I'm very happy with Ace. I purchased a bicycle over the summer... they were extremely patient with me and let me try many different makes and models. I dealt with both stores (Belmont and Somerville) on multiple days and each time had a great experience. After my purchase, I stopped in a few times asking if they had a bike pump I could borrow as I headed out the door not checking my tires pressures (doh!). No problem! They have a compressor and a standing pump at your disposal. Another time I stopped in to get a steel pin for my back tire. I had just purchased a trainer (online but had not received it yet) and I thought I needed one. Not only did one of the employees tell me I didn't need it because the trainer I bought came with one, he opened up a box to verify it with me. Talk about customer service! Bottom line, they go above and beyond and their prices are reasonable with no hipster attitude. read more

New area cyclists looking for a local bike shop to support: go here, if you don't plan to stay in the area for more than a year or so. Ace is great. Cyclists that want to stick around town for 3+ years: Ctrl+F or Command+F "years" on this page and take an average of those reviews. My recommendation: support elsewhere. I'd go on, but it will take a while. If you're curious, start reading here: http://yourstruly.bostonbiker.org/2010/01/18/swobo-adventures1/ (warning: bit of a long story, with lots of "we'll call you back" promises.) To quote a friend: "every shop has screwed something up in one way or another... HOW they handle the screw-up is the biggest piece of the pie." Ace has lost one of its most loyal customers. Buhbye. ps. Will miss Bruce. read more

So I came to this place to get an assessment for my bike. During the assessment they cut my shifting cable to test out the shifter, which I later found out was not a necessity, however they still charged me for a new cable anyways. The cable wire is not expensive but it's the principle of not charging someone for something that was not necessary. After questioning their method, the mechanic that did the assessment argued with me outside stating that's how they test for the shifters (contrary from the assessment I received from other bike shops). After an embarrassing back and forth another employee finally just told him to give me a cable wire and get me out of there. I wouldn't recommend this place, staff is rude, place is overpriced and apparently they lack the ability to give me a fair and honest assessment. The only reason I'm not giving them a one star is because they finally gave me the cable at the end. I hope this place gets it together. read more

I have a really old 3-speed, and Ace supposedly has a person on staff who is a specialist in my type of bike. However, in the interest of having the bike remain "authentic" or maybe because he's just lazy, I'm not sure, they didn't do a very good job of fixing my bike's brakes. When I left the place, the brakes were actually in worse shape than when I brought it in. The guy seemed offended when I brought it back, and loosened something so the brakes sort of mildly worked. When I brought my bike to another shop, they said whoever had done the brakes had gotten it totally wrong, and had to completely re-build them! The other time I brought my bike into Ace, they didn't have the right part and sent me down to another place in Central. Aside from this, the people are friendly and nice, but I just don't trust them anymore. read more

OK, this joint is a good place. They know their bikes here. However, I'm only giving four stars on account of the old French guy who works there (i'm not sure if he still does, but he worked there for years). Actually, no major complaints about him except that everything he says sounds so cool with his accent that you might actually buy some parts/gear you don't need. Really. If he's still there, talk to him, he'll convince you that you're gonna win the Tour du France if you buy that crazy looking racing jersey on the back wall. Seriously. . . read more

It had been 40 years since I owned a bike, but decided it was time. The folks at Ace were wonderful. I went 3 separate times as I explored options and each visit they took their time to explain exactly what I needed to think about with no pressure to buy. They made sure I test rode a few before making up my mind and each time adjusted the bike to make sure it fit me right. Everyone was very knowledgable and gave me lots of tips for a new rider. I have now bought 2 biked (1 for my wife also) and am really delighted with Ace Wheelworks. read more

I love these guys -- truly a great neighborhood bike store. I sometimes feel like a child in a candy store when I go here. There are so many treats, excitement, joy, and additions to Puchy (my bike) I can spend my hard worked paycheck on. Have a question? Want a recommendation? Talk to one of the friendly and knowledgeable guys there. Every time I have asked anything, I did not feel pressured to buy anything extra or feel like they are trying to screw me out of a handful of money. (please reread this section again, because I have felt uncomfortable or pressured at many other bike shops in the Boston/Camberville area). read more

