BFF Bikes is a full-service neighborhood bike shop. We proudly offer a unique collection of bikes and women-specific apparel, accompanied by organized rides and clinics to put it all to good use!. Gillian came from a career in finance and accounting- commuting by bicycle for most of it! After being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes she took to endurance sports and has ironman triathlons, ultra-distance races, marathons and ultra running all under her belt.
Gillian also donates her free time as a certified USA triathlon coach to other athletes for the Team to End AIDS program and for Diabetes Training Camp Foundation and is on the board for Sacred Cycle, an organization which provides therapy and mountain biking to survivors of sexual assault.Angela Chan has more than six years of experience as a mechanic and shop manager which is the role she is filling for us here.
Gillian also donates her free time as a certified USA triathlon coach to other athletes for the Team to End AIDS program and for Diabetes Training Camp Foundation and is on the board for Sacred Cycle, an organization which provides therapy and mountain biking to survivors of sexual assault.Angela Chan has more than six years of experience as a mechanic and shop manager which is the role she is filling for us here.
Services
Our full-service shop prioritizes quality over quantity so you can be assured your bike is given thorough and detailed attention to keep you happily rolling. From flat-fixes, brake adjustments, wheel builds, to complete overhauls, our expert mechanics do it all. A basic tune-up is ideal for most casual or seasonal riders whose bikes are in fairly good condition but need some TLC.
2021 has brought us a whole new year of surprises and challenges, including extremely limited bike stock. Feel free to explore the brands we carry but understand that our actual stock in store will be limited. Meet our panelists who will be sharing their extensive knowledge and experience of how to make riding indoors interactive, social, fun (and sweaty)!
We decided to do this class because changing a flat is not only a useful skill but it's also a safety issue. If you can change a flat yourself, you don't have to be stuck away from home, or rely on the kindness of stranger to help you out. Don't let shifting give you the shivers. Come to Give-a-Shift, our hands on shifting & gearing clinic, which we hold about twice a year.
Reviews (26)
Kurt H.
Jan 08, 2022
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BFF tuned up my bike this week and it was money well spent. Thorough assessment followed by quick service and a complete explanation of what was done. Getting on the bike, which was 5 years of heavy use out of tune, was like day one when I bought it! (from BFF). So happy to have a local shop I can trust
Joshua Hankins
Dec 31, 2021
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Medora Lee
Dec 27, 2021
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Thank you to this owner to have the courage to speak on behalf of the small businesses in Chicago who are getting killed by the crime sprees. I saw the segment on WGN9, ABC7, CBS2 and Fox News! We appreciate any attention we can get to keep the pressure on our politicians to remember that it's not just Mag Mile getting robbed. Small businesses are the lifeblood of America, providing local jobs and building up neighborhoods. So happy to see a local business cares about its roots and wants to see everyone be safe and successful.
Kt Bickford
Dec 26, 2021
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Elaine Stewart
Oct 20, 2021
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Holly Leigh
Aug 18, 2021
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David F.
Aug 05, 2021
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Kyle Bostedt
Jul 27, 2021
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Marissa O'Connell
Jun 13, 2021
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I’ve had great experiences at BFF! The staff members are knowledgeable and friendly. I went in today for help with weird noises my bike was making and the problems were quickly diagnosed and repaired. I have a different store closer to me but will happily go a little out of my way to get this level of service.
Brittani N.
May 24, 2021
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If you're a newbie to bikes or just want some general enthusiasm about possibly spending $500 of your hard earned money, don't waste your time here. Considering that they're women owned, I was psyched to visit but the employees on site today did not feel the same. Barely answered my questions and did not let me try any bikes out. I left less than 10 minutes after entering because I felt like I was that much of a bother. FYI, I couldn't help but notice this was not the same attitude towards patrons that didn't look like me. Went 5 minutes away to Earth Rider Cycling and
Christian Fantoni
May 12, 2021
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Alyssa Secreto
Apr 16, 2021
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Really disappointed in my experience. I wanted to try this shop instead of my normal shop because it's woman owned but really had an average experience. I came in and explained I was fixing up my old Schwinn to sell but the chain was skipping and I wasn't sure if it was a simple derailleur adjust or a more expensive problem. The person at the desk let me know the mechanic would be in in about 40 minutes but they'd call me. I walked back over 1 hour and 40 minutes later after hearing nothing, saw my bike up on the rack being worked on and said "OK, just checking in. I'll hang out a bit longer" then
Michael Trow
Mar 25, 2021
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This team really goes above & beyond. I was still admittedly new to the hobby/sport/lifestyle and needed guidance to get me going. They got me on my first city bike and helped with all the maintenance and learning curves. Then a couple years in, when the worst happened and my bike was stolen, they helped me find another extra-large frame (I should mention I'm a giant monster person) and it wasn't even at their store! Kelly, April and especially Gillian have all been great over the years (and others who I'm forgetting, everyone there is great), and they've converted me from a customer I'm now a
Kevin Y.
