tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11662550.post2972099753659460414..comments2010-09-04T14:07:52.986-04:00PCMnoreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11662550.post-87690749306693162042010-09-04T14:07:52.986-04:002010-09-04T14:07:52.986-04:00I don&#39;t. Maybe somebody else does. But I doubt you&#39;ll find it in a new comment here, because this post is now three years old.PCMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13647097472236933108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11662550.post-4904188977430378932010-09-04T13:25:10.553-04:002010-09-04T13:25:10.553-04:00Hi,<br />I&#39;m not a great biker, but would like to just be able to get to work in Astoria, in 15 minutes or less. Don&#39;t scoff, but, any info on places that motorize bikes? I have limited mobility, so when I need to move without pedalling myself into cardiac arrest, I&#39;d like to be able to have some help! Any ideas!Technology+Kids=Successhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07032550373382786624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11662550.post-29736845706016693582009-04-05T16:34:00.000-04:002009-04-05T16:34:00.000-04:00Yes,many bike stores have attitudes but the service I got at Tonys after spending a bit for a new fork and some other parts was not the greatest and they were in a hurry to close when I had just spent a fair amount.<BR/> As far as the new shop by the bridge the owner seems fairly nice but the selection is slim to start out with but Im sure he'll add more. Spokesman is OK but the younger helper mechanics are sort of full of it.They thought my old steel 80's lugged Japanese frame was a joke when its made a hell of a lot better than mass produced tig welded Bianchis. <BR/> I agree completely too about having better bike store experiences in other cities, not in here thats for sure.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11662550.post-39112251670464197772008-11-17T00:19:00.000-05:002008-11-17T00:19:00.000-05:00I should just point out that Tony's is not the "new" bike store. But I hear what you're saying.<BR/><BR/>What's on the inside of the rim is "rim tape" (not a "gasket"). It's just a thin layer of cloth that protects the tube from the top of the nipple that screw in the spokes. it generally doesn't cause problems. It should be replaced every couple of years (at most). There's no excuse for a new rim to have such a problem.PCMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13647097472236933108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11662550.post-51285355390952779732008-11-14T14:15:00.000-05:002008-11-14T14:15:00.000-05:00Ive had horrible experience at tonys in astoria. Really. The fat kid that tuned up my bike put so much lube on the chain that it ruined 3 pairs of pants. I didnt look at them until wash day to see that they were caked with grease. In order to get the grease or whatever off I had to use a brush and gasoline on the chain then lightly oil it with a a teflon oil. Also, the next time i went to get a flat changed they told me i needed a new rim. I thought, ok.. Mistakes happen.. ill try again and guess what, after i had the rim replaced I got 4 flat tires in the next 2 months..Something about a rubber gasket over the spokes on the inside of the rim? I dunno, then they tried to sell me a new tire for a 50 dollar around town cheapie. Go there in emergencies only..Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11662550.post-36307465446157691912007-09-19T17:26:00.000-04:002007-09-19T17:26:00.000-04:00More people read this than you (or I) would think. Not millions, mind you, but about 50 a day. Enough that I keep it up, thinking I’m doing some good for biking in NYC.<BR/><BR/>As a Greek, I love classifying Greeks. And I’m talking particularly of the two Greek-owned bike shops in Astoria. One on 28th Ave and the other under the Amtrak tracks. I think they’re brothers. They do give good service. They’ve always been nice to me. And I can speak Greek to them. It’s all good. <BR/><BR/>It’s just that I don’t trust their workers to work on my nicer bikes. They’ve done some shoddy work and seem more interested in hitting on women (like my wife) than working on bikes. If I won’t bring a bike store my bike, in my mind it’s not a good bike store. I don’t want a bike store to say something is “good enough” if I want it better.<BR/><BR/>I’m surprised that you think New York is a mecca of good bike shops. I’ve had better bike stores in every other city I’ve lived in (except Baltimore). Chicago has good bike stores. Boston a few great stores. Amsterdam has some winners (though a surprising amount of bad bike shops as well). A good bike store needs good mechanics and has to pay them enough to keep them. I think that’s a problem here. <BR/><BR/>Andres on 35th Ave is a great mechanic. And he takes pride in his work (particularly with wheels). I can’t vouch for his helper.PCMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13647097472236933108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11662550.post-44065418582576000082007-09-19T14:27:00.000-04:002007-09-19T14:27:00.000-04:00I went to those shops(the Greek ones) and the (Spanish ones), that is if you want to classify people, and I received better service at the older shop and they also had more inventory. All shops have their ups and downs but you fail to highlight that. Competition is definitely a good thing and access to bike shops is a privelage we have more so in New York City than any other place in the world. <BR/>Nobody probably reads this anyway. It's all goodAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11662550.post-64916820109784475782007-09-12T08:13:00.000-04:002007-09-12T08:13:00.000-04:00Don't forget spokesman cycles, on vernon by the church/tuk tuk/etc. these guys are always super friendly/know what they're doing/rock. I think the owner's from the nabe, too, so that's cool..Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com