Looking to get in better shape and start saving some gas money, I decided to buy a bike. After visititing several local shops and test riding a few bikes, I just had to make my purchase at Ace. They had all the other shops on selection, and the staff was really laid back and super friendly. Plus they genuinely seem to have your interest at heart as my awesome sales guy help me picked out the perfect bike without me over paying for something I did not need. They were really helpful in getting me set up with all the items I needed, seeing that I was obviously a novice when it came to bikes, and they walked me through how to do some basic maintainance. I have visited every week since to buy more accessories from them, bike enthusiast knows what I am talking about, hooking up your bike is a full time hobby! From a lot of Yelp suggestion, broadway bicycle school was where I was gonna buy my bike, but their selections were just too limited for me. Hit up Ace or the big Wheelworks in Belmont, they were just as pleasant there, but I chose Ace for proximity to me. You will not be disappointed here read more

I walk by Ace a few times a week. Every day they put their wide selection of used bikes in front of the store. One night a used Cannondale road bike began calling to me - I don't know what it was - I don't really know bikes very well and hadn't really ridden one since my dad bought me a 10 speed when I was a kid - but somehow I knew that this was a "good" bike. Not really listening to myself, I kept walking to Shaws and said that I'd look at it more seriously on the way back. But, it was gone 30 minutes later. I'd missed my opportunity - someone else had seen in it what I had seen and bought it before I could follow my spontenaeity. The next morning as I was still thinking about my missed opportunity, I walked by Ace on my way to work and...there it was! The night before that other person had just been taking it out for a test drive. I walked in and began talking to Bruce who was super helpful. He spent a lot, a lot of time with me and didn't get frustrated when I kept asking questions. He even helped fit the bike (i.e. adjust the seat to my height and reach / look at my stance) which I learned later usually costs more. About an hour later I walked out with the Cannondale. A couple weeks later I went out for my first ride and it was beautiful - the wind against me, the fluidity of movement, the responsiveness of the light, aluminum frame as I tell it what I want it to do and, in general, the world passing by a little faster than I can take it in :) Thanks, Ace for beginning this journey... Now, what I didn't realize was that there is more to biking than a frame, wheels, breaks, seat, handle bar and gears. There is clothing and accessories. I went back a second time and talked with Bruce extensively about clothing and then a third time and worked with Cat. I explained that I was a total newbie, but thinking about the shoes which lock into the peddles as well as clothing. She was really nice - again, she took a lot of time wtih me and didn't turn her nose up when I said that I was just looking and thinking about things. She also really knows her stuff. I find that at Ace, the people who work there really know about biking - they know about the physiology of biking and, as an independent store, they choose the clothing / accessories themselves - which are often the items they use / have tested themselves. So, now I'm riding my bike to work for the first time which is about 8-9 miles away and I need to figure out how to hold my laptop / clothes / cell phone / etc. Again, I get the right things I need - a pouch for under my seat and some spare parts in case I get a flat as well as a great messenger backpack. My Targus one just didn't feel right on the bike. I haven't really compared prices, but I don't really care (within reason). I expect that a local independent shop won't have the purchasing power of a large conglomorate, but I also don't expect to get this level of service and hours of attention when it isn't always clear whether or not I'm going to buy something. So, now that winter is coming, I'm thinking about getting some rollers rather than joining a gym. I do some research online and find this company called Kreitler which seems really good. It turns out that that is the brand that Ace carries. I walk in and begin working with Jason. I ask him some questions which he answers, but the rollers are around $380 and I'm new to biking, so I'd really like to try them before I buy. Assuming I'll get a "no" answer, I decide to take a chance and ask if that would be okay. Not only is it okay, but Jason gets the rollers down from the ceiling, takes the wrapping off, grabs a bike from their inventory, shows me how to do it himself and then holds my bike so that I can get a feel for it without falling. He then explains that while the rollers are a great training tool and have a feel you can't get on a fixed bike, there is definitely a learning curve and you can definitely fall if you loose focus / your balance. But he also gives advice on how he learned. It was definitely a lot harder than I thought - the Kreitlers are really smooth so tiny fluctuations in balance are felt - and when I tell him I need to think about it, he's totally cool - there wasn't any expectation by him that I would buy the rollers when he got them down / showed me how to use them and held the bike steady as I tried for the first time. I don't know where else this - and I don't even want to call it service - just this way of interacting with a customer - would happen. I can see where some of the lower reviews here come from - there can be an edge to the place and at times I have felt that I was being "sized up" as I first walked in. However, once I began talking with people they have been beyond friendly and helpful. To them it doesn't matter that I'm a total newbie, I think they see that I am genuinely interested in learning how to bike and they respond to that. Thanks again Ace for starting this journey. read more

