Nearly New Bike Shop: Great Cheap Bikes in Chicago

If you want a great used bike at an amazing price, you may want to consider A Nearly New Bike Shop, located at 3826 N Broadway. Just take either the Broadway bus to Irving Park/Sheridan, or the Redline to the Sheridan stop. I was looking for a good track bike and remembered the tiny bike shop on Broadway where Sheridan meets Irving Park. It's a wild sea of bike parts and strange vintage frames and incredible frames; I would recommend Nearly New above all the other New bikes shops in the area - they're recycling bikes that would otherwise go to the landfill. Now, a few things to consider when visiting A Nearly New Shop:

1. It's cheap and you may find a real gem.

I went there one day and found a $1,000 dollar bike that was being sold for $225! It was an older model, mind you, but it was in great working condition, and the wheels and gear sets were more than I could have asked for. It was a great bargain, and an excellent find.

Most of the bikes inside nearly new will range from $40 (for a kid's BMX) to upwards of $300 for the higher-end track models. There is also a wide selection of vintage bikes that you will not likely find anywhere else.

2. It's messy and cluttered.

Since they specialize in used bikes, expect a messy store stocked to the brim with bike frames, tires, and all sorts of bike parts. It's sort of a like a massive junkyard where bikes are rebuilt and remade from scratch.

3. The customer service is SUPREME.

Ron, Randy and the crew of bicycle maintenance guys will pay attention to what you're saying. They will actually spend time with you and help you with your purchase. It's true Chicago friendliness. They'll take time to get to know what you want, and give great advice when it comes to giving you the best value for your purchase.

You may want to look up Nearly New online - they have an immense following of customers who love these guys because they provide such a great business. There's a reason for the fervor behind all these customers' love for Nearly New, they have a genuine feel for bikes; I hope that the little bike shop stays in the neighborhood for a long time.

BIKES: $150 - $300 for vintage track/road frames.

HOURS: Make sure that you show-up early in the afternoon, if they're going to be working on your bike you want to make sure that they finish it before the end of the work day.

WARRANTY: Usually a sixty-day parts and service guarantee, include all maintenance and labor. Good for flat tires and basic maintenance; in general they'll try to give you a bike that will stay in working condition that will fit your body size and shape. Just make sure to ask and get the receipt. Most of the bikes will come with a quality bike lock for about $25 dollars.