On a mobile device? Try our mobile site, optimized for faster browsing.
Nassau Ave (G)
Mon-Sun. 12:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
"these guys are super cool. i stopped in to get some air and they were kind enough to let me use the store pump rather than messing with the…" read more »
Loading...
Very knowledgeable and friendly guys--they don't do anything to your bike that you didn't ask them to just to upsell you some service or part you may not have the money for right now.
Low reviews of this place might be written by guys who are emasculated by confident bike folk who aren't boastful or pushy, but also don't make you feel like you're the first person to ever discover the bicycle. Those guys should go to Wal-Mart.
(Also, they don't care what kind of bike you have. I have a 30 year old hand-me-down and I managed not to feel oppresed by their Fujis--sheesh)
If you pay cash they waive the tax, I think-- credit cards are accepted, but they charge tax.
I had reservations when I initially went to them for a recable and they said they didn't have the parts. To be fair, I have a vintage Schwinn and those old Shimano shifters are hard to come by.
But B's redeemed themselves when they fixed my flat tire for the $10 in my pocket (when they normally charge $13). I really didn't have any more money on me and they were totally cool about it.
In sum, they are pretty mellow and don't flip attitude. Repairs are NOT cheap, accessories and components are not cheap but not a rip-off either. Very chill neighborhood-y place and totally trustworthy. The shop itself is super-small and it can be a challenge to maneuver a bike in and out, especially for a klutz like me.
They pulled my chain.
Off my bike, becuase I asked them to.
They charged me 2 bucks more than the price board in the corner stated.
I tried to talk "bike" with the kid, but he wanted to talk "girl" with some hippy bike girl.
They like to sell FUJI bikes I think, I have a Giant- I dont think he liked that.
He did fix my chain right then, but then again- he wasnt doing anything anyway.
I dont know, but It seems to me that small shops like this would like to take advantage of a situation where a person comes in for the first time, and may want to be friendly and talk bike- there is lots of other bikeshops around, small little ones just like this and better.
PLUS- they charge tax on a bike chain repair- cmon man you guys arent claming that extra 2.25.
i'm a big fan of b's. besides being 4 blocks from my house, the boys that work there are awesome. since going in so often, i've befriended a few, so i might be a bit biased. before that, i like b's because of the lack of bike shop attitude. everyone has always been really helpful answering questions and even patient with me when going back because something wasn't completely to my liking.
if there is something you need done, they will work with you and if something isn't up to your standard, it's a good place to speak up and they will help you get it done as you would like.
Came in with a bike I bought off CL to get a "check-up" and make sure I didn't have a lemon. They were really friendly and cool. Checked out the bike thoroughly for FREE (I expected to have to pay something for this) and didn't try to sell me anything at all in the process. Really took the time to make sure I felt good about the bike before letting me pedal off.
I've heard that some bike shops can make you feel stupid if you don't know a ton about bikes (since all hipsters are apparently born with this knowledge?) but never felt anything but comfortable with these guys.
I've since bought some stuff there (reasonable prices, unbiased recommendations) - because why wouldn't you want to support a place like this?
B's is awesome. The guys who work here are so patient with dumb questions and cool about undoing DIY manglings, it's hard to imagine what I'd do w/o this place. There's none of the you-and-your-bike-aren't-good-enough attitude that you see at some shops. The attitude here is all about getting you on a bike and getting that bike running. If you like it, they like it.
Add to that: cheap repairs, fairly-priced components/parts/accessories, and staff who'll talk you into the lower-priced option. I've been to lots of shops in this city, but B's is my favorite, and still would be if I lived far far away.
I had a specific brand/model/color bike in mind, and was waiting several months to find the perfect one. After contacting Brendan, the owner from B's Bikes, and learning that there's one that fits my nit-picky requirements, I raced downtown, across the L, and into Brooklyn to check it out.