Their in-person customer service is great, but I've got to agree with William B. about the quality of the routine repairs, they simply are not detail-oriented. I've had several bad experiences here now: 1) Came in after having crashed my bike in a race. The rear derailleur cable had snapped, so I obviously needed a new one. I asked them to look over the bike as well to see if anything else was amiss. I came back the next day; they had replaced the rear derailleur cable, but neglected to notice that the derailleur hanger was so badly out of alignment that you couldn't reach the bottom two gears. This is really bizarre to me, since shifting through the gears seems like a basic thing to do after having replaced the rear derailleur cable. Got it fixed at Landry's instead. 2) Crashed my bike in the rain. The front brake lever was totaled; again, I asked them to fix it and look over the bike to see if anything else was amiss. They fixed the front brake lever, but the rear derailleur cable was completely frayed, and they did nothing about it. Fixed it myself. 3) Came in for routine tune-up. When I got my bike back, both brakes were rubbing on the rim and the rear shifting cable tension was poorly adjusted. Easy fix, but still. 4) Had a dent in my front wheel. Fortunately, it was covered by the Mavic Crash Protection program. The expected return date was a Thursday. I called on Thursday to ask if Mavic had sent the wheel; they hadn't, but said they'd call me back. After not hearing from them for a week, I called back again to ask. The person who answered didn't know anything about what was happening, but said he'd call me back. Still waiting on this. It's a shame, because the employees are really nice in person, and their sister shop in Belmont is fantastic. I'll still come here occasionally, because of their geographical location, but I'm not coming back for any mechanical issues. I don't really blame the mechanics; they obviously know their way around bikes, but it seems like they're in such a hurry to get through a large volume of bikes (not surprising, it's a popular store) that they neglect really basic details. read more

Wheelworks has always been a mixed-bag for me. My first experience there was decidedly not-good. I had just decided to get into road-biking, so I told the salesperson I was looking for road shoes, pedals, helmet, etc. I was new at this, so I trusted that the shoes she was showing me were road shoes. I get home and show them to my roommate, who had worked at a shop, and he says, "Cool, but why did you get mountain shoes? Versatility?" Ugh. I went back, and of course it was pretty easy to up-sell me to a nicer road shoe. That experience was 1 star. I've been in and out of Ace many times in the 3 years since then, but I find an experience depends on two things: what you're looking for, and who's helping you. Some of the employees are really patient, helpful, and knowledgeable, while others seem to want to test your knowledge to see if you're worth their time. My best experience was yesterday. My floor pump nozzle broke over the weekend, and I came in looking for a rebuild kit. I knew it was unlikely they'd have it, as the pump was three years old, a discontinued model, and who knows whether they ever carried it. However, I asked (it was actually the same person who sold me the shoes), and she took a look downstairs and found a kit she thought might work. "Don't worry, if it doesn't fit, you can return it," she said quietly. Happily, it did the trick. The main reason I go to Ace is because it's so close to my house. Their service is generally friendlier than other shops I've been to in Cambridge and Somerville, although it has its highs and lows. They carry a good variety of merchandise that'll do in a pinch. read more

