Used to be a customer centric honest to goodness bike shop. No Longer! Focus is on moving bikes with the highest margin out the door. Customer service has suffered. I have purchased at least 1/2 dozen bikes over the last 25 years from Ace. Most recently for my daughter. Had to return the bike for major adjustments that should have been completed prior to initial pick up. Even more recently my sons bike having been stolen, requested the serial number from the record. Was told it would cost $45 to research...should be immediately available in the digital file. And by the way, steer clear of the tall sales guy, he is the most pretentious gear head you may ever meet. I don't know what the best alternative currently is but anywhere would be better. read more

The good: No favoritism, Competent mechanics, decent inventory, location The bad: No favoritism, terrible communication, high prices for parts and labor compared to other local shops, poor job estimates, unapologetic about mistakes I'll never go back. JRA Cycles is my go-to shop and I see no reason to ever go anywhere else. I'm seriously tweaked by my recent experience at Ace, but I'll resist the urge to bad mouth, and just relate my experience. You guys can decide if it is acceptable to you or not. As I said, I always bring my bikes to JRA. I'm a competent mechanic, so it is usually just stuff I don't have time/space for or only have to do once, and therefore isn't worth buying the special tools. In this case I needed a bearing & axle replacement for my Santa Cruz Blur. This time, however, I went to Ace, thinking their rep is good, and they are the Santa Cruz dealer in town - so they'll have the parts and experience that JRA may not. Wrong on both counts. Initial estimate: $60 parts (they had in stock), $80 labor. But they needed to see the bike. I bring the bike in. Parts they have are wrong. I knew this at a glance, and had to tell them (they had no idea). They have to call Santa Cruz and find out how much for the parts, they will call with an estimate. So now $??? parts, $80 labor. Time passes....more than a week. I finally go in to find out what's up. "Oh, we ordered the parts." "How much?" "We have no idea." By the way, Santa Cruz offers this kit from them directly for $95. By this time I could have ordered the kit and had it in hand for $103 with shipping, and then gone to any shop for install -cough- JRA. Time passes...another week. At the end of the week the mechanic leaves me a message and says the parts came in. That will be $120 for the parts (25% over Santa Cruz's MSRP). Oookaaaay....I call back and say honestly no rush (I have another bike, and wanted them to do the job right). I don't mention the parts cost, as I would prefer to argue that in person. He says he'll call when the job is done. So now: $120 parts, $80 labor. I go in to pick up the bike. Give slip. Here's your bike! Where's your credit card? That was it. I had to ask for the old parts. I had to ask if they loctited the bolts. I had to ask if there were any issues of note. I bring up Santa Cruz's MSRP. Blank look returned. There's some discussion and they come back and say how about $110...that would include the shipping. Whatever, I'm not going to quibble over a $7 difference. I say "can I take it for a ride to make sure everything is cool?" "No." They want me to pay first, like I'm some weird thief with a $3000 bike. They charge my card - $240. Whaaa??? Labor was now $120. I show them the original estimate. Desk guy asks if mechanic told me. I said no. Mechanic says yes. Desk guy says whatever just give him the $40 credit. Everyone looks depressed. I don't look at anyone. Just take my test ride, everything looks great, get the hell out of there. So there you go. I'm never going back. Why? Because at JRA, here's my typical experience: Enter shop. "Hey what's up S?" (they all know me, and make it a point to do so). "Can you do XXX?" "Yeah, but also be sure to think of Y and Z." "Cool, thanks for the info." "It will cost XX parts and XX labor. We'll be done in XX days." XX minus 2 days later, they call. "Bike's done!" I go in. "How much?" "It cost XX minus $$ parts and XX minus $$ labor. We also noticed this and that and this. No big deal. And we threw you a 10% discount because we like you." Banter with cool guys about bikes for 10-15 minutes. Take bike home. Bike rides awesome, and they clearly fixed stuff they didn't have to. So, which experience would you choose? read more

Knowledgeable staff... steep prices It seems like a good shop but definitely on the pricy side for both service and accessories. Seems like the type of place that is going to try to squeeze as much out of you as possible. read more

