Puget Sound Bike Testing -- Favorite Stores?

[salsabike]

So now to answer your question, Starfish. I have done most of my test riding at Gregg's because they had the bikes I wanted to try (I had several specific models in mind) and because it's an easy neighborhood to find a reasonably clear ride route, and a hill, both of which I wanted. I did test ride at Elliott Bay but it's not a good neighborhood for an easy test ride route.

R&E let me take a bike home for several days to test ride it in various places and for a 20-30 mile ride. I really appreciated that a lot. But they don't have the variety.

[dex]

I liked Sammamish Valley Cycle over in Redmond when I was looking for a hybrid/commuter bike. Friendly, helpful, didn't care how long I took their bikes out. I wasn't shopping for road bikes at the time, but noticed that they had lots of them in the shop. Here's the list of brands from their web site: Litespeed, Serotta, Colnago, Bianchi, Cervelo, Scott, Marinoni, Parlee.

[Eden]

Center Cycles in Renton has Specialized, Giant and Kona to name a few
www.centercycle.com
customer service that can be described as interesting......
they gave me a great deal on my bike, they searched literally to the ends of the earth to get it for me (its one of only 9 made in my size!! and had to come from another shop in Australia), but they did keep looking at my husband when I was there the first time looking, they really did not seem to be taking me too seriously (until I came in 3rd in their sponsored race) and they tried to talk me into a bike that was a size bigger...

Bicycles West - www.bicycleswest.com has some big brands too, Specialized and Trek that I remember. They are quite close to Center Cycle so it would be easy to visit both (and Ikea too - which is right inbetween the two)

both have a pretty good inventory so it would be likely that you could ride some bikes in your size.

[mimitabby]

I did test ride at Elliott Bay but it's not a good neighborhood for an easy test ride route.

oh, man you're right about that! straight up and down AND cobblestones!!!

[KnottedYet]

I will be sad when TiCycles is gone, they are my #3 shop. Guess I'd better go shopping there now, before 12-22!

(all my shops are along the B-G. 21 years ago I bought a bike from yet another shop along the B-G, the one that's half burned down now. "Jack's Bicycle Center" or something like that maybe? Northeast of TiCycles.)

[Starfish]

This is very helpful. Thank you. Keep 'em coming, anyone else who reads this thread...