The owner is awesome. I took my old beat up mountain bike that I had given to my nephew years ago here. My nephew was just a kid and like me, loved having the freedom of a bicycle so I decided to give him my old classic Stumpjumper. Well, my nephew grew up and got a car and one day asked me if I wanted my bike back which I very happily took back. But it had been sitting in the garage for years. I originally took it to two shops in SoCal and they both said around $400. Didn't have time to fix it before moving to Arlington so took my bike with me and took it to another shop in the area and they said $800! I wasn't crazy about that so came here to Big Wheel. The owner looked at my bike and was like, $150-200. I was like, naw my bike needs a lot of work. Why don't you hold on to it and let me know? Well, he fixed it up and charged me $200! All those other shops were going to buy me new wheels. He was like, I took a good look at your wheels and they're old, but you don't need new ones. You can ride those out until they blow. Agreed. He also said he could restore it (my bike was filthy) but what was the point? It's a mountain bike. Agreed. So replaced some cables, a spoke, tightened up all the loose joints, oiled and ready to ride. I rode it to my car from the shop and it rides great! Yep, this is the place. read more

Went to Big Wheel today to have them take a look at my back tire and figure out what was wrong. They took the time to explain exactly what caused the issue and even showed me how to avoid it in the future. I really appreciated that they didn't just fix it--they made sure I understood what happened. And the little details made such a difference: they even asked me what kind of music I wanted them to play in the store while they were working on my bike. Such friendly, knowledgeable, and thoughtful customer service. I felt really taken care of and will definitely be coming back! Highly recommend Big Wheel! read more

Big Wheel Bikes - Bikes Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

I bought a Bianchi cruiser bike from here last year. Nice Nice Bike. The two gentlemen that work there are fantastic Professionals. Knowledgeable, courteous, kind, helpful. We go back just to chat with them, because they are so helpful. read more

Big Wheel Bikes - Bikes Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

I needed a bike to help me get around the DC and Alexandria area while I was visiting from out of town. I thought I knew exactly what I needed, but I was wrong. The staff helped me realize that a hybrid bike was the better choice for what I was looking for. It was perfect--and even less expensive than what I originally planned to rent! I'll definitely be back the next time I'm in town. read more

Big Wheel Bikes - Big wheel bikes shop - Bikes Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

Rented bikes for 2 days. Everything was perfect. Loved having the flexibility of riding all day and not worrying about returning a city bike rental was awesome. We had 2 locks and were able to lock the bikes at the various places we visited. Loved having the shop close at 7, so we had a full day of riding. We rode 25+ miles each day. I would highly recommend big wheel bikes. read more

See all

The customer service at this location was absolutely unmatched. The guys at the shop took the mangled mess of bikes I had in my trunk and gave them back in working condition, within record time! Even was nice enough to help with my less than ideal traffic choices! lol! Thanks again! read more

Renting two bikes from this location for a day ended up costing me $600. Here's how: While my online reservation said I could return the bikes by 5:45 pm, I found on my return that the shop had actually closed at 5:00 (no one called), forcing me to take the bikes to my hotel. The next morning, as I prepared to bring the bikes back, they were stolen from right in front of my lodging on King Street, just a mile away. If Big Wheel knows that bike theft is a problem in Old Town, then they should inform the tourists who are renting from them -- and provide more than just one (1) cable lock (the website promises a lock, but doesn't inform renters that it will be one that is worthless). In 2024, U-locks should be standard. I found the staff to be friendly and understand it's a lousy situation, but I don't think it's fair to have charged me $600 in total for a pair of well-used rental bikes when the only reason they were lost is that the shop closed earlier than promised -- and gave me a single cable lock that cannot prevent theft. read more

Good news is he had the time to get my bike serviced the same day. Bad is I sent a request for bid on my bike. $70-$130 was the bid. The bike wasn't in bad shape, it's been in my garage for a year. It ended up somehow costing $137. I wasn't happy about that, but he did a good job airing up and replacing tube. ?! read more

I went in to Big Wheel today needing help with a couple if minor issues with my Bianchi road bike. Being a busy Friday with their amazing location in Old Town and their reputation for high customer service they were still attentive and quickly fixed my 2 issues and graciously did not charge me for their time. I highly recommend this store I have shopped here several times. They are personable, knowledgeable and they genuinely want you to have a positive experience and get back out riding! read more

I had great service at the store. I went in with my son. He sized him to a bike properly and was very helpful.

