Rented a bike for biking in the afternoon. Staff there are super helpful and friendly. I also asked for trail recommendation, they recommend Burke Gilman trail, which I like so much! Will definitely come back. read more

Can't say enough good things about these guys! I reserved one bike to ride the Burke-Gilman trail on a busy Saturday but my sister decided to join me at the last minute. The staff had no bikes available (did I mention this was STP weekend!) but worked hard to find a used bike to loan at a cheaper price. Then, when an early rental came back during our checkout they gave us that bike at the same reduced price! It's clear the staff love biking and are passionate about their jobs. They are a great resource for the N Seattle/UW bike community. Five stars! read more

This bike shop is really awesome. My first experience with them was before I lived in Seattle, and I would visit friends and rent road bikes from this place to go on rides. Good quality rentals, very knowledgeable shop, and super friendly. Now that I live here, I come back to this shop for them to work on my personal bike. They are reasonably priced and have fast turn around times. Highly recommended! read more

Went in for a used bike rack and water bottle holder, nothing fancy. I don't know much about bikes and was just there for some basics. But everyone there was super helpful and nice. They gave us deals on the already good deals and installed my purchases on my bike within 10 minutes even though they were super busy. Definitely recommend :) read more

I've taken a couple bikes over the years to Recycled Cycles and they're always on point.

I'm always building a bike of some kind. This place is the mecca for cheap used parts. The staff are knowledgeable. It's a convenient location. read more

I recently rented a Kona Blast mountain bike from these awesome guys for the weekend. Their website made it super easy to reserve a bike online, but when my flight was cancelled and I had to change my reservation, they were more than understanding and were able to change my reservation day of. read more

Recycled Cycles - Bout to board the ferry from Seattle to Bremerton - Bikes Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Very knowledgeable, very helpful, and all very nice people working there. I bought my bike along with several other accessories from here and I am very happy with my purchases and the service. read more

Did I find my dream bike? Not yet. Do I fell better equipped to find said bike? Omg, yas. Am I glad I stopped in to Recycled Cycles? Hell yeah! I dropped by this shop yesterday (Sunday) afternoon on my quest for my next bike. Darrian (Darius?) came up to me and asked if I needed any help. I had some idea of what I wanted- a road or touring bike that can be built out for bike camping or commuting- and he showed me a few options based on what I wanted. He was clear that given the time of day, time of the week, and time of the year, they were a bit limited on both new and used options that were in stock. This was especially true for the frame size that I needed (46cm). But this didn't stop him from showing me a few bikes, helping me try some out, and spending time looking up other models online that came in my size. He let me know that the shop can also offer trade in credit for my current hybrid. He was clear about the trade conditions- Store credit for currently stocked items or items made by brands they carry and he declined to provide a ballpark estimate of my current bike, which was still at home, without looking at all the components of it. I appreciated that he didn't want to give me an inaccurate estimate. He gave me the names of a few bikes that could work for me based on our online search, let me know that they would build them in-store, and encouraged me to continue to check back mid-week for used bikes. Thanks Darrian (Darius?)!! PRO-TIPS: -try shopping for used bikes mid-week -know that Sunday's in summer might leave you with smaller stock (alliteration! Awesome.) -as with other used gear places, check back for the specific things you are looking for often. They might not have it today but the right piece might be in later that same week. -enjoy the community. Solid people who really love bikes. read more

As a relatively new biker (1.5 years consistently), I really appreciate the guidance and advice that I have received at Recycled Cycles! Initially, I went into the store to learn more about biking. Being a college student at the time, I wanted a new form of transportation and exercise. I was a bit clueless at the time, but 2 workers spent the next 1-2 hours with me explaining everything that I would need to know about purchasing my first bike in quite some time. A year and a half later, I have to come to Recycled Cycles for all of my bicycle needs. I appreciate their willingness to explain the parts rather than shoving a part in my face and telling me that is what I need. As a bike more and more, I continually come back to this store with questions and stories. Their used parts are amazingly cheap! They have great deals going on at times, and have a large variety of parts available for all bike riders. The prices on their bicycles are not amazingly cheap, but they are competitive. Even more important though, I feel as though they make sure you are purchasing the bike that best fit your needs. This is definitely how I felt when I purchased my first bicycle there! Their service and repairs are also excellent and finished my tune-up and repairs in a timely and complete fashion. Street parking can be a pain around the store sometimes, but spots are available. Recycled Cycles is a great store for riders of all levels and they have staff there that can communicate and work with various backgrounds. read more

