Worst bike experience ever, went in with my brand new bike last week to get it tuned and said that it was brand new from a box and I had semi assembled, the staff said that I shouldn't have bothered as it was the same price for a full build as a tune. This really helpful guy saw that there was a ding in the dérailleur and hanger and said that I should complain under warranty and to bring it in and he would build the next week, and handed me a receipt for 59 dollars and offered to cut my seat down there and then gratis, which we turned down as we worried we would have to return the bike. Cue 1 week later, I am charged an extra 20 dollars by a different guy for fitting the new derailleur and he had forgotten to cut the seat post, which I had to remind him to do. Bear in mind a full build is 60 dollars, from a box, but cost me 80 for a 95% assembled bike. The new guy basically called me a liar when I said that the derailler didn't come fitted when I got the bike, hence why this is usually not included in the "$60 build", but the last 3 bikes I built have all been separate. read more

Prospect St. took out my head- and taillights, so I stopped into Cambridge Bicycle to get new ones. I'd locked my bike up outside, walked in, and started checking out the lights. I had some questions, but I didn't get to ask them. The store wasn't very busy, but the staff was much more interested in literally shoving me out of their way as they went to help the customers checking out the bikes. I got sick and tired of the disrespect and walked out. Rode my bike over to another bike shop instead, and I certainly won't be returning here. But I guess this won't matter too much, since the store didn't want my business anyway. read more

The confusion of the staff is astounding, staff contradicts each other. They are fairly rude too, they don't use common niceties like please and thank yous'. I keep stopping here because of its awesome location but man its just a let down each time. I have had repairs that cost way more than their original quote. Even buying a tube is never straight forward. Advice to staff be nice be knowledgable. Use some etiquette it goes a long way. read more

Like some of the other reviewers, I am sorry to diss a local bike shop BUT my terrible experience here is what influenced me to join yelp! I went in with simple requests.. something to carry around stuff on my bike that is: 1) inexpensive (even explaining what "americorps salary" means) 2) easy to put together After showing the salesman my bike, he talked me into an overpriced basket because its "cooler and better than a rack." I left with the basket thinking it was worth the extra dollars to not have to go to another bike shop, and that the ordeal was almost over. It wasn't! It took two life-long cyclists over an hour to mostly put together the contraption, and I still had to bring the bike back to the shop so that 2 other workers could finish the job. Argh!! There are other great bike shops in the area... go there instead! Save money and save time!! read more

Cambridge Bicycle remains in business because it is right on Mass Ave near MIT, bringing a fresh wave of new students to look down upon and reluctantly serve each year. The loyal following of bona fide hipsters help too no doubt. If you don't ride a fixed gear, don't bother. I've gone a few times, including to buy a bike. My 'favorite' experience was returning after I had a new tube and tire put on to ask for the valve cover they neglected to include. Rather than apologizing, the guy scoffed at me because it "isn't necessary anyways". May be true, but I'm not keen on dirt and road salt clogging the valve and killing the tube any sooner. Broadway Bicycle is a MUCH better alternative. They are really helpful and know their stuff. read more

The service is terrible. The place is buzzing with hip young staff, but apparently they're too cool to do any actual work, like helping a customer in need. For the help you get you might as well shop on Amazon. Or go to Ace Wheelworks instead. read more

I went to Cambridge Bicycle a few days ago to actively look for a new road/hybrid bike (was still on a MTB), as I was sick of being passed on the streets of Cambridge by 70 year old women expending far less energy. I found a bike I was interested in and spoke to the girl working there. She let me know it was probably a little too small for me, but that I was welcome to take a test ride once I left my ID. Sounds good so far. I tested the bike, and as she said, it was a bit too small, though I really liked the ride. She checked downstairs for the same bike a bit bigger - turned out they had it but it would need to be assembled. No problem - I paid for the bike, left my phone number, and was called back about 4 hours later to pick it up. I picked it up, along with a new lock and lights, and went off to Savenor's for some food shopping, happy as a clam. About 1.5 miles away, my new bike basically fell apart. The bolt holding the crankarm came right off, then the back tire once the bike hit the pavement. Thankfully I wasn't going down a steep hill, or this could have ended very badly. Needless to say, I was incredibly angry and a bit shaken up. I called and spoke to Ling, the woman who'd helped me earlier. She was incredibly apologetic and told me to bring the bike back. I picked up the pieces and walked the mile and a half back in 90 degree weather. Not a happy camper. This is where the review went from a one star experience to a three. I asked Ling what she could do for me, as my first impression was to just do a full refund and head to another bike shop, but she seemed genuinely apologetic. What really worried me is that she admitted no test ride was done after putting the bike together, prior to selling it to me. However, she agreed to have their head technician do a full check up on the bike, fixing any errors, and would refund me the full cost of the lights and lock I purchased. This was done in about 45 minutes. When I came back to pick up the bike, the head technician came right over to me to explain everything he did, which included getting a new bike, same size, from a box downstairs and building it from scratch, test riding, and ensuring everything was fine. He apologized as well, and I was very happy how the situation was handled from there, though I'm not without my worries that something as important as a safety check wasn't done on a new bike prior to a sale, so if you purchase a bike from these guys, make sure this gets done first. read more