The other day I came into the shop to ask how much it costs to change my tires and how long it will take well they said to just bring it in! I was happy because I wanted to go for a bike ride that weekend. So I brought my bike and and within 15 minutes I had brand new tires and my bike and I were happy. Tires were about average price and labor was $10 bucks a tire which was cheaper than the other bike shops I went to. The guy that helped also mentioned fixing my handle bars and sprucing up my brake pads and I asked how much and he said free. I was a happy camper. I gave it a four instead of a 5 because I had some simple stuff done but I'm sure when my bike gets sick I'll go back and it will be 5 stars instead. Very friendly and knowledgeable staff. read more

This is regarding at least the Sommerville location. Small selection, no parking, located on a dangerous intersection. Went in to buy a simple Trek commuter, had to deal with this arrogant completely disinterested sales person. He brought up the bike from the basement which was completely the wrong size and was annoyed when I advised him of the correct size of which he had to go get. Probably one of the most congested dangerous places to test ride a bike. read more

Excellent neighborhood bike store. I started looking in the Belmont Wheelworks, but they had no time for me when they found out I wasn't spending over $1000. Over at Ace, they took their time, sent me out on about a dozen bikes without complaining about me being picky, offered their opinions but weren't offended when I stuck to my own preferences. My favorite ended up being one I had seen at Belmont, but I had it transferred to Ace and bought it there, so that they would get the sales commission. Good thing I did - Ace noticed the Belmont assembly was sloppy, the pedals were loosely attached, various nuts were not tightened down, etc. Most of all it was just fun talking to the staff - a guy with a french accent, Maurice I think? read more

I never write reviews for anything but I had such a frustrating experience with rude mechanics telling me different things that I couldn't resist making an account and going for it. I brought my bike in for my yearly tune up and wanted to get some new break pads as well. The mechanic I spoke with mentioned that my chain was stretched to the point where I didn't have to replace it just yet, but if I did not I would eventually have to replace both the chain and the cassette. Sure, lets go for the new chain then. We made an appointment for later in the week and he estimated that the work would be around $130 ($80 for the tune-up, plus parts and some labor). When my appointment rolled around and I dropped my bike off with a different mechanic, who rung me up for $270. Now I expected it would end up costing a bit more than $130, but I was not prepared for a price that was more than double the original estimate. I mentioned the price the previous mechanic estimated and asked where the added cost was coming from and the response was an attitude riddled "Look, those are just the prices". Looking over the receipt I notices I was being charged $120 for the tune-up as opposed to the $80 the first mechanic told me, and that I was being charged labor/parts for a new cassette that I never made any indication of wanting. I told him I did not want a new cassette, just a new chain, and he said this was not possible and if I wanted to replace either of them I would have to replace both of them. I don't know enough about bikes to know whether or not this is true, but the point is that I have two different mechanics telling me two entirely different things and ending up with two vastly different prices. Also if I want a new cassette (which I did not), the tune-up is an extra $40. I ended up settling for a $170 job getting even less done than the first mechanic said could get done for $130. Later in the day I get a call from yet another mechanic telling me my derailleur is broken and I would need to spend $45 on a new one (and I imagine plenty more on labor). I asked what the problem was and he said it just doesn't shift up or down. I told him I was not having any problems with it when I brought it in and that I had never had any problems shifting gears before and his response was another attitude riddled "Well I know what I'm doing and you ARE having problems with it". I told him I had a spare derailleur I would bring in to see if it is compatible before I buy a new one, and when I did he barely looked at it and gave me a snobbish "That's for a kids bike", which it is not (I had been using it on a road bike). At this point I was just determined to get my bike back and get any extra work done elsewhere. They give me my bike, I hop on it, and ride away. I shift gears just fine without their new derailleur only to realize my gear indicator is missing the piece that actually tells me what gear I am on, so I have to go back again and deal with that. Overall this is just the worst service I have gotten anywhere. Their mechanics are not on the same page about anything, rude, and they're not transparent about their pricing. If you want to get talked down to, coerced into buying things you don't need, and overcharged, then Ace Wheelworks is the place for you, but I won't be spending another cent here. read more

