

[carbonel]

I just called Farmstead and got myself on their waiting list. Currently a two- to three-week wait.

The woman I talked to said, "We love old bikes!"

Thanks!