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Mike's Bikes
Rating Details »
- Hours:
Mon-Fri. 11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Sat-Sun. 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
- Price Range:
-
$$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Private Lot
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
12 reviews for Mike's Bikes
I live in SF and I was biking across the golden gate bridge and over to Tiburon, and had stopped by to get some carbs and sunscreen.
They don't have the best selection of stuff, I even ended up getting a little spray bottle of "kids" "funscreen", but whatever. I found the staff to be just fine and helpful.
This will be my shop-stop for weekend biking when I go over the bay bridge.
So, first of all, I've been here four or five times, so this review isn't based on one experience.
Their prices are high both for products and services, and if you want to purchase both, God help you, because the sales-people wont answer your service questions and the service-people wont answer your merchandise questions. Suck.
Also, sorry guys, although I have had several pleasant interactions with different people there, they are by and large a rude, snobbish bunch. Very unhelpful, even you make it clear that you want to purchase their products.
And their prices are high. Seriously, who do these guys think they are?
Starting from the top:
This is a good company. Can you imagine how hard it is for a bicycle shop to survive in this economy, let alone Marin, where there is tons of other shops? They are obviously doing something right.
The staff is full of good people, some better than others, but the management cares about their customers having a good experience in the shop, and the sales people are motivated. Don't be turned off by their friendly sales people trying to sell you stuff, that is the point! It is a business full of people trying to survive in a tough economy, by trying to sell good products and service. That is why you walk in the door.
Mike's carries good products, and a lot of them. They invest in creating a retail environment full of product, where items are actually in stock. It is nice actually seeing and riding the bikes, as opposed to being educated about them in a catalog.
Mikes has great bike fitters, and it comes free with purchase of a bike. Dan, the manager, is especially good at fitting, and a good guy. Ask for him to fit you.
Mike's has a 5 year service policy well worth the $125, and I mean well worth it. They use it as an incentive to purchase a bike there, and you got unlimited $75 tune ups and adjustments for 5 years, for a one time fee of $125. Great deal, people.
Regardless of where you buy your bike or other gear, check this place out. It is worth your time, and you can test ride the bikes on the bike path, right out the front door.
Mike's...you are a good business.
I stopped in to look at bikes and the staff was great. Extremely friendly and helpful. They were also have a huge sale the day that I stopped in and was albe to pick up a few things I needed. If you are thinking of getting a bike, stop in and they will help you out!
My man Scott and I have purchased three amazing bikes from this location. The staff are helpful, knowledgeable, patient. They are happy to show you how to do stuff (simple repairs, etc)... Bijan was great to deal with.
Not to mention, you can really get a feel for the bicycles cuz there is a fine recreational trail right outside the store. Prices are competitive, as well...
They have a free do-it-yerself repair workshop on Wednesdays that I have yet to check out. Hope to do so soon.
solid largescale bike shop....also one of few largescale bike shops....knowledgeable mechanics.....always passing/stopping along biking....water fountain to refill bottles...before camino alto climb and paradise loop....return to mike's bike...hope for open and pick up small items....always finding mike's friendly....a ride and loss of water bottle...in to buy bottle...covered in sweat and pain....mike's not taking money and giving bottle complimentary....
small tip....been building a bike part by part..and learning...learned the importance of good rim tape....don't cheap out or waste on other brands.....velox rim tape from mike's bike....best tried.....
Four stars for being the perfect meeting spot for north, south, and SF Bay-ers. Very good bike pump right at the door for you to use, and will let you use the bathroom in case that cappuccino hit you too early.
Professional cyclists have told me that this is a great place to go to if you are in the market for a new bike, but mostly just for trying them out. Because the recreation trail is right in front, you can actually see how the bike is going to ride without being hit by a City bus or cab. They'll give you a sheet with the bikes you liked and the geometry that's right for you, then you can shop around if you like.
If you do get a bike there, wait until a sale. Very knowledgeable staff and great service. Like most bike shops, when you do buy a bike there, they will do minor service for free for life.
Ditto on the bad attitude when it comes to the staff. If you aren't a bike expert and want someone to make you feel stupid, this is the place for you.