I ADORE Cambridge Bicycle. I love the staff - I've been there 6 or 7 times and each time have found them extremely polite, friendly, and helpful. The guy who trues bicycle wheels did an awesome job on mine after I got hit by a car (okay, I was driving the car and ran into my own bike... long story...) and restored it to nearly-new condition. Plus, they included the truing in the tune-up price which I found to be totally reasonable. I think it was $45. I also asked them whether I should get the more expensive tune-up, and they checked out my bike and said, "You probably don't need it," instead of milking me. Yay honesty! They also have a good assortment of bike accessories, bags, helmets, reflectors, etc. etc. But mostly I just enjoy going there and getting the royal treatment from their staff. read more

This place has some very cool looking bikes and a decent selection of parts. They also have a hose outside for airing up tires....if you happen to be near central square, its convenient. That's the only reason I'll go here again. I am a bike messenger and I ride an old refurbished Japanese frame bike for work. The first time I went to there I bought a new messenger bag, a lock and a couple of trinkets from the counter....The girl who helped me was nice enough....fine... Next time I decided to swing by was to shop for a new road bike or two (one for my girlfriend too). I looked around for several minutes and no one said a word to me, presumably because I wasn't wearing girls jeans and a trucker hat like the guys who work and hang out there. I asked a question about a bike and got a snide remark out of the side of the salesperon's mouth like I was an idiot. Funny thing is, I have a pretty decent budget and was ready to drop some bling....makes me laugh....whatever. Next time I'm in "the hood"...as it were....it was the end of a long rainy day messengering and one of my power grips came loose, so I went in and asked "Do you have a low priced multi-tool or could I use a #4 allen wrench....my strap came loose?" To which the "mechanic" replied "Let's put this on the rack and see what the deal is...."....OK....its a loose strap!@#% And now, the clincher....."that'll be 5 (five) bucks...no wait....messenger discount....$4.50" ($4.50 to tighten a foot strap) ......I paid the $4.50 and left disgusted that I didn't spend my money on a multi tool somewhere else instead. The final straw: I went in and asked them if they had Presta stem savers yesterday, because I had a flat and I ride between Harvard and the Financial Center alot....Th only extra tube I had was a Presta, but my wheel was cut for a schrader valve stem. When I asked the "emo kid"...LOL... at the counter for a "stem saver" he gave me an adapter for an air hose....When I suggested that maybe we weren't on the same page and explained what I needed, he smugly intimated that there was no such thing.....So I turned to the "mechanic" and asked her the same question.....she replied "I've never heard of that before".... I went against my better judgment several times, because I thought that CB was a "high end", boutique cycle shop that maybe warranted a little bit of smug indifference. I've had to field amateurish questions from noobs before at a few of my jobs. I understand the "record store" mentality.....Unfortunately, the incompetence, lack of professionalism and short sightedness of CB's service attitude doesn't warrant anything but contempt. If you find yourself in need of bike parts etc., and you are in Cambridge...run don't walk to somewhere else (see my other reviews). I did, and I now get "real" messenger discounts, great service, and friendly people to chat about bikes with. Not only that, but I'm going to buy two brand new road bikes tomorrow and I'm going to enjoy spending the money. read more

