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Mon-Fri. 7:30 a.m. - 10:30 p.m.
Sat. 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
"Everybody has their favorite local bike shop, and this is mine. I bought my bike here, and I've been back dozens of times since. As long as…" read more »
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Small bike shop jammed with experts who are usually friendly (not always) and definitely empathetic to the needs of the bicyclist. I just go in and tell them how much money I have, what I need done, and whether I can do it myself, and they work it all out on my budget. They loan tools if you need 'em, and they're conveniently located downtown. It's this place or Wheels Away for me.
(Docked one star for the guy humorlessly making fun of the poor kid in front of me who couldn't change his own tire. Bad form, dude!)
You know how there are those noobs that come in a store and ask for something super vague, and with the vocabulary of "uhms.." "stuff and like.." tied to their descriptions? Sadly, I'm one of these noobs. Gas prices are rising, and a broke college student such as yours truly can't keep up with it! So I turn to my bike to take me places.
The store is on the not-so-spacious side, and I find myself becoming claustrophobic when I'm there on busy hours. But I'm not here to whine about the lack of space, this review is about their service!
I've come here for parts and for their services. Super friendly, very warm and welcoming. At first I expected a bite or some sort of pretentious attitude towards noobie cyclists but it wasn't the case here. No need to name drop coz they carry most of the brands that people look for, and if they don't have it they'll order it in for you.
$15 to break down my bike, and about $25-$30 to put it back together - the price varies a lot so it's best if you go down there yourself and get a quote.
I passed by this place plenty of times in the downtown area, but never gone in. Now that I've a bike, I have a resaon!
I entered the small shop thinking, "Man, this his place is grungy! But I kinda like it." Despite the garage-feel of the shop, I couldn't complain with the service. I was helped by an elderly woman for decent set of front/back bike lights for $16. The mechanic near by added reassurance by recommending the compact light set "to get the job done."
I couldn't be happier with my purchase and the service. I will definitely stop by to pick up any last minute things before the next San Jose Bike Party.
I have been a Green supporter since I noticed the money it took to own and operate a Car, and the serious thought to the environment, so I ride everywhere. My Bicycle takes a beating here in beautiful San Jose Ca. though the expert mechanics and valued ability of Bicycle Express make riding a pleasure, I took my bike to Bicycle Express early Saturday morning 11ish, I came back around 6:00pm and it was like a new bike, tuned-up and parts these guys are my Hero's and God Bless Eric he does a wonderful Job, Keep Green
Your awesome Local Bike shop. Very chill and helpful employees and a great selection of things to fix up your bicycle!
I'll be honest, I don't know jack about bikes, but the people at Bicycle Express are not only super nice, but will teach you about anything you wanted to know.
Charles, Jim, Phil, and (I didn't catch a few of the names) and I think Sylvia? (I'm sorry if I got it wrong, I'm so bad with names) Are extra nice.
First I have to say, I'm glad someone recommended this place to me, I probably would have gone out and bought a new bike, costing me hundreds of dollars. I brought my super beater mountain bike in to get some spokes replaced, which I originally thought was only 1 broken spoke, but it was two. He quoted me $15 and that seemed like a fair price. Then I watched him work and it was completely worth the $15, he found a second broken spoke, balanced it, and put everything back together. For $15, I couldn't ask for more. I don't have the tools nor the patience to do it myself.
I really like that this place is family owned, they treat you like you're part of their family, and that makes the experience so much better.
On top of all that, they have parts for just about everything, including a box of random nuts and bolts - which can always be a life saver.
If you got a bike need, go there now, you can't go wrong with them!
It seems like we're constantly stopping off these days at one bike shop or another to pick up little items here or there for our bikes.....Move over Xzibit, we're pimpin' our rides! :)
I'll be honest, first look of Bicycle Express and I thought it looked a bit sketchy. The store itself is pretty small and there are things jammed around everywhere. But when you walk around, you really see that they've got everything you'll ever need for great prices. The staff were friendly and extremely knowledgeable about products and bikes. And I loved that I didn't feel like they were trying to get us to buy the more expensive items.
Great little community store. Lesson learned: Don't judge a book by its cover :)
Chuck is the master. I love this shop and had an amazing experience here. So good that even though I am surrounded by bike shops, I will make the trek to go to SJ to go here. Great prices and great people.
5 stars, dude. 5 STARS.
Great bike shop. Great place to fix some bike's problems. 5 stars guys
What can I say about bikes ex that hasn't already been said about your favorite local bike shop? The folks are friendly. Chuck & Eric are probably some of the most helpful & friendliest people in the area. Though they may not have more specific bike items they can and are willing to order them for you. Im not sure that biking downtown would be the same without this shop!
