Not a fan of pretentious bike snob staff? Don't worry, you won't find any here. After buying bikes from multiple shops around the city, I've come to the conclusion that Bateman's is hands down the best shop in town.
Here's why:
1) They have a great selection of bikes at a variety of price points.
2) They have great prices for accessories and any servicing (be sure to take advantage of their annual $30 early bird price for tune-ups).
3) The staff! These guys (and gals) are super helpful and friendly. They help you find a bike that is suitable for your needs without being pushy or trying to get you on a more expensive bike.
I bought a new bike today and Mike was so helpful at suggesting multiple bikes to try that would suit my needs. He was extremely patient with letting me test ride so many bikes (some of them more than once). Never once did I feel like my indecisiveness and multiple questions were annoying him. I ended up buying my dream bike at a price that can't be beat.
Oh and did I mention that when my boyfriend brought his bike in to have fenders installed, it wasn't quit ready for pick up when we showed up. They apologized and suggested that we go across the street to grapefruit moon for a drink while they got the bike ready. When we went to pay the bill for our 2 pints, our server told us that the guys from Batemans called and took care of the bill! Amazing right? Why go anywhere else, friendly neighbourhood shops like this are hard to come by.