This is a very reliable and friendly place that tends to be on the pricey side for both products and service. Don't get me wrong, its great service and a good selection of products. unfortunately, the bikes I wanted to see where all in there other location (belmont I think). They tend to have mid range bikes (think 1k plus). They loose a point until I figure out how to get the staffs attention other than just waiting around for 10-20 minutes. They are busy, and have a lot of stuff to look at, so i don't mind too much... but it seems to happen regardless of day or time. read more

Bought a bike here and had issues with it. Turns out there was a recall on the bike from Specialized. It's just not a good idea to call this place, for whatever reason you get tons of attitude on the phone. I was pretty annoyed with my experience here until I spoke with Mehmet. He fixed my bike, called me a couple times and gave a lot of detail into what he was doing. I appreciated that. He seems like a solid guy. read more

This store in Sommerville and Belmont Wheelworks in Belmont are the powerhouse bike stores in West Cambrige area. Belmont is larger hand has many more products on display. These stores tended to be rather costly but in recent years they've become aware that customers are buying online and so I've seen their prices drop to be competitive with online. Many on the staff are extremely knowledgeable (while a few are not). My main beef with the store is that your question or purchase often comes with a dollop of philosophy, the effect of which is to make the customer feel small. Come in with some odd-ball problem and you can get eye rolls. Why can't they provide service without feeling a need to impart attitude? I've had wheels rebuilt here and they did an excellent job. The shop is small so there's llittle room for bikes, and this makes service tricky. A good place to go for various bike needs but be sure you wear a thick skin. read more

Just have to give a shout to Bruce, who was incredibly helpful, patient, thorough, and knowledgable. He really took the time to help me explore the right bikes for me in the price range I was comfortable with -- no pressure to buy, test more expensive bikes, or make a quick decision. I really appreciate his time and expertise, and will definitely tell others about the great experience I had there. Thank you! read more

I don't know why this place doesn't have better reviews. I recently moved here from San Diego where we have awesome bike shops and Ace Wheelworks reminded me of back home. Every other shop I went into was overpriced and only had a handful of bikes in the store. I came in to buy my husband a new bike for Christmas and was able to leave same day with it. The guy who helped me (sorry I forgot his name) was heading out when he saw me looking at bikes, asked me what I was looking for, put his jacket down and talked me through a few options. I told him a wanted to add pedals, fenders, a lock and keep it under $800, which we are able to do for about $150 less than I expected. They were able to put the fender and new pedals on within 40 minutes, and I was on my way. They even asked if I wanted to test out a new trainer I was eyeing while I was waiting , but they jeans I was wearing didn't lend itself to a test ride. They even gave me a discount when I asked if they did anything for the military, even though they don't have a policy in place. I will definitely be back when it's time to tune up my bike, and upgrade some of my parts come spring. read more

Didn't issue me a refund and sold my bike to someone else. Had to go into the store to find out and get a refund.

The people here are great! I am new to biking and they have been so kind and helpful. I will continue to come back for all my biking needs!

The only shop during COVID that still makes it easy to buy parts and get my bike serviced within a reasonable timeline. Great, experienced mechanics, friendly staff, and so much always in stock! Love all the other Boston bike shops too, but during COVID Ace is a no brainier. read more

Extremely helpful place with quick turn times on repairs. The large and well trained staff of bike technicians are always willing to give an estimate, provide advice or help out in a pinch. If you want to do a repair yourself, they will be more than willing to sell you the part and explain how to proceed with the work at home. Huge selection bikes for adults and children, racers and riders, off-road and highway. Parts available for any repair needed. Large variety of footwear and cycling rags available at excellent prices - particularly when they're having a sale. Great hours and good location. Bam. read more

I'm not a bike connoisseur by any means -- I got my first adult bike July 2020. It was a Montague from Ace Wheelworks. I got to give it a test ride and the turnaround for picking up the bike after buying it online was fast. Since then I've been back three times. The first time was to fill up my tires with compressed air, then the next day to replace the flat tire ($25). Just this past week I went in because I thought my bike might have a flat. One of the employees filled my tires with compressed air and said to come back if it didn't hold air, explained how different tires are meant to be filled with different pumps, oiled my chains, and gave me advice on wearing a helmet properly. Clearly I know nothing about bikes but he was really nice about helping me for no charge and I really appreciated it. He encouraged me to come by any time I needed to fill up my tires with compressed air, so I feel comfortable with returning any time I need! I had a really nice experience and I appreciate having a nice bike shop so nearby. read more