This is a tiny, hole-in-the-wall-type bike shop in the middle of downtown SJ. Its somewhat cramped and stuffy in the summer days since there's no A/C, and parking sucks! But hey, anyone who has ever gone to downtown SJ knows that there's an abundance of parking.... yeaaaah.
Despite the negatives, this shop is perfect for someone like me, on a budget and relatively new to the bike building scene. Chuck definitely knows what he's doing, as do the mechanics. Everyone who works there is really friendly and accommodating. They're true bike enthusiasts, and you don't feel that elitist snob feel that you get when you come to a high-end bike shop. Their prices almost always beat Amazon/eBay prices. They don't have a huge selection of stuff, but they will have more than everything you need, if that makes sense.
I bought a complete frameset from them (frame, fork, headset) for a good price and pretty much every component I needed from them to build it. After they pressed in the headset and bottom bracket for me, I put it together and when I put on the front wheel, I noticed the fork eyelet was crooked (probably shipping damage) so the wheel was cocked one way. WTF? I was upset and I brought it back to them a couple days later, and they told me to leave the bike there. They were swamped, but less than 3 hours later they put in a brand new fork for me free of charge and were really apologetic about it.
They're really patient and will help you fix something or at least tell you how if you plan on wrenching yourself. If you don't have the tool you need they'll gladly lend it out to you. Another nice thing, as another Yelper mentioned, is that they accept unwanted/donated bikes, tune them up, and then give them to charity. How many other bike shops out there actually have a heart?
Chuck, Eric and the rest of the crew...AWESOME PEOPLE!!!!
My favorite shop in San Jose. You will not get any of that elitist snobby attitude over here. These guys are awesome. I've been a supporter of them for a while and will continue to support these guys!
The definition of local bike shop. Express is very helpful and flexible. Eventhough the shop is small, they generally have the parts I need - especially when I get stuck in the middle of a repair.
I'm rating Bicycle Express on their service and not on friendliness. I have to admit that the staff at Bicycle express are very friendly, and I will rate them a 5 for that.
Going on to the service aspect, I rate them a 2, and I'll explain why. I've brought in my bike here several times, and it seems that in time, the service quality has been declining, or maybe I am becoming more knowledgeable with how a finely tuned-up bike should be like. I am an avid biker and sometimes ride 200+ miles a week.
Anyways, right after my last tune-up of $50.00 which was a little over two weeks ago, I noticed that my gears were not adjusted properly and were slipping on some gears. I have done tune-ups before where not a single gear slips, so I docked a point for that.
The chain lubrication wasn't of high quality. After about 100 miles, dirt is all over it, and I need to degrease and re-lube my chain again. I think that the lube they use isn't a high quality one and attracts dirt.
Before I took my bike in, I read on their website that the $50.00 tune-ups include a hub adjustment, so when I was at the shop, I specifically asked them to adjust my hubs, but after I got the bike, my wheel was still loose, and after about 200 miles, my wheel is also out of true after they had trued it. Now, I know my spokes may be the problem, but I was hoping they would at least mention that they couldn't completely true the wheel because of the spokes, or suggest a solution.
Another thing I should mention is that once I received my bike, I asked one of the guys there if there was anything they noticed about my bike that needed to be fixed or required any attention. The response I got wasn't a "No", it was if you find any problems let us know, which implies we don't know if your bike has any other problem. I wasn't expecting that response after a tune-up and was hoping to get valuable feedback. This prompted me to inspect my bike, and in fact, I noticed that my rear tire's tread had gotten completely flat. Another couple hundred miles and a puncture was imminent.
Overall, I doubt I'll ever get my bike tuned-up there, and wouldn't recommend it to an intermediate or advanced biker. If you are a beginner, or just ride your bike once in a while, their service will definitely shape up that bike that's been sitting in the garage for a while.
I come here ever so often when im in the downtown area. Its small but houses everything you would need. Service is fast and the people there are very friendly. The parts and bikes are fairly priced and service is dirt cheap. They have new and used bikes as well as a wide variety of misc parts for cheap.
This place rocks and I will be coming back
this place is where everybody should go for buying a bicycle. The staff know exactly what they are doing and very professional. I will go back if I need anything for my bike.
Community bike shop that you HAVE TO LOVE!
I love them because even if you don't know what you're talking about the workers and owners know exactly how to explain to you what you should be talking about in a way that you won't feel like an IDIOT!!!!
In addition, they have super cheap parts/tools and any time you need a quick fix or tool to use they are more than willing to loan out their skills or tools to help you get on your way!
Great place. Super friendly atmosphere and have been helpful all the times I've been there. It's only a few blocks away from SJSU so it's really convenient. I really don't have much else to say about Bike Ex, since everyone else pretty much covered everything.
