Open Road Bicycle Shop

while the owner/wrench/etc. (1 guy runs the whole shop) was working on my ride, I brought my lunch back to sit in the entrance/living room with the big screen tv showing Italian cycling films. I was having trouble finding the right brakes that would fit my vintage 73 schwinn paramount. He needed to use two different sizes with a slight modification to the frame. He modernized and simplified, what was originally a rather "busy" brake system. He was the only guy in the area (Los Angeles County!) who knew exactly what to do. Lot's of bikes, and lot's of stuff.

The owner, Steve Lubanski, is very knowledgeable and obviously passionate about the sport of cycling. He seems incredibly busy but definitely takes time out to explain things.

I was involved in a dispute regarding a bicycle and the arbitrator required me to get a professional opinion on the condition of the bicycle. Steve wrote up an evaluation with no charge and spent some time going over what was wrong with the bicycle and his honest opinion of the damage.

I had gone to Pasadena Cyclery to get the quick releases off my wheels since I was a student and didn't want my wheels stolen. They were really unhelpful and didn't have the right parts. Unfortunately, I had my front wheel stolen a shortly afterwards and I went to Open Road to get a new wheel. When the owner found out I was a student, he offered to take my rear quick release wheel and put on 2 non-quick release wheels for only $50. I had to wait for the right wheels to come in, but it was worth it. The owner was helpful and seemed to understand that different riders have different needs.

The guy that helped me was really nice. I don't remember his name, and he was a little slow in doing work on my bike. I got the feeling that the staff isn't very large, which might have been part of the problem. But it's a nice place to kick back and watch some old bike race footage, and they're pretty cool about prices.

PROS: Big warehouse; lots of selection
CONS: A little slow on working on bikes

I thought this place was a bit pricey compared to the prices I found online for the same low-end mountain bikes. I went while it was quiet and not during a sale, however, and I have not returned after this unsuccessful trip.

Easily the best bike shop in Pasadena. The staff is exceptionally knowledgeable; they're equally good at getting you exactly the part you want if you know what you're looking for and helping you determine what you need if you don't. While turnaround isn't always speedy (when I bought a bike there, it took a couple of weeks for the parts to come in and to subsequently be assembled), the result is in my experience worth waiting for (for a really great price, I got bike that's wonderful for the riding I do).