Performance Bicycle was founded in 1981 by Garry and Sharon Snook. They started a bicycle catalog company because they saw an opportunity to serve customers better. With their second kid on the way, Garry and Sharon leveraged their life savings to start the company. After almost 35 years in business they have grown into the number one specialty bicycle retailer in the United States with more than 100 stores. Their goal is to provide the best customer experience possible to all cyclist, from the recreational rider to the avid enthusiast.
There are a couple reasons why I love Performance Bicycle. They have a Low Price Promise. I have found some bib shorts on sale at a competitor’s
online store and the guy at Performance matched it instantly. The prices at Performance are awesome, especially
if things are on sale and they have sales all the time.
Performance also stands behind
everything they sell with their Lifetime Guarantee. If an item does not meet your expectations,
simply return it. You can get cash back
for the first year and after that they would provide you with an exchange,
repair, or store credit. I had a pair of
padded bike shorts that I wore for about 5 months. The seams started to come apart. I took it to the store to find out if this
was a common issue or something specific to me, not expecting to exchange it (I
just wanted to bitch). The guy at the
shop insisted on exchanging it for me. That’s
great customer service.
If you buy a bike from Performance, they will make
adjustments like basic spot wheel truing, shifting and brake adjustments,
tightening bolts, checking and filling tires, and lubing chains. This won’t just happen for the first year
like at most bike shops offer, but for as long as you own the bike. I have purchased some components and they installed
them free of charge, even though they could have charged me.
You can also join Team
Performance, cycling’s #1 buyers’ club.
You pay $29.99 per year but get 10% back on all of your purchases. This adds up quickly. You also get upgraded to 2nd day for
all orders over $50 at no cost. For orders
under $50 you just pay for standard shipping and get it upgraded 2 day shipping
for free. I can tell you from personal
experience that the membership fee is more than covered by the savings, even if
you don’t buy a lot of gear.
Performance developed a new line of
bike clothes last year called CHCB. They developed the CHCB
line of clothing to help ride the roads you travel the most. If you are heading to the grocery store, commuting
to work, riding with your kids to school or just riding around the
neighborhood, this clothing line was made for you. Tight bike shorts are not always the most
appropriate apparel. The CHCB
line combine’s excellent performance with a contemporary stylish
design.
I got to test out the CHCB
James Woven Button Up Short Sleeve Jersey and the VC
II Shorts.
The James
Woven Button Up is a polyester/spandex, stretch woven top that really does feel
great. It was designed for a new
generation of road riders who want all of the technical advantages of
traditional bike gear but allows you to look and feel good off the bike as
well. The James
has a slimmer cut than normal technical t-shirts, but is not too tight, that
way you don’t have too much wind drag.
The poly/spandex blend is built to be durable, helps wick moisture and
dries really fast. One of my favorite
features of the James
Woven Button Up is the back pocket with the reflective tab. It doesn’t look out of place and is perfect
to store your phone or some other gear.
You can either keep the flap out for added visibility or tuck it in when
you don’t need it. There are ventilated mesh
side panels, a chest pocket, and a wide hemline for added style. The James
Woven Button Up is regularly $79.99,
but is on sale $49.99. If you are a Team
Performance member you get $4.99 back for future purchases.
The VC
II Shorts area a pair of overshorts, which means that they can be worn on
their own, or with a pair of cycling shorts underneath. That way, you can be fashionable while still
being comfortable. I have to say that
the VC
II Shorts are probably the most comfortable pair of shorts that I own. The look great and feel even better. They have a slimmer cut than your normal
mountain bike shorts, but are still relaxed.
The shorts feature Lycra gussets, which are extremely soft and provide
ease movement. There are 2 front hand
pockets, a side zippered pocket and a rear pocket with a reflective flap to
help you stay visible in lower light situations. The VC
II Shorts are regularly $99.99, but
is on sale $59.99. If you are a Team
Performance member you get $5.99 back for future purchases.
Let me be completely honest, I am no
fashion guru. The reality is that I
usually wear shirts from past running races or t-shirts and comfortable shorts
around the house. I tried on the CHCB
gear and was really surprised by not only how comfortable the clothes were,
but that they fit perfectly too. I also
was surprised that trendy clothes looked good on me as I tend to not look good
in the more trendy clothes (I like to still think I am in my 20’s at
times).
Pros:
Extremely comfortable
Looks awesome
Pockets for storage
Moisture control and dries quickly
You can wear bike shorts under the VC
II shorts.
Cons:
A little on the pricey side.
Performance Bike’s Social Media Links:
If you are looking for some stylish cycling
clothes that look just as good, if not better, off the bike as they do on the
bike than you might be interested in CHCB’s
lineup at Performance Bike. While they can be a little pricey, the
clothes fit great, feel awesome, and look amazing. Look for them on sale and you can save a
little money. Performance Bicycle is a great
company with a great return policy, so if you don’t like the gear, just take it
back. Try returning clothes to other
local bike shop and see what they say.
If you want to look good on and off your bike, but still want to stay
comfortable and dry, pick up some CHCB
clothes at your local Performance
Bicycle or at Performance’s
website.
Note: I received this product
in exchange for a review. The review is my personal opinion of the
product and I was not required to give a particular opinion of it. I am not a doctor, so please use all of the
products that I review at your own risk.