Ace Wheelworks go above and beyond to get you what you need! I went there to get fenders installed and they were able to squeeze me in right away knowing I was in a rush. I also purchased a bike bell and they offered to install it for me. When I asked how I should clean the mud off my bike, they also cleaned it for me as well! The service is excellent and they have a great selection of bikes and gear. read more

I've been here several times and had gotten my road bike tuned up previously a couple times here. This time, I wanted to take in my cyclocross. I wanted a tune-up, which also involve replacing my front brake pads (I have disc brakes), and replacing my rear bike rack. Total work there ended up being about $130-140, which I thought was reasonable. The team there is very nice, but unfortunately I had a subpar tune-up. When I picked up my bike, I noticed a high pitched rubbing sound - that occurs when metal rubs on metal. My disc brakes were rubbing against the brake pads! So I brought my bike back in - they took a look and told me it was fixed. On my ride home - I STILL heard that noise. Once I got home - I realized my rear brake pads were so tight that my rear wheel wouldn't even spin freely on it's own. (Didn't they just fix that for me?!) I had to come back the next day, where they were very nice and apologetic; they immediately went to "fix" my rear brakes (I was told the rack installation pressed on the rear brakes). The next day, I biked into work - and now my rear brakes are very loose; not what I like after a fresh tune up. When I test the stopping power - my wheels easily still move against the pavement. I used to be an advocate for ACE - but this is hands down the most disappointing experience I've had with a bike shop in years. Nice and polite staff - but their mechanics doesn't seem to be able to do a basic tune up and rack install on a mid-priced cyclocross bike with disc brakes. I've already brought my bike in twice within 48 hours for them to fix their work, and they've failed both times. I'm bringing my bike to another mechanic to get a second opinion. I will update here with what I hear, and with recommendations for other bike mechanics. read more

Update: I now understand why this place has mixed reviews. The mechanics and experts at the store remain top notch. You bring them a problem, they find you a good fix. They help you with the little things for free. A+. But, their sales team is of very uneven quality. In our latest interaction, the bike salesperson not only told us a bike was steel when it was carbon fiber, but also told us there was a 7-day return policy -- when no such policy existed! When we talked to the register about this, they tried to wave it off saying he was a high school student. Well, that's great, but he's still a high school student you have selling $2000 machines! Take some responsibility! If I didn't already have a good relationship with the maintenance team here, I would have dropped the bike then and there and gone to Broadway Bikes or CrimsonBikes instead. read more

Walked into the shop to be confronted on why I was there and asked for help and was basically ignored. There were 7 employees and me. One was reading a paper. I know it's Covid but at least look like you are interested in helping. I was there to buy a bike and everything that I needed start training for my first Tri. Absolutely felt inferior. I walked by two other shops to this one because of their reviews. read more

The staff is super nice and didn't laugh at me when I had to sheepishly exclaim I didn't know how to put air in my tires. They even made sure my tires were seated properly. I've purchased bike accessories from here before and will continue to come here for all my biking needs no matter how embarrassed I am about not knowing anything about bikes. Thanks, dudes! read more

Echoing the sentiments of other reviewers who have found their attitude a turn-off. Walked a beater bike into the shop after having already removed the rusted chain and unlocked the quick release brake on the front wheel to get the bike into my car. The staff took this to mean that I was an idiot with no clue what I wanted and adopted a condescending attitude for the rest of the conversation. There are too many other good shops nearby to put up with this shop's bad attitude. Staff at Bike Boom are friendly to all and make sure that everyone leaves with more bike knowledge than they came in with. Had they been open today I would have never gone to Ace. I won't be going back. read more