Nothing terrible with my experience here, but now I get what other reviewers say about customer service attitude. They are quite pushy when selling bikes. I am staying with Cambridge Bikes, and Crimson Bikes! In these two stores, they are friendly, and give the customer some thinking space. read more

I went to Ace Wheel-works to pick out my first roadbike and also to ask questions about clothing, pedals, shoes etc. The staff was incredibly nice and helpful. One staff member in particular "Kat" who was helping me out the whole time was an absolute sweetheart, and a joy to talk to. Fun, helpful, and full of knowledge about their industry. 5 stars for this amazing store that helped me break into the world of cycling! read more

Just went here for the first time today, as my bike's rear tire had blown out. The staff was courteous and friendly, helping me without being condescending of my admittedly limited knowlegde of bikes. And the prices weren't outrageous, which is a definite plus! I'll be going back to them for all my bike-related needs. read more

I understand that sometimes I don't have the most inviting look on my face. On occasion I will look in a mirror and I will start running because the guy I just saw looked like he was about to kill me. I can however put a look on my face where I just seem confused as hell. I was sporting the later when I went into Ace Wheelworks. I wandered around for a while looking at the prices of the bikes trying to see if there was anything in my range. A couple of employees were busy helping other customers but it seemed like they didn't even look at me when I was standing right in front of them. Their selection was ok but nothing was really clicking with me. I did notice that they had a pet dog. Yay doggie. The dog helped me out a little by walking over to a bike but when I asked if it had something cheaper in stock it just stared at me. The straight-They have bikes a good selection of accesories and a dog. What's good-Doggie yay. The slap-Help me if I have my lost child face on at least say hi. read more

i'm being a little free with my 5 stars, but i haven't been to a better bike shop so it's getting 5 stars. the times i've been here and with friends, i've never felt like i've stepped into a car dealership/gym. i don't get the buy this bike or die feeling as i've gotten from other places. the shop isn't huge, but they have a descent selection of bikes. plus, they have other shops in the boston area as well. they mainly sell trek bikes here. some specialized, gary fish and cannondale as well if that matters. it seems like the have the lowest overall prices on bikes. i have no facts to back this up, but it's coming from me so it becomes fact because i'm a man and i'm jack so that means i know it all even if i'm wrong, which i never am because i'm jack and i'm a man. if i'm never wrong, then what i stated is fact. read more

Ace Wheelworks, Somerville style, is where I go to get those minor professional tweaks and accessories for my many rides. They are nice people and very knowledgeable, albeit a tad indie and aloof for my tastes. I have an old bike with some crazy sized nuts on it. I lost one of my rear nuts and one of the older dudes down there spent a good 15 minutes finding one that fit. Then he put it on and tightened it up and didn't charge me anything! Thanks dude. That helps, since I end up dropping mad flow on lots of other stuff when I go in there. read more

I didn't buy my bike here - but have taken it in many times - flat tires (far too often), tune ups, electrical issues with my lights. Everyone has been super friendly on every occasion. I don't know too much about bikes and usually don't have too much time (c'mon - I've taken mine in to have flats fixed!) and they have always been super helpful. They always seem to be very conscientious of cost and can usually fix things on the spot. I wish we could go back in time and have lots of little stores like this that make the everyday stuff enjoyable. I'd highly recommend this place if you can get there. I don't know how much their service costs compared to other places - but I'm happy with what I've paid and don't feel ripped off. I've spoken mostly about service - but they also have an excellent selection of all the bikes you are going to want...cool colors, cool styles, and then lots of accessories to go with it. read more

