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Categories: Bikes, Bike Rentals
Neighborhood: Washington Square WestTue. 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Wed. 1:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Thu-Sat. 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
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I just bought my first bicycle! Weeee!
I haven't ridden since I was 12 so I sort of just wanted to buy a $20 beater off of craigslist and re-learn to ride. But at barely 5' tall and mostly torso, I couldn't find a cheap used bike on the whole world wide web that would fit my stumpy little legs!
So I shopped around a bit in the real world and ended up at Via. The big difference with them off the bat was that they were SO FUCKING NICE! I know nothing about bikes and Curtis and his crew were all really sweet and patient with me. Not a shred of an elitist attitude here. Secondly, their selection is totally ridiculous.
They refurbished a tiny 3 speed Raleigh Space Rider with 24" wheels and took a lot of time to make sure it fit me just right. I did end up spending over 10 TIMES what I wanted to pay for a bicycle. But I feel good about it- I feel like I got a bike that I'll actually ride rather than a cheap one that I'd just end up frustrated and discouraged with.
YAY VIA!
As repair shops go, Via is terrific. Rushed in early this morning when I realized I needed a new tube for my front tire. Katie (an awesome 3-day-old employee) swaps out the busted goods for the proper stuff and I'm out of there within 5 minutes. She also insisted on giving me a tube changing lesson. Greatly appreciated but quickly forgotten.
I go to leave and on my way out, I realize the rear tube is retiring itself as well (must have loved the front tube). So I get serviced by another employee who runs over the pricing and hurries back inside to repair and pluck out the glass from my tire. With his bare hands.
10 minutes and one Summer Soda later, I'm cruising on my restored ride, back against the wind, with one hand in my pocket, and the other one giving a high five.
Listen up haters, Via is terrific. If you've ever looked for a hard, honest opinion, this is the… Read more »
Every time I go here I'm thinking "God dang it, I have no money to fix this bike, but I don't want to die due to some small mechanical problem. :[." And every time one of the fix-it dudes looks at my bike he convinces me I don't need to spend money, and assures me I won't die. When my bike actually does need work, the labor is always super cheap.
The owner seems seriously knowledgeable about vintage English three-speeds, so if that's your thing and have questions you should stop by and talk to him.
The only issue I've had is trying to get them to give my bike a basic tuneup. At least true my wheels, guys! Come on! I don't have a truing stand! Argh!
I recently bought a used bike here, and I really enjoyed my experience. I simply don't understand why people have such a problem with this place.
The bike I bought is not, as certain people have been describing bikes they've seen there, rusted or busted. It's old, alright, about twenty years old, but not rusted at all, and what do I care about age? It works! It's an adorable olive-green Schwinn, it's a lot lighter than my old bike, it's sturdy and I just love it.
Yes, it had old tires and needed a tune-up when I saw it on the sidewalk, but when I picked it up a few days later it had shiny new tires, a new chain and ran smoooooooothly. I especially like that they'll let you come back within three days for free adjustments: the guys there (very friendly!) helped me get my seat and handlebars exactly where I needed them, after I had a few days of riding to know exactly what I needed. Sure I could do this adjustment myself, but it's easier to have someone else do it, included in the cost of the bike.
The only thing that made this a 4-star review: when I saw my new love on the sidewalk, it had green tape on the handlebars. When I picked it up they had given me new tape, but black tape. When I pointed this out, the guy apologized for not asking what color I wanted, but then told me if I ever wanted green it was $4 a roll for the tape! I know it doesn't affect the useful factor, but it does affect the adorable factor, so if you especially love some detail of your bike make sure it doesn't get updated away!