Twice thus far during my life-in-Davis-Square I have bought random bikes off of Craigslist, twice I have taken said vehicles to Ace and twice Ace has made me a happy girl. Today I rolled up on my very first road bike - a $50 craigslist score that I was feeling a little wobbly about. The only thing I knew was that the girl I bought it from said it needed handle bar tape. Who knew? I don't even know what handlebar tape is, but it seemed important - especially from an aesthetic standpoint - the bare metal and ratty electrical tape really weren't doing it for me. I took it over to Ace, and asked Mr. Ace Bike Helper Man for some general advice about handlebar taping. I got that...and so much more. He came outside, poked around at my bike - told me that it was Taiwanese and that the frame was in great shape, that the rack on the back retailed for $40 alone and it had recent derailers on it (hrm, derailers, ok) so in new-ish parts I was looking at way more than $50 and I got a bike to go with them. Go me. Then we got deep and I learned about French Threaded Bottom Brackets - which has not ceased to sound DIRTY to me...and I liked it. He told me about bike chains and gears and gave me some really solid sounding pointers on what gears are for what...and THEN he told me how to tape my handlebars....and gave me the inside scoop on what to do if you don't have super dextrous elbows. I'm not saying whether I have them or not, let's just say--- my handlebars are taped within an inch of their LIVES. And I need a cigarette. And I don't even smoke nor do I advocate such behavior. Just sayin' I am one purring kitten. read more

There are three mechanics worth talking to if you have anything more complex than an adjustment on a NEW bike... The frenchman, the guy with the older buzzed and balding haircut (pictured above), and there is one guy who looks like a young Henry Rollins (I don't know if he's still there). I like these guys a lot. They are knowledgeable, and have been very kind. Other interactions have left a mixed impression... that would be the three-stars. That said, I'd had numerous poor mechanical experiences here over the past 4 years. I'll ride off into the sunset and the new shifter cable snaps, Brakes are misaligned, no not toed in or the seat slams down into the frame or tips back like a dump truck. Usually it would fail within a few blocks so it was easy to take it back, and they would graciously fix it correctly. I *want to support them* they are "my local bike shop" - But I had an experience this weekend that warrants a one star review. I'd rather not go into it, but it involved a level of outright aloofness, smarmy incompetence, and dismissive bullshit, blaming my bicycle for his inability to fix it properly, pulling more of it apart than needed to cover his incompetence, continuing to fix it improperly and in a way that could damage the bike even when asked to stop. When I expressed dissatisfaction and worry, I got an obnoxious and indignant response. Since I knew I'd have to re-do it myself - I bought extra parts... It turned out to be a beginner's mistake... which is forgivable... but the attitude and lack of humility combined with accusations-- not so much. (Edit: now that I've distanced myself from the scenario, the mechanic not knowing the wierdness of my bike, that's fine, its true, he could have asked someone -- and he may have just had a bad day -- but the manager's? response the day of the incident and the day I came back to get the refund which he angrily processed - and lack of desire to take a look to make sure I would be wrong (I wasn't) when I mentioned that I thought something was obviously wrong -- Sorry Ace, probably not coming back.) read more

Not to rain on the parade, but my experiences here haven't been the greatest. In the few times that I have visited this place, I have definitely felt as though I was pressured into buying more than I wanted. Some of it may have to do with the salesperson though...I seem to end up getting the same one whenever I go in. There is a decent selection and the location is convenient, but there are better shops if you can make the drive. I am a huge fan of Bikeway Source in Bedford (right at the end of the Minuteman trail). Smaller clothing selection there, but *much* better prices and service that by far outshines Ace. read more

I wish I could love this shop since it's about half a mile from my apartment. I just.. haven't ever had an overwhelmingly good experience at Wheelworks. I've taken my old road bike here for minor servicing and it's been fine. I even brought my new bike here to be assembled and that's also worked out fine. The problem for me is not really the quality of the work - it's the ambivalence of the employees. My new bike was assembled just fine but the employee who brought it out to me seemed pissed that I would dare as him to help lower the seat so I could, you know, actually RIDE the bike. It was then that I realized that they had gotten some sort of grease all over my (white) saddle and dirt on my (white taped) handle bars. It was only when he saw me looking at the dirty saddle that he brought out a cloth and cleaned it out. With a brand new bike, you'd think they'd want to present it to you in pristine condition. That's just sloppy, in my opinion. Listen, I know it gets busy. I also know that some people (ie: ME) can sometimes have stupid questions. But I always try to be really friendly and understanding when the store gets super crowded (which is pretty often during peak bike season). In return, I expect to be treated well and paid attention to by the employees when I have questions or need help. Whenever I've had questions about gear, I'm usually ignored or given a short response. Last year I went in for a new helmet and when I specifically asked if someone could talk to me about the different kinds available. Instead I was just pointed to a back wall. Cool, thanks. All in all - Wheelworks is fine. But just fine. Their gear and bike selection is pretty good and it's conveniently located just outside of Davis Square. read more