I loved it, but it had to be perfect and therefore I wanted to change the wheels, the handlebars, the seat, the locks, the kick stand, etc etc. Ethan paitently listened to all my demands, spent over an hour making adjustments, and then spent probably another half hour answering my questions - "what does this do?" "why do i need that?" "how do i move this?" "am i insane?"
It's pretty much a fact - 1) I am a little bit neurotic, 2) B's Bikes is all kinds of wonderful.
11/29/09 EDIT:
hey-ohh, i'm bumping this review up to 4 stars, as the owner/manager(?) followed up with me about my initial experience (which, really, was not unpleasant to begin with-- just a bit puzzling) and was clearly concerned about what went down. i get the feeling that this business really cares about customer satisfaction and making things right. i will likely be a returning customer. greenpoint is lucky to have B's Bikes in town and i hope they'll stick around even with the ever-encroaching McCondos.
also, i'd like to echo what many reviewers have already noted: employees here are bike lovers, not bike snobs. even if you're a total bicycle n00b, you won't get a condescending or intimidating vibe at B's. in L train territory, that is worth A LOT. thanks dudes! friendly+approachable= more people on bikes, hooray!
--------------
(ORIGINAL REVIEW)
these dudes are alright. my bike wheels were ripped off last week, and since my bicycle is my main mode of transportation, i needed new wheels, tires, and tubes STAT. by necessity, i am always on a really tight budget-- and in other circumstances i probably would have ordered the stuff online and installed it myself, but the thought of being bikeless for 2 weeks in early fall was unbearable!
i called a few LBS's for price quotes, and B's Bikes were the most reasonable. The only bummer part is, the guy I spoke with on the phone was not the one who helped me at the store, and I ended up being charged $50 more than the quote I was given on the phone. Not very awesome. But, I sucked it up and tried to think of it as the price one pays for a quick fix and convenience. The guys did a good job installing everything and they did it in the time it took me to have two beers around the corner. Another good thing: they are open until 8pm, which i really appreciate. Most other bike stores are closed by the time I get home from work, and it's nice that at least one shop recognizes that some bikers are employed full-time and will never be able to come in 11a-6p!
I needed to replace my Rear Deraileur because it snapped off and I also needed to get a new chain so I stopped by this place.
A friend of mine highly recommended this place to me so I decided to try it out. The guys there were super helpful and attentive. Originally it would've taken 2 days to fix but I told them I was in a hurry and needed the bike that day so they squeezed me in and got everything done within an hour. They even cleaned my sprockets and put air in my tires for no extra charge. I'll definitely be coming back here.
I am friends with Alex, the mechanic and salesman here. I have been recruiting him to work at my shop for years. When I used to have my shop in Greenwich Village, Alex would sometimes show up like Superman on his aluminum square-tubed bike that he had welded up himself. It had an intigrated seat post that was custom sized to his seat height only. One solid seat tube fom the bottom bracket shell through the top tube all the way to the saddle. A truely unique build from a skilled craftsman. Alex is a generous, honest and talented bicycle salesman, creator and technician. Then Alex would help out wherever we needed help as a competent mechanic and salesman. He knows his stuff and has been working in high-end bikeshops for almost a decade.
I met Brendan today. Being native New Yorkers, we had an efficient and amicable conversation. B's prices are almost a steal with an amazing selection of quality and affordable refurbished bicycle and a solid stable of new bikes. His brands are Fuji, SE, Jamis and a few more that I could not catch.
If you are in the neighborhood, they are the shop for you.
I found B's Bikes through an ad on Craigslist. I am an ex runner who is trying to get into cycling for exercise, so needless to say, I am a novice at this whole biking business.
First off, the owner of the shop stayed open past their normal business hours so I could come in and look at a bike bc my hours are pretty long at my job. He was really communicative and responsive through email and even checked to see if he had a bike that would fit me before I made the trip out to Brooklyn.
Ethan, a sales associate who helped me, was very friendly and completely down to earth! I was a little afraid I would run into a shop full of bike snobs but B's Bikes is the complete opposite. Great staff, great shop, and I got a beautiful *PINK* Fuji hybrid for $360...what a STEAL!