My favorite bike shop ever!
The staff is always friendly. It is a very small store, and you are always greeted and asked how you can be helped. They are the only bike store I know to have both new and used products. They are extremely knowledgeable, from fixed gears to mountain bikes to helmets, they know it all and they are happy to help you find the best for your biking experience, and your buck.
Plus, they always pump up my tires for free when I am riding downtown.
I came in here for a brake cable and housing.
This shop has a very friendly and knowledgeable staff. They'll always give you the best advice and will not try to rip you off.
The store is rather cluttered, but if you can get past that, then this is your neighborhood bicycle shop.
Very cheap.... Good service.... I would come back...
My new favorite and now ONLY bike shop. I went in today after readin the yelp reviews. I want a bicycle shop, not fancy schmancy spandex clad yuppies pushing $5000 carbon fiber bikes.
I want guys who work on bicycles, have oil on their hands, and know the business.
From the moment you walk into Bicycle Express? you KNOW they have passion for bicycles, ALL bicycles.
I brought in 2 bikes, an Indian (dot not feathers) Hercules I want to do a 3 speed conversion on. They told me where to find a 3 speed hub, and they would lace one on, but it is a vintage part they cannot order. They suggested another shop as a Source.
Second, my old mountain bike, which I want to turn into a "haul the kido around on" bike. They fitted a kick stand and are ordering a rear rack-seat combo.
I can go on and on about how friendly they are, but I wont. Instead, I'll tell you, I will not go to any other shop, Bicycle Express is now my ONLY bike shop in California. And I will take all my business here, and refer all my friends here.
And yes, as they last guy posted, one of the mechanics has a striking resemblance to a younger Tommy Chong. :)
Hooray, more guys named Charles!
I was tempted to not put up a review for this place since it's such an incredible gem and I didn't want it to get too popular, but, my better half told me otherwise.
This is an awesome little bike shop a few blocks from SJSU. It's a small mom-and-pop store and the staff really knows their stuff. It's mainly a repair shop, but there are a few accessories and bikes for sale. I brought mine in for a tune up and they did a FANTASTIC job on it! The prices are also the cheapest I've found anywhere (something else I didn't want to make public). The oooonly problem is that it may take a while to get your bike back, since it's such a small shop. But I had no problem giving up my bike for about 5 days (but I sure was happy to get it back).
This place is awesome. There's no way I could bring my bike to another shop after coming here. Bravo, Bicycle Express!
Went there couple of times to fix my friends bike. Staffs are very friendly and I always see the place crowded mostly with SJSU people. The lady at the counter is funny. Seems they have been in business for very long time. Now wonder why people keep coming back.
Chuck sold me the perfect bike for me, a used yellow 7-speed cruiser, at a very reasonable price. Then he sold me a basket. Then he sold me a bar to change the girls bike into a boys bike so that it would fit on the bike rack (which I would have bought from Bike Express had they sold them.) The bottom line: every employee at this teeny tiny store wants to make sure your bike experience is a great one. Don't expect a huge, clean REI layed out perfectly shop. Do expect gear heads who will give you what you need (not necessarily what you want) at a very reasonable price. Super local, great vibe, I'll be back.
This place was recommended to me, and it is just excellent:
- the prices for bikes and parts (like tubes and tyres) are very cheap
- the owner and workers are very friendly and humble and do not ever try to sell you anything
- they have a nice website and even a Twitter account (http://twitter.com/Bic...)
- nice location close to downtown and public transport so it's easy to swing by
This is the friendliest, most helpful bicycle shop in Santa Clara Valley. The tiny shop is loaded with bikes and bike parts and people just hanging out. The owners are great about showing you how to repair your bike yourself and even let you use their tools. The shop is a magnet for bicyclists.
Small family run shop. MY FAV LBS (local bike shop). Prices are reasonable. They have a small inventory of stuff, just basic gear. Friendly, reliable, not bullshit. I like the fact that they don't push stuff that you don't need. No high end bikes, mostly cruisers and hybrids. They carry Raleigh, mongoose and Dahons.
Don't expect fast service. They only have 1 or 2 people working on a bike at a time. If you need stuff done to your bike, drop it off then head over to Downtown SJ for a meal or a movie.
I had a junky walmart bike, and they owrked on it without a sneer. I like that. Now that I've upgraded to proper road and mtb's, I still go there for their service.
Checked Yelp to see where I might be able to get my jogging stroller tire repaired - called Bicycle Express. After learning they could help, I headed over, and was in and out in under 10 minutes and under $10. Works for me! The staff is very friendly and efficient and ... a very easy visit and repair.