The staff is very friendly and accommodating. They are knowledgeable and willing to spend time to answer your questions. Bought my trek here 2 years ago. HOWEVER, the last time I took my bike in for a tune-up ($90) the tech told me that a piece of the derailer had broken in his hand so he went ahead and replaced it ($20). NOT OK. I was told when I dropped the bike off that anything over $4 that needed to be replaced would need my approval. I was also appalled that I when I brought the bike in nothing was broken, and when I picked it up not only had something been broken in the tech's possession, but now I was being charged for it? No. No. No. I paid and walked my bike out of the shop only to notice the brakes seemed to not have been tightened at all. I brought it right back in and they tightened them. I got my bike home and on closer inspection saw the body had not been cleaned at all. There was still dirt from last season caked to the bike. I was too upset to make the trip all the way back to complain. At this point, I'm actually not sure they did anything to tune-up my bike other replace something that they broke (maybe?) and charge me for it. I will never be back to Wheelworks for a service. read more

The other day I needed a tire. I thought maybe I would go to an actual bike shop rather than buying online. So I call these guys. Me: "Hello, I'm looking for a road bike tire. 700 x 25, you got those?" Ace: "Yeah we got those." Me: "You have them for $20?" Ace: "uuhhh... we have them all prices. [That should have tipped me off right there] But yeah we have some tires starting at that price." So I go down there. Surprise surprise, the only $20 tires are mountain bike tires. A totally different size. Cheapest road tire is $31.99 Haha, "some tires starting at that price" was technically true I guess. I am used to a certain amount of borderline dishonest BS from bike shops, but this was exceptional. Lying just to get me in the store? Come on. Did they really think I couldn't just leave and ride less than half a mile to another bike shop? Avoid these scumbags. Big store, nice selection, but that was it. I am sure they prefer the big spender customers anyways though. Thanks anyways Ace, for helping me find out about Bicycle Exchange. Who, by the way, have an excellent selection of cheap tires. read more

This morning I bought a Unicycle. My friends and I are going to start a unicycling gang. Anyway I got it off crairg's list, and brought it to Ace WW to get some air in the tire. They were super friendly, slightly amused and happy to help. The guy helping me out even gave me a few pointers on how to mount my new toy (snicker). And they have a sticker on their window that says "People love us on yelp" read more

I've been to Ace Wheelworks twice since moving to the Boston area. The first time was to purchase a helmet. That experience was easily a 5 star experience. Jody was very knowledgeable and helpful. He took time to discuss the helmet options and didn't try to push any particular product. He was very friendly and didn't make me feel like an idiot when I asked questions. You see, I'm very new to biking because before I moved to Boston, I just drove everywhere. I've often found that people who are really into biking are stuffy and self-righteous about it, but Jody was not at all like that. I left Ace Wheelworks that day feeling very confident that they would be my new "go-to" bike shop. A week later, I was pumped to take my bike to the shop to have it tuned up. Now, I know my bike is not the best bike in the world, but I still wanted to see if I could just get the problem I had been having fixed. I looked for Jody again, but it must have been his off day, so another guy came to help me. I told him what I wanted to have fixed, and he said it was no problem. Then he let me know I could pick it up in a few days. I went to pick up the bike and things seemed to be fine until a guy came to ring me up for the work. He basically told me that my bike was lousy and that he did the best he could with it. I was annoyed, but not surprised. There's not a bike shop in the world that doesn't have some snob trying to make you feel like an idiot. Still, I was nice, because I work in retail and I know how much it sucks when someone complains about your hard work. I also knew that I shouldn't judge anything until I rode it home. He then proceeds to ring me out, and I pay for the service, hopeful that at least the bike would ride better when I went to ride it home. Unfortunately, the ride was just as bad as before. I'm still having the same issue I had and now I'm out the money I gave them to get it fixed. I know that someone took a look at it, and I'm all for compensating people for their time, but I feel like if my bike really wasn't worth fixing, someone should have called me from the shop to inform me of that instead of just "doing the best they could." If someone had just called to talk to me, I would have cancelled the tune up and then used the money I put into having it "fixed" towards a new bike. As it is now, I'm out the money for the tune up and still have to start considering other bike options if I'm going to commute more regularly. Overall, I have to give the shop an average rating since I had one great experience and one terrible experience. I honestly think it just depends on who you get and what you are going in for. I keep wishing I had gone in to drop off my bike on a day when Jody was working. I feel like he would have been up front with me about whether or not my bike was worth fixing and he would have done so in a courteous manner. read more