Definitely recommend this shop!!
Had chain problems, so I stopped by in the morning. The guy who was working took the bike in and had it running better than ever in a couple minutes. Super nice staff, very helpful.
So happy to have a working bike again, will go back without hesitation.
A wonderful place. I got a beautiful used Schwinn LeTour here for $225 for a shorter frame, and they seemed to have a bunch of used options, even in the summer. Definitely the best bike place in Williamsburg/Greenpoint, especially when compared to the "sleek" overpriced stuff at Affinity and King Kog. The men who work here are so nice about answering all of my incredibly dumb bike questions ("soo...what is it like when it rains?" "can you set the combination lock password to 6969?" etc.), and spruced up my break pads for free a couple of weeks after I bought my used bike there. The accessories are a bit expensive, but they are everywhere - or so I assume, I doubt I'll be going anywhere else...
Awesome staff, great location.
Everyone I dealt with was very friendly, very knowledgeable without being condescending and they were very patient building out a bike for me with a lot of minute changes. Very reasonable prices.
Would definitely recommend to anyone I meet.
Came over here today based on Yelp reviews and they didn't disappoint, so I thought I'd take a moment to share some love.
First day worth getting the bike out, and my helmet is 3000 miles away: time to buy a second helmet. Fortunately, the guy behind the counter was able to quickly and professionally explain what they had, which model had which attributes, which one he preferred and why (and I know enough about all this that I can also say that there was no bullshit, he was just telling the true story without a whole lot of extraneous stuff). The whole transaction was wrapped up in about four minutes, and I was back on the road with a shiny red helmet. Thanks, B's!
I agree with the other folks who posted here. These guys know their stuff and they're interested in making sure your ride is right for you.
I have a craptastic geezer of a bike, but I get no flack and no "cooler than thou" attitude from them about it. Just no-nonsense advice and a good price.
Plus, they stand behind their repairs... A little tweak they tried out on my temperamental gear system didn't hold, so when they judged it beyond repair, they refunded the fix. That gets chalked up as "honorable business" in my book.
After writing the original review , below , the alleged owner attempted to contact me via Yelp. Trouble is, I don't use Yelp all that often -- so the messages queue up.
Today I log in and see I have several messages from him.
On the first message, he offers to rectify the situation and replace a part that they apparently have too much of and often throw out.
Had he not sent the next few messages, I would have replied with something like this:
Brendan-
Thank you for your offer. I'd be glad to alter the review to say that you attempted to rectify the situation afterwards, but the original review must stand. Your store has a huge customer service issue -- unless someone is there to buy an expensive bike, has a fancy one that your techs 'respect', or is a cute girl -- they treat people awfully.
I spent around $75 in your store having a wheel & tire replaced. When the bolt that one of your techs earlier requested went missing, three of your techs at the register stated "Sorry. We wouldn't have kept that. Try looking in the trash" - and pointed me at a pile of garbage. When I went over to look, the tech who originally wanted the part -- still busy repairing a bike -- asked me what happened and then joined in out of pity. When we couldn't find the broken wheel or any part, he took my number down.
If your store really does have an overflow of those parts, then the tech would not have asked me for it in the first place, someone could have grabbed one from the back, or you could have called me and offered a replacement one.
I'd be glad to jump in your store randomly one day and 'test it out' -- to see if your staff's attitudes have changed -- but I'd feel uncomfortable just changing the review because you offered to address the situation only after I made this public. Your staff had - and lost - several chances to do this.
Instead, I'm leaving the review as-is, and showing a screencap of my messages center on Yelp , so that people know what customer service at B's Bikes is really like :
http://i625.photobucke...
I'd also add that at least one other person here has stated that they had given them a bad review for attitude, and then raised it after being contacted by the owner and apologizing. I wonder how many others were in the same situation. While some may call that customer service, I'm more inclined to think of that as damage control.
-----
I'd give them 0 stars if possible.
