Blackstone Bicycle Works

I love Blackstone. Such a solid, competent, altruistic shop with fantastic service and a great mission.
I recently bought a bike online and shipped it directly to the shop where they assembled it for a very reasonable price. They are not only price competitive and skilled but they are miles friendlier than other bike shops (particularly downtown shops near my home).
My only (minor) recommendation would be to better integrate customer service into their after school program. When I initially called, a very courteous student and answered but had trouble with my questions. She did not immediately know prices, store hours, and did not take my name/​number until I prompted her. Understandable but a small issue.
Otherwise thanks Blackstone!

Fantastic! Positive attitudes and helpful employees who do quality work. I took my bike in on a Saturday around noon for a new rear wheel (mine had been stolen). Christian and and the crew helped me find a used replacement at a low cost to fit my limited budget, and it was ready for me just a few hours later. Thank you!

I needed skate bearings replacement for my kick scooter. I had the bearings but needed help to put them in. Aaron to the rescue. He’s a skater and used to own a kick scooter, so he knew exactly what to do and he did it in record time. Because they don’t ordinarily do this service, he told me he would take whatever I offered. Great service, great concept. A++

Not the best place for service, parts or price but very admirable mission and convenient location. And everything is acceptable in terms of parts and service, though Blackstone is meant more for amateur cyclists in terms of repairs and quality.

My first experience was indeed a great. Came in to get two inner tubes installed. Great prices, great customer services, and an overall friendly environment. Definitely will visit again

I’ve never been to a better bicycle shop. The combination of quality work, hospitality, and reasonable pricing is difficult to find and when I do find it, I keep to it. I’ve been here twice and that was enough to sell me.
I also think it’s great that the bike shop is directly beside a school and includes an after school program for the students. You’d be hard pressed to find such a gem. Go here, definitely.

Blackstone Bicycle Works does good work.
Their social mission (a part of the larger social mission of Experimental Station) is admirable, and you get a feel-​good buzz just stopping by the place.
The mechanics are willing and eager to look at your bike, and if they are too busy, they always are ready at the date and time they tell you to return.
My largest complaint with BBW is their hours — I hate soliciting other bike shops in the area (especially DJ’s — that guy is a grump!), but on two separate occasions, I’ve visited only to find them closed, and was forced to go to another bike shop. Of course, their closure information is on their website, so I take full blame for that frustration.
Either way, everyone that works here is a boss. I had a weird bike problem and couldn’t find the right bolt/​nut combo, so they let me rifle through their bolt/​nut drawers until I found the perfect thing!
One thing BBW should do is make it easier to donate to them.

I rely heavily on Unilocal!reviews, and I have been coming to Blackstone Bicycle Works for years, so I thought I should add my review. They consistently provide excellent service, are extremely knowledgeable, courteous, friendly, and helpful, and they teach young kids from the neighborhood valuable skills — and not just bike repair skills! Business skills, communication skills, etiquette, how to follow rules and make meaningful contributions to the community. They work with your budget by using used parts if you’re really strapped, and are willing to spend time with you on your bike needs and answering questions. Top notch service, top notch guys. Give them your business!

After having my front bike tire stolen off my old mountain bike, I was expecting to spend a lot of money and be in for a hassle in having it replaced. I hadn’t visited Blackstone Bicycle Works before, but in hindsight, I sure wish I had been bringing my bike into this place throughout the year.
The two guys running the place and providing mentorship to the young kids are incredibly helpful, friendly, and down to earth. Aaron (I believe that was his name…) went out of his way to make sure that the front brakes worked correctly after the tire was replaced.
The fact that this shop is providing training skills to kids and teenagers from the community warrants your business in and of itself. Given that I know next to nothing about bikes, it is awesome to see such young kids with such valuable skills. I certainly be returning to Blackstone for all my bike needs.

This place is seriously amazing. Some jerk stole my bike seat and post and I had been putting off getting it replaced. I figured it would be a pain to find a replacement. I went to Blackstone and was pleasantly surprised to find younger kids learning to repair bikes. They got a replacement post and seat for my bike and I also picked up a helmet. For service and the parts themselves, I paid under 20 bucks. The guy outside also put some oil on my gears which finally fixed the gear change problems I’ve been having. I would give more than 5 stars if I could.
Also, the tall caucasian guy teaching the kids and working that day is ridiculously attractive. ¹⁰⁄₁₀ would break bike to see him again.