I'm pretty upset with this place. I'm going to start by saying the mechanics are wonderful and every time I've had an issue with my ride these guys have taken care of it at a fair price in a timely manner. They're pretty much the only reason they even get two stars. I absolutely can't fault them for that. However, I was most recently in there to purchase a Mission Workshop backpack. I've done extensive research, since my Chrome citizen bag just turned 10 and I'm starting to outgrow it. I needed a larger bag that was still waterproof and geared towards cyclists so I popped in a few times over the summer to look at their selection so I could examine it in person. None of the times I was in there was I helped by any sales associates, and I more or less had to flag them down to ask questions. I eventually settled on the bag I wanted, and I returned to purchase it. As a bicycle advocate it's incredibly important to me to support local businesses, especially since the majority will use physical locations as a showroom only to walk out empty handed and order goods online. I am more than happy to pay more to make sure money goes in the pocket of local business owners. That being said, I purchased the bag for ~$340, rather happily. Mission Workshop does not include waist straps on that bag, however so I asked a sales associate who rang me up that day to put in an order for me. It would've been trivial to order this from the MW website but I wanted, again to make sure that Cambridge Bicycle got a cut of it. He happily took down my information and told me he would put it in their next purchase order and he would call when it came in. A month later I called them to ask about it and the person on the phone had no idea about any purchase orders and he said that the associate that handles the MW orders was with a customer and he took down my information again and have him call me back in 5 minutes. That call never came, so I called again today to check in and spoke to a different person, who again, went to grab the person who does the MW order, who proceeded to not understand what I was asking for in the slightest, and also had never heard of a product that is listed very clearly on their website so I hung up in frustration. Having worked in customer service for most of my adult life I understand on one hand, but also I made a fairly big purchase, and as such I kind of expected followthrough and excellent customer service. I would absolutely understand being written off if I had just stopped in for cheap consumables and spent like $15 but I made a conscious effort to make a large purchase from a local business and I'm frankly quite upset with that decision. I will not be shopping here in the future and I would strongly encourage others not to support their retail here. read more

First, I am not a bike messenger. Second, I don't look like a bike messenger (I don't look like Ted Knight either but that's another story). Third, I don't ride a bike like a bike messenger. But....I got great service anyway and actually kind of like being helped by people who know and like bikes. These guys seem to know and like bikes. They have a nice selection of high end, street, mountain and cruisers at different price ranges. They do a snappy job of repairs and actually call you when your bike is ready. My only complaint...when I bought a bike there I got no owners manual. Maybe I can get one messengered over? read more

Cambridge Bicycle has a relaxed atmosphere and is extremely commuter and fixie friendly. I've never had a high-pressure sale for anything; the staff are happy to let you peruse until you've got a question. The location is convenient for MIT students. They've been helpful in ordering specialty parts when I needed replacements. Plus, they support the local cycling scene, something I really appreciate in my bike shop. They've got my business. I'll admit that I've tried studying there before, and it was OK for hand-held papers. Quiet enough mid-day in winter before finals. Lots of distractions for someone who likes bikes. I'll chill there again, but not with classwork. Oddly, I did get confused with an employee the one time and ended up helping a commuter pump her tires. Not many bikes shops have that kind of interplay between customers, whereas it's comfortable to do so at Cambridge. Update 8/2007: Cambridge revamped the store over the summer, completely changing the layout and making things feel more like a pro bike shop. I dig, and so do a bunch of other cyclists... good going, CB. read more

I go to Cambridge Bikes for minor adjustments/repairs for my bike, so this review is only of the service department, not of their retail section. Anyway, sure, one could start this review with some sort joke that starts, "how many beards, tattoos, and fixed cogs can you fit in one triangular building on Mass Ave..." Whatever, yes the staff are quite...homogenous...but honestly, I have always gotten excellent attitude free service here and have seen them treat everyone else with respect. What I really appreciate about my experience here is that in no way do I feel like they are out to wrack up a ton of small parts and labor fees, which hasn't been my experience at other shops. I've had them make small adjustments, cut cable housing, etc. -- little things that only take a minute or two but that I don't have the tools to do at home for free, and was surprised at how little I was charged for other things. (They cut my steerer tube down for $10.) It is probably true that if you are just looking for a beater bike, this is not the place to go, and like any retail bike shop, the accessories are expensive. Also, they are often busy and the store layout is a little confusing (no real queuing system), but compared to other places in the area (note: this location is super convenient for me, which helps in my estimation) generally I am happy to go to Cambridge Bicycle. read more

