The Velo

Owner is a totally rude jerk. He’s like the living Jeff the Cyclist from Pearls Before Swine. If you want a nice experience go somewhere else

Thanks for all the repair work. Great job.
I appreciate your help in rebuilding the vintage bike I picked up from you. Also, I appreciate your help in selling a bike I no longer needed. You have a great laugh and are always helpful.
Brian Adams

I met the owner of the Velo through a friend way back and I’ve since stopped by a dozen or so times. Bought two bikes and had several tune ups at the Velo and only exceptional service. One of Claremont’s best kept not so secret secrets. Better than fair prices on bikes and fast thorough service.

Please be nice to poor college kids with crappy bike. We also need your help and support.
This is a very cute bike shop and the owners (the son and the father) are very helpful people on bikes.
However, if you are a college kid with a not-​so-​great bike and just want some professional advice, you might not receive the best attitude, and end up feeling a little bit rached with a bike on a different level that they would want to work on…
I’m a student from the 5Cs and I got a cheap bike passed down from upperclassman. I’m not even an amateur biker, and I own this bike solely for getting to class and meeting friends easier. I came here because I’m totally ignorant on bikes and would like some professional advice besides students that do basic fixing at the Green Bike Program on campus.
Yes…I know this is a crappy bike that probably doesn’t worth fixing in a professional shop because I got it only for $ 11, and the original price of this bike is probably just about $ 100. But I don’t feel a $ 250 bike, which is the cheapest bikes from the shop, is necessary for my needs. I had a problem on my break that takes a easy fix. They did it for me, and the father looked at my bike and said «I’m not trying to be rude here, but this is a pile of junk». He left me alone there and went to mind his own business.
I was proud that I’ve saved a couple hundred bucks for my family, but now I feel ashamed for my cheap bike. Maybe the snob was not intentional, but probably a less harsh judgment on my choice will be nice? I’m just one of the college kids who are trying their best to save some money outside the expensive tuition.

I’ve come here for a few tune-​ups for my bike. HIGHLY recommended for students looking for reasonably-​priced, fast, and reliable service on bicycles. They are a small family run independent bike shop that do stellar work. You won’t find a better value anywhere else in the area! Not snobby like the rest of Claremont.
They are flexible with their service and will go out of the way to help you out!

Cool, independent bike shop specializing in used bikes and service.
Went in to look for a bike for a friend and left with one for friend and one for me.
Fair prices, knowledgeable and friendly staff (father and son). Bike purchases include a U-​lock and lifetime service.
If you like to support local independent businesses and appreciate old fashioned customer service I highly recommend The Velo.

Best service, best people, best location in Claremont! Dale let me test ride one of his bikes to a local bike shop to get it checked out! NO OTHER PLACE would even consider this. Get your high quality, inexpensive tune-​ups here too!!!

Crashed out on my bike over the weekend and thought it would be a good time to get my bike tuned and detailed. Dale and Sam were a pleasure to work with and the bike looks and feels awesome! Being super affordable is definitely a bonus. Highly recommended!

Thank you for being a great, affordable and honest bike shop. I highly recommend this place. I recently got a bike tune up and I feel like I have a new bike again!

Super nice owner, Dale, runs a super nice used bike shop. It’s small and local. Great customer service and nice bikes. This is a perfect place to get a bike in a college town like Claremont.

I haven’t even gotten my bike yet, but here’s how honest Dale is:
He called me the day after I purchased a road bike to tell me that he discovered that the frame was cracked. He promised that he’d find something of equal or greater value and give me that instead, that’s honest!

I bought a bike from Velo 3 weeks ago. I first stopped by about 2 months ago and asked the owner, Dale, if he had a bike that would be appropriate for a dad and baby as I was looking for a Father’s day present.
Even though I was itching to get a bike before Father’s day, he said that he honestly didn’t have the perfect bike in the store at that time, but that he would be on the lookout. A few weeks later he called to say that he had the bike for me.
He took extra time to install our baby seat and I have to say, I’m so happy with my purchase. In fact, I’m using the bike just as much as my husband. Our toddler takes long morning rides up hills with his daddy and happily cruises around town to park, store, grandparents houses, etc. with me.
The bike is sturdy, reliable and rides really nicely. The seat moves easily so two humans with very different bodies can ride it (I’m 5’6″, he’s 6’2″ and our baby is 1 ½ year old). Just the other day, a stranger at the park said, ‘wow, that’s a good bike, where’d ya get it?‘
I highly recommend Velo. My experience: honest owner, good bike, fair price.
ps. before buying the bike, I went to a bike store in Upland and downtown Claremont to make comparisons. I really appreciated the laid-​back atmosphere at Velo. Dale was friendly, relaxed and offered a cold drink as I waited.

There are a few ways you can buy a bicycle… from a store, from craigslist or some dude on the street, and then there’s the Velo.
I bought a mountain bike from here… looked good but it was actually very old. The shop owner never really disclosed too much information… he just kept going on and on about how nice the bike looks and rides. He may have sprayed some magical dust over my head because before I knew it, I paid him $ 800 for the bike.
After I got home and the magic dust wore off, I promptly looked up the bike on internet… lo and behold the bike is freakin’ 6 years old! Okay, if I KNEW the bike was 6 years old and paid the money, I wouldn’t feel bad because it’s actually very well kept… but I was made to think that the bike is 2 years old… what the #@!(*&#
Of course, the owner can’t be found afterwards… closing the shop at random times and blowing me off on the phone. When I did talk to him on the phone, he’s like, well… I gave the money to another person already and I can’t help you.
Just because you’re buying a bike from a «storefront,» that doesn’t mean squat… Buying from the Velo is just like buying from craigslist… be careful and be weary. I would just drive down the street to Coates and buy a legitimate bike where they know their business…
Not to mention that this place is totally unreliable. The owner closes the shop on bad weather (reasonable) but also on good weather and anytime he feels like it…
If I buy another bike from this place, I would be certified stupid… or have magic dust all over my face.

I love The Velo! Great deals on awesome bikes. The owner makes sure you’re taken care of and that you know all the specifics of the bikes on display. I send most of my friends at the Claremont Colleges here :)