This story all started when I unexpectedly got the afternoon off from work on a beautiful day. What do you do on an occasion such as this? Well I hopped on my bike and rode around the city! As I was riding I noticed that the petal felt funny, like it was about to fall off. I kept riding and asked a young gentleman who was getting on his bike if he knew of a bike shop in the area. He said that there was an excellent shop down on 9th st, Via's. So I rode down and was immediately impressed by all the bikes outside and the free compressed air hookup that anyone can use. I was very quickly greeted by Curtis, the owner of the store (with a killer mustache!). He was busy helping someone else but told me that someone would be right with me. I took a seat on the bench and waited for him to finish up with the bike at hand. I told him the problem I was having and he said he needed to replace the crank arm and would have me out of there in no-time for about $17. I told him that the shop came very highly recommended and you could tell he really took that to heart. He said that he really prides himself on his shop and if "the guys aren't doing the best job for the best price, they're outta here!". He did have me out of there in no time and the bike feels great. I was a little short on the cash (about $5) and he said that when I came back this weekend to get the petals tightened up, I could bring the rest of the money - I really liked that. So go to Via's, tell Curtis he is the man and RIDE ON, PHILADELPHIA, RIDE ON!
PS: This shop is CASH ONLY!
I don't get all the negativity about this place. I've had nothing but exceptional service at Via.
They sell a wide variety of used bikes for less than $200. It is more than what you'll pay on Craigslist, but that price includes all the tuneup work they do before you buy it and a free tuneup after 30 days. They'll replace bunk parts as part of this process.
The staff has always been friendly and knowledgeable. I have gotten things fixed for free here, as well has complementary bourbon from Curtis. Any other repairs have all been done same day. They stand behind the bikes they sell.
My only criticisms are that Saturdays in the Spring/Summer can be madness and It's annoying that they only take cash.
if your a cute girl, you'll get great service.
if you're a guy that knows his shit, great service.
good business man: great service.
anyone else: they'll overcharge you and do work on your bike that is unneeded.
You know, I really just don't understand the love that everyone has for Via. I can really only thing of one positive experience that I've had there, although I'll get to that later.
First off, I'd like to talk about those used bikes that they have for sale. Have any of you even looked at them up close? They are rusted, really old, and all of them require at minimum a tune-up. How convenient that a bicycle shop, which is already jacking up the prices for those bikes, is selling them. It's a total scam, seriously. When I first moved to Philly and had my first bike stole (sigh, memories...we all remember our first time), I was recommended to go to Via both for a new bicycle and repairs. I chose a Schwinn 3-speed, which looked like it had seen better days, and was assured that they were going to fix everything up, give it new brakes, and clean off all the rust by the time I picked it up the next day. 24 hours pass, and when I returned to get my bike I noticed that the rust was still there, just with a $282 price tag added on to it. To top that off, I had to slam on my brakes on my ride home and nearly got hit by a car because they were just as bad as when I had initially tested out the bike. I promptly returned it, and while the owner assured me that I could bring in my new bike for a free tune up (that's the only good experience that I mentioned earlier), I just can't bring myself to trust Via.
Also, the people that work there seem like they are on mass amounts of drugs at all times. When I asked to buy a tiny wrench to help with all those little adjustments that bikes inevitably need, the girl looked at me like I was speaking Hindi and slowly responded "What...? Oh...yeah...you should be, like, really careful because...[looking at the wrench]...it's really sharp...you know?" Come on, really? I'm an adult, not a kid requiring nerf padding on everything that I own. Plus, as someone used to smoke way too much pot, I can recognize when someone is baked out of their mind. Namely her, and the rest of the staff that I saw.
Definitely go to Bicycle Revolutions instead. The actual services are slightly more expensive, but the people that work there aren't pretentious, they know their shit, and it's an infinitely more inviting atmosphere.
Like everyone has pointed out, Via has its ups and its downs, but all around it is A- OK.
I went there with a friend to help him buy a bike, he just needed something standard, and under $200. Something VERY doable at Via.
The owner is extremely helpful, however one of his employees let my friend test drive a bike with a LOOSE STEM which is horrible, he couldn't steer. Fortunately he didn't wipe out and the owner gave his worker the proper scolding. Just watch out before you ride off into the sunset. This be my only qualm about Via.
Terrible.
There really isn't any other way for me to describe this shop.