I've visited Cambridge Bicycle 5 or 6 times now. I am a longtime cyclist, so I know what I want (AKA I might be a little picky). I have only found what I was looking for at this store once. The majority of the time, I was ignored (until I forced myself on someone), or made to wait while they sifted through their parts bins, unable to locate what they were looking for. I received snide comments the times when they didn't have what I was looking for ("ugh, you KNOW the seat clamp diameter is that of the FRAME right?" - "yes, that is why I gave you that diameter"). I had one positive experience, looking for a particular bicycle that is difficult to find - They didn't have it, but pointed me to some other stores that might (none did). I will say that the one item I found there (though the wrong color) was the right price - $20 for a solid chainring. In all, they have some pretty bikes in the windows, but are, for the most part, jerks who will ignore you. I wouldn't trust them to do work, and I would never, ever recommend a friend to visit their shop. EDIT - I've decided to bump up my review to three stars. Why? Because CB does more for the bike community than any other shop in the area. Sure, I may not love their shop, but they've got some good things that are tough to find elsewhere. Really what it comes down to, though, is that this shop gives back to the community. It brings cyclists together. It promotes fun. So, three stars. read more

After being looked down upon for my rusty bike at other bike shops, I ended up here and have never left! That was 6 years ago. In that time I have bought 4 different bikes and each time they get brought to only this shop! I will walk the 2 miles with a dead bike just to get it here. The people are always super nice and only want the best for you. I brought in my recent bike which was an awesome cruiser frame and handle bars, but everything else was crap on it. They quoted me $270 for everything I needed. When they heard me gulp, 3 employees got involved and figured out how to bring the price down. And they did all that work in one day! read more

This is a cool shop. In case you're wondering how to be a cool urban bike nut, go here. I used to be a courier (before this place was open though, or at least open with the current ownership) and I can tell legit from bullshit. The staff is pretty friendly too, so it shouldn't be intimidating for people who don't know a lot about bikes. I got nothing bad to say about this place. You need a bike or bike repair, go here. read more

I don't really care that much about bikes: I don't care about bike culture, I don't care about bike parts. And I don't like those little hats that bikers wear. What I care about is having a bike that I can use to get to work occasionally and hit the town on weekends wid ma gurl. And I want it to look somewhat cool because if you look like a tool with something on your person it doesn't matter how "pro" it is. I went in with an old bike that was a hand-me-down from my dad (old hybrid bike from the early 90s with a lot of issues). I got a few years out of it, but it felt like I was constantly investing money into, what seemed to be, a dying bike. It felt like it was going to kill me one day. So my girlfriend encouraged me to head over to Cambridge Bicycle with her and ask them what they thought. Bud (who I believe is one of the managers?) was incredibly helpful, giving me the pros and cons of my current bike. He explained that the manufacturer that made many of the parts on my bike is no longer in existence and it would be pretty pricey to replace things on it. The good news, he told me, was that my tires were awesome (thanks WheelWorks for putting good tires on it a year ago). He didn't try to pressure me into buying something, he just gave me the story. Based his assessment of my current bike and that I, admittedly, was "looking to spend," I asked if he would show me what my options were. I assured him that I wasn't a "biker" (that was pretty obvious by disrepair of the bike I brought in) and that I wasn't looking to break the bank. He showed me a couple different bikes well within my price range ($500-$1000), ones that the tires from my old bike would work with. I tried out a Jamis hybrid as well as a Linus Roadster. I tried out the Linus Roadster and decided I wanted to go with the 3 speed version. He said they would assemble one in a day (they had 2 colors in stock in the large size that I needed) and take the good tires from my old bike and put them on to my new bike. They'd also take the tires that came with the Linus and put them on my old bike, so I could sell it (I was looking to get a few bucks for it on Craigslist if possible). The staff was really friendly and efficient despite it being a chaotic sunny Sunday. I'm sure if you love bikes you will love this place. And if you like bikes, you will love this place also as evidenced by my testimony. It's weird: after I left, I got excited about bikes. I still don't like those little hats but I think I will very much enjoy the coming summer months, riding in the city. read more

