Set Me Free

Worst. Experience. Ever.
I“ll start by telling you that your chain is at about 80 percent. Sound familiar? It should. Go in for a basic tune-​up and every person that walks in needs a chain. While I was standing in the shop, in the midst of my nightmarish experience, on two separate days, I watched them tell people that they needed work on their bikes that just wasn’t so. People that I could tell didn’t really know anything about bikes. They were going to sell chains to both of these people. Both said that they don’t ride much and just needed a tune-​up. SMF was going to put brake pads, a chain, lines, and tires (with tubes) on one bike, it being a Supercycle, and a bike to go to the store, and around Roncesvalles. WTF? Your chain is at about eighty percent. Ummm. I get it, bikes do need routine maintenance, like a chain every now and again, but not on a bike that is never used and is a beater-​bike. It’s a waste; any good bike shop will tell you that. I’m happy to say that I checked quickly over their bikes when I had a second and sent them running out of there. They needed a tune-​up, not an overhaul. I think I costed Set Me Free at least a hundred bucks; sweetness! I didn’t recommend a shop, just sent them out.
So, I don’t even know where to start. … They had my bike a month. I went in for air while riding by and asked how much a tune-​up is and $ 40 is what I was told. Good price. I am having a couple issues, and tune-​up will take care of it. Let’s do it. I say it’s not shifting properly, and the brakes squeal. It was Friday, they said it’d be done Monday afternoon. Perfect. Wednesday rolls around, beautiful end-​of-​May weather and I’m sans bicycle. Wednesday, mechanic tells me I couldn’t have it any earlier than Friday because they were so busy. Ummm. Ok, To keep me from going elsewhere they’ve told me it’d be done sooner, obviously. Thanks for the honesty. Friday, I get a call, it’s them telling me to come in. I need a new cassette, it’s bent and I need a chain to go with it, which is absolutely necessary when changing a cassette, yes. Reasonable. I need new pads for my brakes, ok, but why are you telling me a week later. Go ahead. Next week comes. Cassette and chain are in, but pads are on back-​order. Wtf. Following week. Three Weeks. They call me. We can’t find brake pads for your bike, it’s a unique pad, they don’t sell them anywhere. Umm. On a bike a year old. I should have run. I“m too chill. They tell me that I need to replace the entire brake system. On a bike a year old. I say leave the fronts, I’ll leave them to save some money. Mid-​week when I got my bike back. I rode two days; the brakes are hitting the handlebars. I bring it back, let them know. They have changed the brake cables, both, which I did not agree to; they are never changed unless it’s absolutely necessary. They were perfect, they know this and are surprised when I tell them lines are almost never changed. I“m not paying for that. Ok. When they’re new they stretch and settle, which is why, with a new bike they give you a grace period to readjust your cable system. And this is why my brakes are out of alignment. Great, thanks.

I get a call the next day, it’s fixed, not great, but I’m getting tired of the place. Awesome, nightmare is over. It’s not shifting properly, twenty meters down the road. Bring it into another shop to look. The cassette isn’t installed properly. Bring it back. They fix it. I leave, it’s not working. Leave it here overnight and we’ll take care of it. WTF!!! Cassette’s in, I ride, still not working. You need a new derail-​er, the derail-​er is no good. Are you fucking kidding me? They fix it. Surreal. Four Weeks. Doesn’t work. Bring it back. They installed a derail-​er, at no cost to me; however, they couldn’t find the right part, and so, have installed a derail-​er that’s not compatible with my bike. Take all your parts off of my bike and give me my money back, and the original parts. They did so, and snipped the brake-​lines intentionally too short by eight inches. Two days in another shop and it was fixed. The original braking system, just new pads. The original derail-​er on. The other bike shop had the pads in stock. My bike is an average bike, nothing unique, off the shelf.
I am speechless.
It was there a month, it wasn’t fixed or usable when I got it back, and the parts were in a bag.
I left there having to buy new lines for my brakes. I spoke of my nightmare to the shop I brought my bike to and they replaced the lines for free.
So, it would have costed me, I think, twenty bucks, to have my bike at Set Me Free for a month. The best riding weather of the year.