Flexibility is also not their strong suit. I stretched my budget and bought a nice carbon fiber Trek here - but when it came to getting it fitted for me, well "we only do that on weekdays". Even though it was first thing on a Saturday morning and there was nobody else in the store, the guy sitting there with a coffee was just not going to even check to see if my seat height was right.
But what really cheezed me off was when they sold my wife a frame that was a good 5 cm too small for her (she's very tall). Serves me right for going back, I guess (the old fool me once routine..)
It was not a cheap bike either, but they made it rideable by putting in a bunch of spacers on the front stem and added a extra long seat post. This just shouldn't happen. Not only is it sleazy, it's also dangerous - too many spacers on a front stem weakens it, and think what would happen if your handlebars broke off on a big bump.
I should have taken it back, but they had her convinced it was OK. After several comments from more experienced riders, however, we knew it wasn't. Wife was ultimately happy though, as she decided she loved to ride and upgraded to a custom Paul Taylor frame (Bike RX in Mill Valley, less selection but a much better place), which she loves. We now ride 50-100 miles/wk.
Great service, and I love the non-profit project they do in Africa.
Solid, popular bike shop. Mike's Bikes has a knowledgeable staff passionate about cycling and mountain biking. They've got a good selection of equipment and once or twice a year have a discount sale. I bought a new bike there during one of these sales. They were very helpful in the selection and getting me set up. On the weekends there is always a crowd of riders there visiting before they head to the trails.
I'm not a biker but I wandered in here during a long jog after realizing that bikers and runners basically want the same thing -- small portions of gelatinous vaguely fruit-tasting caffeine products wrapped in colorful plastic, and gawking at prohibitively expensive vehicles made out of materials like titanium that really should not be in any vessel that flies under 45,000 feet. On a major bike toroghfare about 1 1/2 miles north of the ferry landing in Sausalito. Staff is friendly and good for a chat.
The best thing about this store is the staff. They are always friendly, helpful, willing to share their knowledge, and eager to help another biker get back on the road. Also, I have never encountered any bike-elitism-snobbery there either which seems rare. I am a long time rider, and I do a fair amount of my own mechanical work, but sometimes I just don't have the time or the know-how. At Mike's, they will even explain how to do a simple repair job. And if I still can't figure it out, I know their mechanics have the skills.
The variety of equipment seems decent. They don't always have what I'm looking for, but again the staff is always willing to help locate what I need.
The staff is also willing to let you borrow a tool or two and there's an air pump for your convenience by the door.
Recently, I've been helped by Paul, Harvey and David. They rock!!
***
UPDATED REVIEW: I'm sad to say that the staff at this Mike's Bikes has changed and replaced by guys who aren't interested in helping you out with your bike, they just try to sell you things. I went in today with questions about my new saddle. I've tried 2 top of the line womens' saddles which felt like riding on wood, and now I'm trying out a cheapy softer one that I bought elsewhere. It, too, felt uncomfortable and I was bummed because I'm not riding my bike as much since my saddles have been killing me. So, I stopped by Mike's to see if someone could tell me if the seat was at the wrong angle or if there was anything I could do differently to make it not hurt. First, the guy barely looks at my saddle height on my bike or angle. Then, he proceeds to ask if I need new bike shorts, maybe that's the problem. I reply that my old Terry bike seat that has been discontinued, felt fine with these shorts. Then, he tells me how leather is better than vinyl, how different seats fit different people better (duh...), and then asks me if I want to try out one of their saddles. When, I say "no" and ask again if my seat looks like it's been correctly installed on my bike since I did it myself, he glances down and says, "Yeah, it looks fine." Then I guess when he realizes I'm not interested in buying anything, he says that I would be a lot more comfortable if I just rode in bike shorts without shorts on top of them. Um, thanks for nothing. One of the aforementioned employees in my original review would have offered to check my fit on the bike and probably offered to adjust my saddle, but this guy wasn't interested in helping a fellow biker, he just was after the commission, I guess. Disappointing! I'm taking away two stars. (I did some minor adjustments myself and it feels better no thanks to Mike's Bikes)
