uncle uncle

I happened on an online bicycle store that used to handle quite a bit of classic and vintage bicycle parts and accessories, but I'd noticed that their whole business plan had been upended. They still sale "certified" used bicycles, but nothing more than a decade old. It got me curious as to whether ANY bicycle stores exist (especially in the States of America) that cater exclusively to classic and vintage stuff. I live near a city of 380K, and I know of one bicycle shop that consistently carries used bicycles, but nothing I would classify as "vintage or classic" when I last went through their doors. If you know of one, take a moment to tell me about it, including their whereabouts. Do you use them? Have you ever bought a bicycle from them? Thanks in advance for your response.

thumpism 

Velo Classique in Purcellville, Virginia.

uncle uncle

Without realizing it, I had already followed them on FB. Looks like a super cool shop.

Cyclist3098765

Via Bicycle in Philly.
Lots of cool bikes, parts and stuff. Basically a bike nut whose collection got out of hand so he opened a store, been at 30 years or something.
19th century to modern they can probably fix you up or tell you were to go.
Worked there years ago in the South St store, haven't been to the new location.
Curtis is a character for sure - occasionally surly, always corny jokes, but knows his stuff.
Bikeville.com website appears down - Faceplace - ViabicyclePHL

iab

Bisbee Bicycle Brothel

Bisbee Bicycle Brothel

sheddle

Yes, frequently in larger cities.

I know of three in the Seattle area specifically (Recycled Cycles, 20/20 Cycles, Classic Cycle)

There's also co-ops, which, while not specifically "C+V" inevitably have a big ol box full of old parts to dig through.

tkamd73 

Yellow Jersey, Arlington WI
Tim

squirtdad

not focused on classic soleyl but totally well versed, appreciative and do fine work on classic is Silva Cycles in San Jose https://www.silvacycles.com/

there work on "old" bikes all the time

and nice guys, in an obscure location packed to the gills.

the are also dealer for rivendell and jones to give an idea of their range

pcb 

Curtis is a character-and-a-half! I visited the shop 20+yrs ago, when I was just kinda getting interested in maybe getting back into vintage bikes. I was definitely a little tentative, not really drooling, but, ya know, interested. Curtis gave me tour of the store, took me upstairs, showed me lots of really cool bikes, several in my size, and every time I asked: "How much you want for that one?" the answer was: "Oh, sorry, _that one's_ not for sale."

If you're a High Fidelity movie fan, it was like the guy trying to buy the same record from Jack Black's character, but the record was never for sale.

Saw a really sweet vintage Atala at Trophy Bikes/Philly that same trip, and McGettigan was willing to sell it to me, but stupid me had "to think about it." I thought about it a little too long, and 2wks later when I called to buy it, it had already sold. Or so I was told.....

[joke]What's up with Philly folks, anyway?[/joke]

Larry Black at College Park Bicycles, in College Park, MD is one of the best vintagistas around. His used bicycle listing has 4,758 entries, near as I can figure at least 3,000 are still unsold. He's been hoarding for 50yrs now. He sells new bikes as well, but speaks/services vintage fluently. Also a character, but he'd actually sell me a bike if I asked.
https://www.bike123.com/bike-list/

Classtime 

The Bicycle Stand in Long Beach CA. The owner is young but knows stuff and should be around a long time.

3alarmer 

Addisons's Bicycle Repairium – Bicycle Repair and Sales in Midtown Sacramento.
There's also a co-op, and one other place over in West Sac that has a limited selection of used older stuff.
They've gone mostly over to used MTB's and city transportation bikes. The co-op is also shut down due to pandemic concerns.

mprince

Cycles d'Oro, Greensboro, NC...

Kabuki12

We have at least two that help with the c&v folks that I know of . Open Air in Ventura and Bill’s Bikes in Camarillo. The other place is The Hub, a co op in Ventura that I have donated stuff to before. They get interesting bikes and parts from time to time.

clubman 

Cyclesmith in Halifax has a better collection of vintage bikes than most on this list. You can see them hanging on the second story walls but they don't promote them as they make no money. Early Ritcheys, Masi, Cinelli SCs, etc. Frame tweaks or full on repairs, wheel building, full service shop. They probably having drooling towels.