I will start by saying, I have been an on and off customer of Set Me Free for about 12 years. I bought my Gary Fisher bike from them (the college street location) in 2003 and I still ride it. I hadn’t done much for with it in the way of service over the years, because I wasn’t riding it much. Then last spring I moved back to the Roncesvalles neighborhood and started riding more.
I decided to take my beloved bike in for a tune up, because oh she needed it. When I walked into the store, I was greeted by the lovely lady who I think is the owner. Staff here are always pleasant, I will say that. Was told I would need to leave the bike for a few days. Not a problem.
The problem was in the returned product. My freshly tuned up bike had grease all over it, and the fenders weren’t put back on properly. Not only that, but the brakes were rubbing against the tires! Don’t they test the bikes before returning them to customers? And what about wiping off the grease and dirt that was not on it when I brought it in?!
A return trip to the store (against my better judgment) had me needing new tires, which took forever (over a week) because they had to be ordered in. And again, when I received my bike back it was covered in grease and there weren’t even any caps on the tires!
So another winter passed, and I guess you’re thinking I took my bike to the other bike shop down the street. No! Apparently I am a completely masochistic tool, because I decided to give Set Me Free ANOTHER shot. This time, it was new, more comfortable handlebars and a more comfy seat I was after. And again, the lovely staff in front was helpful and pleasant. Left the bike for the week, and since I was unable to pick it up on my own, I had my husband get it for me. When he returned home with it, the first thing I noticed was that they did not put my new seat on. And the trademark grease was all over the handlebar grips, having caused hubs’ hands to be completely black. Yuck. Again, the fenders were wonky and looked like they were slapped on. I called the store and the lady said to bring it back, that they would take care of it, so I had hubby go back (poor guy). The «fix» involved some sort of industrial cleanser that didn’t work very well because the gear shifters are still greasy and my hands went black just riding it in the back alley for a few minutes. The fenders were fixed and the seat changed.
But to my chagrin, I noticed upon close inspection of my beautiful new handlebars, a significant scratch, obviously caused by improper care being taken with tools… Metal tools can easily scratch painted metal. And looking even more closely I noticed all my painted nuts and bolts devoid of paint, and more hack scratches on other painted spots, particularly where the brakes and shifters have paint.
I am in disbelief at the absolute lack of care on the part of the mechanics at Set Me Free, and I think I am going to allow this place to live up to its name and officially Set ME Free.

I wish I could give six stars. I love this place!
I brought my bike in for an overhaul and it was only about 60 for a new chain, new brake pads, tuneup, the whole shebang.
It’s under warranty now and I’ve dropped it a couple of times, messing up the gears. They fixed it for free even though it was my fault.
The store has lovely jewelry and cute women’s clothes.
They have a rad deal where you get free winter storage when you pre-​pay for a spring tuneup. 45 bucks!

I really can’t say anything negative about Set Me Free, hence 5 stars. What got me into the store originally was the big sign across the window advertising winter storage, an absolute must for someone like me that lives in an apartment. $ 40 for winter storage and a tune-​up in the spring is a pretty damn good deal!
I took my bike back to Set Me Free after a spill on the streetcar tracks, and they replaced the rear derailer, bent back the joining piece, replaced a shifting cable and tuned up the bike for about half of what I was expecting. And the cherry on the cake was the owner and staff are just extremely pleasant people.
Set Me Free is my go-​to bike shop. Unpretentious, helpful and reasonably priced. What more could you want?

So, I’m one of those people who just likes to ride a bike. No ambitions of fixing it myself, or going on a biking vacation, or moonlighting as a bike courier. I just like to ride my bike to the store and sometimes to work.
So some bike shops kind of make you feel like you shouldn’t cross the threshold unless you can pass some kind of bike street cred test, but this is not one of those bike shops. I come to Set Me Free because they receive me without judgement. Fast, friendly, doesn’t-make-you-feel-like-an-idiot service. And sometimes I’ve been an idiot about my bike, so I know.
Just when I thought it couldn’t get any better, I walked into the store and found they are selling women’s fashion? Very girly blouses, dresses, jewelry, sunglasses, handbags — I don’t understand it, but I’m thrilled! I picked up a set of rose gold bangles (9) for $ 18.00. I would have tried on some of the clothes, but I was all sweaty from being an idiot on my bike.
Definitely worth dropping in.

Super friendly staff, they go out of there way to make things right, reasonable prices, no surprises with the bill when you pick up your repaired bike. Been using them for years, never disappointed.
They have just completed a major renovation of the space, looks bigger and brighter.

An unpretentious bike shop, part of a three-​store chain, that mostly caters to urban and recreational cyclists. They sell their own brand of bikes, as well as new and used bikes.
I bought my latest bike here about a year ago, a Set Me Free Metro 7-​speed hybrid. It’s my main bike and I’ve put thousands of kilometres on it since last spring. They take their warranty seriously, and honoured it when I had some issues.
Their service is good, and the staff are friendly. I mostly do my own maintanence at Bike Pirates on Bloor, but I did use Set Me Free’s services when my bike was under warranty, because I could.
Their website is atrocious, and doesn’t seem to have been updated in about seven years, while it looks like it was designed in 1995. But their lack of computer– presentation-​skills is made up with very good in-​person service.
If you are in the market for a good second-​hand bike, or want a moderately priced bike for getting around the GTA, I think you will find this mini-​chain store a very good place to purchase your bike.
Is Set Me Free the best bike shop in town? No, I can think of two or three that are better, but I like to support my local bike shop, and for a local urban recreational cyclist shop, I’m more than happy to give my business to them.