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Sid's Bike Shop
Rating Details »
Neighborhoods: Murray Hill, Kips Bay
235 E 34th St
New York, NY 10016
(212) 213-8360
235 E 34th St
New York, NY 10016
(212) 213-8360
- Nearest Transit:
-
33rd St-Park Ave (6)
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
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"these guys are super cool. i stopped in to get some air and they were kind enough to let me use the store pump rather than messing with the…" read more »
19 reviews for Sid's Bike Shop
I don't have too much experience with bike stores except for the place that I bought my Lemond* back in Boston. I've heard that bike store people can bring major attitude, but the folks here were alright. The service guy (Joe, I think) asked me some questions about how often I ride and whatnot and I left it for a tune up.
It came back much cleaner, all of the gear region (which I fastidiously avoid because I break all things mechanical) nicely cleaned and oiled. The brakes are more responsive. Overall, it seems they did what they said they would!
Only thing I would comment is that they didn't call me to say it was done. Granted, it was done when they said it would be done. But, why not give the courtesy call?
Oh, one last thing - they have long hours some nights, which SO, SO helpful.
*If you notice people mentioning their bikes in these reviews, it's because they love their bikes and want to talk about them, kind of like people with kids and pets.
Did I already Yelp about Sid's - even so I am doing it again they are that great.
Last night I wanted to go for a bike ride and surprise to me my back tire was completely flat. Now, I don't know anything about bikes except how to ride them so first I went to a gas station with all the cab drivers and tried to use their air hose, that didn't work. Then I remembered Sid's and prayed that they would still be open. I walked my bike over there and lucky they were not only open but busy. They have an air hose out front so I grabbed the thing and attempted to put air in my tire. Little did I know that different tires have different methods of receiving air - who new like I said I just ride the bike I don't fix them. So here I am trying to force this air thing on my tire and the air starts pumping but it's not working. Well I can't see how to get it to turn off and I am just feeling like the biggest fool in the world.
From this moment of feeling like a fool I entered one of the greatest customer service examples I have ever experienced. First up, Sid's guy #1 he came outside and found me lost in the air pump world. He explained that I could not get air in my tires with that device and pointed me inside to use a hand pump. I left him trying to figure out how to get the air off and I was thinking "oh great I broke it". Well then I went to the hand pump and again I thought you just put the thingy on the thingy and pump - that didn't work so I found great Sid's guy #2. He explained about the cap on the thingy and said both my tires needed air and that the bike I have actually needs air after every time I ride it - oops I certainly had not been doing that.
So very nice Sid's guy #2 starts to pump my tire when something goes wrong. He popped something - a tube of some kind. Now I would have NO idea that he "broke" something but he took my bike immediately to the back service area and put it on the rack to get a new tube telling the gang he popped it. Wow and here I was the person who broke their air thing that they forgave me for saying it was "old anyway". Then I met great Sid's helper #3. This guy - while my bike was being fixed - proceeded to teach me about air pumps and my tires and the valve, he was beyond kind. So after 30 minutes and three amazing Sid's helpers I was off for my ride with my new bike pump attached and ready to go for future use.
I don't know if they are pricy or not but I do know that service like that is worth every dollar.
Thank you Sid's!!!!
3 stars
cool store to check out if you're in NY
This is the best bike shop I have been to in NYC.
I have been to most of the shops in the city. Bought parts, had service, whatever. Sid's staff is the only non-arrogant bike shop staff I have ever seen. Even wearing my team kit (racing uniform) in other shops, they treat me like I'm an idiot. Sid's staff was more knowledgeable and helpful than anywhere else.
Last time I was there, a bike delivery guy's bike was on the repair stand with a ruined rear wheel. The mechanic actually told the guy "I can give you a new wheel and it will work, but honestly it's going to be cheaper and easier for you to just go to a department store and buy a new bike." I have NEVER heard anyone at a bike shop tell you to go somewhere else.
Also, their prices are "high" but totally fair. It's a local bike shop, stuff is going to cost near retail. You can buy things on the internet for cheap (or even go to a crappy shop), but I prefer to pay a couple extra bucks for tubes so that when something catastrophic happens or I need an obscure part that day, there is a good shop still in business nearby.
Take your bike to this shop. I ride across the city to go there.
I have mixed feelings about Sid's. I work nearby and come in here every once in a while to pick something up. The selection is pretty good but the prices are not. The staff is very knowledgeable and can be helpful, but as others have said, the information comes with that condescending air you usually only get from office tech guys. Also, I feel like their product lines are focused more on the hardcore racing/road warrior type cyclists, rather than the cycling for fun/transportation market.