My wheel bent and needed to be replaced due to an accident, they were the closest shop I could walk to.
I should have gone somewhere else on first impression - they were more overpriced than other shops in the area , and had a bit more attitude than typical of NYC shops.
They took my bike , and did a speedy repair - I'll give them that.
But as I walked outside, for a breather, another one of the repair guys runs after me and says :
"Hey - I noticed you have those quick release bolts on your wheels ? Would you be willing to swap with standard bolts which are more secure? I need one for my own bike."
I reply no - because I had those more expensive bolts for a reason.
When I go back to pick up my bike 30 minutes later, the replaced wheel doesn't have the quick-release anymore. They can't seem to find it anywhere. Whoops. They took my phone number 'in case it turns up' , and wouldn't replace it with a new one.
Basically their bike techs stole a $10 part from me , and they wouldn't own-up to or correct the situation.
I won't return. Ever.
5 Stars for the location. Thank God for a used bike shop in Williamsburg/Brooklyn.
4 Stars for prices. I've gotten multiple lights and bells and locks here and never feel like I'm getting ripped off. By the way, whoever's stealing the lights off my bike, QUIT IT! Is it you, B's bikes? Is it you???
4 Stars for service. Even though I have to step over you and your friends with your tattooed and pierced faces sitting on the stoop in order to get in the store, you are very nice to me.
3 Stars for hours. Please be open later. Why must you close early?
2 Stars for used bike selection. The last time I came I was all ready to buy a used bike and my budget was $200 and they had one used bike for $225. They kept on telling me it had new handlebars and new wheels. But I don't care, I want me a bike for less than $200! I think I'd rather go to NYC Bikes on Havemeyer and get me a new one for a little bit more.
I really (REALLY) like this place and suggest to everyone that they go there.
If you're a novice who wants a cool bike and doesn't know where to start, they'll set you up with something sweet and in your budget. Probably most importantly, they'll be no attitude what-so-ever that you'll get at some of the other bike shops in the area.
If you're one of the more hardcore and into the fixed gear stuff, this place can without question hang.
Easily one of my favorite bike shops!
The staff was knowledgeable, respectful, informative and patient; everything you want in a bike shop. Turnaround time was quicker than they expected and they also ended up charging me less than was estimated (since my brake pads didn't seem to be quite on their last legs yet).
I was far happier with B's than many other bike shops I have visited in and out of NYC and also didn't feel it was a boys club. Had a great ride home!
Just like every other review, I had a great experience. Ethan helped me pick out the perfect bike for my short stature (5 ft!!!) and I love it. I ride it every day and they fixed it up so nicely.
Main thing is, they were just so damn courteous and knowledgeable. I'm crushing on B's.
I got my "I Love My Bike" bike bell here.
Super friendly staff and while I know they are serious bike enthusiasts, they are not snobs. This is usually where I go if I need parts or something looked at. But seriously, I got my "I Love My Bike" bike bell here.
I Love My Bike.
I found these guys through Yelp, so thought I should follow up with my experience.
Yup, these guys are really awesome. I was looking for a used bike, and my other option was to spend days going through Craigs list ads.. I suppose the bike I got cost a bit more than Craigs list, but it was completely worth it to go to a store that had a ton of bikes (they have a bunch in the store, but even more in a storage area down the street), and to get a bike that is in really good condition.
Having bought a bike, I went back the next day with a minor concern about the pedal on the bike, and they fixed it up without a hitch.
I've been to that other bike store in the neighborhood and those guys are holier-than-though bike guys. Not the case here. I'll be back often.
Rode here from Clinton Hill on a bent wheel on a Wednesday because Bicycle Station was closed and was just really grateful for the quick, thorough, knowledgeable, and cheap fix. Also for the fact that they're open Wednesdays.
I found this place while getting lost! I was on the BQE heading back to Bklyn. The BQE was jammed up and everyone was asked to exit. Huge traffic jam under the BQE, so I decided to try to find my way on local roads. I drove by this place and decided to make a quick stop since I needed a few parts to build up my fixed gear beater.