I stared at a blank space for a few moments wrestling with a less abrasive way to put it, but there really isn't one.
I actually don't know where to start, but i'll try...
A recent Via-ctim showed me their unfortunate purchase-- a terribly heavy bike-boom era Raleigh (step-through) with chipped paint, a torn saddle (typical couch-cushion), rust pretty much everywhere you can imagine, old cottered cranks and a browning chain (it'd been cleaned and lubed, but that's really it). She's 5'0" even; the bike is roughly 52cm, maybe larger. The saddle was SLAMMED to the frame in a half-hearted attempt to accommodate her height, but even still her arms were stretched way out and she had to lean forward to reach the brakes. All for-- get ready-- $200. It's likely that the bicycle garnered this price a few decades ago when it was brand new and unridden. Today, i'd say it would be fair to ask maybe $50-$70 if it were in exceptionally good condition. This one was certainly not.
I don't know of a single bike shop in philadelphia (other than Via, of course) who'd be OK with selling someone a bicycle in such disrepair with this poor a fit. Shame on you, Via...
Another example can be found from a Yelper on this very page:
"He then even asked his repair guy to get me a quote if I were to swap out the flatbars for dropbars. When that came out to $225, I decided I might just want to get a new bike altogether."
$225 to swap out a set of bars. I can't vouch for this reviewer's story, but i'm certainly not surprised.
There was another instance where I went in to purchase a chain ring with a slightly less-than-ubiquitous BCD for a home repair i wanted to make at the last minute. Despite being familiar with their practices, i figured-- being pretty experienced with bicycle maintenance-- that an in person visit would be fine. Guess again. When i asked the price for the part once it was in my hand, i felt a little uncomfortable with what i heard. Knowing that the price was way over what it was worth (the ring's teeth were well worn), i asked the person i spoke to if he could give me a more reasonable price (and explaned why). When he went to grab the owner, i was given a relatively firm answer ("no"). As i put the ring down, i noticed it wobbled from side to side-- it wasn't flat, but BOWED. When i pointed this out, the owner grinned and asked if i wanted it for a bit cheaper. Needless to say, i walked out immediately.
The unfortunate thing about Via-- well, the MOST unfortunate; there are definitely many-- is the fact that newer riders feel they're getting a good deal. They see a working bicycle and a price slightly cheaper than they find at shops who aren't in the business of deceiving their customers and think they've found a shop that cares. What they don't realize, though, is that they've actually bought something worth so little that other bike shops (second hand or otherwise) would never sell this sort of thing to an unsuspecting customer.
If you go through the reviews, you'll notice a certain trend:
New, inexperienced or unsure consumers stopping in for a first bicycle or a tube change under a five star rating, followed by a one or two star rating from someone who went in for something a bit more substantial.
That's the thing with Via-- if you need an innertube or know little about bicycles, everything will seem kinda neat. The creaky wooden floors, the dusty old bicycles with character, the hustle and bustle, the almost-rude staff... this can all seem a bit romantic to someone who recently moved to the city and wants to buy a first bike, or simply someone who never rode before and decided to start.
But under the hood, this is by and large a horrible bicycle shop packed with what i can only guess are cheap bulk lots of old worthless bicycles bought for pennies and sold after VERY minimal work for dollars.
Stay FAR away.
If you want a fair price on a bicycle you can afford or want something with the character of an older 70s or 80s build, visit the Bike Church (google philadelphia bike church). You'll get a far better bike for much closer to what it's worth without any of the BS.
PS-- sorry this review got a little wordy. I initially logged in to type a few sentences, but every time i think about another person who went in there and got ripped off, it really starts to make me realize what a crap business Via is.
I haven't been to Via since I moved out of the neighborhood around 2002, but that's where I bought my current bike. I told Curtis what I wanted and he sold me a tough old Raleigh which is still going strong.
Curtis is a bit of a character. He is very direct, which I find tremendously refreshing: no mealy-mouthing, no beating around the bush, no time wasted. But I know a lot of people can't handle that. If you go, be prepared.