Took my bike and trailer in and Aaron replaced the bottom bracket, chain and back tooth wheel thingee, along with adjusting the brakes, gears and truing up the rims. Ended up having to replace the front rim.
All said and done it was at a very reasonable price and will keep my bike happy and healthy for my daily commute.
The shop can be a bit hectic with all the kids running around, but its great to see them learning and focusing their energies somewhere positive.
Good stuff.

I went to Blackstone today and the experience was phenomenal. The young people working there are knowledgeable, helpful and passionate. They know their bikes, have taken care to repair/​refurbish them and you can feel their sense of ownership and pride in their work. They directed me to the right bike, and gave me a great deal on a Trek 6500 (thanks, Chris). I just rode the bike for the first time this evening, and while it’s early, I’m very pleased with this machine. I got a great bike, and helped out a tremendous community based organization. Definitely visit their shop. 5 stars, but only because I could not give ‘em six. Keep up the great work guys (I wish I wrote down your names… you know who you are)!

This place truly is as good as it gets! As many other reviewers pointed out, there are a frustratingly small number of bike shops in Woodlawn/​Hyde Park– especially when you consider all the University students in the neighborhood with bikes! When I was deciding where to take my bike to get the brakes repaired, Blackstone Bikes was the obvious choice. The only other bike shop I could have gone to was a stuffy, overpriced one on 55^th/​Hyde Park, where the cheapest bikes you can buy start at around two hundred bucks! My wallet was trembling at the thought of being taken to that place, fearing they would talk me into services that I just didn’t need.
Because my brakes weren’t working, I carried my bike about a mile to the store, and when I rounded the corner, the young kids who work at the shop came rushing over to help me. When I got inside, there was a lot of hustle and bustle, but I tried to stay out of the way in a back corner. As I looked around, I saw a diagram about apron colors. I hadn’t realized it before, but every kid was running around with a red, green, purple, or black apron. The aprons, much like the belts in martial arts, signified skill level! As a martial artist, I thought this was an awesome touch.
At Blackstone Bikes, I only paid $ 10 to get my brakes repaired, but I wanted to give them so much more– not only did my bike get fixed, but I loved to see that the kids who work there are gaining skills and priceless experience. I am *SO* happy that I took my bike here, and I know I’ll be looking for excuses to bring it back.

The lack of bike shops on the South Side sucks big time, but fortunately this place not only fulfills a void but also provides unique service. For one thing, these guy’s aren’t bike snobs like you may find at many shops in hipper parts of town. You can tell they’re used to dealing with all kinds of people from kids, to novices to experts. I’m an intermediate DIY kinda guy and I can just come right in, say what I need and be done, but I’ve observed them help out customers who don’t know much with grace.
Also, their rates for repairs and services will be probably the best in town. The reason why I became a DIYer is because I’ve been to several shops that try to sell you all kinds of unnecessary things and charge an arm and a leg for simple stuff, but Blackstone doesn’t do that. I understand that shops do this because they have to stay afloat but thats another reason why Blackstone is so great because they’re non-​profit.
Another thing is that these guys have one of the best selections of used bike parts. Only, thing I’ve found comparable is Uptown but I’ve seen even rarer stuff at Blackstone than them, probably because of the location being not as bike hip, which is a plus when shopping. So no matter where you are in the city, if you’re looking for used/​rare bike parts, I suggest checking this place out. For example, I found an ORIGINAL Schwinn 21.1mm threaded ALLOY stem here, only costed $ 5, its godlike. I don’t even think they knew how rare it was. You won’t even find that on Ebay.
Lastly, these guys not just provide retail service, but they help out the community and promote great business practices that can help save the world. :P