So, my last review was me being frustrated and overall dissatisfied with my experience. Since my last review there are a few events that unfolded, to which I need to pay regards to. First: I received a phone call from the maintenance manager. He expressed concern that my experience wasnt up to his standards. He apologized and we talked about it extensively. He took full responsibility and acknowledged the loss in trust and my discontent, and was eager to correct the situation. I offered to come in and introduce myself and talk further. Second: I came into the shop about a week later. I was directed towards the manager and I introduced myself. He seemed relieved that I showed up. We talked more about my bike, the concerns I had and what I was looking to get fixed. He took it in immediately to work on it. 3 hours later he called for me to pick it up. When I got it back it looked almost Brand new. He corrected the the mistakes and tuned it up, all for the sake of earning my trust. Just the fact that I got a phone call impressed me, but the fact that he wanted to make things right really earned not just not trust but my respect. It's nice to know your neighborhood bike shop wants to build a relationship based on integrity. I will definitely be returning. read more

This place gets two stars for their impressive bike stock combined with what is surely an expensive but convenient location. Now for the actual review If you're already steeped in the bike community and are already knowledgeable about all things bike then this is the place for you. If you have money to spend with reckless abandon, this may also be your place. However, if you're looking to do your own maintenance and looking for parts and/or advice, this is not your place. I have rarely been treated with such indifference at any business before. And this wasn't a one-time occurrence, I've been in this shop several times and been treated to the same bored looks and indifferent attitudes by almost everyone I've interacted with. If you're looking for accessories, their selection is limited, to say the least. What I said previously about bike selection and stock does not extend to accessories, where they have one, or possibly two, types of whatever accessory you may be looking for. I tried my hardest to like this shop. I wanted to support a local bike shop rather than a chain but alas, I was severely disappointed. read more

This is a fantastic bike shop staffed by friendly, knowledgeable, and genuinely helpful people, and I'm frankly appalled by many of the reviews. I went in today after a major bike crash, and they immediately grabbed my bike, checked it out, straightened the handlebars, and charged me nothing. My good experience here started with Ling, a young lady here, last week. She showed me some Bianchi and Jamis road and cyclo-cross bikes, and wrote down the model numbers and prices for me in case I wanted to shop around. She transparently explained their pricing. One of the mechanics also looked at my bike and sized me for a new one. Today, after their generous help in fixing my bent bars, I bought some things I needed, and Bud, the GM, helped me. He also was extremely friendly, and sold me the cheapest of their 3 pumps, saying it was perfect for my needs. He showed me some great USB rechargeable lights, and I got those, too. It's a shame some people have slagged them on here, particularly for bad service - I experienced nothing remotely like that with the 5 or 6 people I interacted with - I'll be a regular here for my bike related needs. You should be too. read more

Went in for a broken spoke. They fixed it that day, but the next day, a second spoke broke right next to the original spoke. Makes me think they did something wrong when they trued the wheel. But it was probably just a coincidence. Rather than pay another $30-something for them to fix the second broken spoke, I wanted to buy a spoke from them to fix it myself. I asked them how I could measure the spoke that I need on my bike so that I wouldn't have to carry the wheel to the store again. They told me there are millions of kinds of spokes and that I wouldn't be able to measure it, so I would need to bring it in. I brought in my bike a second time and they measured the spoke for me. When I got home and tried to fix it, I realized they had sold me the wrong size. It wasn't even close to the size of the other spokes. Had to go back in for a third time to exchange spokes for the correct size. And now it's been about a week I still can't ride my bike. On top of this poor experience, they seem to have a bad attitude from the several times I've been there. In my opinion, Broadway Bicycle School is way better. read more

This place is the best. Hands down. I bought my bike from Urban Adventour and ended up having a really shitty experience with them (another story). I ended up taking it to Cambridge Bicycle from then out and haven't regretted it once. He guys who work here are not only nice and polite but genuine and know what they're doing. I'm not an expert (yet) on cycling and all things bikes and I've never felt like they were trying to take advantage of that or sell me stuff I don't need. These guys are the real deal and I've always left there happy and satisfied and I would recommend this place to anyone!! read more

I've been happy with this shop an I think you could be too, but don't bring any older bikes into this shop. I brought an older French bike in. I know this bike is difficult to work on, but they assured me they wouldn't have any problems. My issues: broken spoke, replace front forks. They didn't replace the forks and couldn't help me, sigh. Instead of replacing the spoke, they replaced the entire hub with a shitty one and a pump head that didn't match the front wheel!!! I called and their final answer to me was "most bike pumps have both heads on the." Are you serious Cambridge Bicycle!? Crazy. When I called in, it was a week later, and they didn't have my original wheel. I'm very disappointed in them. It's amateur of them and they shouldn't have left me with non matching wheels. read more