Walked in and rented a bike for a couple hours. Cool old school bike shop with friendly people and down to earth vibes. Really refreshing. There are too many shops out there that only cater to $10000 bikes, or charge outrageous prices for rentals. Wish there were more shops like this. The bike I rented was reasonably priced and mechanically sound. Will certainly be back. read more

I needed some minor work on my bike. And also needed an extension rod to raise the handle bars. Though I didn't purchase this bike at Big Wheels, it's been clear to me in speaking with the staff here on several occasions, that this is THE place in Alexandria to get your bike fixed, serviced and tuned up. My experience here was absolutely first rate. Bennett and his staff are totally fantastic. They did a great job on my bike and also helped me with the other several minor adjustments. The end result is that it's a lot easier for me with my back challenge to enjoy riding and everything is working as it should. They are so easy to talk to, and always make a huge effort to make sure that you understand what they're doing and that you're completely satisfied with the work they've done. As another reviewer wrote, there's no BS here. I can't say enough good things about Big Wheels, but I can say a big THANK YOU to Bennett, Diego and the rest of the staff. read more

Just picked up my bike after a very quick turnaround on a mini-tune-up. Very happy with the service, price and timeliness! I'm happy to be pedaling again after a long hiatus. Thank you to the technicians at Big Wheel Bikes! read more

I was referred to this bike shop and was told the customer service was top notch. Well that is an UNDERSTATEMENT!!! This business knows how to treat their customers!! Ray was exceptional. Thank you for helping me with my bike. read more

See all

I can't say enough great things about this place! Ray and Bennett are outstanding mechanics. I regularly bring in my triathlon and road bikes for everything from gear adjustments to full tune-ups, and they always deliver professional, efficient, and friendly service. I've also purchased two bikes here--one for my son and one for my husband--and felt like I not only got great deals but also found the perfect bikes for both of them. I highly recommend Big Wheel on Prince! It's such a gem to have a local bike shop that truly feels like family. read more

Ray pressed in headset bearings on my new Pinarello Dogma frame. I didn't have the tool and chose not to purchase for a one-time installation. Ray also confirmed that a Di2 groupset would work with my new frame. He also offered to install the race on the fork. Service was same-day and the price was reasonable. The shop's location makes for a good service stop when riding the Mount Vernon Trail. Definitely recommend. read more

The best local Bike shop I have taken all my families bikes to this shop it's worth the drive from Maryland to Virginia! Quality service! All the service were completed same day or within 24 hours highly recommend! read more

MARCO is the man! I walked in around 11am on a Saturday and there were a few other customers browsing. I was asked right away if I needed help. Look, this is a no frills bike shop. It's a little dirty and there was no AC. But, it's got everything you need and knowledgeable folks to help you out. I was asked what I was looking for and what my price point was. Admittedly, the bike Marco suggested was about $50 over my limit but he was not pushy! He said he could show me other options. The bike was in the box because they had just gotten a new shipment on Friday. He told me he could have it put together in an hour. I walked around a bit and came back and tested the bike. It was a done deal for me. He gave me 15% off a helmet and put on a kickstand, water bottle holder (with bottle) and bell for free. He also said to bring it back when it started to break in for free adjustments for a year. Marco was very conversational and there was a younger boy who put the "extras" on who was also very polite. I am very pleased with my experience! read more

Big Wheel Bikes - Bike - Bikes Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

What an amazing shop and customer service! Came in to get some help with my bike and they went above and beyond in helping me and even offered me a water. Highly recommend! read more

We were referred to BWB by a mobile bike company that couldn't fit us in for several weeks. We recently moved to Alexandria from MI and our bikes came off the moving truck not working. Ray and Bennet got our bikes right in and with tune ups were able to resolve all of the issues. You can see from all of the 5-star reviews that this is a beloved business and I witnessed this in person while waiting in the shop. Highly recommend! read more

Brought in my old motobecane for some needed work,Great service thanks to Ray for the tuneup and music!

Ray, from the Alexandria, VA locations is totally awesome. He's very experience, knowledgeable and is willing to assist and even teach you how to do something yourself! I'm a repeated customer for many years. It's always a pleasure seeing him. Tina read more

I just recently bought my first bike that wasn't a hand me down. I ordered from a company online and had the bike delivered to Big Wheel Bikes. Once the bike was delivered, they put it together within the day. Everyone I spoke with was very nice and when I went in to retrieve my bike they told me how everyone was trying to buy the bike while it was sitting in their shop waiting for me to pick it up. Now that im considering myself a "biker" (haha) I think this will be my go to shop. Thanks again to everyone that made this process smooth and pleasant. read more

Excellent service! The owner was very nice! I came in with a flat tire and he filled it with air+ did a gear check (I hadn't rode my bike in many years) and did it under 3 minutes! I will definitely be coming back whenever I need to! read more

They were great and took care of changing the tire on my mountain bike and did it within 20 minutes.