Went here last week looking for a bike. Mehmet and Randall helped me out and they were both really great. Both patiently answered my questions, showed me exactly what I wanted, and I did not feel like they were trying to sell me things that I did not want or need. Also, store was pretty busy but I was given attention quickly and did not feel like I was being ignored or rushed. I had read previous reviews about the poor customer service at this place but that was not my experience at all and it seems like things have changed. I didn't buy a bike before leaving (though I plan on going back) and they did not seem angry after spending 1 hour helping me. Give them a try! read more

My son and I went to Ace Wheelworks to pick him up a new commuter bike after his was stolen. Specialized was having a sale on their bikes and Wheelworks is one of the only shops that carries them. Staff was friendly and helpful. Wound up getting a used Specialized hybrid that was a great deal and in great condition. Highly recommend. read more

I went there looking for a new bike. They tried to sell my old models for almost retail and charged a higher price than MRSP for 2011 models. Check out the other stores before you buy anything from here!!!! read more

More like Ace WheelJERKS. If you have boobs, expect leers and condescension from the staff if they don't outright ignore you, only to fawn over the first spandex dude who walks in the door. What a hideous, toxic, overpriced oppressive hellhole. Only use in case of emergency, or extreme laziness while in Davis. Bike shops are pretty dudely and condescending in general, but this is absolutely the worst I've ever experienced. read more

A large selection of parts, and lots of pretty bikes to ogle at (that's the way that some of us roll). If I were going to drop several grand on a piece of sport jewelry, I would probably do it at a place like this. I personally come here for bike parts on one of my Frankenstein DIY bike builds, especially when I'm in a hurry and don't want to wait for one of the mail order houses to send me stuff. The prices are a bit high, but they are pretty fair. The sales people are friendly and knowledgeable (you would think that all high-end bike shops would have people who know their stuff, but that just isn't the case). When I needed a box to ship a bike, they gave me one for free. read more

My new single speed bicycle was making me feel oh-so-slow, but maybe it's me? In any case, I decided to drop in for a little help. I went in and spoke with a really helpful guy named Mamet. In the end, he fixed my break pad, seat, and the location of my hand breaks. After each adjustment he'd check in and let me know the ways in which I could achieve an ergonomic fit and efficient ride. When we were finished I asked how much was owed and he said NOTHING! Amazing! He helped me for about 45 minutes and now my bike rides swimmingly. Way to go Wheelworks! Everyone is helpful, knowledgeable and super cool. Thanks! read more

Have now finally purchased a bike, love it, and still loved their service - no negative stars, would love to be able to add a 6th. The shop was packed, but multiple guys spent loads of time helping us decide on accessory options, put things together, adjust things, and generally make sure we were happy and comfortable with everything we chose. They even put our bike rack on the car, and the bikes on the bike rack. I am now significantly poorer, so I hope to not have to visit Wheelworks again too soon. But would highly recommend them to any one looking to get into biking. read more

I've been to quite a number of bike stores in the past year, thanks to picking up cycling as a stress-relief/exercise/transportation habit. This is the best one I've been to. Friendly folks who treat you well, even if you don't know much of anything about bicycles (other than "it has two wheels")? Check. Fantastic selection of stuff from cycling apparel to shoes to parts to accessories to bikes themselves? Check. Good hours that work for folks who have lives and full-time jobs? Check. Convenient location with bike parking inside and outside the shop? Check. It's a bit farther from my apartment than probably half a dozen other bike shops, at least, but this is where I'll go for everything bike-related. Good service and good products and decent prices - can't beat that. read more

Biking through Porter Square, I blew out a tire on the way to work. Walked my bike over to Ace and seeing how busy the store was that i would need to call a cab, but one of the guys looked at the bike and told me he could get me on the road in 15 minutes. 12 minutes later I am back on my bike and only slightly late for work. Good quick service and not as pricy as I was fearing. read more