I have always been a cardio-​nut, but I haven’t been able to lose much weight over the last year. My friends told me it was because my muscles had gotten used to what I’ve been doing; one friend suggested bike riding. Ok, great. I don’t own a bike. Where do I start? Check Unilocal.Voila! I found Blackstone Bicycle Works and I was really impressed with their reviews thus far. I immediately knew which shop I’d be checking out.
Long story short, I really loved how the staff voiced their extensive knowledge regarding all things bicycle, which was fantastic for me, especially since I haven’t mounted a bicycle since a bad biking accident over 10 years ago. I also appreciated the fact that I could buy a refurbished (yes, gently used but darn near new) bike. I wasn’t too thrilled about the idea of spending beaucoup bucks on something I’m partially afraid of, and partially scared I might not thoroughly enjoy. But, I walked out eager to hop on my new bike, and confident in my purchase. Sometimes after making a fairly larger ticket purchase, I end up with buyer remorse. Not this time. My receipt was pretty light, and I feel like I should actually go back in and pay for some of the one-​on-​one guidance they so freely offered me.
Blackstone Bicycle Works is the ONLY place in the city I’ll go from now on, for any bicycle needs.
… Now if only they could merge the exercise associated with bicycling with the sheer exhilaration of a Harley. I’d be in heaven.

You need one more star for Blackstone. A solid 6. Stop being part of the problem and start being part of the solution. The Stone is a community service program for at-​risk Woodlawn kids and a bike store all in one. Shop there, visit there, volunteer there and donate an old bike there. They sell recycled bikes. And you don’t need to spend a fortune, really you don’t. Get a solid used bike for the city, and consider yourself wise indeed!

Very good place where to go for bycicle repair, they really know their stuff and they are a little rusty but helpful. If you know something about bikes you can also just stay there and fix your problem on your own using their tools for free.
If you want to buy a second hand bike you can find pretty good things, but the prices are not the cheapest.
I bought a very nice radley city-​bike for roughly $ 100 and was completely satisfied with it, but of course it was second hand and so there were a few things that weren’t perfect

Low-​key, friendly service that is pretty darn quick if you time your visit right. I went in for a wheel true, a new saddle, and a new lock, and was out in 15 minutes. If it’ll take longer, they send you to the Experimental Station café next door to wait. (If it’s busier or you need a lot done, you’ll have to leave your bike for a few days.)
They don’t have a huge selection of stuff — they only had one kind of women’s saddle, for example — and it’s generally more utilitarian than high-​end. Their youth education program is pretty cool– they’ve got a lot of aspiring young bike mechanics on site learning the nuts and bolts of the business.

If you’re a bike owner in Hyde Park or Woodlawn, this place should absolutely be your first stop. If you’re a bike owner in the rest of Chicago, this still might be worth the trip.
For one, they do excellent work in a quick but friendly atmosphere. You will not be shamed for your lack of bike knowledge. Nor will you be overcharged. Prices are cheap and the staff/​volunteers genuinely seem to want you to be happy with your bike, whether it’s riding away on a new one or just figuring out what the heck is up with your gears. They know their stuff and they doll out expertise efficiently.
For two, visiting this place will make you feel better about the world. Going on a Saturday afternoon and seeing a dozen kids careening around and working on bicycles — that’s a happy place. The afterschool program is a very cool way to give back to the community. They deserve your support for this reason alone — it just so happens that they’ll also do a spectacular job taking care of your bike.

Paid an awesome visit to this place the other day — and actually didn’t purchase anything. My bike was stolen a bit back and a colleague recommended I stop by here to see if they had any used bikes for sale.
I showed up and the inside of this place was mad busy — a lot of teens moving to and fro, pushing bikes in and out and working in the little fenced in courtyard-​type deal outside. Waited in the line for a little bit — fifth or sixth in line and basically two guys were dealing with the customers while the other employees/​students were hard at work. But they got to me, I found out they didn’t have any bikes for sale, no problem — I’ll definitely be back for small needs that I have for my bike. This is the type of place that makes you appreciate the experience the fun of maintaining your own bike for years on end.
As an aside, the inside of this place is sweet and it’s worth stopping by just to soak in the ambience — was able to witness some of the mentorship of the students first hand, and the interior is definitely unique. Employees are laid-​back and knowledgeable, as well.