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Bike Club
Category: Shopping Sporting Goods Bikes Bikes [Edit]
438 S Washington StFalls Church, VA 22046
(703) 532-4116
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 10 am - 6 pm
Sun 10 am - 5 pm
- Price Range:
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$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
29 reviews for Bike Club
Review Highlights
29 reviews in English
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Review from Chris J.
Falls Church, VA
8/21/2011
Very good service. Last week I helped a man on the W&OD who's shift cable had broken. This gentleman was riding a modified bike to accommodate his disability. When we arrived at Bike Club they immediately stopped what they were doing to work on his bike.
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Review from Carolyn B.
Arlington, VA
7/6/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Brought my bike in because it's 10 years old and was having some issues. I know nothing about bikes. Also, my pedal were messed up and bent.
I brought it and and they said it needed a tune up for $90. I knew it may need a new crank but they didn't quote me on that even though I pointed it out. I'll let that go, but just some advice for them.
Anyway, they were able to work with my schedule as to when I could pick it up. They called me the next day at 5 to say it was ready. They did not tell me that they had to add the cost of a new crank so they should have told me that. I was fearful that they didn't fix it before I got there.
When I arrived they showed me the bike and they DID replace the crank!! Yay!! My bike is as good as new!! All for $116. Cheaper than buying a new schwimm bike!! I feel like a kid again. Happy bike riding and healthy living!! -
Review from Davey R.
2/22/2011
Hahaha! It's certainly a dump of a bike store. I got a flat tire on a sucky, rainy day in Falls Church and this was the closest bike hospital to the East Falls Church metro I could find, given I capsized about 3 miles away. When I got there, a Vietnamese dude named Phuoc, who helped taxi me in over the phone, welcomed me with proverbial open arms.
Being from California, I gasped when he told me it'd be $20 to fix the one wheel flat, because I come from a land where it costs half that. But he did it so fast and charmed me with some hilariously broken-English stories about biking across the country, that it was peanuts to me as I was gaining back my ability to get to Alexandria to see North Korea play Brazil in the World Cup at a sports bar and meet up with, you guessed it, a girl for a bike ride down the Mount Vernon Trail.
Customer service skills is one of those things you're born with---comes from having empathy for people and seeing things from their perspective and knowing what they want at the drop of a dime. Phuoc has that. Good man! -
Review from Collin W.
7/21/2010
The name really says it all, it's half social club, half bike store. People come and go, they hang around there for hours aimlessly, the employees sit outside and drink beer, and you can put your bike up on a stand and work on it yourself if you want to. If you go inside and start digging through their bins of junk, someone will probably approach you and think you're an employee. This is THE place to go if you ride anything vintage...you can be almost completely certain that you will be able to find any replacement part in a matter of minutes. Phuoc knows his stuff and gets right to work when you bring in a job. Last sunday he rebuilt a completely trashed rear wheel and did a tune on my full-suspension Kona, all in like an hour flat, and the thing now rides factory fresh.
No, this probably isn't the place you want to take your brand new Felt race rig that you don't want someone to breathe on the wrong way. It's just not that kind of shop. I have a suspicion that they're having too much fun there to want a bunch of anal road-racer-types storming around impatiently anyhow.
Did I mention that they're open every day? -
Review from Daniel W.
Washington, DC
6/10/2008
If you're a standard-issue Lycranaut with unlimited funds and a desire to impress people with your brand new carbon fiber Dura Ace steed, Bike Club is not for you. This is not one of those high-rent places that feels more like a car dealership than a bike shop.
It's a great place to go and not feel ridiculed and overcharged when you walk in and tell the guy that you're looking to get your foot in the door with road biking, but you don't want to plunk down a lot of coin to do it.
Long story short, I'm a distance runner, and when my IT band decided to give me problems, I needed another way to get my endorphin fix. I did my research on bikes, and found this place. Some things you might want to know about LBS (local bike shops): most of them in well-to-do areas like D.C. and NOVA don't deal in used bikes or take trade-ins because there's not much money in it. This place does, and they do it right.
Bike Club exudes the kind of no-frills honesty that makes you feel at home. I had researched this purchase extensively before I made the leap to buy and knew a lot more about road bikes than I let on when I talked with Kevin, the guy manning the store.
