I've recently purchased a new bike after my last beautiful red bike was stolen *shakes fist at sky,…read moreloses faith in humanity*. However, upon my first ride I realised something was not quite right... My back brakes were sticking making for a slightly challenging pedal. I rang the distributor of this particular bike and was told it was a two-week wait to get it looked at. TWO WEEKS?! Ain't nobody got time for that. So I set off down Lygon Street, hoping that the friendly fellow at Bikes Please might be able to help. He did. Upon looking at my bike he instantly knew what was wrong and took it into his shed. 10 minutes later he rode back out, pumped up my tires, tweaked a few gears and sent me on my way. "But let me give you money!" I screamed. He would only take $5 off me, saying it was an easy gig and he couldn't possibly charge me anymore. Easy or no, that level of customer service has ensured that I will be a repeat customer to Bikes Please anytime something goes wrong. A general fix-up of your bike will only set you back around $35 regardless. Fast, efficient and friendly are three unbeatable characteristics of any local business. Bravo.

I recommend Ray's Bikes to anyone in the market for a new bicycle. They stock some very nice bikes…read morefor really competitive prices. The staff were super knowledgeable, happy to give tips and answer any questions that I had along the way. The atmosphere is friendly and interested, which is great because I'm easily put off when I go into a store and I feel like I'm being pushed into a sale or buying extras. I ended up walking out of the store with the bike that I had enquired about on the phone, with a lot of confidence in my purchase, and a few freebies that had been thrown in as well! Highly recommended, and will be going back myself for future purchases.

Finnigans may not be the biggest or the best bicycle shop, nor the fanciest, but it does have…read moreheritage, and is an independent bicycle shop. It's definitely a family based cycles stores, with better pricing than most, and all the things a first time cyclist would need to start. Repairs and services are offered too, but this store strikes me more as a great place for a beginner cyclist to head towards. All the advice and equipment can be offered for anyone finding their cyclist legs. Very much a family oriented store, by which I mean one that provides and accommodates families whom are wishing to cycle or whom wish to have a family member begin cycling. Supportive and the place you'd find mums and dads with the kids. Puncture repairs available here too.

From the owner: Family Bike Shop Since 1903 - Sales, Service & Repairs.read more

This place is pretty big and usually well priced. The staff are all really friendly if a little lax…read moreabout service at times. They have a massive selection of bikes and the bike mechanics in my experience are more prone to discuss options for bike maintenance and fixes than the usual mechanic. As such I think if you are on the look out for a bike they are well worth checking out. The only criticism I have with their bike tune-up service is that they require you to leave your bike with them for a week which can be pretty troublesome if you use your bike to commute most days.

This place used to be run by two old quirky brothers and it was like going to the theatre each time…read moreyou went in. Obviously business has been good here and the money has brought change. The staff are relatively friendly, but it's not quite theatre. Stuck in a very quite pocket of Clifton Hill, this old shop is packed to the rafters with bikes. A huge number are piled along the centre of the store and the rest hang from the roof. There are accessories galore, with anything that you could need. They also have a few mechanics on hand, constantly doing repairs and servicing. The steps into the shop have a nifty home made ramp to wheel your bike up and down. I took by bike in last week to be looked at as my gears kept jumping. I showed the technician and instead of booking it in and taking my cash, he advised me how to simply fix it. I guess he saved me $70 for a service.

Now I've heard some mixed reports about this joint but my experiences have been good…read more The shop stands proud on the corner of the Capital City Bike Trail and Nicholson Street -- a prime spot for a bike shop -- and they fill a large space that used to be a failed chain video store. My dealings with Velo centre around the fact that I and my partner ride what would be accurately described as 'old bangers' and they generally need a bit of work. I've taken our bikes in for minor shit like broken chains and the likes and they've fixed them for free or very little money. The best bit is that they don't pull that 'you really should upgrade' kind of bollocks and they don't strike me as the usual bike shop wankers. Also of note is that they do a discount for RRR subscribers, which I am and ever will be. Any business that does all right by RRR is all right by me yo. They'll also give you a Metcard or replacement bike while yours gets fixed! Sick!

Velo was the first place I visited on the hunt for a new bike last year. The staff there were…read morefriendly and thorough when it came to matching a bike to my size and providing general advice. After a few more days of hunting around Melbourne, I was compelled to return to Velo - they were easily the most generous with their time and knowledge and happy to price-match on a bike i'd seen elsewhere for a little less. I've ridden the bujeezus out of my bike since that day and they've always resolved any issues with minimum fuss. Friendly and insightful staff and a solid range of accessories, plus the location couldn't suit us any better.

The position for Smith Street cycles seems to be a short lease venture location, as the previous…read more3-4 ventures haven't lasted longer than 6 months. Smith Street cycles seem to be bucking the trend as it continues to serve the local cycle enthusiasts. The massive factory esque store has a huge number of new bikes for sale. There is also a decent size mechanics area where you can get you bike fixed or serviced. The choice of bikes is not large, as there seems to be more of a focus on quantity of a certain style. The actual space seems a little too big for the store. The walls are fairly bare and it doesn't have a lived in feel that most other bike stores have. The sales staff seem cool and willing to help, but don't try and ask a mechanic for help as I did, otherwise you're likely to have your head ripped off by the guy in charge, maybe it was just too early on a Sunday morning.