I decided to bring my bike in for a tune-up. The folks at Bicycle Express are certainly very friendly, but:
- the tune-up was overpriced ($50! Significantly more than I've paid elsewhere),
- I had to leave my bike there overnight, which was problematic since I use my bike to commute to work. And they didn't call me like they said they would, so I didn't know I could pick it up.
- the tune-up service itself was terrible. Tune ups are not very complicated. They managed to drench my chain in incredible amounts of oil, such that I later had to spend time un-oiling (it was getting on my clothes, and too much oil attracts dirt and particles, wearing down the chain).
I'll definitely save my $50 and do it myself next time. Three stars for friendly service.
I live around the block from this place, so initially went here out of convenience. But if they up and moved ten miles away, I would now drive in my car to where they are at. They have been that good to me.
I bought a Della Cruz here in spring '07 to get around downtown to and from work on (yes, I loved it so much I made it my icon). It was a model from the previous year and they gave me a deal. Every time I banged it up, they fixed it for me, and I don't think they ever charged more than fifteen bucks for the pleasure, even when I royally dented my wheel. Any time you want to pop in for air, it's on the house. Now that I want to switch to a lighter bike, they again offered to call around to the warehouses and check for last years models that might be going for a lighter price. I'm so grateful to these guys for not pushing me for as much money as they can take me for (especially coming in as a girl who's not terribly knowledgeable about bikes beyond whether they're comfortable or not). Also: they're open nice and late on weeknights, til like 7 pm or something. Plenty of time to get there after work.
Love these guys. Will continue bringing my business here until I move so far away it's no longer feasible.
I agree with everything all my fellow yelpers had to say about Chuck and his shop nothing but the best if you are chill and enjoying the part of cycling that is actually fixing your own bike and knowing it right down to the bearing races. He will build wheels, dig out small parts for you and always on the solid side. Sometimes it gets busy, but the best is the best if your riding around downtown and you need a quick fix before riding home, hes open til seven. Run it.
I love these guys. They are friendly and knowledgeable. I got ape bars for my beach cruiser here...And I also got free friendly advice!
Sure, its a small store, don't come here expecting brand new $1k mountain bikes...Come for maintenance of beat up bikes and restorations. Come for great customer service like the way it should be.
i have an old schwinn and they either have what i need or can get what i need. i've had my bike for as long as i can remember and i've never gotten it to go into first. i left it with bicycle express today and my bike is now riding like new. they are hands down some of the nicest, honest people.
Great service. Very helpful staff here. If they don't have what you want, they order it. If you are missing a crankbolt, hub nut, or whatever...they'll hook it up for free. They let you borrow tools. They also tighten your wheels VERY nicely. This is the place to go for the daily cyclist looking to fix up his or her ride.
My husband has been going to Bicycle Express for over 20 yrs. It's a fun, family run bike shop. My husband started mountain biking on a $100 bike that Chuck tuned and made work. Today, he rides a $3000 mountain bike that Chuck still tunes so perfectly that he never has problems in the back wood trails. Chuck builds the best rims, my husband is a big guy and rides hard, and his rims never go out of whack. Chuck gives back to the community all year long by building and storing donated bicycles to pass out at Christmas time for under privileged kids. This is a great family run shop. We now live in Gilroy and we drive to Bicycle Express for all our bicycle needs.
I bought a few things from here to build my fixed gear bike. Awesome services and good prices. Very friendly and knowledgeable staff.
The guy that runs this shop is incredibly nice. He remembers me every time and is up front about the costs and work estimates. This place is a gem in downtown San Jose and a great place to go to have your bike worked on. I had them build me a new set of wheels and do a general tune-up. Don't expect a huge selection if you are shopping for goods, they more or less care the essential items only. Give it a go, they are way nice!
Service: 5 stars
I had a rack purchased at the store installed as well as a gear adjustment done at a different time. Both times it took less than 1.5 hrs despite me being a walk in and were done well. Gear adjustment cost $10 as did the mounting of the rack, which I think was more than reasonable.
Furthermore, everyone was friendly and helpful.
Store: 3 Stars
It's a small, cramped store, that mostly had Raleigh, Diamond Back, and used bikes from what I could see. There's no air conditioning which can be miserable during the summer and there's not enough room to move around to get a good look at the bikes.
Highly recommended if you're in downtown San Jose.
Bicycle Express is the best place to go for honest and friendly service. The staff knows their stuff (20 plus years of experience) when it comes to tune ups, repairs or building bikes from scratch. Do you like single speeds or fixies, no problemo! They'll build it for you. I've personally seen customers leave out of the shop with just built bikes looking like they just left the candy store with a mouth full of chocolate!! GOOD STUFF!!
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