Houston Bicycle

Cool little bike shop in Montrose! They’re quick with service and affordable.

Closed during listed business hours for some reason. When arrived they didn’t even say anything. Expensive. Probably only friendly if you look like you have money.

Always fast, friendly and cheap. Granted I’ve never used them for big repairs or purchases. Owner operated feel is a bonus. Never intimidated being only casual rider. Highly recommend.

Seriously the best work for the best price. Overhauled my drivetrain, replaced brakes, brake lines and got grips and lights all for 200. Quality Parts were charged as they would be from the manufacturer (cheap) and labor was only 45 bucks. My bike honestly rides better than it ever has. Plus the owner is nice as can be and is dedicated to quality work and safe riding for a more than fair price.

This bike shop is a short walk from home, which is a lifesaver because I don’t have a bike rack on my car. So I’m gutted that I will have to find a new shop.
I took my bike in to repair a flat front tire — no big deal, but I am inexperienced at fixing flats on my own. He inspected the tire and rim, put in a new tube, filled it, and advised me to add about 20 pounds of pressure to my usual fill. A couple of rides and then a few days later, the tire is flat again and won’t take air. I took it back and he showed me a long lateral split — clearly not a puncture or pothole wound, probably a failure of the tube. He doesn’t charge me for the tube to replace the faulty one, but he does charge me for the labor. A couple of rides later, the tube blows out (!) as I’m coasting along the Buffalo Bayou bike path. I’m fortunate that I didn’t fall and that I wasn’t near car traffic when it happened!
Faulty tube? Something funky about the installation? Bad advice about the inflation? I don’t know, but I don’t feel safe going back for a third tube.
On the positive side, service was friendly and prompt on both occasions.

This is a real bike shop owned and run by people that ride daily. They care about the sport they represent.
I’ve bought two bikes from these guys. The first one was custom-​built where everything was ordered separately. Not the low-​cost solution but I got exactly what I wanted, over 20 years ago.
I moved from Houston 18 years ago the first bike they build has served me very well over the years with minimal maintenance. They are excellent mechanics, I couldn’t imagine going anywhere else!
My new bike they built then held till I arrived. I got to ride it around at Christmas. Then they boxed and sent it up north.
love the new ride, a KHS full suspension. You know, I’m older now and it’s extremely comfortable. When I first spoke with Jeff and Harry I was thinking hard tail. Having known me for 20+ years they both felt I would be happier with a cushy ride. I’m glad I listened.
Fyi, there is such a thing as a dumb question. Ask a bunch here you might get nipped… These guys aren’t trained sales people their cyclist and mechanics first Business owner second.

I live right down the road from this place and would love to love this place. It’s a perfect location, great tunes and a cool look. But my God the service…
I bought my son a Wal-​Mart bike because he saw it and flipped out over it. I told him we’d find him one better and he wouldn’t come off it. So I caved and bought him a $ 100 Kent bike. And to no surprise, the back brakes weren’t working properly.
So I wheeled it in and asked the guys if they could fix it. Without so much as a look at the brakes, he writes me a ticket and tells me that it’ll be ready in a couple of days.
When I call to check if it was ready, he tells me yes it is. He tells me that he was just looking for my ticket before I called which I don’t fully believe.
So I come to pick up the bike and the slightly balding guy who I gave the bike to is sitting in the front drinking a beer. Not only that, he REALLY smells like beer which as a drinker myself I know that takes more than a few.
He ask him how much do I owe him and he says $ 30. So I thank him and start to wheel the bike to the car and the brakes are the same as they were when I brought them in. I take it back in and he says well let me take another look at it or whatever. After he fiddles with it a bit more, he wheels it back outside to me and says, «Well, there you go.» I test them and it’s still the same. When I tell him they’re still not working he says, «Well they’re cheap Walmart brakes! What do you expect?» I said, «Well, I expected to have them fixed.» He says, «Well, I can order you new brakes.» And I said, «Then what did I just pay $ 30 for?» He annoyingly turns around, walks in the store, comes out and hands me $ 30 cash. I simply laughed to myself and walked the unfixed bike to my car.
He actually charged me $ 32.34 because of tax but I didn’t even care. $ 2.34 is a small price to pay to learn where not to send your business.