Smith Street Cycles is a massive bike store with a big variety of bikes on offer. The shop is in…read moresome serious need of repair (note the mouldy inflatable kids pool in the window that appears to be there for the sole purpose of catching water from their leaky roof), but that is no reflection on the quality goods that they sell. The staff are quite helpful and give solid advice about bike repairs and maintenance. My only criticism of Smith Street Cycles is the fact that, for such a large store, they only have a very small selection of bike-related equipment. For instance, they only sell one kind of bike light (it's a good quality one, but doesn't provide much in the way of consumer choice).

Don't expect anything other than appalling service at this hopefully soon-to-disappear bike store…read more While the quality of the bikes are passable (maybe 3 star at best), I was treated with palpable contempt after taking a bike that was purchased less than 2 months prior back to the store for repairs. There were several relatively minor problems with the bike, however, they were entirely the fault of the manufacturer. Firstly, I was accused of lying about the cause of the faults, only then to be continually patronised by the owner himself. Despite this, I feigned appreciation as I left the shop with what he claimed was a 'perfectly working' bike. Clearly his understanding of 'perfect' includes, a broken bike pedal, un-trued wheels, and a chain guard that rubs in so many places it sounded like Daft Punk when I rode it. I returned the next day very politely asking that he take another look at my bike, as there were clearly still problems with it. I was then barraged with exasperations at my unreasonable nature, raised voices, finger pointing and denial. Apparently the warranty on my bike only included the Shimano parts, which, according to him, the pedals were not ("Really? Even though the pedals clearly read Shimano, right there in black? Well that's interesting...") Anyway, avoid this shop at all costs, as I sure as hell wish I had. That is, of course, unless you like rude and useless customer service, overpriced (and poor quality bikes), being insulted, and/or miss being pointed and shouted at like you're mother used to. In that case, boy have I found the place for you!

I borrowed a friends bike today, as I was about to ride back to give it to her the chain had fallen…read moreoff both sprockets I could fit the front on fine but the back seems to be caught. As I was right in front of Bike Zone I went in to ask for a bit of help, He just looked at me grabbed the bike and took it put the back chain on put it down and gave it back. Before I could finish saying thank you he yelled that I needed to pay and charged me $10. At no pointed before he took the bike did he tell me there would be a fee if so I would have gone across the road to a better shop. The was the worst service Iv'e had in a while. I will never go back with my bike and would not recommended it to anyone

Had the parts I needed when no one else did. Installed them free of charge and where one of my…read moreparts were out of date they modified another to make it work for me at no extra cost. Absolute gold

From the owner: At Velo Electric & Folding we are all about Bikes, you guessed it EBikes and folding bikes and…read morefolding electric power assisted bikes. We are located inner north Melbourne. If you need a folder or are after a great bike from a Melbourne Electric bike shop come to Velo Electric.

My only actual purchasing I've done here was a Frisbee and bike pump last summer and I was…read morepleasantly surprised... You cannot overestimate the positive effect a new Frisbee will have on your capacity to throw well. In fact, you cannot overestimate the effect of a new Frisbee on your overall well being and self-esteem. I'd always persisted with those shitty discs you pick up at garages or toy shops and had never really had a crack on a good one. I don't like those 'fad' style discs either, you look like such a nerd throwing some bright pink triangle, no matter how far it'll go. But if you get a correctly weighted, Ultimate Frisbee, your game will be improved forever. You can hurl these things like weapons. I take pride in blasting some in around face or ankle height, just to freak people out. They stock these here for about $20. $20! That's a perfect birthday pressie right there yo.

Living in Australia it can feel as if there is a faintly sinister conspiracy to make recent…read morearrivals more athletic. "Play lawn bowls with me!", "Come for a run!", "Want to watch the rugby?" A) No. B) No. C) Maybe. But only if there's cider and/or the players are hot. That said, there is the occasional need for a sports shop. Or a sporting supermarket as Northcote's Sportsmart ostensibly is. Stocking a range of sportswear, sports gear and equipment from frankly huge premises just opposite the entrance to the Northcote Plaza. I may not know my sports but I can spot a ruddy good selection of tennis rackets when I see them and prices seem reasonable for some pretty premium gear. Quality runs the gamut from cheap and cheerful to egregiously expensive and nearly pro and Sportsmart stocks everything from children's swimming goggles to giant elliptical machines and the like. If you're into sports and you need anything sporty, Sportsmart is a - predictably - good bet.

Cannot rate this company high enough. Would give it a 10. Rented a bike a year ago and this week…read more Gave them my Bike's measurements and the pressure I wanted in each tire and was delivered to my hotel exactly as specified. The team there could not be nicer.

From the owner: Travelling interstate or international to Melbourne and want to keep up your training schedule or…read moretake in the best road cycling that Australia has to offer? 10Bikes offers experienced cyclists who travel to Melbourne a quality 'ride' delivered to them, set up and ready to go. It's short term bike rental made easy.