Feb 18, 2021
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I previously went to a bike shop near my home but was never really impressed. The prices were good, but the work they did never seemed to last or wasn't very thorough.
So when my bike (Darlene) broke down on my way back from work, I searched for the closest bike shop to walk it to and it happened to be BFF Bikes. What luck! I've been here a couple of times now and every time they do an excellent job for a reasonable price. Having a place where I know things will be done right the first time is sooo worth the extra few bucks and inconvenience of bringing Darlene here.
So when my bike (Darlene) broke down on my way back from work, I searched for the closest bike shop to walk it to and it happened to be BFF Bikes. What luck! I've been here a couple of times now and every time they do an excellent job for a reasonable price. Having a place where I know things will be done right the first time is sooo worth the extra few bucks and inconvenience of bringing Darlene here.
Peter E.
Sep 10, 2020
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Emma L.
Sep 01, 2020
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Ruth B.
Aug 15, 2020
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I get my bike a tune up every year, this year I brought it to BFF Bikes. I've never had a more thorough tune up ever! My bike was glistening when I picked her up! My gears were all shiny and new, my brakes were amazing! I'm so happy I found them I will never take my girl anywhere else! I think I even can go faster lol
Thanks a million
Thanks a million
Alissa G.
Jul 05, 2020
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Bennett L.
Jun 28, 2020
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Got a flat on my first ride on a new bike nearby. Walked over to The Bike Lane and saw a line out the door. Found BFF Bikes and headed over to an empty shop. I didn't have a mask in order to enter but an employee just took my bike in and patched it up in 10 minutes. Advised that they don't normally do patches but made an exception because they were out of stock of the tubes my tire requires. Really smooth experience and will definitely come back.
Kelly L.
Jun 12, 2020
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I've been going to BFF for 4 years. The service is always responsive, fast and affordable, not to mention nice. The saddle audition program is just about my favorite thing--you can put down a deposit and try out different saddles and your deposit goes toward the purchase price. Their biking clinics for newbies like me are super-helpful and welcoming. I tell all my friends to go here. Plus, supporting a women-owned business is important!
Chandra D.
Jul 14, 2019
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We got first bike for our older son. He is very particular about the color and looks so we did a search with bike stores in the city that can meet his choice. BFF bikes had some great suggestions over the phone so we decided to stop by here.
First about the store: this store is right in our neighborhood so glad we came here. The staff is extremely friendly. They helped my kid try out few bikes. While he was so hesitant to try any color other than blue, they got his color of choice in a box quickly so my son gets the assurance that they have the bike of his color choice.
The service was great
First about the store: this store is right in our neighborhood so glad we came here. The staff is extremely friendly. They helped my kid try out few bikes. While he was so hesitant to try any color other than blue, they got his color of choice in a box quickly so my son gets the assurance that they have the bike of his color choice.
The service was great
Mary T.
Jun 17, 2019
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Apparently, I had grown to dislike my old bike. I didn't notice it, but my husband suggested I get a new one because I frequently nitpicked my old one.
I researched BFF bikes a while ago, a woman-owned bike shop. When I lived in the burbs, what seems like eons ago, I used to spin at a bike shop and got into group rides. My nice road bike hasn't seen the light of day since that move unless you count the 4 times I've moved it into new homes. My plan was to bring it there for a tune-up and start committing to their monthly rides. That has yet to happen because life.
So, when I decided
I researched BFF bikes a while ago, a woman-owned bike shop. When I lived in the burbs, what seems like eons ago, I used to spin at a bike shop and got into group rides. My nice road bike hasn't seen the light of day since that move unless you count the 4 times I've moved it into new homes. My plan was to bring it there for a tune-up and start committing to their monthly rides. That has yet to happen because life.
So, when I decided
Jenna O.
Jun 13, 2019
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Lainey J.
Jun 02, 2019
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Erica J.
Sep 29, 2017
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I ordered a Public bike online and had it shipped to BFF Bikes and they set it all up for me! I've stopped in a couple of times and had nothing but great experiences. They have genuine care and concern for their customers and want to make sure everyone is happy on their bikes! They also seem to know their regulars, which is a good sign :)
I wouldn't hesitate this business to anyone in the market for a bike or accessories.
I wouldn't hesitate this business to anyone in the market for a bike or accessories.
G. R.
Jun 24, 2017
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Stopped in today to check out what they carried in bike locks, not a huge selection, however a range to to fit your needs. You can choose from a light, medium, or heavy duty lock. The question of what you need depends on how long you plan on locking it up. If you're running into a store for a few minutes, or will you be locking it up for hours while you go to work on Metra? You will also need a cable to pull through your front tire if you don't want that stolen. Lots of good advice on what you need. I didn't buy a lock today, I have a couple at home that I haven't been able