Mini Update: I took my wheel back as of Friday, August 22nd. It's gone to ATA and should be done by Friday. Smooth move, Cambridge. It pains my heart to do this, but I have to drop Cambridge Bikes down. Why? I just feel like the overall level of professionalism, the service, and what have you, has gone down a bit. My aformentioned Phil Wood x Velocity wheel set in my old review with all the bah bah bling's back wheel needed to be back spaced from 130mm to 120mm (the rear wheel has to fit in the rear triangle, and certain bikes need certain spacing (IE: Track bikes take 120mm, Road bikes take 130mm, Old 10 speeds take around 126mm, etc etc)), to fit on my new Fuji Track Pro. I dropped the rear wheel off in May. It's now pretty much August. FAIL. I mean they were generous with giving me a discount, after my commuter got run over and I had to get a new set of Bulletproof cranks for the time it took, which I didn't expect, but.... I kinda just want my rear wheel. :( They also still wanted around 650 for a 2 year old Fuji Track Pro frameset, which is not only full retail, but pretty pricey for an old backstock frame. I also feel that other than some Bianchi road bikes and a limited amount of Fuji's, that I wouldn't feel comfortable taking my super duper road bike to them, even though that I know most of the mechanics on a first name basis. It's nice that you say that you can make my bike weigh 14 pounds, but can you actually fit those parts to my bike in stock? Or am I going to be waiting forever like I am now? I'd still recommend them for a beginning cyclist, or for some "tarck biek" blingy bling color stuff and ARROWSPOEK (note: Aerospokes are the running bad joke in Boston cool FIXIE KIDS), but ATA, no matter how much crap people love to give them, has been a lot easier to deal with as far as parts, service, and understanding. So yeah, if you're looking for a Bianchi Pista/Fuji Track/KHS/Van Dessel, or some other fixed gear parts, maybe an entry level Tiagra/105 road bike, check them out, but I think I'm losing faith, which hurts. read more

Ryan changed a tire for me, and took the time to show me what he was doing. Great shop and friendly service!

I just picked up my new bicycle. It was built from the box and I picked it up the next day. The bike was not the size that we had discussed, and I had to put a 50% non-refundable deposit on it. I would not have been allowed to take it out on a test ride without the deposit either.What could I do? It seems that it will be ok, but it certainly isn't the size that the manufacturer recommends. I was then looking at add-ons and was told that they would charge me $20 to put on a $50 back rack. After spending nearly $1000 I thought that was kind of cheap of them. They kept telling me to bring the bike back for any adjustments and they did include a full tune up within 12 months, but from what I have seen this is pretty sop. So, to sum it up I had to put a non-refundable deposit on it and there are NO RETURNS on bicycles. Then they want to charge for putting a $50 rack on it. I felt kind of taken. Sorry this review wasn't more positive, but this was my experience. read more

Nice hipster guys. Greeted me almost immediately upon my entrance to the store. Helped me pinpoint what tire I needed and I quickly made a purchase to bring home and repair my flat tire. Good selection of products. read more

OK - well i guess it depends on who you talk to and how long its been since they been near one of their parents....OK OK that's just too mean. But yes you can get good advice and good service. And their act seems to be more together lately. But yes it is quite oriented toward the student clientel so be so warned. And yes, Sir Lackasaisical N. probably had a real true experience like that. If you ride a bike for more than say 5 miles at a stretch (yes not everyone commutes from Davis to Back Bay) and use GEARS (OMG!) to climb hills which exist (when you leave the city!) then you may be seen as from the dark side. I swear to you, oh keepers of the fixie, we are worthy and when we wear spandex is only to minimize chafing o' the parts when we ride 40+ miles and we don't feel that our people have done any wrong to deserve our lot in life, whence upon entering we admiit as much.... But I know they mean well. read more