Came in here last night for a pair of tubes I needed for my new tires. The young lady who helped me was extremely helpful and answered my questions. On the down side, the prices are way too expensive on certain things....like the tubes. They wound up costing me double what I would've paid across town. Oh well...live and learn.
having recently crossed over from the wonderful world of running to cycling, i was nervous about finding the perfect bike and just as important, the perfect bike shop. and that's when a colleague told me about Sid's Bike Shop, saying they had a knowledgeable staff with great service - so i went to check it out.
in total, i made 3 visits to the shop asking a variety of questions before test riding and then buying my new best friend (a Canondale Quik 4).
everyone was really helpful, knowledgeable and most importantly patient, because i ask a lot of questions. i've been in bike shops prior to this and never really felt comfortable or that the sales people i was speaking with knew what they were talking about.
at Sid's it was the complete opposite, everyone there is a passionate cyclist and were more than understanding of my apprehension, having not ridden a bicycle in more than 15 years.
i know ride my bike all over NYC and couldn't be happier. and they even installed all of the accessories i purchased for my bike, which was great, because i'm not really good at that stuff.
if you are new to cycling or if your a pro, i'd definitely recommend Sid's.
Every repair I've had here has been solid. Relatively quick and I've always had accurate quotes on jobs. Equipment can be a but pricey bit theres always a good selection.
Summer of 2008 I purchased a pair of Schwalbe Ultremo's for 120$.
Within three weeks I noticed a hole in the sidewall. Sid's agreed to send it in for a new one. This took a long time. Yeah, that was Schwalbe, but I got the feeling I wasn't going to get called the day my tire came in. It also wasn't very clear how the exchange was going to work.
The hole in the sidewall developed again on the exchanged tire : I will not buy Schwalbe Ultremos again, but I will definitely be back at Sids on 34th street.
Like with any bike shop, you have to let Sid's grow on you after awhile. On my first visit many years back, I felt at once strong-armed and condescended to by the salesman who sold me my Van Dessel. This was long before I ever realized that this would be par for the course at alot of bikeshops in the city. (If you're a NYC cycling novice, just understand that every question you ask about bikes, nearly anywhere you go and no matter to whom, is going to be treated as the most idiotic one ever uttered in their presence. Don't take it personally, it's just part of the culture).
But when I walked out the door with my Superfly, I knew I had gotten more bike than I deserved to have, and probably for a better price than what I could find anywhere else. The warranty is terribly generous and the more you come in, the nicer they are to you (even more so early on weekend mornings when many of them are clearly hung over). That said, I haven't had an even remotely unpleasant experience with them in years, even when the service (under admittedly extraordinary circumstances) hasn't always been flawless.
i just got my bike fixed here. I just have an old 3 speeder Raleigh and thought I would have to deal with bike snobs then getting ripped off. $19 and 20 min later, I was more than impressed and no one made fun of me! Best service, fair prices and nice guys all around. My bike is completely fixed.
I grew up 3 blocks from Sid's and was very excited to see that a bike shop opened when I came home one semester break from college. I had just purchased a bike of my own and had a reason to shop.
However, I found these guys to be rude and condescending (like many bike shop ppl can be) when I bought some accessories from them. The store was not crowded so they had no reason to be rude and unhelpful.
So, although Sid's was my LBS away from college, I would happily pass the store as I rode 20 blocks out of my way to the Metro Bikes and decided to use Sid's only for their free air.
HA! on you Sid!
i heart this place.
everyone at sid's is extremely friendly and helpful - especially essex!!
i found that they were willing to entertain and seriously ponder a few of my sillier questions (like: "where can i find cute fashionable bike clothes in nyc?" -- HEY, don't laugh!!) and were extremely knowledgeable when i was deciding between various products. i love that they will install anything i buy at the store for me, which means i don't have to mess around with my dad's tools for like an hour, only to give up because i have no clue how to fix my bike.
this shop is great for the bike savvy as well as the bike clueless (like me)
i will definitely be back... plus if you are a member of transportation alternatives you get a 10% discount on accessories, clothes, and parts
bad experience. poor service & overpriced. fun to look at stuff. not fun to talk to staff.
This shop is roomy and has a great selection. The staff is friendly and helpful if you don't know what you're doing. It's not cramped or crowded.
