Liam Quigley writes NYC Bike-Shop profiles for velociynation.com

Liberty Bicycles, at 645 9th Avenue, offers sales, service, and even tandem rentals out of a tiny storefront. Beyond the normal racks of newer models, Liberty Bicycles shows a monstrous wall of parts and accessories behind the cashier. Next to this is the service area, which boasts on the spot repairs in fifteen minutes or less from everything to a pinched tube to a moderately untrue wheel.

Rentals here are all standard fare excepting their hybrid cruiser which can be rented for a day or by the hour. Brands that this shop specializes in are Iron Horse, GT, Schwinn, Dahon Folding, and Specialized. Higher end road pedals are available, but the shop’s wares are targeted towards a commuter or greenway recreationalist – not a CRCA racer. That said, don’t be surprised to find some deals here on equipment a higher-end store might not have.

Expect to pay about 10 dollars here for a standard flat fix, and around 90 dollars for a new Ultegra 10 speed cassette. Helmet and other accessory prices are comparable to other area stores like Metro and Toga.

I need to go to Baltimore on Monday, December 10th. If anyone was thinking about visiting/interviewing any colleges there (MICA) let me know if you want to bus together.

Liam Quigley writes NYC Bike-Shop profiles for velociynation.com

Bordered by bike lanes, Bicycle Habitat was founded more than twenty years ago and remains one of the oldest shops in the city. They are strong partners with Transportation Alternatives and offer discounts for TA members. They also sponsor the NYC Century ride annually. Bicycle Habitat doubled it’s size in Summer of 2006 and now carries clothing from designers like Castelli and Descente.

Habitat carries plenty of track models to choose from, and stocks a good number of hybrid style models and cruisers that are available for daily rentals. Some of the newer rental models use Trek’s new DynaShift hub technology. Expect to pay 14.09 – 17.34 for a flat fix at Habitat. Prices can vary based on labor (Nuts or Quick-release, baskets and other accessories to remove cost more).

Also available at Habitat’s Lafayette Street location are plenty of folding models to choose from, with Bromptons and othe popular models available for test rides. Bicycle Habitat is at 244 Lafayette Street, open 7 days a week with variable hours.

Liam Quigley writes NYC Bike-Shop profiles for velociynation.com

Continuum cycles is another shop relatively new to the scene – opened in June of 2007 at 199 Avenue B in Manhattan. Continuum boasts a wide array of hard to find vintage and track bikes which rotate in and out regularly. Phil Wood hubs are practically stuffed behind the counter and Campagnalo and Miche parts are in abundance. The shop is tucked into a smallish-storefront, and you can recognize the shop from about two blocks away by the load of bikes stored out front.

The cheaper commuter three speeds and older bikes here start at around 175, and for some of the fanciest, rarest models, prices can climb into the thousands. A standard flat fix here comes out to around 14.00 after tax, and the shop offers a 15% discount for all NYC messengers in addition to sponsoring a messenger racing team – “Team 6″.

Most Ultegra, Campy, and other high end parts can be ordered here with some wait, and you can expect to pay between 85-100 for a 10spd Ultegra cassette. Continuum also retails all Surly, Soma, and Torreli models. Check out this shop if you are interested in a rare track or vintage Colnago frame. This shop stays open late most nights, including Sundays.

Liam Quigley writes NYC Bike-Shop profiles for velociynation.com

The New Sid’s shop on 19th Street between 6th and 7th avenues opened in May of 2007 with a huge bash complete with giveaways and even Bianchi-Celeste vodka. This new location is half shop, half huge bicycle showroom with pristine examples of the latest offerings from Specialized to Orbea. Cyclocross, Mountain, and city-cruising bikes are all well represented on the shop’s floor. Racks filled with all kinds of jerseys and equipment line the walls with a raised balcony area to the left of the shop.

A fitting area is tucked away under the raised section and the shop’s layout is almost as attractive as the bikes on show. A standard flat fix at this Sid’s location will run you about 13.00 plus tax, and a new 10spd Dura-Ace casette will set you back 89.99 before tax. The average price of a lower end bicycle in this shop is about 275, with the finest steeds going for over 20,000 dollars on some very rare occasions. Sid’s employees say that their shop is special because customers feel welcome and continue to come back for all their cycling needs.

Look at Sid’s for special deals on Cannondale, Trek, and Specialized models. Sid’s own racing team has a sponsorship deal with Cannondale and you can see them at many CRCA races.

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