I went into several other stores around town while looking for a bike, and Cambridge Bicycle was my favorite (and I bought the bike there). The guy I talked to (I went in for an entry level road bike) was knowledgeable, and was straight forward and the pros and cons of different bikes. When he thought that a cheaper bike might fit me needs better, he told me that (I disagreed and stuck with the first one, but it was refreshing for him to look out for what I actually need). It was a very good buying experience. The staff was not pushy at all, but still very helpful with the bike. If you want to ask something and no one is coming up to you, go up to them, they'll be happy to help you (usually you can tell who works there and who doesn't). I didn't feel like a sales place, but a place to hang out and get questions answered about a bike (and then maybe buy it). Good place, good atmosphere, good bikes (average prices). read more

Cambridge Bicycle is where I go for help with my bike. They''re helpful and will gladly help get the parts I need. I don't race, just ride around the block. The prices are appropriate and the service is done on time. read more

I have only been to this shop once, and it was an experience. As an admirer of the messaging culture, it was a joy to see so many guys stopping in with everything to a complete kerin setup to rugged, beat up converstions. They have a decent track selection, but for the most part the shop is road and mtb stuff. They have a huge wall of bags, and locks. Also, if you get the chance they have a really nice purple bike which is incredible, in the window . you should check it out. Anyway, the only problem that i had at this shop was that i went in with my girlfriend and i got a little bit of an eyeball reaction seeing that i was gazing at the fixie stuff, and i should have shown a little more respect. It was like i was a kid in a candy store, cus no one from my hometown rides fixed except for me. Anyway, i am going off on a rant about irrelevant shit... the place is kick ass, the people are chill, the area is cool, and the bikes (patrons too) are really nice. I would just like to see a little more varity of bikes. read more

Really, really good service. I had to bring back a wheel that had been crossthreaded and they were able to find me a new wheel set (rare motobecane set from the 70s mind you) within 24 hours. Nice people and unmatched customer service. Thanks guys! read more

Normally I do my own bike maintenance but I've been super busy so I brought my vintage mtb in for new cables and housings and to swap on some different shifters. The staff appreciated my classic locally-built bike, which is cool. I figured I'd have to leave it for several days, since it's Spring / tune-up season. But they turned it around in a day! They also cleaned and tuned my bike a bit, no extra charge. It rides and shifts perfectly, now. Friendly, prompt service? Yes, thank you. I'll be back! read more

Once again, I was reminded to n e v e r put my feet in Cambridge Bicycles ever again. Today - a beautiful day to go for a bike ride - I decided to stop by the shop because my rear wheel was acting funny. I was actually in a pretty good mood, when I walked in the store - only looking for some helpful advice. I may have phrased my question something like "I think my wheel has acted like this, since i had my gears fixed - could you help me understand what is going on" The guy behind the counter immediately became very rude and defensive, saying :"Listen! We don't bend wheels!", and from then the conversation just went downhill. I was trying to understand what was going on (to this guys credit, I know nothing about bikes), and he just got more condescending and rude as I asked questions. It is the third time I get "service" from this guy, and every time I come away from the shop with this angry and frustrated feeling of being patronized and treated like an idiot. So two pieces of feedback to the shop owner: You have one person in your shop who completely destroys the experience for your customers. Do something! Please! Cambridge needs your bike shop! read more

This is my favorite bike shop in the area. I have always found the staff to be kind, helpful and quick. The have never pressured me to buy anything or do anything to my bike that I wasn't already planning to do. A few times they have fixed small things or given me little screws I needed for no charge. I also appreciate the way they usually explain what's going on without using excessive bike-enthusiast jargon or acting like its obvious. At some other shops I have been to, the staff seem hurried or condescending, but the people at Cambridge Bicycle have been very down to earth in my experience! I have never bought a bike there, just had things repaired and purchase lights and accessories, which they seem to have a decent variety of. Go to Cambridge Bicycle! read more

Not sure about others' experiences here but mine couldn't have been better. Being from Belmont, I've almost always gone to Wheel Works for my bike needs, however, they were out of stock of a specific model I wanted and Cambridge had it so down memorial drive I drove. Lang was very helpful, she set aside the last Bianchi model they had in my size for me and I took it for a spin as soon as I got to the shop. I purchased it and they had it tuned up and I rolled out the door within a half hour. I found the attitude to be friendly and approachable, I felt like I could ask any questions I wanted but I also wasn't treated as a dummy. Sometimes I feel like the Wheel Works crew think there are two types of people in the world: people who know everything about bikes and people who know nothing (they talk to these people as if they're about 5 years old). That wasn't the feeling I got at Cambridge, they struck a nice balance. I'll definitely be returning and recommending to others. read more