I came in with my roommate on a Saturday weary from having visited 49502567205867246 other bike shops around the city and expecting more of the same here. I was very much wrong. It was mad busy and yet we were still treated as if we were the only customers in there. Brian helped us out, pointing out bikes that were within our price range or just a little above. He also noted what was good for me since I hadn't ridden in quite some time. Once we pinpointed what size bike we should be on he took us down to the basement to dig through the bikes they had there to find something suitable for the roomie to try out. I played bike stand and held things while he dove in and out of bikes, emerging now and then to say "no, that's no good" or "hey, here, hold this". Once he found was he was looking for we were off on a test ride. It's funny how I forgot the feeling of being on a bike. I was sold and knew I had to get a bike ASAP. Sadly, they didn't have my size in the bike I wanted (stupid average height). So he gave me the information to call back and when they were expecting a shipment. Unfortunately, I was bested by some smarter folk who got to them before I could and I ended up waiting about two weeks for my bike. (Calling several times and being treated well AND given accurate information each time.) The second trip wasn't as great as the first but still pretty damn impressive. I showed about 45 minutes before they closed, test rode the bike, and came back in to buy it. They were very thorough explaining how to register the bike with Trek, when to bring it in, discounts I get on accessories (10% off for 30 days) etc. They also helped me find a good lock. What I liked is that they didn't jump right to the most expensive one, they went to the best for what I needed. That kind of service impresses me. Not only did they win me over by not treating me like dirt for not wanting to spend $900 on a bike, but they worked to find what was right for ME...not them. I will continue to bring my business here thanks to that. (As a side note this may or may not be a good location to stalk other Yelpers. So I've heard). read more

I brought my bike in for a professional tune-up - I usually service it myself, but I figured it was worth the money after a long winter. It took them a week to get my bike back to me, and they returned it with my chain still slipping and my front brake very noticeably rubbing! For $70 and a week of my time, I expected much better. I may not be a 'professional', but I do know to ride my bike around the block before declaring the service done. Save your time and money. read more

Worst customer service. Rude and won't go here again. I had come to this store a while back for a biking friend to have the tube changed on just a tire. When I walked in the guy said no problem. I asked him if he wanted me to pay now. He said yes and rang me up. When another guy came and gave me the tire back I went to walk out. There was multiple people in the store. He yelled at me to come back and pay. I told him I already paid the other guy as it's 14 $ and I was proactive. He rudely told me to not move and went to hunt down the other gentleman. It was embarrassing and I was treated like a thief over a tube that I offered to pay before they asked me. I was helping out a friend , I don't even bike. Stay away from this place. It's a shame. I grew up in Somerville and this place has been here for a long time. Some of their workers drive away business. Just make Sure if you shop here you make sure you announce that you've paid to all the workers. read more

My neighborhood bike shop! Yeah, I literally live less than a block from here, so of course I'm in here like 3 times a week to buy every random little bike accessory, ask silly questions, get help making my latest adjustment on one of my many bicycles, or, of course, play with bikes I can't afford. I like the employees here a lot. They'll help you out in a *mostly* unpretentious way. Yep, there are a couple exceptions (like the guy who told a friend of mine that her bike wasn't worth fixing because "pretty soon no one will be riding those anyway"-- gah!!!), but overall they're good people. Don't expect a bargain. I'm kind of horrified by some of the prices of the used bikes, for example. But hey, they have used bikes! That's cool. You'll probably find what you're looking for here, won't get totally ripped off, and most likely won't be treated like an idiot. Based on some of the ego-service I receive at many Boston area bike shops, I'd say that' a pretty stellar review. read more

I had another bad experience which tipped the scale: I won't be coming again. I wanted a new handlebar for my bike. First they didn't have a handlebar that would fit my bike, so I bought one on Ebay then came back. This time they didn't have the right kind of handlebar tape, and they said they were too busy that day anyway. So I bought the tape at another store, and came back the next day. This time they didn't have the kind of brake I wanted. So I gave up. The parts I'm looking for are pretty standard (I've seen them in most shops around town). And each time I wasn't lucky enough to get good service. No parts, no service... no point? Broadway Bicycle School, here I come. read more

