Recumbent Pdx

Update to what Mel wrote:
1. I was always polite and did not raise my voice, insult anyone and definitely did not ask for anything done under warranty — the HP Velotechnik warranty is for the frame for one year. I was asking for a problem with the steering suspension to be looked at – I asked about the warranty AFTER Mel said that, «If they touch the bike it would void any warranty». I asked: «Why would a warranty matter — it doesn’t cover the fork.» That was the totality of my conversation about any warranty. It is apparent that Mel is trying to rewrite history.
2. Mel is also blatantly lying when he stated he never promised to be able to order a part. I asked him specifically and he said that as long as I had the correct part number that they would be able to do so and if I did not that they would have to charge me extra for the time it would take to look up the part number.
You really have to ask yourself why Mel needed to lie and slander me? I am the only person that has posted a less than glowing review of PDXR, but then again I am the only person who wrote a review and have not previously bought some high dollar item from the store. Hmmm, my assertion that PDXR treats non buyers with less respect may just hold some credence indeed…
P. S. If you need to order anything recumbent, go to Backcountry Recumbents in Bend Oregon. I spoke with the owner the next day. An exact opposite of Mel. He ordered the part in 2 days!!! Mel said the very quickest they could do it would be 3 or 4 months.

I had a great experience here. I went in having an idea of what I wanted, and Mel let me try exactly that make and model. He took me for what I thought would be a quick test ride, but ended up being about an hour-​long tour of the Portland riverside on a beautiful sunny day (which is awesome because I’m from California and have never explored it before). We crossed bridges, went up and down hills, and in and out of urban areas — pretty much any situation you’d run into while biking. So, after that extensive test ride on the bike, I was completely sure it was the one.
Back at the shop, while chatting about accessories I wanted on the bike, Mel and Janet made me feel at home, asking if I wanted something to munch on and something to sip on, local goodies. Louie and Mel talked to me about the pros and cons of different accessories/​configurations. It was very helpful, as I did a lot of my own research before coming in, and I thought I knew what I wanted, but their real-​life experience steered me toward a few different items which I believe have me more happy with the bike then if I actually got all the original items I had in mind.
One example is that I was pretty set on getting a Rohloff speedhub after reading many good things about it, but Mel mentioned that it may be more difficult for me to hit the switch with my heel while wearing clipless shoes and pedaling at the same time. I went with the 3 ring crankset, controlled by the bar-​end shifters and love it. Good call!
Bottomline: they took the time to allow an extremely thorough test ride, got to know my preferences and chatted with me back and forth about configurations to ensure I got one that fit my use-​case, and treated me like a neighbor. 5 stars all the way.

If you are looking for a recumbent trike or bike and you are in the Pacific Northwest, look no further. It is well worth the drive, even if you live a few hours away. I live in the Seattle area and I made the 3-​hour drive down to Portland, to purchase my recumbent trike from them. From my initial contact with them on the phone to eventually picking up the trike, the entire experience was first class. I ordered my trike over the phone, as I knew exactly what I wanted and picked it up a week later. And if you visit their store, you can of course test ride as many trikes as you like. Their retail space is flawlessly clean, very well organized and the owners, Mel and Janet, and their staff are absolutely wonderful. They have customer service down, it just seems to come totally natural to them. Mel, Janet and their staff spent quite a bit of time with me to make sure the trike was setup exactly right for my needs and helped choose the right accessories. I got to take the trike on a test ride for a good hour and then upon my return to the store, I spent quite a bit of time talking to them about the trike, their shop and just hanging out with them. I also got to watch them deal with walk in customers and it is clear, they love what they do. They make you feel like you are family, offering you beverages, home-​baked snacks, fruit etc. When bidding goodbye at the end and help me load my trike into my car, Mel and Janet sent me away with a bowl of Mel’s home made brownies. Seriously, customer service doesn’t get better than this. After my return home, whenever I have contacted Mel with questions via email, he usually gets back to me within hours (even after hours). Look no further if you are in the market for a recumbent. This is the best trike shop in the Pacific Northwest!

It would be an exaggeration to say that Mel and crew at RecumbentPDX saved my life, but they did get me back on the road after an injury that left me unable to use an upright bike. I drove to Portland from Seattle with my family of 4, and Janet led us on a family trike ride around the neighborhood, showing extraordinary patience and hospitality. They then watched my kids so my partner and I could have more time to rigorously road test trike models. Mel and Louie, mechanic extraordinaire, came in early the next day to finish fitting me in my choice of trike and get it tricked out. Then — I am not kidding — they brought it up to Seattle two days later so I would not have to make another trip to Portland.
RecumbentPDX continued to support me even after the sale was completed. Mel responds very quickly to emails, and both he and Louie have been readily available by phone. When electrical problems cropped up with my motor (HP Velotechnik Scorpion S-​Pedelec), Louie and Janet drove up to Seattle to troubleshoot and complete the repairs. Wow. I highly recommend this family-​run business. They have treated my like family (in a good way).

I can’t ride a regular bike anymore. Mel and Janet helped me find a trike that fit me right, outfitted my dad with a loaner. Then Janet lead me and my dad on a 45 min ride through the local neighborhood… In pouring rain! Typical Portland… I go bike shopping and it rains! Anyway I am now a proud owner of a Cat trike and I am now eager to go ride! minus the rain: P
would send Anyone looking for a recumbent to Recumbent PDX
Update:
Good follow up service. Set up a test ride to let me try a option with out having to buy it first!

I don’t even own a recumbent, but Mel was super nice both times I’ve stopped in. Louie invited me to come back to test ride a bike just for fun. And Rosie (the shop dog) is adorable!