In terms of prices and competence, this is a fairly typical bike shop. The staff knows what they're doing, but they are not exceptional. They don't cheat or break bikes (which is better than a lot of bike shops in the area). The prices are fair (although not exceptional). The things that are nice are the size and level of selection at the place -- they have two bike shops, with a ton of different bicycles. Good fit is critical when buying a new bike, and the large selection means you can find a bike that fits. They also offer a free tuneup with each purchase. Most bikes need a tuneup a few months after purchase, as the parts settle, and offering this is a nice bonus (if you factor the cost of a tuneup, the prices are better than average). Overall, pretty decent for the area. Update: I have to downgrade my review by a star. Two things happened since. First, a couple months back, I dropped by with a flat. The mechanic there told me I needed a new chain. I didn't need a new chain -- the chain was practically new. It wasn't an especially hard mistake to make -- it was an SRAM chain, and SRAM chains start out measuring slightly stretched compared to Shimano -- but the mechanic should really know that. Second, I wanted a specific bike tire. Broadway Bicycle School doesn't stock Specialized parts, so I called Ace's Somerville location this morning to get a quote. Their phones were down. I called the Belmont location. They said $50 (the MSRP), and that I could order it at either location. This sounded okay, so I went to the Somerville location. When I showed up, they said $60. I left without buying it, called Belmont again, who said $55, and then $50. I'm happy to pay MSRP to support local bike shops (instead of 10-20% off of MSRP on the Internet), but I'm not happy to have an arbitrary markup on top of the MSRP just because I look naive or rich or something. Second update: I notched them back up to three stars. I've gotten flats several times when they were the closest bike shop. After I bought tubes there, they were always very friendly -- loaning my tire levers and a pump so I could fix my own flat. I appreciate that. read more

I get all of our bikes tuned up here; They are great!!! Reasonably priced, they do a good job and will put stuff on for free if you buy it there. The cost of accessories is on the high end, but they have quality stuff. They are also good about fixing flats which I hate doing myself. They have a phenomenal selection of bikes, again on the pricey end but you can find some reasonably priced bikes on sale or the rebuilt ones. read more

I come to Ace all the time because the staff is so nice, friendly and they don't bullshit you. I never feel nickeled and dimed, they tell you if the item you want is worth it or not. I have come many times and purchased shoes and seats from them. They always have been so helpful if I need a bit of grease on my chain or tightening of a bolt and rarely charge me labor If it's something quick and easy. I also did my bike fitting here and they had 2 mechanics help me with my Fitting to make sure I got personalized attention. They were so patient and knowledgeable. I had some issues with my fitting (my own body proportion issues not their fault) and someone else spent another hour with me trying to help and now I'm comfy! I came into this store 4 years ago knowing little about bikes and parts and they never talked down to me or took advantage of my ignorance. Now of course I am married to a bike snob and can hold my own when talking specs, but again I am treated the same way as I was when I was a bike Newbie. These are some of the best bike staff I have met, everyone is welcome read more