Every time I come in here I am blown away by how damn friendly everyone is. I will actually go ahead and use the word kind. Kind people work here. And insanely helpful! And the staff all speak highly of each other. I get the impression they genuinely love working here, which makes me want to continue supporting them. I've come in here for all sorts of bike related issues/purchases - never disappointed. And they give my pup water on hot days. P.S. Colin gives stellar bike fittings. read more

I went in looking for a helmet. I was excited and ready to spend some serious cash on something I liked. I left with no helmet, feeling like an idiot and slightly miffed. I waited ten minutes looking for customer service, but everyone was busy with other people, which I took as a good sign. Usually I don't like getting a whole lot of in-your-face customer service, but in a specialty shop like this, it's good to have an expert's input. After spending a while trying on helmets for size, I chose the one I wanted (which reinforced the research I'd already done online). When an attendant became available, I asked him if he had any helmets like the one I wanted in my size. Instead of answering my question, this attendant launched into some Socratic method bullshit asking me why I wanted this particular helmet. He clearly wanted me to buy one of the pricier "swoopy" helmets and was pushing me in that direction by ridiculing my choice - the "cute" helmet (still $50, not exactly cheap). Maybe he thought he could intimidate me because I'm a casual cyclist and I don't commute or do extreme biking. I just want to ride my bike and look cute without breaking my gourd, jackass. I would have been willing to listen to his reasoning if he'd presented it in a better way, but all he had to say was that my choice was laughable and typical for my type. Anyway, they didn't have a new helmet in my size and the color scheme I wanted and were unwilling to sell me the display model, so after cutting off my attendant and turning my back on his wise-ass smirk, I walked out of the store. Cute dog, though. read more

I'm a bike newb. I know nothing about bikes or riding. The backstory is that I'm an injured runner rehabbing a labral tear. After 2 months of PT and a cortisone shot I'm feeling good enough to get back to exercising. It's still going to be a while until I can run again (or not be too scared too) but my sports doc gave me the all clear on biking. Woo! I went to Ace to test drive some bikes and ultimately ended up buying a brand new Trek 7000. Here is my attempt at a thorough review of the process. Staff: Really, really great. When I went in for my test drive it took a while for someone to assist me (Ace is BUSY on Sundays!) but once I was helped I felt very taken care of. The guy picked out the bike I ended up buying, went over all the specs, and got me on it for a test drive. He was very knowledgeable and answered all of my obnoxious newb questions. When I returned two days later to buy the bike the guy that helped me then (different guy) was also really great. He gave me great advice, went above and beyond explaining the bike, and answered a ton of my questions. Also, I have to note, between my test drive and purchase I called Ace twice with silly newb questions and both times were given helpful, abundant, and thorough information. Bike Inventory: Um, TONS! There wasn't much need for me to explore too much, I hit the bike jackpot on the first try but the variety here was amazing, bikes of all sizes and price points. Very nice! Accessories: Also tons! They have huge areas for the two things I was most interested in (helmets and locks) but also have a really large selection of other accessories as well (bags, seats, fenders, lights, pumps, gloves, bells, etc). Price: It's pretty steep (my Trek was about $360) BUT totally worth it! I'm not sure why anyone would buy a refurbed bike at Bikes Not Bombs for $250, or a hunk of junk off Craigslist for $100, when you can buy a brand new, functional, warranted, and safe bike at Ace for just a wee bit more. I am a person who pays for peace of mind so I'm fine with the price I paid. Also, you get a free tune up within 30 days of your purchase as well as 10% off any accessories. Nice! My only complaint: Since I am a total newb I have no idea how to shift gears properly. I got a brief tutorial on my test drive but I'm feeling a little lost. I'll likely get some books at the library to help. I asked the guy who helped me the day I bought my bike if there was an owner's manual but he said no. I checked on the Trek website and they have a manual so that could be good too! All in all, I'm extremely satisfied with my experience. I'm happy to have given my business to such a great shop. These people really know their stuff, treat their customers well, and give a damn about both the bikes and their owners. read more

