Bike Works

[snoreis]

Oh the memories.  I used to work in that amazing little store back in 2005. People have to realize that Bruce doesn't work to fix pieces of shit for money.

Everyone here is pissed because they bought a shitty bike and it stopped working and Bruce put it very clearly to them that it wasn't going to be his problem.

We had one customer come in with a huffy, she had big tits and a nice smile, so we fixed it. Total nightmare. But I guess Bruce enjoyed it.

Much love

[feathermate]

"Reticule(d)"? Man, no wonder he doesn't respect you.

[knexkid6]

I would advice anyone reading this to take your business else where. There are plenty of bike shops in CU. Bruce does not treat you with respect and will only reticule you and your bike.

[jinsoup]

I've heard plenty of things about this place but he seems to know what he's doing. Needed only a new pair of brake pads on my newly built track-bike; as the wear indicator had worn off, after 2 years of prior use. Road caliper barrel adjuster was all the way out. He claimed to not have the $5 component in his shop and insisted that they were 'fine'.

Go to Champaign Cycle, they are far from campus but they will actually help you instead of push you out of the door

Don't buy walmart bikes, ever.

[jpop287]

ineconomically unviable

[effervescentspork]

Don't know if he still runs it, but Bruce's bike maintenance class was the most education per $ that I've ever had. His (significant) attitude is more like a sorting function; put up with it and you'll get a great deal and probably learn something in the process, don't, and neither you nor he will have to spend time on a doomed relationship.

[naldo77]

I have a walmart bike... can you fix it?

[naldo77]

charlatan

[dangyr42]

What a bad joke. They should have panned down to show the rabbit crap all over the floor. His "consultant" philosophy is as full of holes as his smelly, unwashed shirt. How would he like it if people gave him the same crappy attitude every time he tried to buy a loaf of bread or a pair of shoes.

Long Live Dave Costley!

[giantofjudea]

FAB!!!!!

[giantofjudea]

LOVED IT

Ray and I had a good laugh.

True to the core

I  am flattered to be one of the customers that is allowed to come back. ... Ok so Ray still doesn't believe in lube

Love ya

Rae

[Moosoneeg]

no Bruce started his own shop because Peter D. wanted cheaper cocaine from his dealer-mechanic. The look on his face when two Ill.Dept. of Revenue cops walked in and flashed badges because he had never paid sales taxes-PRICELESS! Don't buy into his legend- ask him about the mechanic who overdosed and died upstairs from the shop on coke Bruce sold him (just another unexplained corpse on Main St.)..he's a blatant racist and his shop is a skankfest.

[johnJOEpublic]

WOW!! Do ya meen Peter ? As in old Mabels owner TALL HAIRED FREAK who hid his stash in his DOO-wop *pompadore*(did I schpell that right?) on top-o-his head?! OMYAGAWD!! Effin hilarious!!

[eyekokoro1]

Bruce is the best! He started his own bike shop because he was tired of his boss giving him trouble for doing simple repairs for free. Bruce does what he loves, and he's his own boss, so he doesn't work on bikes that he thinks are crap. Other bike shops can handle those ones. I moved out of Urbana several years ago, and I really miss Bruce. He is one of a kind, and an artist of bike repair.

[spencersghost]

Good video. I love Bruce. The trick is to not act like you know anything that you don't, and heed his advice. He'll be cool with you if you do that.

[livingluster]

Bruce is awesome. He could have done anything he wanted to in life and choose to preach the gospel of bikes! His personality is certainly prickly, but if you want to do right by your bike he will do right by you. Thanks for the Madwagon, Bruce!

[packymayonaise]

Bruce is like the mechanic on Seinfeld. You see this bearing? I have NO CONFIDENCE in that bearing!

[pxpgls]

This guy's always willing to tell anybody why they should spend more money on their bike.

[eyekokoro1]

You obviously don't know Bruce. He is not in it for the money. He will let folks work on their bikes in his shop for free. He will find the best and cheapest way to fix your bike. He will also do very simple repairs (adjusting your brakes or dérailleur) for free.

[ameroux]

Thanks for the video! Bruce is a local legend and a brilliant mechanic. He's also fair and honest and will find ways to save you money. He's also interesting to talk to.

[jrfishe1]

No question: Bruce can be tough to handle sometimes: try to fix something yourself when you're not sure how and you're an overconfident moron, ask him for advice first and you're told to "strap on a pair". But that being said, I sure as well wish I still lived in town, b/c I've never met a mechanic who's as competent, honest, affordable, and flexible. He always let me use his rack and tools if I was willing to repair something myself, and would give me tips. Can't beat that!

[theredf]

Anyone who doesn't like Bruce is totally clueless. I've been on both ends of his "attitude" and in neither case have I felt he's unjustified. When you think you know something, you probably don't and he tells you. When you're willing to shut up and learn, he likes you. The man does the best bike work of any human being I've encountered and he's fair and honest. His points in the video are rough, but he's not lying about any of them.

[drewm1980]

Bruce, you're a great mechanic and fun to chat with. Have you considered posting a sign in your shop along the lines of:

"Sorry, we will not repair the following brands of bikes: (Huffy, Magna, Roadmaster, Mt. Fury, ...), bikes sold at the following stores: (Wal-Mart, Target, Snuck's, Meijer, etc ...), or any bike that retails below $100 new. These bikes are unsafe to ride even with repairs exceeding their value."