We talked a bit about what I wanted in a bike, and then told him my price range. We talked a bit more, and then he showed me to a sweet used Specialized Allez Elite with Shimano 105 (mid-level)/Ultegra (enthusiast-level) componentry for well under what I was expecting to spend. The only catch? It was painted bright orange. Who cares! I like things with character, and people will probably think twice about stealing a bright orange bike.
They tuned the bike and fitted it for me for free and guaranteed everything on it for a year. They gave me a free bottle cage and water bottle, a free helmet, and free pedals. They invited me to the company party and told me to come back if there was ever any issue with the bike.
In other words, this is the kind of place where you can go and not feel like you're taking a huge risk by buying used.
The weird hours, the cigarette butts, and the annoying, squawking bird are easily offset by the fact that this place takes care of its customers. -
Review from Shawn K.
Washington, DC
Updated - 5/25/2011
Charges for labor are excessive. Get quotes from other bike shops before letting the Bike Club fix your bike.
Charges for parts are also excessive. Get quotes from other bike shops before purchasing them from the Bike Club.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/26/2009
The owner charged $50.00 labor to put on a new cassette/chain and brake pads (I should have gone to… Read more »
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Review from Miriam W.
9/23/2007
If you're in the market for a new or used bike, Bike Club should definitely be on your list of stores to check out.
They've got a huge selection of new and used bikes for both kids and adults. Staff is knowledgeable and friendly. Bike Club also does work on bikes, so if your wheels need a tune up this is a good place to consider.Listed in: Washington DC Biking
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Review from Armenoush A.
Bronx, NY
5/12/2008
Lots of character. Live birds (in cages), a golden Last Supper, posters of girls, photos of babies, sculptures of the Virgin Mary, dudes drinking beer outside.
Oh right, this is a bike shop.
The floor is crammed with stuff and the ceiling is crammed with more stuff. On weekends people like to come here and cram themselves into the crammed stuff. I wish they had a published list of prices because it seemed a little sketchy when the guy was just like, "That'll be 20 dollars." I may not know much about bikes, but for a new tire, a new tire rim, and labor, it seems like a good deal.Listed in: Fantastic City, Falls Church
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Review from Aaron E.
McLean, VA
1/12/2007
The shop is packed to the brim with bikes and random bike accessories. You can barely move around in there. I know they carry Schwinn, Haro, and other brands. See the shop for more. I also know they carry used bikes. Could be a good place to get a good deal on used bike you know is in good condition.
I bought a new bike from them and found they were very accommodating. They changed a few parts to make the bike fit me better, gave me a great trade in price, and gave me a discount on other goods in the store. Fast service too.
The guys running the shop are friendly and knowledgeable. It is in the same shopping center as Elevation Burger. You will need to over look the fact that the shop it not "pretty" like one of the chain bike stores.
It reminded me of a bike shop I worked at in college (which is a good thing). -
Review from Leon S.
Alexandria, VA
11/24/2008
What this place lacks in organization is doubly makes up for in character. This is the most crowded bike store I have ever set foot in. Bike tires and inner tubes were stored in the only place they could fit, 10 feet up, on building supports. Birds were squawking in the back, the radio was roaring classic rock and customers crowded the very small store. I loved it.
I would recommend this place for used bikes, especially if you don't feel comfortable buying from craigslist and are looking for a bargain. Though I haven't had repairs done, they look like the kind of solid shop that you know that does a good job at a reasonable price.
They do have some newer bikes including some beautiful fixies, but they along with alot of other mechandise was at max retail price. The shop's bread and butter are used bikes and you can save yourself some dough if you look around. -
Review from Pear M.
Springfield, VA
4/28/2010
This is such a fun shop with an awesome story (you can read about it on their website). I heard about it through my mom who has known Phuoc (the owner) for several years now. I got a Fuji Absolute 4.0 and I love it. He hooked me up with a "I Heart My Bike" bell, haha.
The shop itself is completely unpretentious and filled with bikes old and new, and parts galore. It may seem cluttered at first (I think he has a bird chirping around in the back somewhere), but Phuoc knows his stuff, knows what you need, and knows his shop. It all comes with his experience.
If you need to make a visit during the less-warmer months, make sure to call first! -
Review from Nick S.