These guys were super nice. Wasn’t even a paying customer and I stopped in with a friend to pump up my tires. In addition to letting us use the pump, they fed us oranges. So hospitable.

I have been riding my recumbent, an EZ-​Sport, for 12 years. I’ve worked with The Bike Gallery (when they still sold recumbents), Coventry (when they were still around), and now Recumbent PDX.
Every time I’ve walked into Recumbent PDX, I have been warmly greeted. I’ve even been offered vegan chocolate custard while I look around! Mel and his crew have tuned up my bike with a prompt and punctual turnaround time. When I started hearing bad noises from my front hub bearing, they even told me to bring it in when they were closed for remodeling, and got it fixed in a couple of days.
I look forward to working with Recumbent PDX for all my future bicycle needs. Thanks guys!

I was in the shop recently and loved that the mechanic, who could have done the work needed on my recumbent at some expense to me suggested a less expensive method for resolving the issue. So, trust is a big deal for me and I have a lot of trust in this company.

Just picked up my Catrike 700 from having some repair work done. Very courteous employees and manager. Fair price for the labor and parts for my bike.

As a disclaimer, I do know the owners of this business, and have a lot of respect for them, but if I didn’t feel their business was worth a honest positive review, I’d just be silent.
That said, I really like this store. The store used to be Coventry bikes, and now has a new owner and name, Recumbent PDX. The renovated show room is spacious, light filled and uncluttered, yet loaded with a huge selection of recumbent bikes and trikes. The staff is very knowledge, helpful, and friendly. They know their bikes, and can help you select the one that suits you best. Also, you can take the bikes out on test drives, which is the only way to tell if it is the one for you; and since Recumbent PDX is located literally across the street from beautiful, historic, residential Ladds Addition, you have a great place to test ride. If you are considering a recumbent bike, you need to see what they’ve got and gleam good, reliable information from them. So yes, Go!
Now about the extra mile. I am somewhat disabled: gimpy leg, part deaf, senior, stiff arthritic joints and back. I can’t ride a bike or a simple trike, but I can manage a recumbent trike with its great multiple gears, low center of gravity, and comfortable seat and back support. I purchased a recumbent bike three years ago and it changed my life. I love it!!! I can bike everywhere safely and have added hours to my weekly exercise. But with age, even with a great bike, steep hills are hard and sometimes tiresome. My husband and the owner of Recumbent met and brain stormed together, and came up with an incredible electronic assist for me. Recumbent PDX took care of everything, ordering and installing the device and teaching me how to use it. IT IS WONDERFUL!!! Now I can bike under my own power, but when I encounter a hill that is too much for me, with the flick of a finger, I can get the electronic assist I need. I can adjust how much or how little assist I want, so that I can still do some of the uphill work if I choose, of let the motor do it all. Another door has opened for me.
This is the type of local business you want to support: one that offers a quality product, good choices, knowledge and understanding about those products, friendliness, and a commitment to listen to your needs and desires and even go the extra mile to brain storm, search the internet and come up with the information and/​or great solutions you had hoped for. GO!!!

Every once in a while you just go to a store where you feel really taken care of. Where the staff is knowledgeable and excited about the product. This was my experience at PDX Recumbent in Portland. Jeff spent an enormous amount of time telling me the pros and cons of each bicycle. He was willing to let me test drive virtually any bike in the store. Before I left for my test ride he made sure that I totally knew how to use the bicycle and was safe. He planned my route as I was new to this type of machine and was a little anxious. I wish every shopping experience was this positive.
Very highly recommended!

I recently purchased a recumbent trike from Recumbent Pdx. I had phoned the shop ahead of time to inquire about the brands they carry and spoke to Louie who asked me questions and even asked me to measure my ‘x-​seam’ while he waited on the phone so he could have some bikes ready for me to try out when I came down to Portland from the Seattle area a few days later.
When I did come down a few days later, he was true to his word and had at least 4 to 5 trikes ready for me to try out. I happen to be a short person requiring a short boom. After trying out several, I had narrowed it down to 2. My friend and I discussed the choices over lunch and came back to make our purchase. Louie was very knowledgeable about my needs (lower back issues) as well as my leg length and adjustments were made to customize the bike slightly to my size.
The service was wonderful, the store was extremely neat and clean with an excellent selection of brands and colors.
I would highly recommend Recumbent Pdx to anyone living in the Pacific Northwest who is interested in a Recumbent bike.

Same as the other reviewers, this store was everything I hoped for. I’ve been lurking online for months, contemplating a recumbent bike purchase. When my wife and I finally made the trek up to PDX from Wilsonville, Jeff was quick to welcome us into the store and give us the full tour and experience. The fact that he joined me for the test drive, and put up with my endless questions, was fantastic. I had not planned on purchasing on the spot, but there was zero doubt in my mind that Jeff had matched me with the right bike. I’m now the proud owner of a Catrike 700.

I stopped in to gawk at these splendid bikes and was gently ushered into the world of recumbent cycling by the gregarious Mel and his staff. Everyone is extremely knowledgeable and friendly at this shop. While looking into bikes I witnessed several examples of above-​and-​beyond customer service.
I have yet to make my purchase, but each time I enter the shop I am encouraged to test ride another bike or consider another option. These guys are the best!

Wow I probably had the best customer service experience I have ever had in my life here! Mel and his staff were extremely helpful during the sale and then afterwards. I even had a couple of minor issues with the trike I purchased months after the sale, where the owner Mel was very gracious to cover costs and should me new parts. I only wish I was closer and lived in Portland. Being up in Seattle, I have not been able to find a good shop that really knows what they’re doing with Recumbents unfortunately. I highly recommend recumbentPDX for anyone in the Pacific Northwest!