[Larch4]

You didn't ask him about his favorite word "just", as in "I just need this" or "I think its just a bearing." I worked for Bruce for awhile and loved it. Love the video.

[jherek79]

hah, I used to call him the squirrel master after chong in Half Baked. Some chicks then thought I was calling him the scroll master because he looked like some D&D wizard if you put a robe and wizard hat on him, which I think turned out to be a better nickname once I think about it.

[chipotlehero]

Wait... some _chicks_ thought you were making a D&D reference that you yourself didn't notice? Something fishy about that...

[champbiker]

Ive always gotten along with bruce pretty well. When I first became a customer I didnt know anthing about bikes. Still dont know alot but I'm learning. See the secret was to not walk in and pretend to know something I didnt. The other is to treat the guy working like a human. It works great.

[afrobish]

I love Bruce's business model as it is the exact opposite of the customer is always right. Nobody can make you feel like a dumbass - if you felt like that, there is a good chance, in that instance - you were being a dumbass. Obviously, you don't go into a shop like his for outstanding customer service or to ask stupid questions. I'm glad there are still business owners around that don't cater to morons - That's what overpriced specialty shops and franchised stores are for.

[champbiker]

You've worked in the service industry. It's what every one of us wanted to be to those customers who were real douchebags. It's what you can do if you get your own place :)

[schneckejane]

I actually like Bruce very much. To me, he is a nice guy. He even came to see my concert. Though, I totally understand how some people feel. I saw him yell at people quite a few times... Generally he hates people who don't know how to lock their bikes appropriately. so...if you are a new customer...make sure you have a good lock...otherwise, don't wonder why you get yelled at or kicked out:)

Nice video! Bruce rocks!

[benitofool]

Bruce can afford to be a jerk to 2/3 of people because he is independently stinking rich. His parents left him big coin so he doesn't depend on customers except for change to play golden tee at murphy's. He has a BMW that he drives when he's not on his cruiser, no joke. Misinterpret that!

[LKL84]

I went to Bruce for a 197? rehabbed Pugeot. The bike is really nice, but I felt pretty bad for the way he was treating people. Bruce, you are not a consultant, you are a bike mechanic douchebag. Give people some respect, sorry we're not all bike gods. Oh, and for those who don't know Bruce, he is maybe four foot nine in boots. One day, someone is going to haul off and step on him.

[cyology]

brooooce!

[patbing]

this is seriously a fantastic film, keep at it seriously, I would love to see more on people place groups in CU

[johnJOEpublic]

Does he still have Univega? he only has Bianchi since their rep's are like crackheads jones'n for a rock and will give just about anybody an account to sell their bikes!he treats new customers like they are dumbshits most times and thats why they dont come back. not everyone knows bikes like a shop ownwer or mechanic.watch for him around town on his orange beater BMW motorcycle.most times hes sloshed drunk.

[johnJOEpublic]

I waited politely for a break in the chatter( not so as to interrupt) and then asked him."Hey Bruce,did you move the chain lube or are you out?" to which he responded" DUDE! do you see other ppl that were here BEFORE you?" basically you have to "take a number"(and there are NONE) when you go into his shop! and his shop IS a cluster-fuck supreme!

[johnJOEpublic]

i dont go in there anymore since he made me wait 45 fuckin' minutes for him to tell me he was out of chain lube! I came in and there was 3-4 ppl in front of me.

[champbiker]

ohh, poor baby had to wait in line like everyone else. Of course if your service was interrupted for some duche like you, we'd be reading your bitch about how "first come, first serve" wasn't repsected.

[DaveSauce]

Does anyone else find it funny that he's working on fenders the entire video? I mean, he has the balls to tell a customer to fuck off for a flat tire, but he's not above installing fenders which, if your bike has the right holes, take 5 minutes to mount? That's a bit odd in my opinion. Flat tires take about the same, but fenders come with instructions, whereas tubes/tires don't.

[oddsends]

And the video is 6 1/2 minutes long; Moreover, you have no idea what order the material was shot in and how long or short it took to shoot. You do realize he would pause/stop what he was working on while answering questions. The only time he was actually working at his normal pace was when I was thinking of the next question/prompt to jump start his dialog.

[champbiker]

Nah, he's really like that. It's great as long as you dont presume to know more than he does about bikes.

[hungerisugly]

bruce is often misinterpreted

[johnJOEpublic]

next time i see him out riding DRUNK on one of his MANY fuckin' pieces-i think ill chuck a stick in his spokes-LMAO u can catch him leavin Jupiter's sometimes and then follow him. he usually passes thru the QUAD and fucks with ppl.

[mbusux]

love it. now i don't even have to walk down the block to get my daily dose.

[blueeyedbiker68]

Ya knw 2 out of 3 time is good with bruce. Just dont catch him on that 3rd day! I bought my 1st clipless pedal and shoe combo from him back in about 1995.He has great deals sometimes.

[blueeyedbiker68]

cuz 2 out of 3 times, bruce is ok,..but don't catch him on an off day!I got my 1st clipless shoe and pedal set from him back 'bout 1995.He has great deals sometimes.

[blueeyedbiker68]

wow! still no good comments on bruce the bike barbarian?

[johnJOEpublic]

probably Ron Dursts'(Dursts' bike shop,Urbana,IL) bastard ass son from his Morman days.'tis why he's so bitter.

[johnJOEpublic]

and an alchoholic too!

[johnJOEpublic]

He's a friggin tool,FOOL!

[rjlangloi]

Awesome video. Bruce is a bike guru!