Arlington, VA
4/8/2008
You can get in and out of the Bike Club fast -- but you won't want to. My first trip there I entered through the back and was greeted by a parrot hopping atop his open cage. More on the parrot later. Bikes and bike parts hang from the rafters and jam the walls.
I'm greeted by Kevin asking what I need. I've disabled both my bikes, I confess. I broke some spokes on my mountain bike and don't have a freewheel remover, plus I stripped a brake cable clamp on my road bike. I hand them my mountain bike wheel and brake clamp. He huddles with the owner and a bike mechanic.
They go in separate directions and within a minute or two are back with my bike wheel with the freewheel removed, a baggie of spare wheel bearings, a fistful of carefully measured new spokes, and a new brake clamp. "Ten bucks," the owner says. I know then I'm hooked on the place -- for the service and the value.
Next I'm drawn into conversation by a friendly, goateed bike-collecting regular. He owns 80 bikes, he says, some like the famous high-lows more than 100 years old. Others are brand new. He buys all his parts at Bike Club. "Best bike shop there is," he says. "The last of the old-time bike stores. These guys really know their stuff, nothing like those horrible chainstore places."
The next week I'm back with my 12-year-old son who's outgrown his mountain bike. We take in the parrot first, who's does a sharp side-to-side head bob as we enter. We look at each other then turn to the parrot, do head bobs of our own. The parrot squawks in delight, resumes the head bobs and adds some fancy high stepping -- first one leg, then the other. Hilarious.
Kevin and the owner fit my son for a bike. No pressure sales tactics, no hovering. My son takes two bikes for long test rides. The staff answer questions patiently, then go about their business. Twenty minutes later my son comes back with a big grin on his face. I ride the bike, too, and find it's just what it seems -- a lightly used, nicely tuned $500 mountain bike when new, selling used for $250. Sold.
I agree with the other posts here. Bike Club will listen to you, work within your budget and are fair and honest with you both with sales and repairs. Highly recommended. -
Review from Rob O.
Falls Church, VA
3/30/2009
Been meaning to stop in here for weeks...and finally had a reason to do so yesterday. Was driving around to other bike shops hunting a simple seat clamp to marry an old seat post to a new saddle. No luck. Several mechanics at other shops looked at the post like I was crazy. Of course, the Bike Club had just what I was looking for and was able to find it in about 15 seconds.
This place just became my new neighborhood shop for tubes, tires, and everything else bike related! -
Review from Stacie S.
Falls Church, VA
3/22/2011
The positives: really interesting store, packed with bikes, and a few colorful birds. Service was good and quick (had a wheel replaced).
The negatives: I did not find this business to be honest about their prices. They were quick to quote me a price, but neglected to tell me that labor and some other fee were not included in that price. I think they're a bit pricey, but I would not have objected if they had told me the full price up front. I did ask them about their prices several times, but did not ask them if labor was included, perhaps that's my fault, but it's dishonest to quote someone one price, complete the work, and then charge them more than was originally quoted. I will not return.
Advice: make sure you ask for the full price upfront, even if they quote you one - specifically ask about the labor and any other fees, because they will not tell you this up front. -
Review from Hal M.
Arlington, VA
1/18/2010
I love this shop. While they don't have everything, they have a hell of a lot of things, and their wrenching is fairly priced and well done. My housemate dropped off a rim to be tru'd and was quoted $20. When he picked it up, the owner said 'Naw, too easy. Only $10.' How many shops would do that?
I've had them tune and fix two of my bikes and help me with other issues, and I was very pleased with their competence and their honesty. Yes, the place is ripe with character, but really, that is how I like my bike shops. -
Review from Will C.
Arlington, VA
11/1/2009
This is a good place. Friendly staff, lots of parts, very busy, astonishingly crowded with merchandise. I'd really like to go in there and organize everything for them, because it really obscures just how good they are.
Prices are about what you'd see anywhere else, but these guys know what they're talking about and have a decent selection of used bikes.
Richard D. has the full story on Bike Club. In short, they listen to you, help you, and aren't trying to sell more than you need. -
Review from Carlos R.