Thnew ebike for the quick turnaround on my e-bike flat tire they also let me test ride to

A year since my last review, I brought my bike in for a tune-up. Carelessly, I had left it locked up outside during our monsoon season (also known as "spring"). While I was there, I decided I'd purchase a rack for it. "How much to get the rack put on my bike?" I asked. "Ten, maybe fifteen dollars," the employee replied. The hell? "I'm pretty handy," I said. "When I pick up my bike, maybe I'll purchase the rack and then install it myself." A week later, I returned to get my bike and asked a different employee about the cost of attaching the rack. "Cost?" he asked, "I'll attach it for free." So I left that visit satisfied, but I'm still fairly put off by the first employee. I'll certainly never need his help. read more

Wheelworks has become my regular shop since I moved from Boston to Somerville recently. I do most of my own maintenance but often need parts and advice. The friendly, efficient employees do good work and are always happy to explain problems and advise me on my options. Sometimes that means helping me figure out a DIY solution. I once came in with a stripped frame mount (couldn't get the screw out), expecting confirmation that there was no hope, and they fixed it in ten minutes for $5 while showing me why it broke in the first place. Unlike some shops, I've never been ignored or felt judged because my bike is not fancy or expensive. Though I'm hoping to buy a nice new bike in the coming months, perhaps from them. read more

A wonderful neighborhood bike store! I recently purchased a new bike from them and was impressed by the knowledge of the staff and their desire to truly find the right bike for you rather than "selling" you on one bike or another. They spend time explaining differences in construction, frame size and other factors that go into the bike and then insist on getting you out to test ride a bunch of bikes to narrow in on what will work best for you. Never with any pressure to buy. Another thing I love about this place is that its always buzzing with activity - the kind that makes you excited about getting out and riding your bike. read more

I purchased a Gary Fisher for my wife as a graduation present at ACE. This place was great from start to finish. I went in on a Saturday morning with an idea of what I wanted, and within 5 minutes the staff had 6 bikes to choose from that fit my needs. They had bikes that run the range on price and quality. And when i was there, they had some wicked sales going ta boot! I was able to get outta there with a new bike, helmet, night lights, basket, and a kryptonite lock for significantly less than I had slotted to spend. Their post-purchase help has been great too. For example, there was some paint on the fender that had a slight nick in it, and there was also a stray piece of stitching coming off the seat. All i had to do was run it back to the shop, and they ordered me touch up paint and a new seat at no cost. These guys are awesome! read more

In this part of town Ace Wheelworks can do it all for you at a reasonable price and time frame. While waiting for a wheel replacement, the staff approached me frequently to make sure that I had been helped. I wanted a wheel replaced ( because it was bent) and wanted the tube and tire to be spared if possible. The lady that cared for this was very polite and efficient. While I was waiting I noticed several interactions that impressed me. One was when the mechanic talked to a client and made a very reasonable strategy to fix a problem: try this and if that sodas the work for you then we can do that. Instead of muscling a sale, I could tell that all he wanted to do was to fix the Robles and make the customer happy. Another interaction was with a customer who had a complaint. The mechanic addressed it immediately outside the store and made some adjustments to the customers satisfaction. NO CHARGE. It was refreshing to see good old customer service in action. The prices are kinda high but if you want good service, it shouldn't deter you from saying a couple extra bucks. read more

I'm a frequent commuter and light recreational cyclist; and for me, Ace is tops. Their selection and prices meet my needs more often than not; but above all that, the staff are just awesome. It's a feat in any industry when someone can both demonstrate how knowledgeable they are without also making you feel like a jerk for being more knowledgeable yourself. I feel like in bike shops around Boston it's a goddamn miracle. I was in to replace a stolen bike (which I had also got at Ace and was very happy with until said theft), and Colin was really great at listening to my needs and what I did and didn't like about my last bike. He also explained HOW the bikes he was showing me met my needs. He was also patient as I took a number of models out around the block (less than hour before closing). And when I had a front-runner, he made some adjustments and had me take it out again. When you buy a bike here, you get 10% off accessories and free installation. Colin was again very helpful in picking the right accoutrements out--but I never felt pressured or like I was getting a hard sell. Before sending me on my way, he also explained the warranty and free maintenance services included in the first 3 months. So despite dropping a paycheck, I feel great about the whole experience. read more

