raybo

Knowing the location of a good bike shop when touring can be very useful information. That is why I have "Bike Shop" as one of the categories at biketouringtips.com.

After more than 4 years, there are only 9 entries in that category. Yet, most of the people who read this list have a local bike shop where they get their bike supplies and repairs done.

As a service to the bike touring community, I'd like to ask people to send me links to a recommended local bike shop (with location). Post it here or PM me and I will add them to the site.

Better yet, add them to the site yourself (requires a free registration) and tell why you like them.

Some future bike tourist in trouble will thank you for your effort.

Ray

himespau 

cool idea.

shipwreck

I don't live there, but had some headset bearings replaced while on a tour. I was really dubious walking into it past all the mowing machines and chainsaws, but the owner was cool, got my rig right on the rack. My early nintys Treck mbt touring conversion right next to a Madone on the stand. He was building it for, and as a Bike Snob reader it cracked me up, a dentist. I asked if the guy needed a madone, and he just grinned...

https://www.bblawneq.com/

MMACH 5

I went on my first bicycle camp out with the guys from this shop.

Trinity Bicycles
207 S. Main St.
Fort Worth, TX 76104
817.484.6825
https://www.trinitybicycles.com

StephenH

https://www.shermanbicycles.com/ (Sherman, Texas, north of Dallas)

https://djsbikeworld.com/ (Garland, Texas, a suburb on the northeast side of Dallas)

Those are the main two I use, not the only good ones in the DFW area by any means- I think a number of our rando riders use Bicycles Inc in Arlington, and I've heard good things about Knobbies & Slicks Bike Shop, 8300 Precinct Line Road Suite 110, Colleyville, TX 76034

wahoonc

Hawley's Bicycle World, Fayetteville, NC. They will work on anything, if they can't they will tell you they can't.

Lanky's in Dunn, NC. They have parts and will do basic service, I wouldn't expect anything high tech, but good folks and honest.

Aaron

Machka 

If a cycletourist came through the town where we live, and suddenly had a need for a bicycle shop, he/she would have these options:

1) Go to the sporting goods store on main street, and hope that they might happen to have what's needed. If it is something like a tube because the cycletourist has used up his/her last one, there's a good chance he/she might be able to get a tube there. But be prepared to pay about $8 for it. If the cycletourist needs much more than that, he/she will likely be out of luck.

2) Cycle a long day's ride into Melbourne and find a decent shop there. Our nearest decent shop, and our nearest Anaconda, are about 80 km away. The best shop in the area is about 100 km away.

3) Cycle to Seymour (65 km) and catch the train to Melbourne.


Most of the people who read this list may have a local bike shop where they get their bike supplies and repairs done, but we order our bicycle supplies online (Chain Reaction Cycles, Torpedo 7, etc.), the supplies are delivered right to our door, and Rowan fixes the bicycles or builds the bicycles or whatever needs to be done.

bud16415

If you are doing the circle tour of Lake Erie or the Great Lakes you travel thru a small section of Pennsylvinia (one day in Pa) around Erie. The route will be Rt5 or Rt20 that parallel each other. These 3 shops are all full service and I have had a great experience at all of them and they are all on the route.
From east to west.
https://lakecountrybike.com/

https://www.johnadamscycling.com/

https://competitivegear.com/

If you are coming north to the great lakes Pittsburgh to Erie the full service shop I would recommend before you get to Erie is in Meadville Pa.

https://www.emigsbicycleshop.com/

BigBlueToe

Mark's Baywood Cyclery

Mark's Baywood Cyclery in Los Osos, CA. - 2179 10th Street, Los Osos, CA 93402-3215; (805) 528-5115 - ‎ "The happiest bike shop on earth!"

Mark's is located about two blocks off the Pacific Coast route, between Morro Bay and San Luis Obispo (although if you take the Turri Road alternative you'll miss Los Osos and Mark's.)

Mark's shop used to be affiliated with Art's Cyclery (which is now fairly famous because they've become an online outlet.) When Art sold to the new owners they decided to close down the shop in Los Osos. Mark took some time off, then decided to re-open under his own name. He doesn't have the extensive lines of bikes available for sale that he did when he was part of Art's (though he still has some nice bikes) but his service is wonderful, and he's a really nice guy. Stop in if you need parts, accessories, or some work done.

indyfabz

Trophy Bikes in Philadelphia:

https://trophybikes.com/

They sell lots of touring bikes (Surly, Jamis, Fuji, Waterford, Gunnar, Marin, IF) and accessories (Carradice, Tubus, Ortlieb, Jandd, Arkel, Schwalbe, Brooks, Burley, SKS). And they have people who have actually toured.