Arlington, VA
7/22/2007
I can't recommend these guys enough. It's SO hard to find a good bike shop that sells new and used. If you're on a budget, they understand, and they've got plenty of quality used bikes to choose from. If you want it, they have it. Be sure to give them a call before you head out, and if you're lucky, Marshall will answer the phone. By the time you come in to the shop, you and Marshall will be on a first name basis, and he'll take you straight to what you're looking for (the shop can be a little intimidating if you walk in just to browse because they are brimming from wall to wall with products of all sorts, new and used). Marshall and his staff know their bikes in and out. I walked in with no bike, and I walked out with a solid used ten-speed road bike (Raleigh), new lock, helmet, lights and toe clips, all for around $250. Marshall's a nice guy and he threw in some free tire patches and tire leavers.
Summary: They're nice, knowledgeable, customer service oriented guys, with tons of products from performance to budget, and you can trust them to stand behind their products and services. What more can you ask for? They're close to the East Falls Church Metro Station(3 minute bike or bus ride). I won't shop at any other store for my bike needs in the DC area. -
Review from Michael E.
Falls Church, VA
6/15/2010
Very helpful staff but I ended getting a bad deal on a bike. Once I left I realized I ended up paying a good 15% more for the bike I purchased than I should. The staff again was nice, but I do not plan on doing business with them again.
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Review from Richard D.
New York, NY
6/15/2008
This place is a dump.
Definitely lots of character.
I spoke with the owner, Phuoc. He is a vietnamese immigrant who started the business ages ago with just a canopy repairing bikes on the street.
He just started growing it after he got enough capital to house an inventory.
Here's the review:
The Store
The store itself is a mess. There is a ton of inventory, back in the repair area, there are boxes of derailleurs, cassets, and misc. old parts lying around. Prices are on most items, but the stuff is crazy expensive, especially when you compare it to buying online, or Performance.
It's actually kinda neat to walk into a place that is owned and run by "the little guy". If you really needed some obscure part or some old widget, he probably has it.
The Bikes
Bike Club specializes in more entry level bikes, although they do have a some high end steel italian road frames. There are also used bikes for sale too. Most of the bikes are cheap taiwanese made bikes, but most bikes are made over there anyway. Its nothing different that you would get from Performance.
Schwinn, diamondback, masi. Most frames are made in the same factory and just painted with another brand as they come out.
The service:
The service is excellent. On more than one occasion, I've come in to have something installed or looked at, and I would expect to drop off my bike and come back another day. Maybe because I'm Viet, i dunno. He'd drop everything he's working on and just fix my bike for me.
He can work on your old bike that no other shop will touch.
A+ for that.
I also came by once with a sweet road bike where I cracked the frame. I asked him how much for a new frame, and he pointed to some bikes he had hanging, asked me which one I wanted and he would give me a price. He asked me if I were to install it myself, or have him do it. I just said I'll let him do it, because I figure with what he would discount me on the frame, he would make up on installation. He said 150 for the frame, and 150 for the install. Sold! I drop off my bike, thinking it'll be done in the next week or whatever. I get a call later that night saying my bike is fully installed and ready to go if I really wanted to ride it.
Any other shop would have been backlogged for weeks, especially in the summer time.
If you need any kind of service, Bike Club is the place to go! -
Review from Noyb U.
Falls Church, VA
10/15/2010
Don't like the clutter and dust -- not for me. And their sticker prices are absolutely absurd. I don't know if they negotiate, but I would walk out if they didn't.
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Review from Seamus O.
Alexandria, VA
3/1/2009
Love the Parrot. Love the Messy warehouse style shop. Kids working as mechanics! Reliable! LOCAL!!
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Review from Ashley F.
Oakland, CA
8/12/2008
What a great place! I went here this weekend and within 20 minutes bought a used Trek 1220 road bike for less than $500. I asked the owner to help me out with searching the PACKED to the gills store for a road bike that would fit my height. In less than 10 seconds he showed me this beauty that was perfect. He knew exactly what I needed and even gave me a discount.
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Review from Kurt Y.
Falls Church, VA
1/14/2010
I'm sorry to report a somewhat disappointing experience here. When I went do a few "tune-ups", they told me it would be ready two days later.
