Category: Bike Shops
Bay Area Bikes – A nice and niche bike shop
I passed by and discovered this bike shop called Bay Area Bikes at 2424 Webster St. when I was going to a car rental nearby. It is ironically situated in an area (Auto Row in Oakland) that is filled with car dealerships. Stick it to them, Bay Area Bikes! When I walked in and spoke with Clay who owns the place with his wife, Glenda, I knew this shop was for me. They are great people who believe in making the community livable through biking, and they carry quality bikes because they don’t believe in “race to the bottom prices”. They have bikes and accessories that I really like and they appear to carry bikes for everyday folks, in addition to performance bikes.
Here is a review from a friend, Kristen, that I think says it all about Clay and his bike shop. One day on the ferry to work, I told her about Bay Area Bikes, and she said, “That’s where I got my bike!” She said that at first, she went to at least 4 to 5 shops all over Oakland and everyone ignored her completely. I have always felt that bike shops intimidate women, particularly women that are buying a bike for the first time, and Kristen is in this category. Most shops carry mostly performance bikes, the employees are usually men, and the way the bike shop looks exudes masculinity. But this particular shop is different from the norm.
These words were taken from our conversation: “When I got to Bay Area Bikes, I was immediately greeted and treated with respect. I had no idea what I needed or wanted, other than a good-for-commuting bike that wouldn’t hurt my back. They suggested a Tern folding bike, demonstrated to me, and let me try out the bike, but I still wasn’t sure if it would hurt my back. They then recommended me to go rent one for a day at their Bay Area Bike Rentals in Jack London Square, but then a friend let me borrow one for a whole week. So I tried it and and went back to Bay Area Bikes.” She got everything from them, from a bike helmet and lock to a commute bag and her dear Tern Link D7i folding bike. She says that through the whole process “everyone was friendly and helpful, and to this day every time I go in for a service (or yet another accessory) they are just as nice and easy to work with, and they never talk down to me.” A great recommendation from a new devoted customer!
There are four locations of Bay Area Bikes now. One is in Pittsburg and the other three are in Oakland. One is a bike rental in JLS as I mentioned earlier; the second is in Uptown and carries commuter and performance bikes. The newest shop just opened about a month ago at 2509 Broadway and 25th Street, which sits in between an Ethiopian restaurant and Smythe’s Accordion Center (yes…that folksy instrument, accordion!). It’s a nice and niche bike shop.
Why do I like this shop particularly? They are the only Brompton authorized dealership in town and secondly, they fill a niche that most bike shops don’t. Furthermore, they sell great quality bikes: Tern and Brompton folding bikes, Swiss-made Stromer e-bikes, Oakland-based Xtracycle and Yuba cargo bikes, and nice accessories to go with the bikes. The target here is for everyday cycling with utility in mind. And any woman stepping into this shop is not going to shy away. They carry stylish bags and an equal number of bikes for females and males, which reflects the almost equal gender split of ridership in Oakland.
Finally, when you talk to Clay, you will certainly feel like you bought the right bike because he only carries bikes that he believes in. Moreover, he has immense knowledge of his bikes and is happy to share his knowledge with you. He knows every little detail about the bikes he carries and can make an informed opinion for you if you like. Oh, his wife Glenda is super patient and I am glad for once there’s a woman working in a bike shop.
If you have a love for Bromptons like I do, this is the place to go to!
Happy Pedaling!
Bicycle Shops and Rentals in San Francisco
Last updated 6/8/13
Whether you’re a visitor or a local that needs help finding a bike shop, rental, or repair shop, here is a comprehensive list of them sorted by neighborhood to make your life just a bit easier. If we’ve missed anything, please let us know. Thanks!
(By the way, we counted more than 50 bike shops in the city of SF! The land area of SF is roughly 49 sq. mi., so that comes out to more than 1 bike shop every sq. mile!)
In addition to the shops/rentals listed below, be sure to check out the Bay Area Bike Share.
Bernal Heights
- Heavy Metal Bike Shop
- The New Wheel – They specialize in electric bikes and also electrify regular bikes.
Castro District
Cole Valley
- American Cyclery
- Avenue Cyclery
- San Francisco Bicycle Rentals – Located at the east end of Golden Gate Park
Cow Hollow
- Big Swingin Cycles
- City Cycle – It’s a bike shop that also organizes free group rides.
