Any NoVA area cyclists- bike shop recommendations?

[wurkit_gurl]

I am looking into getting a road bike, and while I am doing some online research to learn more about what I should be looking for, etc, I am also going to try to go to different bike shops, talk to people, etc and obviously try some out so I can get the right fit for me. If there are any Northern Virginia riders here (DC-area in general, though I live in Fairfax) that could give some suggestions, I'd appreciate it! I only know of Performance Bikes and Revolution Cycles- and I sort of get an elitist vibe from Revolution Cycles, but they sell a couple of the bikes I would like to try out. I just don't want to walk in there and have them laugh me out of the place because I'm a total newbie at this. I'm not unathletic or anything; I used to be a dancer, and I do yoga, and rock-climb and hike, etc- and I have a hybrid that I got for cheap because I wanted something to pedal until I could afford a road bike. But I'm definitely not the totally ripped chicks that you see in those stores! Anyone have any other suggestions of good places beside those two? I'll probably suck it up and go to Revolution Cycles, but I definitely want to check out more than one place.

[bike4ever]

I used to work at A1 Cycles in Manassas. I know we were rather low key there. There is another A1 Cycles in Herndon which is definitely more upscale (probably due to location). Give them a try.

[Kalidurga]

I've only shopped for gear at these places, but out in Leesburg there are two decent shops: Bicycle Outfitters (http://www.bikeoutfitters.com/) and Plum Grove Cyclery (http://www.plumgrovecyclery.com/). There's also Spokes, Etc (http://spokesetc.com/index.cfm), scattered throughout NoVa. I've been meaning to check out their shop in Ashburn, but haven't made it down there yet. Any place that shows a kid's Kettler Jumbo and a Trek Madone as featured items on their home page has to have a cool atmosphere. ;)

If you haven't already, make sure you check out the Mid-Atlantic forum here at TE. There's a good number of us DC-area TE'ers!

[aicabsolut]

Spokes is great, from my limited exposure to the shop. Revolution isn't bad, and they have some good service deals when you buy a bike from them. Same with City Bikes, though it seems geared more towards the messenger crowd. I use them b/c I didn't like the vibe I got from Bicycle Pro Shop (next to Revolution on M St) and I wanted a Specialized. But since I joined a team that the Pro Shop sponsors, they've gotten a lot nicer..lol. And some of my friends work there. A good thing about them I've found is that they'll tell you to go somewhere else if they feel they lack expertise (like directing me to Fitness Concepts for a proper bike fitting after listening to me complain of aches and pains and watching me on the rollers).

I'd suggest you do what I did and go to a few of these shops, see what bikes they suggest, what their deals / service packages are, and try out several bikes at each place. Then decide on a shop by balancing the bike you want to buy with the service the shop provides.

I probably should've gone with a shop closer to my house (I picked one nearer where I lived this summer, which is a pain to go back to now that I live across town...not sure if all the gas $ spent makes the free service worth it sometimes!).

[Velobambina]

Revolution in Clarendon is just a few miles from my house but I will never go there again. They "repaired" a flat tire for me once and didn't take the time to find out what caused the flat in the first place. The next time I took the bike out, I had another flat within two minutes because the tiny stone that caused the first flat was STILL in between the tire and tube. When my husband took it in to have THAT flat repaired, the female mechanic found the stone but charged us again for fixing the flat (If I'd have been there, I wouldn't have paid).

Spokes, etc. in Alexandria is the best shop I've found thus far. Their service department is tops and the sales people aren't snobs.

I've been to Capitol Hill Bikes (mechanics are great but some of the sales staff are snobs) and I've had good luck with City Bikes (the one in Bethesda, I think). If I'm not mistaken, one of the MD gals had problems w/City Bikes but it might have been the Adams Morgan store.

[HillSlugger]

I've had good sales and service at the City Bikes in Bethesda. Need to get my bike back there for a tune up!

[aicabsolut]

I've had some issues with City Bikes in Chevy Chase, but nothing they didn't fix (for free). Generally, I give them good reviews.

I think the staff at Revolution rotates around a bit between the stores.

It's probably safe to say that some wrenches at most of the shops in the area are sloppier than others. I haven't heard anyone say they're in love with the service dept of any of them.

I haven't been to CH Bikes, but I've met a couple people that do their team rides. They seem to carry some good quality stuff. Specialized sponsors their racing team. I'm thinking I'll join next year if I get a job in the District (since I could only do occasional open/alumni stuff with my school team). :p

[divingbiker]

It's a bit of a hike from Northern Virginia, but I really like Proteus Bikes in College Park. They've got a great mechanic who fixed my bike after I'd taken it to another shop four times, and I like the atmosphere and staff. It's definitely not upscale.