I'm a big fan of Conte's. I switched from Revolution Cycles (Clarendon) to Conte's as my go-to shop shortly after they opened, and have never regretted it. Greg's mechanical skills are second to none in the area. From quick looks at my issue-of-the-moment to letting me pick up my bike after hours, they've never been less than completely helpful and accessible. And no, I've not (yet) dropped $$$ on a new bike there (one day, a Pinarello . . .), and I'm not a regular club racer. That said, I can't contest the poor experiences described here, as I've certainly heard similar from others in the area. The problem isn't that they choose not to support junker bikes, or that they are selling upmarket equipment. I think it is that they don't do a very good job of 1) communicating those choices, and 2) suggesting useful alternatives to those that don't fit that market. Some might say that #2 isn't their problem, but without that, #1 will usually make them come off like dicks. So, with that very big caveat aside, I can greatly endorse Conte's, if you're their target market. Finally, they get extra credit from me for very actively supporting cyclesport in the area. From club discounts to event sponsorship to racing themselves, they do more than most area shops.
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