Great neighborhood bike shop! I’ve been coming here for about 10 years. The guys are always willing to answer my questions and take the time to help me figure out exactly what I need.
I’ve purchased 2 bikes here over the years, had all my maintenance done here, and bought most of my gear from here (rack, pannier, computer, etc). Pricing is competitive compared to online stores for most things. If you’re spending a good amount ($ 200) on maintenance and some gear, they often comp a $ 20ish item as a bonus. They do it at the end when they’re ringing it up, not while I’m shopping, so it’s not a hard-​sell incentive to get some additional gear, it’s just pure «customer appreciation».
Last week I was on the fence about some grocery panniers. I knew I wanted one but couldn’t quite the pull the trigger on the one I liked the most. Harry knocked $ 10 off the list price (making it cheaper than Amazon), plus said I could ride around with it for a week or 2 and make sure I really like it. I was a bit shocked, and said it would be dirty and worn if I really gave it real use for a few rides. He said no problem, they would take it back if I didn’t love it. WOW, you will not get this kind of service from Amazon or any other online store.

Had a variety of parts but service sucked. The guy called my equipment outdated and acted like i was clueless about bikes.

They keep it real.

I was running low on air for both tires and these guys were about to close down and I simply asked if I could fill up and the response was incredibly rude and abrasive as if to say…“what nerve you have to ask us for anything as we are closing?” … All I wanted was some air. They did have a hose outside for gen. use. It had a very weird adapter for presta valves that I’ve never seen or knew how to attach to the hose.
So humbly I asked for help and the response was horrific !!! «You mean you don’t know how to put air in your tires?» With a stupid cynical tone in an attempt to embarrass me in front of his friends. Humbly I replied…“Yes I do, just don’t know how to work the adapter you’ve got on here sir.”
After which his face just lit up with anger as if asking a teen to do the dishes. You guys run a return customer based business? Really?! Were you born knowing all there is to know about bikes? I’m a mechanical engineer and I admitted I didn’t know how to work something mechanical. That’s called humility …
You will never have me or my friends as customers, ever! I am in the market for a new bike and I actually wanted to look at what they had the day this happened.
I’ll simply spend my money at another shop. I have lived in downtown Houston for years and I’ve never encountered such rudeness at other bike shops.
I don’t think I’m being overly sensitive but before you belittle a customer remember this… Bike shops have always been about community and a place to learn and connect. Shame on you for your horrible attitude towards a fellow rider. This post will hurt your business more than you know.
You don’t deserve even a star.

I lost a part of my seat clamp I went in to get a new one. First, the mech told me to replace the whole post. I’m ok with this one, as they might not have had the parts to fix the old one. Then, he volunteered to fix the clamps on my bike rack which had been jerry rigged and had held pretty well for over a year. Finally, he said that my tires should be inflated rock hard for a flat protection. He then proceeded to inflate them to 1.5 times the pressure that I normally use and blew up the front tube. After which he charged me for a new tube… $ 70 for the visit. Worst bike shop ever. Avoid it like the plague.

Super nice employees. Harry was helpful in helping me with my bottom bracket and gave me tips on installing a sealed one. Very honest.

Several younger members of staff have been helpful and instructive when it came to their limited accessories but when u want a bike serviced, they often speak to the older guy who runs the place and he is a beast of a different order. He has never failed to inform people about how busy he is and how inconvenient it will be to fix your bike. This has happened to me and others who have been to his store.
It is a bit vexing because given its location, I kept going back as I wanted to like this neighborhood store. I can’t, however.
Time and time again I hear people being patronized. Whether you think they deserve it, I don’t need to hear any of that when I am shopping for bike lights. It is not professional and there are enough excellent bike stores in town that manage without that sort of attitude.
Also perplexed as to why they refused to even tighten my brake cables on my e-​bike as I was informed they were all badly built and the store didn’t really have any such time for such a bicycle… this despite the fact the owner has been riding around on one for some ten years with nothing but duct tape holding his enormous battery to the frame. Yes, a real slick build, buddy. Fortunately, YouTube taught me how and I can adjust my own in under 5 minutes.
Giving this 1 star for location and some of the better members of staff but the owner isn’t a person I need to deal with again.
If my dollar is my only vote, then he won’t be seeing any of mine.

Love these guys, and the dog. In for a new tire/​tube and out in under 5 minutes; great service, knowledgeable, really nice selection of bikes, and rock solid workmanship. Simply cannot recommend them enough, skip the chain store and come here, these are the kind of guys I’d like to kick back and have a beer with. Thanks!