A couple weeks ago I was getting ready for a race up at Mt. Snow and the forecast was looking pretty miserable since alot of rain was expected for all of Saturday. For years I've raced without slop/mud tires, but I decided that I would finally give them a go, and I recalled seeing some Michelin Muds and DH16's at the Belmont Wheelworks' store. Their sister store, Ace Wheelworks in Somerville, is on my route back home from work so I swung in that Thursday night and inquired about the tires. After waiting around a good 10 minutes one of the fashionsita shop lackeys (you know, long hair/beard/tight jeans/etc etc.) asks if I need any help. I tell him what I need and he checked out back and then looked in the computer that their were some of the tires I needed in their inventory. He called up the other store to see if they had the tires I'm looking for and found out that they do and then takes down my information. I explained why I needed the tires and he assured me that they would come in around noontime the next day and he would call me when they arrived. Well Friday came around and I received no phone call while at work. No biggie, I would just swing by the shop after work. I swung by, and the person I dealt with wasn't there. Instead, what could have been his twin helped me. I explained how I ordered some tires blah blah blah, and this guy proceeded to look around the shop for the tires and asks some of the other employees about the tires. He comes back looking a little dumbfounded and says that, "they must have forgot to send them over in the delivery truck". WTF? I roll my eyes and walk out. Luckily the Belmont store is only a 30 minute drive to get to, so off I went since they closed in an hour. I got to the store and there was the usual shop talk at the entrance way with 3 employees that didn't even lift their heads up to ask if I needed help. I walked to the service area and one of the older guys asked if I need any help. I explained my situation and he started looking for the tires. He looked at the computer inventory, looked through all the tires on display (they weren't there), looked through the folding tires (ummm yea), and then downstairs. Nothing. He tracked down the person that did deliveries between stores and he knew nothing about the tires. At this point I was starting to get agitated at the entire situation so he called up the store I first went to to figure out what was going on. I could tell as he was talking to the person over the phone that this wasn't going to end well. After he hung up he told me that there must have been a screw-up in inventory, and they couldn't find the tires they claimed they had. He then told me that they did set aside some other tires for me to look at. He went out to a back room and brought out some Michelin DH32 tires that had a note scribbled on them. At this point my clams were really steaming, but I remained calm. I told him that the tires were completely different from what I wanted and then explained that I'm just overall disappointed because to sum everything up. I was told they had these tires and the store in Somerville had even called to make sure they had them. I didn't get any phone call after the store learned that they didn't have these tires. Then I had to go to both shops, and in the end, apparently the the first shop (the one in Somerville) knew that they didn't have these tires and had some other tires set aside. Yet they were never sent to them, and they didn't tell me any of this when I went there that Friday evening. All he could really say was that he was sorry. And no I don't always buy everything online. I had probably spent a couple grand on small parts at those stores over the last 3 years. I guess you only receive LBS perks if you yuck it up with the employees of the store or have a nice pair of ta ta's. There's no incentive for supporting an LBS if you're a well informed consumer that goes in knowing exactly what you want completely circumventing the sales associates. OK stepping off the soap-box. read more

I echo other reviewers who complained about their services and repair experiences at Ace Wheelworks. My beloved Dahon was brought in for a tune-up and to replace a shredded rear tire. Despite being told it was ready to be picked up, the front tire was rubbing and seemed to be out of alignment . I had to take it back twice, before I left the shop, for them to make adjustments after test rides. In the course of taking one of the test rides, one of the pedals seemed extremely loose and I asked if it could be adjusted. They said it needed to be replaced because it was worn-out. When I asked if it was safe to ride, they basically said no. Mind you, this is after a $140 bill, which supposedly included a safety check as part of their tune-up. Why would they not mention this? If the pedal snapped off during a ride, there could be a serious injury or fall. I support local businesses but I am really tired of shelling out serious coin for shoddy services. And I can't ride my bike safely! I will be taking my business elsewhere. read more

My wife recently brought her old bike in for repairs. While there, she misplaced her keys, and became very upset, as it caused her to run late with her work. The staff couldn't have been more rude or acted in a more disinterested way. The one employee who bothered to make even a half-hearted effort to locate them was arrogant and condescending. As a small business owner, I appreciate the value of treating my clients with respect, and if the situation warrants, compassion. We were treated with neither. Perhaps they are capable and knowledgeable with regards to bicycle repair and maintenance, but their customer service is abysmal. read more

My review got filered & i don't know why.... If you like being treated like a bimbo or getting the 1950's woman driver treatment (yes - even if you are a man), then Ace Wheelworks is for you! I've never had a good experience there. A few years ago I took my bike there with a flywheel problem. I took my bike back 3 times in 1 afternoon before they finally believed what I knew all along: I needed a new flywheel! In May of this year I was looking at new bikes there with a sales rep, & when I said to him that I stand & don't really use the seat when I ride, he giggled and said "That's silly". My whole life I've done a tons of riding, & that pin head who is half my age is calling me silly? Nonetheless I did buy a bike and after a couple months I wasn't quite happy with it. I took it back just to see if they could offer any options. The first thing I was told is that the bike is now "used" and I'd take a big hit on a trade-in. That is fine and it's all I needed to hear, but did they need to go on & question my ability to understand how gears work or know when my brakes might be dragging? I cut off their inane, pointless drivel midstream & got out of there. I've been riding bikes far & wide since well before these twits at Wheelworks were even born! Who do these turkeys think they are? I have a graduate degree (I know it's not from Wrench & Screw Driver College), and they're treating me like I'm in nursery school? There are so many places around Cambridge to get your biking needs met, why throw your money at a place that treats you like an idiot? read more

