The Bicycle Place

My boyfriend and I decided on a taking a last minute ride on New Years’ eve, unfortunately, my brakes were in really poor condition. We took the bike to TBP and a really nice gentlemen by the name of Mike was incredibly helpful. He took a look at my bike, accessed the problem and addressed right away. Turns out my brake cable needed to be replaced but he was able to apply a lubricant that fixed the problem. I think of all the things he could have done i.e. suggest we leave the bike and he would attend to it later or charge me and arm and a leg to replace the cable (which would have cost more). Anyway, I certainly appreciate how knowledgeable and helpful he was.

This review is based on one experience with their service department.
I do most of my own basic maintenance – change pads, tires, chain, etc. I hadn’t yet changed shifting cables, but I bought the parts and intended to do the work. But then my job became more hectic and weekend time became scarce. So i called Bicycle Place and asked what they would charge for labor on the install of the shifter cables. I was told $ 25 for the pair over the phone, but when I came to the shop, a different person told me $ 25 per side. I thought I had been clear, but maybe there was confusion – fine.
I also had bought new cork and since you have to take off the cork to replace the shifting cable on bar end shifters, I thought they could go ahead and put that on for me. They said sure, but then wanted to charge me $ 20 for the install. To be clear, they had to put the cork back on anyway, it was just a matter of whether they were putting on the old or new cork. So I said I would do that myself. I asked them to take a look at the spring tension on one of my brakes, which was stubbornly not springing back from the rim.
When I picked the bike, the first thing I noticed was that the cable guide had been left out of the cable hook on the brake. I noticed it quickly and fixed it, but that was the first sign of sloppy work.
On the ride home, I noticed my rear dérailleur wouldn’t shift into any of the larger cogs on the rear set (the easier gears). What became clear is that they hadn’t bothered to adjust the tension of the rear cable. It was a 5 minute fix, but i shouldn’t have had to do it. Especially after paying them $ 53 for labor only.

First of all, I am an avid cyclist for 20+ years and I own several high end bikes, raced across the country, hail from California. I spend between $ 4−6K a year on cycling, yep, I have a great wife!
I went to the store 10am this morning with hopes to have some help from a mechanic to fix 2 minor problems before my race tomorrow which starts 7am.
1. Rear dérailleur tune up = few mins
2. Rear wheel truing, off by ¹¹⁄₅ inches within 4 – 5 spokes. = 10 – 15 mins
I wanted a mech to fix it because I need to do some preparation and riding for tomorrow race. The mechanic said it will take one week… I ride 3X a week huh.
I asked if there is a way for them to fix by the end of the day. He spoke with the manager and he was condescending, said they are willing to fix it for $ 200…
WTF…
I told them” This is the way to gain and treat a new customer like this”.
I simply walk away and fixed on my own for 15 minutes.
THIS PLACE DOESN’T HAVE THE CYCLING HEART
SAD SAD

Two excellent experiences; friendly, knowledgeable staff.
I’m not sure why there are so many low ratings on here, but it’s compelled me to write a review, which I rarely do anymore. We just bought two bikes from here, and I have to say that our experience was excellent. John helped us out, and he was friendly, knowledgable and easy to work with. He listened well to what we were looking for and helped guide us to some bikes that would work for us.
No up-​sells, no pressure, no b.s. Gave us a fair price, below MSRP, and got our bikes from the manufacturer quickly, before promised. We went back to pick them up, and we also bought locks and bells, and the other staffer who helped us (whose name I didn’t get) was also very friendly and helpful — same deal.
This is my second bike to buy from them — I bought one when they were at their old location (that one was stolen), and it’s what brought be back to them this time. I’d recommend.
I’ve not experienced their repairs or anything like that, but my experiences with purchasing were great.

Don’t go to this shop. The owner is a complete jerk.
A couple of years ago, I came in with a used tri bike I’d purchased to get a bike fitting and purchase some new pedals and shoes and the owner (I think his name is Mike) got on his high horse about how people like me are putting local bike shops out of business by buying used bikes (the inference being that everybody should willingly pay for his overpriced retail goods). He then starts criticizing the bike I bought – telling me how he used to carry this manufacturer’s bikes but kicked them out of his store because he thought they were crap (clearly sour grapes since the model I bought got top reviews at the time and hasn’t let me down since I bought it).
I was completely taken aback. Here I am ready to drop a few hundred bucks in this jackhole’s shop and he starts lecturing me? As a pretty active biker who rides with a lot of the local groups and teams (and spends way too much on biking stuff), I get asked all the time for a good bike shop in the SS/​CC/​Bethesda area and I always start by telling them the one place they absolutely SHOULDN’T patronize: The Bicycle Place. Take your business to Silver Cycles. The folks at those shops are just as knowledgeable, way more friendly and far less judgmental.
As an aside, it’s been interesting to watch the steady decline of BP from prime real estate on Grubb Rd to a run-​down warehouse space on Brookeville Rd. You can tell they’re losing their following by the much smaller turnout they get for their Sunday ride. Wonder if the owner’s less-​than-​hospitable attitude has anything to do with it.