I was having a not so great day this week, and to top it off, I realized the handlebars on my bike seemed loose. I stopped by Wheelworks at 15 minutes before closing time (yup, I was one of those annoying customers who shows up just as the employees are ready for happy hour). A cheerful guy who I've seen since I've gone there immediately adjusted the handlebars, showed me that my wheel was loose, and inflated my tires. He also told me that my brake string was sharper than it looks, and covered it with a safety guard. What a sweetie! All free of charge. I love the french guy who works there as well. He used to live next door to me in Inman. He told me, "You want to have so many lights on your bike that you look like a Christmas tree!" I think he is the only European I've met who wears a helmet. He said he never did until a friend of his almost ended up as a vegetable. I could write and write about this place. Their friendliness, their expertise, their fairness, their shop dog... all are beyond comparison. When you visit Wheelworks, it's impossible to not leave in a good mood. Or maybe it's all the cute bikers. They love what they do, and they want you to be comfortable biking, too; even if you don't own any spandex and your bike is a beater from Craigslist. read more

A little while ago, I had some trouble with my brakes. On a flat surface, it took maybe 50 - 100 feet to stop fully going at a normal pace, which was incredibly unsafe. So I decided to bring it to a bike shop to get repaired. I read about this place, and it seemed decent enough, so I brought my bike there. When I walked in and asked about my brakes, however, the man said in a very obnoxious tone, "Usually you have to call in advance like 4 - 5 days." I was a bit put off, but I left my bike there for around 4 hours while they tinkered around with it. After all that time, I got a call from the same guy who said that my brakes were "too cheap to fix," and that I should just buy new ones from them. So, when I walked back there, I bought new brakes. I had tinkered around with my brakes before to try and fix them myself, so I knew how to put them on. So, when I bought them, I asked if I could put them on in the store so I wouldn't have to ride the 2 miles back to my house without brakes, at night. But with the same level of obnoxiousness that they'd used all day, they said "NO!" So, to recap, they were obnoxious when I dropped my bike off, obnoxious when they called me back, obnoxious when I came back to pick it up, and obnoxious even after I spend money there on new brakes. But the worst part was that, even after all of that, they still made me ride 2 miles, at night, WITHOUT WORKING BRAKES. I've done some more research since then, and I've found some other bike shops in the area that seem much better. Bike Boom is one, and there are many more. Go to one of them instead!! read more

When I started shopping around for a bike following the ease in the COVID-19 restrictions, I had set my expectations to a slow ramp up of service coupled with a shortage in bikes. Safe to say, Ace Wheelworks was a pleasant surprise. Their site is clean, easy to navigate and the inventory levels are updated on a regular cadence. After reaching out to the store with a couple of questions, I ordered a bike online and instantly got a pick-up time frame that was only 1 wk out! 2 days later, I got a call stating that my order was ready for pick-up during store hours and an email just in case I missed the call The pick up was seamless and observed all the necessary social distancing guidelines. The bike had been put together well enough that I was able to ride it home with no issues This store's communication, setting clear expectations and wealth of options is a gem. read more

Eeeeehhhh... I brought my bike in for a tune up. The guys here took a brief look at it and told me that the steering was completely shot. They were very honest that it wasn't a huge deal, but that if I wanted my bike to run smoothly, I should replace the handlebars and steering parts. Fine. It cost 30 for the parts and something like 30 for the labor. Ok. I then realize that the actual tune up is 70 bucks. 70 bucks for a tune up?!?! For real???? My bike has been running smoothly since. Has it been running more smoothly than when I got a tune up at Cambridge Bicycle for 30 bucks? No. But it's running smoothly. Long story short, I don't think a $70 tune up is ever worth it. It left a bad taste in my mouth about this place. But considering it's basically at the end of my street, I'll probably be back. read more

If you want a bike under $1000, you're going to be sorely disappointed at ACE. If you want expert advice and info about what parts are rubbish and why things cost so much, you're going to be very satisfied at ACE. I learned everything I know about Shimano shifters from a 10-minute rabbit hole with Bruce. He is also a wealth of knowledge on a series of other topics, including Italian racebikes, which are my Kryptonite. While I couldn't afford anything new at ACE, I did end up walking out with a used Bianchi Campione, for about $100 more than it was worth, but the convenience factor was so high. They even stored my old bike in the basement so I could ride home on my new rig. And for the first 30 days after you purchase from them, you get free maintenance should anything go awry (it did, of course, limit screws needed adjustment), and 10% off gear (which should bring it back down closer to normal cost). You can also put a deposit on a bike you're interested in and have it held. That was great for me. Why bump off two stars? - cost: it really is prohibitively expensive for laypeople - one of the employees (JJ? something like that) totally rubbed me the wrong way. He was pushy and diffident, and if it wasn't for Bruce, wouldn't have bought anything from ACE purely on that experience alone. He exemplifies the reasons people hate bike shops. In the race between here and HUB Bicycle, HUB will win every time. #cannolifridaysftw read more