I never had any problem with the service, either. They did what I needed and got it done when they said they would.
The owner seems to know his stuff, but the people who work for him (I'm guessing?) are complete jerks... I would have liked to have disregarded reviews, as I went in for a relatively simple fix, but all the same, the dude managed to figure out a way to malign what kind of PEDALS I wanted... Furthermore, he ripped me off on the pedals-- I found the same pair for half the price the next weekend in Lancaster. I also wanted to buy a wrench and he wanted to charge me $25 for some rusty-ass Park wrench, and I'm like... what the hell.
Service and prices bring this place down to three stars... but that being said, there's a great selection of stuff in here, and his bikes are reasonably priced.
Went to Via today to get my bike checked out since the gears seem to want to lock up right as i'm crossing busy intersections... good times. They checked it out and couldn't really find anything wrong after test riding it... of course. I guess i'll just keep an eye on it. Anyway, they were crazy busy but still managed to get to me pretty quickly. I noticed a guy there that must have been the owner... he was supervising everyone and making sure everything was running smoothly, which was actually pretty impressive to watch. I can tell they want to be known as a high quality shop, and it really showed through today. My only gripe is the prices seem a little expensive for parts + labor, but whatever... it's probably worth me not screwing something up trying to do it myself.
I love coming to get my bike fixed here. Since I live in the neighborhood and everyone in my family has always had a bike, Curtis is always super friendly and asks how the family is and what I'm up to. The bikes are totally overpriced for what they are, so I'd never actually buy one from them but the prices for tune-ups and such are fair and one time I needed something small done and the guy didn't even charge me. And he was cute. I enjoy every experience I have here.
Further thoughts, after another recent trip to Via with a friend... It's so funny to see others leaping to defend the bad attitudes of the people in the shop. They may (theoretically) have the greatest bicycle mechanics ever to walk the earth, but what good does that do anyone if they can't be bothered to look at the person's bike because they're too busy hanging out with their buddies?
They may give great service when they feel like it, but I need stuff fixed when it's broken, not when the stars align and the staff is sprinkled in pixie dust. I've had a couple of repairs done here over the years, and I just don't have time (temporal and metaphorical) for the attitude. Can't replace a chainring in under two weeks because a cooler, fancier bike came in? Give me a break.
The best advice I ever got was when the dude at Via told me to get a bike from Craigslist. Done and DONE.
Via is a great place to shop and get service if you are a young, attractive woman. If this… Read more »
Until now I have had good experiences at Via. I have twice brought in a flat tire and it was quickly fixed even though the place was packed and at a reasonable price too.
Today, however, I went to test ride a bike I had picked out to buy and was made so uncomfortable in the store that I chose not to buy it. I dealt mainly with who I think is the owner (short guy with an old-timey mustache), and was made to feel dumb when asking questions about making simple adjustments to the bike. I wanted to have the seat and handlebars raised so I could try it at the right height, but the guy in question could not focus his attention long enough on the only person in the store to do it.
I left after a mechanic told me that they were not interested in taking my current bike as a trade in. This was a minute after the guy I had been dealing with told me he would give me $50-150 depending on the quality of the wheels. It wasn't that they weren't interested in taking my bike that made me leave, but that I felt as though they were being disingenuous. If Via can't stand behind its own words for even a few minutes, how can I trust their workmanship?
I still can't believe that it was so hard to buy a bike in a bike store!
I'm really not sure what everyone's beef with via is....I had to go there today, and after having read these, I was slightly nervous and unsure of how things would go.
All I needed was a simple flat fix, but they adjusted tons of other things that were messed up with the way my wheel had been put on before, and at no extra charge.
Even after I left and came back (twice) due to a shady sound resulting in my chain falling off, they were more than helpful about making sure everything runs smoothly.
I would for sure go back....I have no complaints here.
I'm not sure what it is, but I just have this 'thing' against Via.