Good service, good attitude. Good deal.
They’re not the cheapest, but they know their bikes and have fixed «repairs» that City Bikes in Chevy Chase made.
Good comunity partner, too

I went into the shop for brake fix, to be followed by the purchase of a cyclocross bike for commuting. After talking to his friendly and helpful staff, the owner came out and put on a clinic for how to be an offensive, condescending, snarky jerk. How he treats his customers is his business, but thankfully isn’t mine… the next day I purchased a somewhat expensive (to me) cyclocross bike elsewhere. There are at least three other decent bike shops within 5 minutes of downtown Silver Spring (City Bikes, Silver Cycles, and Takoma Bicycle); my guess is that if the owner can’t bring himself to even pretend to like having customers, before long he won’t have any at all.

I have been a customer of BP for 5 or 6 years. I do a lot of work on my own bike. I come there for advice and help with odd problems I can’t figure out. One situation was my Xtracycle was having problems with the internal hub gear mechanism. The mechanic was very helpful and waived any charge. I went to their new location a couple of times and really like it. I also like their periodic «yard sales» they used to have in the back parking lot. Of the 3 shops I’ve been to in this area this is my favorite. I still have to check out the one in Takoma Park.

Moved here from out of state and needed somewhere to take my 2 bikes. The staff seemed knowledgeable and willing to help, if and when they weren’t tied up with other customers.
I was able to get one bike fixed up on the spot and they kept the other over night. The prices for service were reasonable, I didn’t feel like they were trying to sell me everything in the store, and they seemed relatively open to spending a few extra seconds explaining the products i asked about even though i was pretty clear that I had no intent on buying extras at the time.
I would certainly go back, and have been back in a few times since moving here. I wouldn’t however go on the weekends… it can get kind of crammed in there. but it looked as if they were trying to help folks as fast as there numbers would allow…

I amble into The Bicycle Place fairly often, as it sits between one of the best delis in DC (just over the border) and a great food co-​op.
I purchased my daughter’s first bike there and found the staff to be incredibly patient, (two kids, under 5 running amok, and everyone was smiles. Tight smiles, but smiles nonetheless) and knowledgeable.
I’ve since brought my cylco-​cross in for repairs and check-​ups and look forward to chatting about two-​wheelers with the folks behind the counter who clearly love what they do.
Happy to say that I haven’t run into the attitude that I see reflected in the filtered set of reviews here.

I used to go to BP, but I stopped after experiences such as David described. Indifferent «service» on numerous occasions. Other persons have walked out also.

I purchased my bike from The Bicycle Place 10 years ago. Last service was 8 years ago. Brought back in this week for a routine tune-​up before participating in the 6 Pillar ride in May. There was only one other customer in the store at the time. I was greeted by a man who was rude from the start to the end of our conversation. He first asked why I thought I needed a tune up and if there was anything wrong with the bike. I told him I was not aware of any problems but that it’s been years and I just wanted basic service. He replied «darn». What? Then asks in a snarky tone if I ever ride it. Really? He gives it a quick look over and says it’s fine just needs to be washed which he was not going to do. He implied he was doing me a favor by not taking my money. The entire conversation was condescending and rude. I left the store thinking I can’t believe this just happened. Drove a couple miles to City Bikes in Chevy Chase where I was treated respectfully as customer. Turns out the bike did need the many adjustments and they are also doing a complete clean-​up (with a smile).

The Bike Place is a wonderful store with real roots in the community. I have bought 4 bikes there over the past 15 years. Mike, the owner, has a huge amount of expertise in cycling and has great advice for customers at all levels.
When I was bike shopping, they let me try several bikes out for 30 – 45 minutes at a time. Since they are located just off Rock Creek park, this means you can try the bike out on real roads, not just a parking lot.
Pepper is a really sharp mechanic. He does a great job of thinking of the big picture, not just trying to make a quick few bucks on repairs. You are going to have to drive 30 – 45 minutes to find as good a mechanic.
The Bike Place sponsors a lot of community activities. In the summer they have several bike swaps in the back parking lot, they sponsor a wonderful racing club & ride, and they provide free bike repair and swag each year at NIH on Bike to Work day.
These guys are the real deal.

I brought my bike in a little after noon today to have both tires and tubes replaced, and to have it looked over for whatever else might need attention.
I approached a young man in the front of the store, told him what I needed and was directed to the repair area toward the back of the store. I walked over, stood by my bike and looked around while waiting to be approached. To my right was a man in a Bicycle Place (BP) shirt who was chatting with a customer about what gear to cruise in and such. In front of me was a guy typing at a computer, and toward the back another guy who might have been a mechanic. After a minute or so had gone by I started looking more closely to try and figure who was in charge. The guy to my right appeared to be older than the others, maybe a manager. The guy at the computer? I assumed he was an employee, but couldn’t see if he had the BP shirt on. Further toward the back was a customer and beyond that I had little chance of catching anyones attention. From where I was standing I could have reached out and tapped the first two guys on the shoulder. I wasn’t hiding behind the comic book rack.
After another minute of standing there without acknowledgement, verbally or otherwise; no eye contact or nod, I began to wonder if they were accepting new customers, and if so, did I really want to become one. I decided I didn’t, wheeled my bike around and started out of the store. Only then did the conversation between the BP employee on my right and the” what gear should I cruise in ?” guy go quiet.
I am reasonably certain that no one in that place has a clue as to why I left.