This shop seems to have a great selection of bike and bike products but customer service seems rather absent or understaffed. On my first visit, there seemed to a proliferation of staff members flowing around, helping customers but I couldn't manage to flag one down to answer a few questions. I floated around for ten minutes, trying to catch someone as they became available but eventually gave up and decided to come back later. On my second visit, I experienced the same lack of available staff. Those on the floor were engaged with other customers and those behind the counter were aloof and constantly disappearing. There were some nice handle bar grips hanging behind the counter out of reach and I paced back and forth there for a bit attempting to get noticed and inquire about them. Finally one employee drifted over, ignored me, made a phone call and then left again, all without recognizing me standing right in front of him, making eye contact. The store wasn't exact bursting with customers but if he was busy, a simple acknowledgement and "I'll be right with you in a moment" would have sufficed. After repeated attempts, I left again. On my third visit, I stood stock still at the counter where I was ignored by several staff members (some of who were not helping anyone else and simply socializing) for fifteen minutes. Eventually a woman wandered over and asked what I wanted. I inquired about the grips in the display case and she passively fished them out for me to see. She was generally dismissive of selling them, somewhat ignorant of the product line and made no attempt to show me anything else. I was actively looking to purchase and had no budget cap. But she seemed completely uninterested in working with me, so I returned the grips to her and left. My old grips are practically rotting off my bike and I was looking for a bike aficionado to help me select a more quality replacement. It's a vintage bike that I'm fixing up and figured these people would know how to help. Unfortunately they don't seem that interested. I'll probably just order something online. read more

I wish I could love this place cause it's so convenient, but my experience has been so unreliable, I can't go back. I bought my first road bike from them several years back. At that time, I had found most of their staff helpful for a newbie to the sport, though sometimes a little disinterested in the sale. In the end I was pleased with my purchase and my bike. Fast forward to 6 weeks ago. I brought my bike in with a broken aero bar arm rest. Now sure, this isn't the most common part on a bike, but they do have several aero bars by the same maker hanging on the wall. The first guy couldn't seem to figure out what part to order. He eventually got some one else to help him. They agreed on the part to order, took my name and number, and I was hopeful, I'd be back on my bars in a week. A few days later I received a call, from the second person who'd helped me. She said that the part was bike-specific and needed to know the make and model of my bike. This still seems weird to me, but I'm not a bicycle expert, that's why I go to a shop. And then... nothing. I received no further information. I called a week later, and the guy who answered the phone said they'd gotten the part in, but not bothered to call me. When I came in, the first guy to help me took about 15 minutes finding my order slip. When he did find it, there was no part. Now another person gets involved and he tells me (reading what's on the slip) that the part was ordered, arrived, but was the wrong part. They have to get some one in Belmont to re-order it, and that guy won't be in til tomorrow. He assures me that he will personally call me tomorrow to give me an update. Ok, not their fault that the wrong part came in, but they could have called me to let me know. No big surprises here: tomorrow comes and goes, and I receive no call. A week goes by, I head back to the shop. The same guy apologetically tells me that the part was only ordered the day before and hasn't arrived yet. At this point, I'm frustrated, I've been waiting for the part for weeks now. Yesterday, I finally get a call that the part has arrived. Hooray! I go in to pick it up, and it's the wrong part. Turns out they'd gotten the right part weeks ago, but sent it back cause they thought it was the wrong one. If some one had called me then, I'd be back on the road with my bars. But now it's been 6 weeks, and I'm exactly where I was before, and I'm ordering the part myself directly from the manufacturer. read more

I don't think 4 stars was fair on these guys. They're the bomb. It's possibly the best bike shop I've ever been to - not necessarily on range, but there's something else happening - a sense of community! They have the most mechanics of any bike shop I've ever seen, you can get seen on the spot. They're all friendly and they're all bike nuts. I love this place! read more