I've never really had crappy service other than the piece of glass they left in my tire...I had brought my wheel there because I was constantly getting flats; they were the only one open at that time, but needless to say I got another flat about half a day later...but I just see people getting ripped off there like crazy.
For instance bikes dubbed 'vintage' but in reality are scraps put together from the late 80s and early 90s are being sold for hundreds more than their original listing price was. Seriously, I got the same Schwinn road bike in 1994 for about $100 and they're charging $300! For $300 you can to to Bicycle Revolutions and get a brand new single speed [ok, I had to insert that little plug]!
Also there are certain bikes that they won't 'service.' I brought my Trek mountain bike in one day and was told that they couldn't do a tune up because they don't work with mountain bikes but would give it a 'look over.'
The workers were pretty cool but a few exerted that "I'm a tech weenie alleycat racing better than you bike rider guy" attitude. Granted this was a few years back and I have no clue who even still works there now. There was one girl that worked there who was pretty cool, but again who knows if she's still there. I just don't like feeling like my repairman is trying to compete with me for who's cooler. Ya know?
Much like Lorenzo's on South Street, this place is a polarizing figure. I can see both sides of the hate and love for this place but it all comes down to what you need that should determine why you're going there.
Let me explain. Because Philadelphia is Philadelphia, not one bike store has everything you need. In this case, if you need some weird esoteric part for a bike you got on Craigslist? Via is the place. Where as if you want the newest, top of the line technology, Via is not the place. Even if you want some common part, Via is not the place, well not for a competitive price. Essentially, you could line up a chart where the more rare the part, the better Via is for it. You could also get this rare part on the internet but with Via you don't have to wait and pay for shipping.
That being said, I find that they treat me alright there with good service and a low bike-douche aura. I completely understand why they could rub some people the wrong way but that's because some people don't understand that this place is in business to pursue their number one love which so happens to be bicycles and not customer service. Personally, if I was too lazy to fix a bike, I prefer someone who loves the former more than the latter.
Plus, I have been offered a shot of whiskey not once but everytime I go in. Someplace like that can't be all bad.
I definitely recommend using Via for all your bike needs no matter what your level of riding is. If you have a garage sale bike and don't ride much like me they'll fix it up to working order without pushing stuff or selling over what you need.
The staff was very helpful and friendly from the minute I walked up. got asked if I needed help by more than one person, my dog got patted by many. I needed a pedal pin and a seat shaft thing for my bike to be even rideable and they quoted a really reasonable price for labor and all. So I decided to get some other maintenance done on it too. It was done later that day and I picked it up the next. I'll go back with any bike problems or questions I have.
Via also has everything you would need if you're a serious and avid biker. Vintage bike parts are pricey in general, so no wonder some of the bikes are expensive. Some people don't get that, but if you're riding for 4+ hours do you want a schwinn? no. you want a lance armstrong bike that lasts and makes you fast as though you too, only had one testicle.
This is embarrassing, but here goes: I've had a bike for almost a year and haven't ridden it once. It's pretty much the cutest bike ever. It sits in my living room, all shiny green vintage Schwinn goodness, and greets me cheerfully each day when I tumble down my winding stairs. But do I know how to ride it? I'm not sure, since it's been 20 years since I was on a bike.
Today I finally got around to taking the bike to Via Bicycle for a new tire and a tune up. Half an hour and $117 later--almost as much as I paid for the bike in the first place--I have a bike that's ready to go for a whirl (assuming I ever get up the nerve to hop on it) and a lock to secure it with. The staff were patient with little ol' non-gearhead me and even remembered my name when I came back (much better than being known as "that girl who can't ride a bike"). They even gave me a quick lesson on how to lock up the bike properly and how not to humiliate myself when I hop aboard. I can see how some people would be put off by this shop, since it's crowded, absurdly busy and there is a whiff of holier-than-though attitude in the air. But it suits my purposes just fine and I'll definitely be back.
This is an okay place to find rare old parts. But the service is poor and they sell junk. Overpriced junk. Until recently, they were praying on certain non-English speaking populations in the area, ripping them off. Now they just rip everyone off by selling a trash-picked rusty frame on untru wheels for $200 and call it vintage.