UPDATE: Now on my second bike from these guys and am so in love--it's my first nice road bike. Marco took amazing care of me and hooked me up with exactly what I wanted, at exactly the price range I wanted. He even custom fit my helmet (which I didn't buy there, lol) for me. One thing I loved was that everyone on the staff helped out and worked on my bike at some point getting it ready for me--these guys are so friendly and it's just a great experience buying a bike from them. Re: the bike mentioned below....sadly someone stole it, but it was going strong 2+ years after I bought it. Was a perfect commuter bike and I would have kept it forever if I could have I bought a bike from Bennet today and I could not have had a better experience. I don't know anything about "fancy" bikes but needed something better than the Target bike I'd been riding a couple miles to and from work. Since spring is coming, I figured it was time. He immediately recommended one that turned out to be exactly what I needed, let me take it on a nice test ride, double checked everything again before he charged me, and left me feeling welcome to come back. He knows his stuff. If you need to buy a bike, go to this place and ask for him. Thanks Bennet! read more

This is my go to bike shop for anything I need. I am 74 years old and ride to stay fit. I happened to ride by the shop in Old Town Alexandria about a month ago and stopped in for a bell and two new tubes for my bike. I found the people friendly and helpful and have returned several times in the past month. read more

Excellent service by friendly staff. They are definitely my favorite place to get new equipment or getting my bike serviced.

Great Experience! I had just bought a used bike off craigslist and I don't know anything about maintenance on it, or replacing a brake shoe. A brake shoe came off due to my fault and fell off when I was taking the bike home. I bought a replacement but it was the wrong type. I arrived at Big Wheel bikes full of questions, had that part I thought would not fit, but Bennett said it would saving me money. Then, he starts explaining about brake shoe replacement and told me, I could do it myself. I didn't need to pay for install time there for them to do it. He showed me how to replace them. I was doing so right outside their shop after I left the store. Bennett walked by to talk to someone else about their bike outside. I asked him a question, and then he finished putting on my brake shoes, and aligned the brake line and showed me how to do it in the future. Remember, I didn't buy anything from them. Bennett was so helpful and I had not bought a thing. I decided to go back inside and looked around and found a bike lock that has an attachment screw on clasp. I needed one anyway so I bought it. Then, talk about customer service beyond the norm. The person helping me - Tony said he would install it free. As he is installing it, It did not fit right, and Tony said wait a moment, found and made a custom shim for the attachment to my bike lock. He made sure it fit perfectly and told me how to change the combination easily. (Tony also owns the coolest electric bike. I came in near closing time so he had pulled it around to the front of the store.) Then, starting to bike away from the shop. This guy Anthony says I need air in my tires. He showed me where the outside air hose was, and then he helped me by putting the air in my tires. I learned he used to work at Big Wheels and was just stopping by. What a nice experience all around. There were serious bikers coming in for things and helpful to them, as well as someone who knew nothing. I'll be back. In their window, they have some unique items, a BB King poster, a rather strange pig (?), old typewriter, camera and an alligator and other oddities. In the typewriter is an old photo of a distinguished man in a suit (1930?) The attached caption under it says he is the founder. I'm not sure if that is serious as the photo was stuck in the old typewriter with the other unique items on display. I'd love to know the history of the store and what's up with the items in the window. There is a great old and tattered print inside the store that shows the location where the store would have been about a hundred or so years ago. The store location today....100 years ago would have put it on the old Alexandria shipyard or in the Potomac. A very historic location... Big Wheels bike is across the street from the Potomac. They have an alley to load/unload your bike, etc. which is great since parking is hard to find. They have air right outside the front door in the alley. read more

See all

great place! price was extremely affordable for two broke students. the employee was super friendly and helpful. The bikes themselves were high quality and easy to ride. Had fun biking on the mt vernon trail. couldn't recommend enough! read more

I took my older bike in for a tune up and was enthusiastically greeted by Ray. He was in the process of settling up the details when I took a quick look around and saw a great looking bike which I thought may be similar to mine but much lighter. Electra /Townie in the color kiwi. Ray suggested I take it for a spin which I did and I absolutely loved it and bought it on the spot. Ray was very helpful and moved my basket to the new bike and will donate my old bike. Highly recommend this Old Town Big Wheel Bikes! Thank you. read more

I stopped by this weekend looking to get my first adult bike and Marco was absolutely amazing. They helped me find the right bike for me, talked with me about different styles and what I would be using the bike for, etc. I got a bike within the price range I was looking for and am looking forward to going back for my tune-ups. I will definitely be back and highly recommend this place. read more

These folks are great. My wife and I were looking for a bike for her, and we had gone to about 7 stores prior. A few of the stores couldn't be bothered, a few others were fine but didn't have what we needed. We called Marco ahead of time, and he already had one picked out by the time my wife went into the store. The bike was fantastic. We came by the next day, and Marco quickly tuned up my bike as well - so we could go ride together. Bike shops can sometimes be unwelcoming, but not here - Marco's shop is very welcoming and meets you where you are. read more

Brought my road bike in for a tune up. They did a great job fixing it up. Friendly service, good price. Will definitely return.