The older dude (owner?) is amazing. He always takes extra extra time teaching me about my bike and anything I bother to ask him.
Amazing service from guys that have a lot of love for what they do. One time I dropped my bike off after hours and they ran through the rain to help me. They always are super available and call often (because I ask them to). Great guys, great equipment, great attitude. Plus theres plenty of eye candy at the shop (gorge bikes).
They even sell helmets.

This place is awesome. One of the guys had his 4 year old kid in the store drawing things. She drew a tree. I proclaimed that it was the tree of liberty. He agreed and told her to use blood red ink to show it being watered.
Anyways, I saw a nice KHS fixed gear that was a little bit out of my price range. I offered to haggle. In Canaduh, people get offended by this and go passive aggressive. But here, they were willing to do this, I got a good deal on the ride without the seat and handlebars. And they even boxed it up for me to take home without any BS or hesitation. Bicycle Barn tried charging me $ 50 (negotiated to $ 0), tried guilting me, told me to come back 4 hours later, and did a poor job, while these guys did it amazingly and within 20 minutes.
I can see the issues people may have with the repairs: there are only 1 – 2 guys in the store at a time, and come on, if you run a business, what’s going to be a higher priority: a tuneup or selling someone a bike? I’ll come back here for my next ride.

First of all: I want to like this place. I really, really *want* to like this place. Its location is convenient for me. I like the hole-​in-​the-​wall, neighborhood-​shop vibe. I want to support the small, independent businesses. But… Two words of warning if you’re taking your bike in for repairs:
1. Don’t be in a hurry to get your bike back. They told me 2 – 3 days to get a part; it turned into 2 weeks. OK, things happen. I can understand that. But it’s how they handle it that makes a difference. That is, at least let me know what’s going on. But they never contacted me to tell me of the delay. And when I contacted them, they kept telling me it would be just a couple of days more. (Like when your flight is delayed, and they keep saying «just 30 more minutes…»)
2. Be sure to check your bike front to back, top to bottom, before you hop on and ride away after the repairs. First, I brought it in with a flat tire. They replaced the tube and sent me on my way — but the guy forgot to reattach the brakes!
OK, got that done. Then I rode home, only about a mile, and the tire was flat again. Brought it back. Turns out there was a piece of glass in the tire; the first guy just replaced the tube without checking the tire itself.
I also had to replace the stem. When I got my bike back with the new stem (2 weeks later), I started to leave before realizing my clip-​on headlight was missing. Went back. They found it sitting on the counter, off to the side. Then, only after I got home, did I realize that my front reflector was also missing. They didn’t put it back on after replacing the stem. Also, I realized my handlebars are now about 2 – 3 inches higher than they used to be. And one of the hand-​brakes is now tilted at an odd, low angle.
I should go back to reclaim my missing reflector, have the handlebars lowered, and get the hand-​brake tilted to the proper level, but really, I don’t ever want to go back again.

I pretty much use my touring bike for almost every trip I need to go on. That means anywhere in the loop. So maintaining my bike is important to me. I have been to this store several times needing minor repairs to my bike. Every time I go in they will take my bike right away and take care of the small problem for me getting me on my way. They are only 3 blks from home making it very easy for me. They guys here are very helpful. I have also bought several add-​ons for my bike there as well. Very pleased to have them in the neighborhood.
Bruce C.

Wow, sad to hear that Adam O had such a bad experience. My experience was the complete opposite. I was on my way to a coffee shop and happened to pass by this small bike shop. I have driven past it many many times before but this time since I could not find said coffee shop I decided to look for it on foot.
So I attempted to open the door, it was locked. It was still early, sure enough they were still open but only 1 employee was inside. This was Jeff, the owner. He greeted me politely and asked what I was looking for. I told him I was just browsing.
It’s a small shop so this only took a few minutes and then I started to strike a short conversation with the guy. He was very well informed. First I asked him if he was doing any specials for the MS150 ride. He paused and I said no. I knew there was more to it.
This went on into the politics of cycling, amongst other things. I then asked him about road bikes since this was something I wanted to get into in the near future. He gave me about 20 minutes worth of info and even showed me his electric bike that he built.
He said they have been open for 12 years and it costs 65 for a basic tune-​up.