I come to Via Bicycle for help putting air in kids bike tires and also for the tires on my jogging stroller. I get great, friendly service, and I appreciate all the free air. :-) I've only had occasion to buy bike helmets here, but I would recommend them to everyone based on what an amazing neighborhood resource they are.
This is one of the best bicycle shops I've been to. I've always found the staff to be courteous and honest in their dealings with me and other customers. Also the shop is really cool, filled with strange bicycles and vintage parts.
If you are naive to bicycles, this is a great place to find used bicycles that will be sold to you in excellent condition.
This is also a great place to get work done on your bicycle(s). The staff are all bike geeks stand by all their work and sales.
While spending $80 on a bike might sound appealing---next to dropping $600 on a nice new mountain bike---a lot of the "vintage" rides they peddle (catch that pun?) at Via are probably worth about $20. But, of course, you're paying for an image. When I went to Amsterdam to visit a Dutch friend, I asked her if anyone there road NEW bikes (as opposed to the 1960s models I was seeing everywhere.) Her rejoinder? "Sure, there are people with new bikes. No one I would hang out with though."
Of course, you're also paying for the assurance that you'll be able to ride your new bike home. Half the time when you buy an old bike at a garage sale, you end up spending some 40 or 50 bones just to get the thing working again.
Give me a V!
Give me a I!
Give me a A!
What does that spell?
Hipsters on bicycles!!!!
(just kidding)
I know I'm bitter but who isn't if you were born in the City of Brothery Lard?
But VIA is much more then just the trendy bike store. The owner could be a Vauldeville Showman complete with early 20th century mustache and sporting a over-sized circus-cycle which you can catch him riding down South Street at certain times of the day. He and his motley crew of young "bike messenger-like" experts know their stuff. Though yes the wait can be tough especially summers and weekends, expect that. Philly's bike scene has increased 100% over the past years. Critical Mass is a good example, the once a month bike marathon, crowding the streets starting at City Hall. It's just a fun, cheap and afforable way to travel. Now with gas prices sky-rocketing expect bikes to get as over-populated as the "Hong Kong" rush hour. Take it you're not going to get a new bike, that's not their style. They sell and purchase used bikes and bike-parts. Infact last summer I bought a bike made from many parts they collected over time. It's kind of cool and it's a bang for your buck. So if you wanna impress a cute "bike messenger" at Love or Rittenhouse Sq. parks or just ride an awesome "Schwinn" circa "Ye Olde Days" this is it!
Oh the inside looks something right out of the bookstore from "The Neverending Story" but if the movie took place with a bike store and the boy is curious about a bike the store-keeper says "Is not for sale." Of course the boy "borrows" the bike and goes to "Cycle-tasia".
Ok, ok I'll stop. Overkill.
Via is a place I only go to when I have to. When I need to find that weird sized bottom bracket lockring for a 70's english cruiser, they usually have it. Curtis, the owner is obviously a bike nerd to the core and he is awesome for it. However many of his employees are difficult to deal with and make it easier to stay away. Im not sure why people feel elite working in a bike shop but it seems to happen here. The prices are steep, especially on the used bikes, but its a business, not craigslist.
Not a place I would willing spend time, oweing to off-the-chart levels of bike-twatery. Still, they know their stuff, and the selection of vintage bikes is pretty damn impressive.
I walked into VIA ready to buy a bike. I didn't walk out with anything, but was quite impressed with the staff. I know nothing about bikes. A friendly employee asked me what I wanted, I said "something cheap". And he showed me some bikes, and their price, and unfortunately, I just didn't have the funds to get something I truly wanted. He asked "paying with your own money, aren't you?" and I said "yeah, maybe next paycheck i'll come back." He asked me where I worked, gave me his card, and was super friendly even though I didn't buy anything or know anything, and he went out of his way to make sure I got what I wanted. I ended up buying a vintage city cruiser on craigslist today, but I would recommend VIA to anyone.