I went to Ace Wheelworks at the end of April/beginning of May with ZERO knowledge of bikes so I was completely in the dark. I went in and was immediately met by 5 or 6 different employees who were all knowledgable. The first gentleman I spoke to on Friday May 3 was nice and took his time explaining to me what would be the best company for me - I was looking to get a bike for my first triathlon. Ace offers test rides, but since they didn't had the bike in stock, but it wasn't assembled. They were kind enough to make me an appointment to return the next day to test ride the bike. I returned on Saturday May 3 at my assigned time and was met by a different employee, a female, who was a long distance rider and was obviously very familiar with the female bike frames. She was super sweet and allowed me to try 3 or 4 different bikes. She understood my price range and didn't try to upsell me, which I was worried about since I was such a bike newbie. I found the bike of my dreams and picked it up on Sunday May 5. They also offer you a discount on accessories for 2 weeks after your purchase so I picked up my bike helmet and a water bottle holder while there. But Ace Wheelworks was professional, knowledgable and extremely friendly. It is a great neighborhood store with ample side streets to test ride bikes. I hadn't been on a bike outdoors since high school (I'm 30) and I felt safe in the area around the store. Thank you Ace for making a scary purchase enjoyable! read more

Went in on a Sunday. Knew what I wanted. They pulled the bike out of the back. I took it for a quick ride with no qualifications. They tuned it up and checked it over real quick and I was out the door quicker than I expected. There was an extra part missing off the bike. I called, they told me to come right over. It was out of stock and they offered me a better version at no cost. I was out the door with a handshake quicker than you can imagine. Friendly sales folk, knowledgeable mechanics and super helpful staff. read more

I've been coming here for years, but I just had the strangest experience. I made the mistake of riding my own ebike to the store and came in with it. I was immediately judged and told they don't do any ebikes except the ones they sell. When I returned a few minutes later to buy one of their new ebikes, the guy was completely condescending--still judging me by the bike he saw me with earlier. I told him I was interested in buying a better one, but I wanted to know WHY the ones they sold were "better." He kept saying, "This one's just better." I kept insisting that I was interested in HOW it was better, emphasizing "I want to buy a new bike here. I just want to know why this is better than the one I already have." He persisted, "It's just better." When I brought up the topic of specs, I had to ask about brakes, drive trane, wattage, voltage, in order to get him to say anything about specs. He confused watts and voltage then just acted annoyed with me. After some long pauses in conversation, I finally just said, "Well, if that's all then thank you" and walked out. Wish they cared like my previous visits, but I guess that's changed. read more

Im new to biking and after visiting a few other bike shops Im solidly sold on Ace. Im doing a lot of my own maintenance work/build work and there is just a lot of stuff I dont know and could not glean from parts lists and online advice. Went into ace a couple different times, each time I asked about a dozen questions and each time they were extremely patient with me. Basically walked me through all of the procedures and gave me tips to get the job done. They seem to have lots of employes, all of them dedicated bike fans. I think just having so many people around gives them a lot of leg room to stand around and help a new guy out. read more

I used to be an avidly loyal Wheelworks customer. Their advice and service were always kind and reliable. However, this December I paid to have my bicycle boxed to ship to Europe for three months of travel. Upon arrival two of the locking spars, the pedals, and the front light were all missing. I e-mailed several times but never received a response. Upon return I telephoned to ask about the missing parts, and the response was derisive and condescending. When I explained the situation the man who answered the telephone laughed and said "No way, dude. they're not here." I was not even given the time of day, and was informed point blank that the workroom is turned over every three days and that there was no way of tracking down the pieces. I respect that the request was untimely, but to not notice that five pieces were left over from a job is very poor business practice. The replacement parts cost me $150, and lost all respect for this establishment. I will not be trusting my bicycle to them again, and have recommended that my friends do the same. read more