Locally I have Banks bikes in Wolfville. Young smart men making a living. They don't carry old parts but they support those of us fixing our own rides.

Dirt Farmer

Budget Bicycle in Madison, but expect to pay 2 to 4 times what the bikes are truly worth.

EddyR

Came across this bike shop in Statesville NC last year. Newest bike in the place was at least 25 years old.


Two rooms like this

I think the owners father started this shop I 1953. Nice guy

merziac

We have many great shops in Portland, a few less now but still plenty. Several are C+V by nature and default, lots of old bikes in use.

River City Bikes, Universal Cycles, West End Bikes, Joe Bike, Gladys Bikes, Golden Pliers, Kenton Cycle repair, Community Cycle Center co-op and shop, Citybikes co-op and shop. Oregon bike shop, Bike Gallery and others.

I think most of these shops can and will get you there but I can't imagine relying on them at our level, we all know it can be a challenge even when you know what you need and are doing.

verktyg 

In the SF Bay Area there are a number of long time C&V oriented bike shops. In no particular order:

Cupertino Bike Shop, Cupertino
American Cyclery, San Francisco
Stone's Cyclery, Alameda
Bicycle Odyssey, Sausalito
Slough's Bike Shoppe, San Jose

Some local bike CO-OPs

Recyclery-Trips For Kids, San Rafael
Waterside Workshops/Street Level Cycles, Berkeley

They're all places where when you walk in with a C&V bike or looking for one or for old components, their eyes don't glaze over and they don't try to sell you a new zoomy model....

verktyg

due ruote 

On the north shore of Chicago, it would be way easier to provide a list of good shops that have closed in the past several years. There are still a few that I would call sympathetic to older bikes, but they don’t exactly feature them. Lucky for me I am easy on equipment.

twolve

I second Addison’s Repairium. I moved to Sacramento last year and was lucky to find his shop. He has a good collection of parts and bikes, and also it’s a joy to hang out and talk bikes with him and people visiting the shop, pre-covid, of course. The co-op, the Bicycle Kitchen, is also good but I haven’t spent much time there.

Back in Minneapolis, One on One in downtown has a huge basement full of vintage parts and bikes, although the main floor is fairly high-end new bikes with some vintage classics hanging on the wall.

ryansu

Also in greater Seattle; BikeWorks (Co-op) Aaron's Bicycle Repair (Rat city cycles - specializing in 3 speed hubs) , Alki Bike and Board

SwimmerMike 

I'll second that Cupertino Bike Shop has a staff that doesn't have their eye's glaze over when you talk vintage bikes.

I was in there Saturday and asked for brake pads that would work for MAFAC Racers, they knew what they were and grabbed the Koolstop brake pads that fit. Then I asked about 5 speed freewheels. They have the currently made ones, used, NOS, and I was really surprised with this, they still have sprockets to rebuild freewheels. In addition almost everybody that works there has at least one vintage bike in their stable.

DMC707

My LBS, Buchanans Bicycles in Norman OKlahoma, is helping me liquidate some of my fleet --- a few items I am listing on here but these are the items that are somewhat lower cost and borderline not worth messing with shipping -- nice bikes, but pretty garden variety for the most part

After they put a few out, one whole wall of the shop looked like 1989 all over again -- LOL

These folks have helped me with more than a handful of restorations, and they have experience with things that are really obscure -- however, they also are well versed in modern high end stuff and everything in between. (its in a college town , and students are great at re-purposing decades old machines from one year to another ) I'd call their shop a must visit for anyone who ever finds themselves in the Oklahoma City metro area for any length of time

Narhay

Very cool photo. I think I spy a carbon fork Trek top left.

madpogue 

^^^^ Sorta-vintage ('94-ish) Ford F150 right side of photo.