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Johnny Sprockets North
1052 W. Bryn Mawr Ave.
Chicago
773-293-1695
johnnysprockets.com |
Cyclesmithy
2468 1/2 N. Clark St.
Chicago
773-281-0444
cyclesmithy.com |
Turin Bicycle
1027 Davis St.
Evanston
847-864-7660
turinbicycle.com |
Who we talked to |
STEVEN BLUM, MANAGER |
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What are the most popular accessories you sell? |
“In Chicago, it’d be
locks! It’s almost an
unwritten necessity.” |
“Locks and helmets,
in that order.” |
“We sell a lot of bags,
ranging from racks
to backpacks.” |
How much does the average person spend on a bike? |
“I’d say between
$400 and $500.” |
“The recreational rider is
spending $400 to $500.” |
“From $300 to $10,000.
There’s no one average.” |
What will you do to help find the bike that’s right for your customer? |
“We ask a bunch
of questions about
how and where they’re
going to ride.” |
“I highly encourage them
to test-ride bikes
to experience the bike
on their own.” |
“We tailor to the customer
by building rapport
and talking about the kind
of riding they’d like to do.” |
What’s the biggest mistake people make when buying a bike? |
“Buying it solely on
color or because it’s the
best deal as opposed to
the best fit.” |
“Either not knowing or
not being made aware
of what some of the
different choices are.” |
“Buying a bike for the least
amount of money from
a mass-merchant store.
They’re essentially buying
disposable bicycles.” |
What kinds of regular maintenance do you offer? How much does each service cost? |
“We offer two free tuneups
the first year. After that,
we recommend at
least a tuneup a year.
They start at $65.” |
“We offer a year’s service,
where they get a free tuneup
and any brake or gear
adjustment. We charge $69
for tuneups after that.” |
“We do all adjustments
for the first year. After that,
we have service packages
at different prices, depending
on what’s needed.” |
What is the best local bike path? |
“The Lakefront Bike Trail,
running from north
Chicago all the way to
the South Side. That’s by
far the most popular.” |
“The Lakefront Trail is a
magnificent thing —
a 20-mile stretch of parks
going around the city.” |
“Sheridan Road, north
of Chicago along the
suburbs of Lake Michigan,
is hugely popular.” |
What are the major trends in the industry and in bike technology? |
“Lighter-weight parts.
Technology is trickling
down, so the $200 bikes
today have a lot of the
technology that top-of-
the-line bikes had
six years ago.” |
“People are rediscovering
road bikes. A lot of people
have come to realize that
a road bike is well suited
for an urban environment.” |
“We’re seeing a lot more
carbon-fiber. It’s kind of
creepy to be riding a plastic
bike, but Boeing makes
airplanes of this stuff.
You can custom-tailor
how a bike rides.” |