Just to echo the sentiments of a bunch of people using the tune-up services. I had a bike tuned up after a spoke broke, and was pretty happy with the results (freewheel was replaced, brake cables were re-run, and a spoke was replaced). This initial tune-up was expensive, but I call it fair game because I had abused the bike. Anyways, I had broken another spoke and rode in on a slowly leaking tire. After two days in the shop, I was charged 20$ for the spoke replacement, and they didn't even patch the tire, which is a 0.05$ part which could be done while the inner tube was off anyways. The tech noted this down as he was returning the bike to me. For 20$ I expected a little more care. read more

Last week I booked a tune-up at Ace Wheelworks. The nice guy who booked me (and took time to explain things well) told me to bring the bike a day before the tune-up. I did. On the way to the store, I was rained through and through and I arrived at 18:57, 3 minutes before the 19:00 closing time. The door was locked but several employees were still inside. They saw me but refused to come to the door, while outside it was pouring rain. I did not know any of them - there is personnel turnover, and after I bought the bike there in 2014, I stopped by once a year to buy accessories, rain gear or tune-ups (most times the experience was positive, except for one negligent tune-up that I had to fix at Landry's Bicycles). The guy who had booked me last week was not present (of course, all reservations can be checked in the computer). Eventually one woman came to the door and said they were closed and leaving. I explained they had asked me to bring the bike the day before the repairs, and that they just needed to take the bike in. There were 4 or 5 employees: none wanted to take it inside, and when they were leaving 5 minutes later, all told me I should come in the morning. Two similar, gray-bearded fellows then explained smugly that I should have come on time, to which I said: "I did, I arrived 3 minutes before 7 PM. Your colleague scheduled me for tomorrow and told me to bring the bike today - you just need to take it in". One of the bearded guys was particularly rude, dismissive, and condescending. He shut the door and replied smirking that their clocks were different, to which I replied that was a lie. He told me "Fuck yourself!", to which I repeated he was a deliberate liar, which seemed to infuriate him. Startlingly, he asked for my family name and said he would search the reservations in the computer, with a sudden cunning expression on his face. I refused to provide my name and reiterated he was a liar (this final exchange was a shouting match) and he told me I shouldn't come to the store again. That was the end of the wonderful exchange in the pouring rain. It is hard to believe the clock in the store is faulty. Likely they decided to leave early and they didn't care about clients or reservations - in heavy rain. They could have just let the bike in, it would have taken one of them 30 seconds. Instead, they lied coldly. Though I could go to the store again and take my chances for a tune-up, I remember the last guy's cunning expression and his name request. These are not individuals to whom I should entrust again my bike's brakes and gears. Ace Wheelworks used to be a fine store, but people change. Moving recently nearby, I had looked forward to often taking my bike to the Ace Wheelworks store. Over the years I had spent some thousands of dollars there - buying there my bike, accessories, rain jackets, getting tune-ups. There still are good, nice, competent people at Ace Wheelworks - but the bad apples are really bad. Now I must find a different bike store. Thinking about it more a day later, I can understand why a man would tell me "Fuck yourself!" when I say he is a liar. Psychologically it is straightforward. Even a liar, as he was, dislikes being called on it. That would just be bad temper and refusal to admit a mistake. However, there isn't any good and honorable reason for why he wanted my family name and said he would search the reservations in the computer. I can surely think of at least two reasons, yet neither is honorable. I travel with my bike 8 miles almost every day in Boston traffic, navigating between contractor vans that run red lights, drivers who text on their cell phones and delivery guys on electric bikes, who respect no rules. Like any Boston area cyclist, I must be attentive, and having faulty brakes or gears could get me killed. I thus care very much who services my bike, and beyond skill, there is a much more basic requirement such a person should meet: trust. The man who asked for my family name and wanted to search the reservations in the computer, and the store who employs him, are not worth this trust. Let's be clear here: WHILE ALSO CURSING ME, THE BIKE MECHANIC REQUESTED MY FAMILY NAME AND SAID HE WOULD SEARCH FOR MY NAME IN THEIR COMPUTER SYSTEM! This is DISQUALIFYING for a bicycle mechanic. It also is despicable from the store who backs him. read more