This place is hot, stuffy, and smells like the big hairy dog that lives there. But these guys know their stuff. Service is super cheap and knowledgeable. I may have paid too much for a very old, very beat up bike, but unfortunately I wouldn't know better. But the bike works and I definitely recommend an abused bike for the city streets. Avoid this place on beautiful afternoons when it is a crowded mess of mangled bikes and sweaty bikers waiting in line for a tune-up. And if you take your bike in for a repair, know that you will not be allowed to leave your helmet as they warn you they will definitely lose it. At least they're honest.
This place is great! I understand the issues with Curtis (yes, he is often curt), but if you are interested in getting your bike fixed quickly, at a reasonable price and with good service, this is the place to go. They have consistently dealt with all my needs (including throwing in freebie visits along the way, like for bike fit adjustments and various pieces). The other employees are very friendly and knowledgeable. They never try to upsell you but will honestly talk you through what makes the most sense for you, even if it means you should NOT buy something there. It is often busy, but I have always been waited on almost immediately and it is very rare that they will not do the repair on the spot.
All in all, this is the best spot for repairs in the city, in my opinion!
This is where I bought my beloved pink bike and this is the shop that I will continue to stick with for all my bike needs. Once, I had a weird issue with one of my back brakes. I simply could not figure out why it was all sorts of 50 shades of busted, so I took it for a spin over to Via to get it checked out. I expected to leave it there to be looked over and fixed, but the friendly bike-messenger-looking dude-worker was all like, "lemme take a look at that." He took it from me, plunked it up on a rack, and VOILA! My back brake was fixed... at NO CHARGE!!! Some people may tell you that the service at Via is crap and that the owner is just plain rude, but honestly, the only time I've seen the owner be "rude" to customers is when the customers are acting like impatient jackasses and deserve it.
I've never bought anything at Via, but I walked past before and I heard one of the sales people say to someone that all of the used bikes outside are 200+. Granted, that comes with a tune up and whatnot, but good lord. That being said, the shop itself is really neat. It kind of reminds me of Funhouse, but bike-themed. They have lots of neat knick knacks, all bicycle related, around the store. The sales people always seem friendly, but they can get really crowded on weekends, so expect a wait.
If you ask the staff of Via Bicycle a question, watch out because they know a lot about, you guessed it, bicycles. They will answer your question. Very knowledgeable and able to strap wheels onto anything that has forks on it. They also have a big carnival-like sign and you can't miss the mini-Amsterdam flood of bikes covering the sidewalk. Once you consult with them and work out a deal you too will say Way to go Via Bicycle!
via is a very popular shop. you have to leave your bike there for anything other than a flat fix, but you'll have it back in a few days and i've always thought "wow" as soon as i got on a bike after leaving it there for a tuneup. the mechanics i've spoken to are actually really cool, especially the dude with the ponytail (sorry i don't know his name) and i don't detect any attitude with any of the current workers. curtis, the owner, is really busy. he may make small talk with you for a few seconds but don't be surprised if he is pulled in another direction instantly. he does have a little bit of an attitude but his very nice handlebar mustache makes up for that. i would go here to buy a classic used bike, especially something like a 70's schwinn cruiser that they'll tune up perfectly. it'll be about $200 for the bike, but you'll love it.
Carl whose droopy dog moustage and novelty bicycles makes him a feature of the South Street cityscape is the owner of this used bicycle shop. He's an eccentric dude and certainly has a fascination with unique bikes. I bought a sweet red street bike for eighty bucks which had a gel seat and a tinkly bell. When the city destroyed that one, I got a brown Schwinn pretty cheaply. If you want an inexpensive city bike, used, Via's not a bad option. Just don't expect anything too fancy.
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Neighborhood: University City
Category: Bike Rentals
i used to be ashamed to live in south philly. but…
Here's a list of the numero uno to the numero…
If it weren't for your reviews, I never would have…
A navigational tool to help wade through the…