Good quality of work, but beware of them trying to sell you unnecessary parts when you bring your bike in for repair. My bike needed a tuneup + the cables replaced on the shifters (both had broken). They replaced the chain rings, and cassette because the drive train was certainly getting old; I consented to this, as these are wear items and I hadn't replaced them since getting the bike 5 years ago. However, they couldn't figure out how to get a broken cable out of the rear shifter and called me telling me that the shifter was jammed and had to be replaced. Seeing that it was shifting 100% 2 days prior I told them to stop working on the bike, and I would pick up where they left off. Upon picking up the bike, the associate who helped me mentioned that the rear derailleur should be replaced because it wasn't returning properly...again, it was working 100% before the cable snapped 2 days prior. He also mentioned that the rear brake was 'seized' and should be replaced. Long story short, these three items were VERY easy to repair (I don't know anything about fixing bikes), and they took me all of 2 hours to do myself. The shifter wasn't broken, the derailleur works fine and the rear brake just needed some cleaning. I definitely resent their mechanics acting like parts salespeople... Sure, this should be expected at a bike shop, but it's particularly bad here. read more

This is my local bike shop. Good place.

I was underwhelmed by the service at Wheelworks. I asked them to order a set of handlebars and was specific with what brand I didn't want. That is the exact brand they ordered for me. I needed bars so I begrudgingly went with them. I had the shop wrap them and it was the worst wrap job I have seen. The cables are uneven underneath the tape which makes for a really uncomfortable ride. And they severely under-quoted on the labor charges until after the work was done. read more

These guys are the absolute best. I hope they see these reviews because they really do have a great thing going on at this shop. Every time I've been in there they are eager to help and so knowledgeable. my boyfriend is a mountain biker and every time we go in there they will take a look at his bike and tighten everything up for him for free. So easy to talk to and explain everything in laymans terms but without making you feel like an idiot. I brought this junker 80s road bike in there to see if there was any way i could salvage it for a mode of transportation this summer. They were perfectly honest when they said that it wasnt worth putting any work into but said if i didnt want another bike right away then i should just keep an eye on certain things to make it last a bit longer. Most helpful staff and arent trying to sell you un-necessary things for their own benefit. read more

I have been coming here for about a year. Shop here if you want exceptional service. Their repair services are fast and cheap. I don't mind that the last dude forgot to put the chain back on the chainwheel. In 45 minutes on a busy day, he fixed my derailers, replaced a cable housing, and trued both wheels for like 35 bucks. They have a decent selection of bikes and accessories, but more importantly, they have excellent sales people. The only thing to be aware of is that this store can get crowded. If you're looking for personal attention, try to come when it's not too busy. read more

Customer Service is Dead! Never before have I had quite an experience like this at a bike shop. It started out with two of my friends in our truck all packed up and headed out of town on a bike trip to upstate NY. We only had one stop, Ace Wheel Works because one of my friends had to drop his bike off earlier to have them look at the pedal. Only one problem so far, was that traffic was especially bad that evening. At 745 on Thurs evening of July 19th, we called and explained the situation, and asked if there was any way that someone could stay about 5-10 min late so that when we got there to pick up the bike on our way out of town, they wouldn't be closed. The reply was maybe if there is someone still here... good enough for us! So when we pulled up at 807 all the lights where still on, other customers still in the store, front door was unlocked and employees everywhere. The guys that greeted us at the door where extraordinarily rude and refused to help us or even hear that we had called ahead, we even offered cash payment with extra cash for their trouble! As the guy pushed us out the door and wouldn't hear anything we had to say, one of my friends was standing right next to us counting the employees through the window. As we walked back to the truck, 3-4 of them filed out the door yelling at us, almost as if they wanted to fight us!! One of them yelled out that there was a bike store on Mass Ave. I guess that is where I will do all of my business now. Bottom line, we left on our trip with only two bikes and I will never ever return to this store! read more