Downtown
- Blazing Saddles – Bicycle rentals and tours
Duboce Triangle
Embarcadero
- Bike Rental San Francisco – Located at the Ferry Bldg.
- The Bike Hut – A non-profit bicycle rental
Financial District
- BART Bike Hub Embarcadero – Bicycle rentals at the Embarcadero BART station
- Blazing Saddles – Bicycle rentals
Fisherman’s Wharf
- Bay City Bikes – Bicycle rentals and tours
- Bike an Roll – Bicycle rentals and tours
- Blazing Saddles – Bicycle rentals and tours
- Bike Rental San Francisco – Bicycle rentals
- Pluz – Electric bike rentals and they have electric tandem bikes!
Golden Gate Park
- Golden Gate Park Bike and Skate – Bicycle rentals right inside the park
Haight Ashbury (Upper Haight, see also: Lower Haight)
- Bike Rental San Francisco – Bicycle rentals
Haye’s Valley
- Streets of San Francisco Tours – They offer tours and rentals of good-looking city bikes which help you blend in like a local.
Hunter’s Point
- NTP Custom Bikes – They offer custom-built titanium bikes.
Ingleside
Inner Richmond
- San Francyclo – A bike shop that offers tours that go off the beaten paths.
Inner Sunset
Lower Haight
- Wiggle Bicycles – A repair and parts shop located right on the famous Wiggle near the corner of Steiner and Waller. (415-863-3033)
Marina
- New Holiday Adventure – Bike shop and rentals located at 1937 Lombard St.
Mission
- Box Dog Bikes
- Don Rafa’s Cyclery – Located at 2929 16th St.
- Freewheel Bike Shop
- Mission Bicycle – They offer customized fixed-gear bicycles in assorted colors, and freewheel and internal geared hub bikes for city riding.
- Palacio’s Bikes – A repair shop located on 3404 26th St.
- Pedal Revolution – A non-profit bike shop that provides employment and training to at-risk youths.
- PUBLIC Bikes – A local company that specializes in colorful, stylish city bikes and have another shop in South Park.
- Sports Basement
- Treat Street Bicycle Works – They also rent out bicycles long term.
- Valencia Cyclery
Nob Hill
- High Trails Cyclery
- Lombardi Sports – A family owned sporting and outdoor goods store which carries a large selection of bikes.
Noe Valley
- Noe Valley Cyclery – Located on 4193 24th St.
North Beach
- Bike and Roll – Bicycle rentals and tours
- Blazing Saddles – Bicycle rentals and tours
- Citizen Chain – A bicycle shop that focuses on rebuilding used bikes and does custom accessories.
- Columbus Cyclery – A bike shop that also provides bike rentals and tours
- Dylan’s Tours – Bicycle rentals and tours
- Spoke and Hub – Rentals and repairs
North Panhandle
- Freewheel Bike Shop
- Mojo Bicycle Cafe – A cafe where you can buy a bike and have repairs done.
Outer Richmond
Outer Sunset
- Calicross Bicycle Company – Specializes in cross bikes that have the style of fixed gear bikes
Pacific Heights
- Bespoke Cycles – Provides handmade custom bicycles
- Fresh Air Bicycles
Parkside
- Bike Doctor – Repair shop located on 2455 27th St.
- Bike Nook
Potrero Hill
- Roll San Francisco – Specializes in full bicycle repair
Presidio
Seacliff
- San Francyclo – A bike shop that offers tours that go off the beaten path.
SOMA
- Huckleberry Bicycles
- Market Street Cycles
- Mike’s Bikes
- Pacific Bicycles
- Performance Bicycle Shop
- Public Bikes – A local company that retails their stylish and colorful city bikes, gears and accessories.
- REI
- Warm Planet Bikes – This is the place to go for folding bikes and they also offer free bike storage.
Tenderloin
- Bamboo Bike Studio – You can build your own bamboo bike! They are located on 982 Post St.
Union Square
Miscellaneous
Jackson Square
- Breakaway Performance – They offer classes on how to become a competitive cyclist (maybe you can enter the Tour de France one day).
- VeloSF – They provide group workout classes to increase your performance.
SOMA
- Bike Parking – Sells bike racks (to lock your bike to)
- Rack Solid – Sells bike racks for your car