Kauai Cycle — Local services in Kauai

Many years ago when I owned a nice Raleigh, and a few years after that when I owned a couple of beach bikes and came here semi-regularly for servicing, I remember this place as being tip-top; then again, many years ago, I was young and cute, so maybe...though IMHO, I should get great service no matter what. Listing the pluses, first; the repair was fast, and inexpensive, and when I left one of the employees offered to lift it on to my bike-rack (which offer I accepted; however, when he proceeded to put it up in the opposite direction I like and I 'diplomatically' asked him if he was left-handed, because that wasn't the direction I preferred, he answered 'No' and proceeded to load it in that direction, and he seemed surly so I didn't feel comfortable asking him directly to please load it in the other direction! So as soon as he went inside, I ended up doing it myself anyway!). But the bike-bell they put on - which was the only one they had in stock - has a tinsy sound far from what I remember the loud ring of bicycle bells being when I had one as a kid; to my mind, what they sold me was a small bell for a kid's bike, not one of much use on an actual bike-path, riding alone. And that wasn't particularly inexpensive ($13) - almost as much as the puncture repair. But most annoying of all was when I asked whether they'd check the squeaking brakes, and maybe put a drop of oil on them? I was wryly instructed to keep oil off my brakes! So then I gingerly asked, what about the bits around the brakes? The housing. No response. OK then (I said, giving up), what would it take and how much would it cost to stop the brakes from squeaking? The answer was, to replace the brake pads and do some work of some sort on the wheels, and (quote) 'that's probably more than that bike is worth'. So the dime dropped right there and then that what I was dealing with were bike-snobs! OK, then. Here in a beach-side town where probably 75% of the bikes around here are beach bikes worth maybe $200 - $400... Got it. So this morning I sprayed a bit of WD40 on the housing around both the brakes and voila! Lovely silent brakes. Call me hopelessly old-fashioned but I remember back in the day when you took a vehicle in for any sort of servicing, you got it back with the basics all checked, and cleaned. I realise this was just a $34 tab but was that really too much to ask? Maybe if I'd brought in a high-priced mountain...

I brought my bike in for a flat tire and the Sales rep convinced me to let him shorten the chain. Big mistake! Before I brought it in: no problems with the chain. After he shortened it, I can't even ride the bike up the hill to my house without the chain coming off half a dozen times.

So I took the bike back in, to get the damage they'd done undone and Jason - the owner - informed me that my bike is "simply no good anymore", they can't fix it, that it was sheer coincidence that the chain stopped working the same day they "fixed" it, and that I need to buy a new bike (presumably from him).

I don't know in what world a business breaks a customer's property and then refuses to fix the damage. And in what world they add insult to injury by throwing you out of their shop for daring to request that they repair it. But that's not a world that I want to live in, so I have to warn everybody about this place: if it ain't broke, don't let them "fix" it.

And sorry you're so stressed Jason, but there was really no need to take it out on me. It might be time to retire & let somebody who cares take over. Your attitude towards Customer Service was summed up perfectly when I told you that your treatment of me was going to lead to a bad review, and you whiplashed "like I...

I rented a Specialized Hardrock from them for a single day, the price was a bit high at $40, but it is Hawaii so I expect to pay more for everything. I went in the night before to see what they had, the staff members were as uninterested in helping me as you could be. I asked about the local trails and I was given a vague answer of "yeah there are some trails." Hardly friendly. I went in the next day and the same guy was there, remaining largely unhelpful and surly, but there was someone else there to help set me up and actually provided me with some basic directions to some local "singletrack." I got the bike and it was in pretty poor shape, the bearings worn out, the drivetrain very rusty, but recently lubed, and the fork almost non-functional. The bike held up and performed as expected. I returned the bike and was met by the most cheerful person yet, it was pleasant to talk with him.

If this shop were on the mainland, I would never set foot in it again, but they are the only show in town for a barely decent bike to rent. Go there if you are on vacation and need a bike, but be prepared to have a different...