Families and children are not welcome in this store. I bought two bikes for my two children at Ace Wheelworks before. The bike experts who helped me in the past were knowledge and appropriate and I was pleased with my purchase. I did not bring my family in the past. However, today I brought my two small children and left the store disappointed, upset and humiliated because: 1. Three members of the staff screamed at us when my children tried the ring bells (for five seconds!). 2. A female attendant kept making discourteous comments about my baby crying. 3. The manager/owner of the store was disrespectful and patronizing, and treated us with anger and extreme arrogance. So much so, that he followed us aggressively outside the store to scream at us by the door. Also, there was another family in the store while we were there. The manager asked rudely the father to take his daughter out because she had been sitting on a bike for 10 minutes. Perhaps this is not the right store for children and it is more oriented towards professional bikers. But that is not an excuse. The treatment received at Ace Wheelworks by its manager and some members of staff was unacceptable. I will not go back to this store but I do hope that the manager of the store and his team reflect on their behavior. It is just wrong to treat customers like that. read more

I've had some pretty hit or miss experiences at Ace, but my most recent visit has made me decide to never go back there again. The Good: Any time I've been helped by the older man in a biking cap, I've had nothing but friendly, well-explained service. Every other time has not been good. The Bad: I took my back wheel in to have the tube replaced, and as I wheeled the bike out, I could hear the brake rubbing against the rim of the wheel. I had to bring it back in to be fixed. Why wouldn't you check something basic like that? This was in the middle of the summer when the rush of the season was mostly over The Worst: Most recently I went into Ace for advice on a wobbly wheel and what tool would be best to fix it. The man who helped me (older, longish gray hair) was nothing but condescending to me the whole time, starting when he called me "little lady" and suggested for me to buy him a drink. From there he explained to me: - the environmental impact of cars vs. bikes (why? also, of course I already know that. It's 2013, not 1990) - the concept of entropy and that bikes need repairs - that I have the cheapest bike ever and that every attempt at repairs I have ever made was awful ... but he still showed me the DIY bike repair book his friend wrote, and suggested I buy that - that I should come into Ace 3 - 4 times a year for them to look at my bike to avoid big maintenance bills all at once. What kind of maintenance could they possibly need to do 3 - 4 times a year that I couldn't? Grease the chain and inflate the tires? Though I am not a hardcore cyclist and am just starting out in the world of bicycle repair, I am not an idiot. Don't treat me like one and don't call me "little lady" the whole time I know my bike needed a lot of work done (tune-up, at the the least and probably some stuff replaced), and I was going to bring it in to this Ace this week. No way I'd ever do that now. read more

Staff is pure douche. I've been working on bikes for years. When I say bikes, I mean motorcycles. Like - building them. So if I blow a tire on Elm Street on my bicycle and walk in to have you throw on a new tube out of convenience, you really don't have to make me feel like I don't know how to change a freaking tire, bro. You provide a service to people that don't know how to do it themselves. Just like a car mechanic, just like an orthopedic surgeon. It's not good business to just make people feel stupid. This is by no means the first time I have experienced this demeanor from wheel works staff either. Do you think it also says something about your line of work if you have to make people feel subordinate when it comes to FIXING A BICYCLE. It ain't NASA buddy. best of luck read more

I wish I could say great things about Ace Wheelworks. the appearance of the store is great and everyone around me seem to be getting help. I came in on sunday afternoon, ready to buy a bike, the store was not busy and there was planty employees around. infact there was an employee that passed by me 3 times even made eye contact with me and did not ask if I had any questions about the bikes. I was in the store for 20 min. without a single person approaching me to provide assistance. I am not sure if this is the normal practice for the store, but they lost a sale this time. read more

One of the best bike shops around, in my opinion. Always great service, and the staff really know their stuff, from basic repairs to sales, cleat fittings and bike fittings. Lots of nice coaching without making you feel like an ass when you're new to the sport. That's cool. read more