I bought a bike just for my work commute while the metro is down this summer. When an intermittent but horrifying metal on metal sound began while braking I brought her down to the shop, and in true vehicular fashion not a peep from her the whole time she was being inspected. They gave her a safety inspection and a clean bill of health, and I'm back in business for biking to work again. Not even a hint of shade thrown at what was probably pure operator error. ‍ I'd go back any time. read more

I stopped in on a Saturday, very early spring, with broken spokes on my rear tire. I was expecting the bike to be in the shop for at least a week. Much to my surprise, Bennett told me he could have it done for me while I waited! I went for an ice cream and stroll along the waterfront and by the time I got back, he was wrapping things up. Not only did he replace the wheel for me, he also checked the bike over, made one other adjustment, and oiled the chain for me- free of charge. The price for the new wheel and labor to install it seemed very fair to me. Moreover, I simply loved the energy of the place. You can tell the people that work there, love being there. Bennett, Tony and all others there were extremely personable, knowledge, and attentive. I will most certainly be back. Made my day, thanks guys! read more

Our group of 5 rented e-bikes for the day to tour the sights in D.C. The staff was very friendly and helpful. The shopping center had plenty of parking and super convenient access to the bike path that took us right along the River and into the District. The bikes were in excellent condition and made it so easy to maneuver around and park. The amount of miles we covered and sightseeing we accomplished was so much more than we could have done on foot. $80 rental fee for the day was well worth it. I would highly recommend renting an e-bike from this shop if you're looking for a fantastic way to tour the area. read more

My first experience with Big Wheel in Old Town came right when I moved into town. I had just been accepted to grad school and wanted to celebrate with a new bike before I became a poor grad student, but I also wanted to keep a decent budget. I gave Big Wheel a call and gave them my price range and what kind of bike I was looking for. After talking with Bennet for a couple of minutes he found me the exact bike I was looking for, brand new, and only last year's model, for $200 less than the current year's model. I was elated. Two or three days later I was on the road. I've been riding for about 5 years now and I'm actually a Transportation Engineer and specialize in Bike/Ped so, due to me having to be in the saddle for recreation and work, I'm always in need of some sort of fix on one of my bikes (racing, commuting, and vintage bikes) when I can't do it myself and these guys always deliver. Bennet, Marco, Mahdi, and Brian have always been there to give me sound advice, great service, and excellent conversation. There are many bike shops around, but Big Wheel in Old Town does it right. From the vintage gear adorning every spare spot of the shop, the excellent service, the attention to detail, and the passion that the employees have for their work, Big Wheel has it all... and then some. read more

See all

This Bike Shop is the absolute best I have ever been to. Every single employee here is a bike guru, especially Marco. I first came in a year ago to replace my tires and get a tune-up, my bike is an old vintage cruiser and needed some TLC. These guys knew exactly what to do without question, I felt immediate relief and comfort as I know nothing about bikes... Now, anytime I pop in for a quick checkup or some air in my tires, Marco and team always remember my name. Incredible shop, service, and people. Highly recommend. read more

Let me be explicit in this 4 star review. Marco and his team at BWB did me a solid and I think you should know about their excellent customer service. I am fortunate to own a racing bike and I've been having some seat mast issues. Whenever I go for a ride it the seat won't stay true and it's becoming a problem. I gave them a ring on a Sunday, told them my sob story and before I could finish they said 'Just bring it in and we'll take care of you'. I hop the Mt. Vernon trail and show up at their front door. Marco greeted me and remembered our conversation. The man stopped working on his other project and devoted his full attention to my walk-in situation. After an initial triage, he determined additional troubleshooting would be required. The man started to dismantle the seat post like a frog in a 6th grade biology class. Inspecting each piece, cleaning, re-lubricating, and ultimately re-assembling it perfectly. Entire job took about 10 minutes of his time and when I asked him how I can compensate him for his time and labor, he responds 'Just say thank you. And if I don't see you, I'll assume that it's good to go'. Several other bike shops in the area would be happy to take my money for the walk-in service. Big Wheel Bikes just got a very appreciative customer and you can bet I'll be returning for my race prep and tune-ups! read more