Very Bad return policy. I bought a North St. backpack at the store as a gift for someone. They wore it for about 30 minutes -- left the tags on -- and determined it was too small. Unfortunately it took me a few weeks to get the bag to the person for the gift, and to get it back, grand total of 35 days from the original date of purchase. I got it back and called Cambridge Bicycles today to ask if they would accept it back -- with the tags and my credit card statement showing proof of purchase (35 days ago). They said no but the good news is I can resell it. Oh -- that is good news (?). Wouldn't even offer store credit. They said generally they don't take returns back -- sometimes they do and it's a case by case basis. But apparently not in the case of a backpack that is a brand new item in completely re-sellable condition, with tags, and with proof of purchase 35 days ago. read more

I have had some flat tires fixed here and some other stuff too. They may be a little more expensive for labor than some other bike shops, but they are worth it. The staff here is friendly and professional. They always greet me with a smile and they humored me when I requested a storewide moment of silence for my stolen bike. They have some fun gadgets for bikes, such as a bell that looks like a bell pepper and another bell shaped like a hamburger. The hours are convenient with weekend and early evening hours. I would recommend them for all your biking needs. read more

My experience w/ CB was great. I bought a low end bike, but the sales person I talked to (Ben, usually a hat and plug style earrings) was outstanding. He spent a lot, I mean a lot, of time discussing the bikes with me, even though the place was packed, I only wanted a cheap bike, and they operate on commission. He wasn't the slightest bit pushy, and really helped me get the right bike. Unfortunately, I ended up having that bike stolen from my house. If it gives you any idea of how satisfied I was the first time around, I went right back to CB, and got another one of the same bike. They do offer free tuneups for a year, and I honestly believe that makes up for any price difference. Banging the bike around potholed roads and bike racks took my wheels out of "true", and they happily and quickly fixed that problem for me for free. Twice. One tune up alone (and if you ride a lot or leave your bike outside, you'll need one during the year) completely makes up for the price difference between the MSRP and what they were asking. I see a lot of mixed reviews on the site, and I can tell you that I see where people are coming from with the service dept. complaints. I had a great experience, but one of the technician/mechanics seems to have a bit of a people problem with other customers. I don't know if he means it, but I've seen him act very condescending to people who come in and weren't expecting to spend a $100 to have their bikes fixed or having to wait. (If you talk to Ben, he'll take good care of you). read more

Two weeks ago, I had a loud cracking noise coming from my back wheel, the mechanic at Cambridge Bicycle persuaded me the bottom bracket had to be replaced in order to fix the issue. After leaving the bike with them for 2 weeks, the bike still was not fixed. On the phone I was told that they had not yet received the replacement bracket. When I went into the store the next day, the mechanic told me that the bracket is here, but the repair has to wait for other shorter repairs to get done first. I shall come back in two days. Only after I talked to the manager and explained to him how long I have been waiting for my bike, they started the repair on the bike. The bike got a new bottom bracket installed which was supposed to fix the cracking noise. To release my bike I paid $75 for the parts and repair. The repair had now caused new issues: the belt was slipping off and the brakes did not work anymore, emitting loud squeaking noises. Pointing this out to the mechanic, he then hammered on the spindle in the hope to shift it further in, which did not resolve the issue. He then told me that I need to buy a new belt and a new front driver. Talking to the manager, who says of himself that he is not a mechanic, he asked me if they did the job that they were paid for and if I did not like it I should come back another day next week. The other issues about belt slipping and brakes not working are not caused by them. So I had to bring my bike to another repair shop to understand what was actually going with all those new problems that did not allow me to use the bike at all anymore. The other repair shop determined that the belt did not get tensioned by the mechanic at Cambridge Bicycle and they thought the cracking noise comes from the back wheel. The mechanic found oil on the front and back brake pads, so I had to buy new ones to replace both. After spending another $25 on parts and getting the belt tensioned, I am now back to where I started with a cracking noise from the back wheel. I visited Cambridge Bicycle again this morning in the hope they can resolve the cracking noise, another mechanic looked swiftly at the issue and adjusted the belt tension to a lower level again. For now it is not cracking anymore, let's hope it stays that way and it finally resolved the issue. It is good that in the end another mechanic helped me out and took his time to address the actual issue. read more