Three days later, I called ahead to verify the bike was done. They said they were "closed due to low sales" and my bike would actually not be ready until the weekend (3 more days after they said when I dropped it off). I got a bit annoyed and told them they'd promised it was to have been fixed the day before, and that I needed it the next morning. They relented, said they'd fix it, and asked me to pick it up in 45 minutes. Umm... ok; glad I called ahead, otherwise I would have been quite angry to drive there and back for nothing.
I swung by to pick up the bike. The guy was friendly, and the work looked fine. No complaints. Then he told me he had done some "extra work", which increased the price previously quoted to me and written on my ticket/claim stub from 25 to 35 dollars. I was not happy to hear about unrequested extra work and expenses that I had not been consulted about ahead of time, but was a bit taken aback and thus didn't complain about it. I payed up, including the extra 10$, and left.
So, I have to agree with the "positives" the other folks mention here. Nice folks, decent work, lots of parts, and it has that "local" feel to it.
However, looking back I did not feel respected as a customer:
- It's fine to close due to low sales volume, but if you say it's going to be done by a certain time, *have it ready by that time*.
- It's fine if the work is actually going to cost more due to some previously-unseen problem, but either *let me know before you start working* so I can decide for myself, or don't charge me for it.
I don't think I'll be back for standard bike repairs; it's not as close to me as the local "franchise" bike shop anyway. I wouldn't rule out going there if my kids want a bike though... -
Review from Anne-Reed A.
Rancho Santa Fe, CA
7/7/2009
This was a great place!! I needed a used/cheap bike and an extremely friendly guy put one (he actually built one!) together for me that was exactly in my price range!
Really friendly people, great service, good quality.. and they really care what is best for YOU.
Awesome! I will be riding to work tomorrow morning! -
Review from Hyunoo P.
Falls Church, VA
Updated - 5/16/2009
I said I would come back here to buy my Brook's saddle and that is what I did. This place is so functional, they don't have a rack where they display the saddles. You have to look around the store, the saddles are attached to the numerous bikes hanging from the ceiling. Marvelous fun. I purchased a Brook's B67 to compliment my Surly Long Haul Trucker. The moment I sat in that saddle, I knew it was money well spent. Only cost me $85 too.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/8/2009
The first rule of Bike Club is, you have to Yelp about Bike Club.
I didn't end up buying from here,… Read more »
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Review from Jonathan F.
Miami, FL
4/6/2010
whoaaaaa! full of STUFF inside store! BUT I LOVEEEEE IT!!! My jaw drop for the last ten minutes! haha. Mostly are reasonable price and great way to find somewhat vinque bicycle part if you seeking one. Would love to go there if I need somewhat unique parts.
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Review from Lor V.
Arlington, VA
3/7/2009
Great customer service, but I think overpaid for the brand (Del Sol)...which retails for less than I paid (found this out later by doing some research online). HOWEVER, I love the bike and when I priced it compared to other brands ...I paid less 100+ less. I don't know much about bikes so I did not know what to ask, but Kevin (the guy who helped me) was patient.
Overall, I would highly recommend this place, but would say to offer them a lower price ...especially for the new/almost-new bikes. For my bike he kept telling me it was new, but it was scratched so I don't know if this was true. But, I definitely did not feel pressured compared to other bike stores where everything is prim & proper (and more expensive).
Overall, very happy! -
Review from Tyler F.
Arlington, VA
7/2/2010
Don't bring your bike here if you care about it, because Phuoc, the proprietor, sure doesn't. I was pretty excited to hear that they'd fix my wheel in only a day in the busy summertime season, but when I got the bike back, there was a big ugly scratch that went through all the paint to the bare steel right where it was obviously carelessly mounted on their old bike repair stand. When I brought this to Phuoc's attention, I didn't even get sympathy - he said it was an old mark and couldn't have been caused by them. I know every inch of every surface of my (still new!) bike and I know it was not there before. It was insulting to have him coldly dismiss me like that. He said if I don't like them, don't come back...well, I won't!
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Review from W W.
Arlington, VA
8/10/2008
Be careful. Ask prices first. Brought bike over to tighten a wheel on daughters bike. Did work right away and squirted some WD 40 on the chain and charged me 30 bucks for about 3 minutes work. Yikes. It wasn't the owner but the outside mechanic. My own fault for not asking. Performance would have charge 5 bucks or nothing for the same job.