Into_the_wind

Different Bikes in Vancouver (West Vancouver one is the best)

https://www.differentbikes.ca/

Basically a consortium (read *not a franchise*) of bike shops with different owners but oprating under the same brand. The one in west vancouver has friendly staff, although the real highlight are the mechanics who do a lot for free, are friendly and give useful advice if you ask for it.

PapaToad

Little shop in Santa Rosa California.
If you are going to be in Northern Ca. You definately want to have their number handy. Check em out online.

Sixty Fiver

If anyone happens to be in my neck of the woods I almost always have coffee on and room in the shop for needy travelers...

LesterOfPuppets

In my metro area it would be easier to list the crappy ones. Even then the crappy ones are sometimes awesome if you get the right person.

Vancouver Cyclery is right up the road from me but I rarely go there as it's kinda pricey ($7 tubes) and staffed almost entirely by BMX kids. But the owner is pretty awesome. He helped me adjust my Pinarello's headset when it went loose and I couldn't find my 12" Crescent. Free of charge and while-U-wait (about 5 minutes).

Sixty Fiver

In Portland I'd send people to A Better Cycle (23rd and Division) and would suggest they talk to Clint as he knows his stuff and unlike many, can also deal with internal gear hubs.

I do a lot of free work for friends in Portland when I am there but do not have a shop so would not take on paid work as I'd be breaking some labour laws.

LesterOfPuppets

Actually I don't think you would at first. I think you can do up to $3000 worth of work per year as an independent contractor, doing business as your own name without a business license in Portland.

Double check to make sure but that was the case back in the '90s. Might have to check if citizenship status has any bearing on things also.

Is A Better Cycle the place that had the P-far out front? I rarely get down that far south but happened to hit a shop down on Division a couple summers ago.

VT_Speed_TR

Best bike shop ever, and they even have an extensive museum of old bike:

Old Spokes Home
Burlington, Vt

https://www.oldspokeshome.com

clayton c

I second these guys. Very helpful.

Sixty Fiver

I would need a work Visa... ABC does have a Penny Farthing out front.

Seven Corners is on 20th and Powell and they were pretty great when I needed a few things while I was there... staff is really cheerful and it is a friendly shop although they are not as up on IGH hubs as ABC and this is something my wife needs when I am not there as her bike runs an Alfine and B bike runs an AW which are thankfully, pretty maintainence free.

You can't swing a cat without hitting a bike shop in Portland and am sure there are many great mechanics but since I never have need of a mechanic, and just need parts, can't really comment on who is really good.

Clever Cycles can handle pretty much anything as far as urban bicycles goes, has a great staff, and we are friends with the owners... am not sure that they would be as equipped to deal with a modern touring bike when it comes to running parts but their selection of accessories and great gear is second to none.

Sixty Fiver

Bikeworks is our community co-op here and we have seen countless travellers over the years and it is a great place for those who are traveling and don;t mind doing work themselves as the shop is as well equipped as any, prices are dirt cheap for shop time, and there are some really experienced volunteers.

Velocity Cycle in Edmonton has two of the most experienced and skilled mechanics in the city, stocks everything, and as far shpos here go, it does not get much better. They are also very involved in the community which I count as a plus.

nubcake

Very biased as I work there but Bicycle Experience in Colorado Springs is great!! Well used touring bikes get me a lot more excited than the latest carbon wonder bike any day of the week.

Also just took a short trip to Boulder and these (fullcyclebikes) guys were very cool when I stopped in to browse around.

LesterOfPuppets

For the touring 'bent rider rolling through Portland, hit up Coventry Cycles on Hawthorne.

eofelis 

Twelve bike shops in the Grand Valley and, sadly, I'm not excited about any of them.
Maybe Rapid Creek Cycles in Palisade, CO is ok though. A couple of the guys there have done some touring.
The Gear Exchange in Glenwood Springs, CO looked pretty good too.

We have our own personal bike shop in our basement with all our own tools. Any folks touring through are welcome. We are on warmshowers.

valygrl

Boulder:
Vecchios for mechanical wizardry
Excel Sports for huge selection at decent prices
University Bikes for great clothing at the mid-to high- price points and a small selection of bags & racks
Boulder Cycle Sport for high end roadie stuff
There are like 10 more decent to awesome shops in town, it's kind of ridiculous to try to list them. but for mechanical know-how, Vecchio's is the absolute bomb.

bicyclridr4life

Epic Ride Cyclrey, in Twin Falls, ID. They are on Kimberly Dr., near Eastland Ave.