I can't possibly recommend this shop if you DO know what you're doing, as it did feel a bit like going into a car dealer -- they are out to sell you something, which is fine if you want to go test out a bunch of bikes and comparison shop, but I don't imagine I'd actually buy anything at the end of the day.
That said, it was one of three shops that I've been to (out of about 8 so far in new york) that I felt like I could've actually bought something from. The others were just generally dismissive.
Since I just rated Bicycle Habitat where I bought a bike for my fiance I decided to rate Sid's Bike shop as well where I bought my own. Of the two places I've had very different experiences so if you're looking for a bike then read my review on that place as well.
First, the staff at Sid's Bikes are pretty decent, attentive and you don't get that elite pompousness that you might find at other bike shops. This may be perhaps because outside of a few tech people the rest of the staff aren't hardcore bike geeks but people who just work there.
This can be good or bad depending on what you're looking for... when I came in for my bike I had already shopped and called around so I already knew exactly what I wanted. The guy I dealt with was cool, didn't try to convince me to get tons of unnecessary accessories or debate the merits of one suspension or brake system over another.
The only bad thing is that he didn't have as much expertise in making adjustments on my bike to fit me as I ended up calibrating and adjusting it myself. However, on the few occassions where I've brought my bike to get tuned up its one of the techies who handles it and they do an excellent job.
As for the bikes themselves they have middle to high end bikes so you probably won't find a $350 starter bike here. The accessories and stuff are the same price as anywhere else so on this end they're average.
I've been to roughly 50 bike shops in four countries, and as unbelievable as it seems, Sid's is the worst bike shop I've ever been to.
I was convinced to try Sid's because they're advertised as one of the Top 100 bike shops in the United States--and the only one on that list in New York City. Having gone there several times now, I have no idea on what basis that distinction could have been bestowed on them except perhaps that they're well supplied with the most expensive, top-of-the-line items (but little to nothing for the general rider) and overstaffed with very hip, young sales people--who about as aloof as French waiters are famous for being, but without the fine service manners.
Even paying in full, in advance, got me no better service, and as a result they not only don't get my repeat business--worth at least $1000 a year that will now go to the tiny local shop down the street from me in Queens--but I hope I never have to go there for anything, ever again. It's really that bad.
Don't go to Sid's unless you're ready to have them do absolutely everything from selecting your parts to installing them, and to pay the absolute highest prices. When you go to Sid's you're basically saying you don't know what you're doing but are willing to pay someone else to take care of everything for you. (Perhaps this is how they became so highly rated).
Don't go there if you are at all shrewd. If you do know what you're doing or care to ask questions and have them answered, go to Toga or Metro or whatever your nearest local bike shop is--or just order your stuff online, learn to install it yourself, and go to your nearest bike shop when you run into a problem.
This is not a pro shop--it's a boutique. Sure they have everything, but only the best of everything, and for top dollar. They also claim to be a small, independent bike shop (thus justifying the pricing) when in reality they're just opening their third store.
Customer service attitude here is abysmal, attrocious, perhaps non-existent except at the mechanic's workbench (the guys who do actual work). The staff at Sid's just don't put energy and effort into serving your needs, and no one seems to be in charge. No one is responsible--except again, the mechanics.
I've been to quite a few bike shops in nyc and Sid's is by far my favorite. The staff is very friendly and they are not at all pretentious, just happy to help. It's true that a lot of the staff have experience with BMX/dirt biking, but they are also very knowledgeable about different road bikes (I've found the same thing is true at Jack Rabbit). They do not try and rush you and overall I've just had great experiences at Sid's.
i've been to this shop a few times and so far the service has been perfect. the staff has always been friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. i had my crank replaced and they didn't try to take advantage of me and my bike was ready by the promise date. i'll definitely be back!
I've been to Sid's bike shop several times for parts and clothing. I've never had the experience of buying a bike from them, but my visits have been satisfactory. They are not overly attentive but will take the time to answer any questions you have. I actually prefer this approach to those dodgey salespeople who shadow you around trying to sell you things you don't need. Nobody even gave me a second look when one afternoon, I spent a good hour before closing time trying on gear. The guy showed me gear in all price ranges and didn't try to hawk only the really expensive stuff and even pointed out what was on sale and what wasn't. I ended up getting around a combined 40% off due to the various sales they had on clothing. Add to that the pleasant conversation I had with the girl ringing me up (despite her self-admitted hangover around 5pm on a saturday afternoon) and it was a very pleasant shopping experience.