Little did I know....they cater to the fixed gear/single speed crowd. Perfect! They had all the parts I was looking for and their prices were reasonable.
A few days later, I realized I needed more parts. Called up a few local shops in Bklyn and no one had what I was looking for in stock. It was either:
A - head into the city for them and get ripped off
B - order online, pay for shipping and wait a week
or C - take a little drive and pick up the parts from B's Bikes.
I was up & riding the same day.
The only reason I don't give these guys 5 stars is because they're not really a hardcore bike shop. If you're looking for a bike to commute or for fitness or to run errands, this is the place for you. They even sell used bikes!
However, if you're serious about cycling, this isn't really the place for you. Their inventory is very limited. I didn't see any high end road bikes, high end mountain bikes or cyclocross bikes in the shop.
Don't expect to see anything with DuraAce 7800, Campy Record or XTR groupos.
They also do not "fit" you. Most bike shops will give you a fitting session that will take close to an hour with a purchase of a higher end bike.
They are a great shop for what they are.
I guess you have to take the good with the bad. They're not snobs because they don't sell high end stuff......they can't roll their eyes at you when you tell them you're looking for a $400 bike. At the same time, if this is the only shop you've visited, you're limiting yourself to the King of Queens.
I have had nothing but patience and good service from B's bikes for years now. I don't wield an asymmetrical haircut and am unfamiliar with the greater suggestions of pitchfork, but they have always been beyond friendly and nice. I don't know much about bikes but they are always pleasant and helpful and, i would guess, act in my interest when it comes to maintenance and repair.
I would contend that they are not bike snobs and simply happy to help.
This place has always been right down the block, but I've always assumed it was too pretentious. WRONG! I invested in a pretty pricey Fuji bike at this place about two summers ago. They took the time to help me find the perfect bike and made no qualms about helping adjust everything between the seat and basket (both times.. as I change my mind a lot...) Since the purchase I've been back a couple times more, for a bike lock, helmet and their Joe Blow pump.. not that i needed to purchase the latter as they're always very gracious about letting you stop in for a pump. Highly recc'd!
I've only been here a couple times, but I loved it. The staff is great, especially that old dude Alan. I'm not sure how his knees and back are still working, but he's crankin' it!
Great service, friendly, smart staff. 5 stars!
** Ask for Big Al's Geriatric Special for the best rates **
I went here first on my mission to find a bike. Though I didn' purchase one, B was super helpful and nice as was most of his staff. Maybe I'll go back just because I'd like to give him my business more so than most of these other crappy places in nyc.
These guys are amazing. Knowledgeable, responsive, fair, helpful. And just really laid back.
I bought a new bike from them about a month ago, been ridiculously happy with it, and they've been mad cool about tuning it up and making sure everything is 100%.
just an exemplary place.
I got a tune-up here about a month and a half ago. My bike really didn't need a tune-up but I had a flat and, since I am an almost daily bike commuter, said what the hell, why not.
My bike then started to act worse than before the tune-up. The gears were a mess, and it was making noises. Then the chain broke. I brought it in and, because I didn't have a receipt, they didn't want to replace the chain. It's an old bike, and I said "OK, fine". Maybe it wasn't how they adjusted the gears.
Then, on my way back from work yesterday, the crank fell off. I was on the Pulaski bridge, so I was safe, but I had to jump off. As I jumped off, I had to do sort of a forced mid-air split, tearing a huge gash in my work pants.
I was SO PISSED. I decided to walk my bike to their store and give them a piece of my mind. Luckily for them, I mellowed out a bit by the time I got there, and pleaded my case for what happened.
Without even blinking, the person who I met there was very apologetic, and offered to fix my bike right then and there. He put on a new rear sprocket and a new chainwheel, along with all of the requisite parts.
He said to just stop by with my receipt of my tune-up, so he can follow up with whomever did the work. He also gave me a credit for the tune up as well.
