New to Seattle...LBS suggestions?

[joys]

Hello!
I just relocated to Seattle...living in the NE Seattle area... and would really, really appreciate some LBS recommendations.

I am on the hunt for the perfect saddle (I have a pile of terribly uncomfortable ones piling up) so if anybody knows of a place that lets you try saddles out that would be a huge help!

Also, is there anyplace in the area that offers memberships in exchange for the use of their bike tools and supplies?

Thanks!
joys

[mimitabby]

oh, gosh, lots of great bike shops. let's see; Gregg's greenlake is near you
also, a little further south gets you to Recycled cycles & Freerangecycles.
Across the street from Freerange is a cooperative. I dont know much about it but maybe someone else does.
Across the lake from you is Sammamish bike shop (in Redmond)
A lot of these give discounts if you belong to bike clubs like Cascade, Seattle International Randonneurs, etc.


that will get you started!

[KnottedYet]

three cheers for Recycled Cycles! www.recycledcycles.com

If you need mechanic help, ask for Paul or Brent.

If you need sales help, ask for Andy or Skip.

Recycled Cycles gives store credit for trade-ins, so you could get some credit for the saddles you don't want without having to fuss with selling them. And they are special ordering a Brooks saddle for me *as I type*.

[joys]

Thanks ladies, I'll be checking those places out this weekend!

[dex]

Wright Brothers in Fremont (on 36th St.--I'm pretty sure this is the one Mimi was referring to) does the co-op/membership thing for use of tools and shop time.
http://wrightbrotherscycleworks.com/

For any wrenching needs, I take my bikes to Mobius Cycle downtown. Partly because it's near my office, but also because it's a small woman-owned shop and they do great work. She doesn't stock a lot in the way of product, and what she has is mostly aimed at the messenger crowd, but she's awesome and so is her repair work...and she likes to make bikes pretty. (I'm all about the pretty.) At some point I'll get her to build up an entire bike for me, but I'm holding my bike lusts at bay for a bit.
http://www.mobiuscycle.com

I've purchased bikes at both Gregg's Greenlake and at Sammamish Valley Cycle in Redmond. My purchasing experiences were similarly pleasant at both shops. I went on to get into a battle of wills (and raised voices) with the repair shop at Gregg's (hence the reason I take my bikes elsewhere for service issues now).

[KnottedYet]

Gregg's isn't the same wonderful shop it was 20 years ago... I don't go there any more.