Ace is not the place for a quick fix. Ace gets busy, and can hold your bike for over a week for something a different shop could do in less time. The staff is Friendly, but this Ace is more expensive than other area shops. read more

I just moved to the area and my bike was needing some major help! Before knowing about Wheelworks, I took my bike into BikeBoom because the front tire was flat and my seat needed to be tightened. While BikeBoom had a quick turnaround and only charged $12 for the flat tire, I felt very unwelcome and out of place. I think I would have had a better experience if I owned a nicer bike or was a man. I'm not really knocking BikeBoom, they did a great job on what I needed done, I just think it wasn't the place for me. On my walk back home from Davis Square, I came across Wheelworks. I still needed to buy a helmet, so I walked in there. The shop was very busy, but nicely laid out, so I was able to walk around and find what I needed. A really nice man that worked at the store, Jody, helped me find the best fitting helmet for my head. Not only that, but he didn't push the expensive helmets on me. He let me know that the cheaper ones ($40) work just as well as their more expensive ones ($80) since they all have to pass the same safety tests. Before I left, he also put a brand new kickstand on my bike and new reflectors. Another little plus was that he let me know which grocery stores around here are the cheapest, tips on buying produce, and how to skip the T and ride my bike into town. After he rung me up, he welcomed me to Boston. The service was excellent and quick. They will definitely be getting all of my business when it comes to my bike. read more

Their repair shop will put the parts on for you, but they don't test them to make sure they work. Check the work before you leave the shop to make sure they've installed the parts right. They don't do it as a matter or course. Poor service. read more

Ace Wheelworks was great when I was in the process of buying a bike. They remembered my name and they were super friendly. After I bought the bike and would take it in for a tune-up, they treated me like I was chopped liver. They didn't remember my name, were mean or disinterested, and took forever to return my bike from a tune up. Don't waste your time going to Ace -- there are much better shops in the area like Hub! read more

What a great place!!! Mind you, I haven't been on a bike for 15+ years and now, all of a sudden, I decided it would be a lovely idea to start riding like I did when I was a kid. I go to Ace Wheelworks on the recommendation from a friend and started talking to an employee (Jose). He spent a ton of time with me going over everything I would want in a bike, step by step. Finally, he had 3 recommendations for me. I took them for a test ride and decided I wanted to sleep on it before making a decision. When I made the decision on a bike (Specialized Vita), I called them back and they held it for me so I could pick it up a few hours later. Then, as I pick up the bike, another employee (Charlie, I think is his name) comes to help me as I try to figure out what kind of basic things I would need- helmet, lights, lock, etc. They even installed everything I would need right then and there. While I was waiting for installation of all the bells and whistles, several other employees came up to me to make sure I was being taken care of. AJ helped me make sure the bike was fitted and that I knew a few safety precautions before I went on my first ride. It was a busy day but each employee made sure every customer was acknowledged. Seriously, the best service I have ever had with any purchase I've made in my life. I am so glad I went here. read more

I had to write a review because I had probably the best customer service experience in my entire life at this store. That sounds like a huge exaggeration but I'm not even kidding... The employee, Colin, was just the best. He helped me so much and taught me a bunch of stuff in a short 15 minutes. It was kinda busy too, but he really took the time to help me and was very focused. He didn't try to sell me anything unnecessary and was honest about what I needed done to my bike. You can tell he really likes working there and helping/teaching people about bikes. Anyway, it was my first time there and so far I am very happy with the store! read more

As a busy, car-free cyclist, I must have wheels that work. These guys have rescued me from many a crisis and done a great job of keeping me on the road. They've stayed open late for me when I couldn't get back before closing time to pick up my bike after a repair and thrown in a few extras here and there at no charge. And they're always nice to me. Love 'em. read more

This place is AMAZING! I've been here about 4 times and everyone I have encountered has been extremely helpful. The guys here are all very friendly and know their job. I also have to thank the gentleman that helped me. He broke it all down "Barney style" and made sure I understood everything. I'll definitely be coming back to here. read more