SO - at the end of the day, I am happy, as they repaired my bike without giving me any grief whatsoever, as well as giving me a store credit. That is the mark of an honest business.
HOWEVER - they should impress upon their mechanics on doing a better job, as biking is dangerous in NYC and screwing up can mean someone getting hurt. My crank fell off, for god's sake - if you don't know how to work on a certain type of bike, or if there are problems that you see with the bike, let the owner know (there were problems with the original chainwheel, which was bent, and may have caused the chain to break initially). The initial tune-up was very half-assed, and I ripped a good pair of work pants because of their workmanship.
SO - I would go there to get my bike fixed again. But I am going to be very wary and paranoid for the couple of days afterwards.
Im amending my review after a conversation with its owner. Maybe I caught them on a bad day. Im willing to give it another go!
Well,
I brought my boyfriends bike here because I had heard it WASN'T full of pretentious bike nerd jerks.
unfortunately I was misinformed. I brought the ticket they had given me to pick up the bike, the guy looked at me, heavy lidded and asked "what does it look like?"
I dont know, its a big f*$#ing black bike, isn't that why you give numbered tickets?!
So he shuffles back there and finds the bike... eventually.
I love my bike, I am a runner and a cyclist, but not cool enough for B's.
I actually just signed up for a yelp profile so I could write a review for b's bikes because I was so impressed with the service that I got today. I had my bike stripped of everything imagineable...gears, break pads, even the reflectors, dinger and skewers! Anyways, b's hooked it all back up for me, they were knowledgeable and courteous. Other bike shops I have been too, they are not so nice when you ask questions. I will never go anywhere else ever again, they did the whole job for much less than I thought it would be and even threw in a few small freebies as well. Thanks b's bikes!
I dropped my bike off here for a tune up and a part- a couple hours later, my bike was done and rides better than when it was new.
Pretty awesome :)
I must also say getting my bike back in a few hours vs. a couple days as originally promised, has increase my happy meter to about 99%.
Thanks B's Bikes, for making my weekend.
I need to chime in as an avid supporter of B's. I live in the neighborhood and feel very lucky to have them here. Prompt, professional repair service and GREAT DEALS on used bikes. (I've bought bikes for newbie bike-friends there and it didn't feel like a major outlay of cash.)
The only reason they don't warrant five stars is that 5-star reviews are reserved for things like ascending the summit of Mt. Katahdin or achieving world peace.
Went over today, after a quick scan of yelp, to buy my spring bicycle. The salesguy (Daniel) was super-friendly and helpful. I test drove three bikes and settled on a sweet banana yellow cruiser with beige fenders....and he set me up with a rack as well.
The bike was used- but also a fair price and exactly what I was looking for. Seems like this place can fulfill your needs from bike newbie-to hardcore "Breaking Away" bike nerd- and no, they don't judge you if you're not a Lance Armstong.
Check it out for yourself.
I bought my bike here. This is a great little bike shop. New and used bikes and accessories. Friendly, no-bullsh*t staff. I never felt like I was being ripped off or pressured into buy something I didn't want or need. They will often do minor repairs while you wait. They take credit cards, but things are usually cheaper if you give them cash. There are tire pumps on the sidewalk out front, so you can fill up before you go riding.
I like it! I stopped by here and needed some accessories for my new G-ride. No attitude, friendly enough, prices seem fair. They could expand their retail section -- I'd get all kinds of gizmo's for my bike! I'm definitely going back, I'm into it.
one of my favorite bike shops on the planet.
great people and very helpful, fair prices. lent me a pile of tools
Neighborhood: Williamsburg - South Side
Category: Bikes
Neighborhood: East Williamsburg
Category: Bikes
Neighborhood: Williamsburg - South Side
Category: Bikes
Neighborhood: Fort Hamilton
Category: Bikes
Neighborhood: Lower East Side
Category: Bike Rentals
My local dry cleaner, watering hole, deli, cafe,…
I will run you over. Places I go for my bike…
My local dry cleaner, watering hole, deli, cafe,…