I've only been to this place once. I have never owned a road bicycle before so I wanted to check shops to see where i can get the best deal/information. I have to say this shop was one of the better ones that I have been to. I had to wait 10 minutes for someone to acknowledge me, but the store was so busy I did not mind. When an employee came up, he was very nice and helpful. He showed me all the bikes that were right for me at my price range and allowed me to test the bikes. He even helped me adjust the seat and fitted me with the correct bike. That was a lot better than other service that I have received from other bike shops. He even told me about deals that they were having (10% off accessories for the first month and a free tune-up within the first two months if I purchased the bike). I wanted to check other bike shops around the area before I made my decision, but I will probably be back at Ace Wheelworks sometime soon. read more

I bought a bike at the Belmont store a few years ago (a Surly Crosscheck that I love) and it has served me very well. Now that I'm pregnant and still bike-commuting daily, I needed to look at bikes with a more belly-friendly geometry and riding position. Bruce spent a lot of time talking to me about what I was looking for and what would best suit my needs, both now and once I'm thinking about attaching child seats/trailers in the future. He was incredibly nice, thorough, and knowledgeable and patiently brought out four models for me to try out that were all really good possibilities. The store is usually busy and it can be hard to get personal attention on the weekends when they're slammed, but everyone I've dealt with has always been wonderful: friendly, extremely bike-savvy, and really passionate about helping people of all skill levels with their bikes. read more

I am very happy with this store. In addition to all that they do that others have written about in reviews, I would like to make a particular point of what makes this store better than most. We live in a high bicycle theft area and when thefts happen we have to come up with serial numbers, receipts and all possible expenses ever made on a bike. I bought a Fuji at Bicycle Exchange and went there for many $100's of dollars in repairs. They have no record of anything ever sold to me. NOTHING. Wheelworks on the other hand, has records of all purchases made under my name and keeps information on serial numbers etc. This makes them a superior store for an area with such high levels of theft. I certainly recommend them so that you avoid so much trouble tracing information when bikes are stolen. Thank you Wheelworks!!!!!!! read more

Really quality service, decent prices, friendly guys. I got a great deal on a new bike, they were extremely knowledgeable about helping me find what I wanted, and were not too pushy with selling it to me. Like another reviewer I went 3 or 4 times to check out the bike I was looking at and they never stopped helping me/never got sick of me! Very glad to have found these guys. It's sometimes a little crowded, but that just goes to show they're doing quite well. read more

I could spend hours in this place, perusing the drop dead gorgeous bicycles (with stripes! over-sized baskets! honey-colored leather seats! strangely tiny wheels!), wool base layers, and two-hundred-dollar panniers. Ach! I want I want I want . . . But the really neat thing about this place is, the employees love to talk to you -- and ninety percent of the time they're going to tell you that you don't need something. If you show them the 20-dollar helmet you got at Park Bicycle and wonder aloud if it's anywhere near as neat as those slick sixty-dollar ones they sell, they'll say to you "why, that's a perfectly lovely helmet you have!" and spend fifteen minutes adjusting it for you to make sure it fits your head just right. Yesterday I wandered in there and someone taught me how to change a tire: that was a whopping profit of six dollars (in a new tube) for them. Friendly and knowledgeable employees, beautiful things I will never be able to afford . . . what more could a girl want? read more

A few months ago I purchased a road bike at the Salvation Army; Ace Wheel Works fixed it up, put some new tires on it, all for under $40. Yesterday, I got a flat tire on this same bike; for $8 (plus $5 labor) it was fixed in less then ten minutes while I waited. This is a fantastic bicycle store. read more

Ace Wheelworks - Storefront - Bikes Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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