Recycled Cycles - Recycled Cycles and the line of available bikes outside - Bikes Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Great shop for bikes, parts and all the accessories.. new and used! Trusted bike mechanics that know their stuff! My hubby was given a more than a 'fair trade' while buying a bike while also trading his old Mt Bike in to sell. Trading/money off is cool. Crazy busy on weekends try to come mid week. read more

I hate flat tires, while the streets of SF, ridden with broken glass and other sharp objects, love giving me flat tires. With a move back to the city imminent, I decided it was time to give solid tires a try. After countless hours trying to install them myself, all ending in failure, I decided to look around for help. And it turns out that it wasn't just me not being handy enough - most of the bike shops I called refused to do solid tire installations, simply because of how difficult they are. But not Recycled Cycles! I called, explained my situation, and was told that they loved trying new things. I dropped by, looked for some help in (because the shop isn't accessible, with two or three steps at the main entrance, and single step at the service entrance), and had my new tires installed within 10 minutes. And to top it off, I wasn't charged, for the simple reason of "I've never done that before, and it was actually kind of fun, thanks!" - a sign that they love what they do. read more

Could not recommend a bike shop more highly. Trustworthy, genuine, fair prices, incredibly caring about their costumers and passionate about their work. These guys listened thoughtfully to my needs in a bike, then helped me consider and test out several options accordingly (checking out the used/cheapest ones first!). I'm so happy with the bike I got, and even more so with their service afterwards! I've stopped by a few times for adjustments, accessories, or just biking advice and they always deliver! When I last popped in to get new fenders for winter, they went out of their way to help me get them on and to tinker with the placement of all the lights, mirrors, etc so everything would fit perfectly. I'm so thankful to have this shop in our neighborhood! read more

Such an awesome shop, and the people are amazing! Today I found a used brake that fits my needs perfectly, and got some very helpful advice from several different staff members. When I got home I realized that the mounting adapter I had at home was the wrong size - I came back and they traded parts with me for one that fit! Everyone was super helpful and friendly. I will definitely be back. read more

My friend and I were riding my scooter past Recycled Cycles when I got a flat tire. I recalled how helpful and friendly the guys in the shop had been to me in the past, so I bothered them for some air to fill my tire. Max went above and beyond! Instead of having me fill up the tire with a bike tire pump, Max grab the air compressor and stretched it as far outside their shop as possible and got on the ground and filled up the tire for me! He even went ahead and checked my front tire as well. I am and was so grateful for his help, we would have been miserable attempting to fill up the tire on our own and probably would have been unsuccessful. So long story short, we weren't even customers and they gave us A+ service. Thanks again, Max!!! You're rad af! Kara and Katelyn read more

Unbelievable walked in with my very old Apex Diamond Back needing obscure brake parts in last hour they were open. Guys there are all first class but Skip was available and somehow traced down in the 'museum' the exact parts. He did not insist on installing them but let me do it. They go way beyond customer service they put you on cloud 9 read more

Recycled Cycles - Bikes Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Great store and customer service. Rented a bike here when visiting from out of town. Rented a road bike which was in decent condition for a rental. They adjusted the bike to fit me. Provided helmet, lock and gear bag with tire and a pump which was awesome. Also provided me with a map showing local bike trails. Love the concept of recycled gear. We have something similar but it's based online and out of the person's house so not easily accessible. Enjoyed renting And would def do it again if and when I visit Seattle. read more

The one shop in Seattle that I can recommend with all my heart; backed up by 50 plus years of cycling in this town. If you need basic transportation, or a part for your beloved but outdated 6-8 or 9 speed and you don't want to be treated like an idiot or have a sales person try to sell you an 8 thousand dollar bike or size you up and decide you aren't worth their time then this is the place for you! Quality used bicycles, and parts bins full of stuff to keep a smile on your face and your old machine in running condition. Cheerful people who love bicycles and bicyclists - what else could you possibly want from a bike shop? read more

I went in for a quick repair and was completely ignored while I waited for 20 minutes back at service area.Despite it being a slow day, maybe 3-4 customers or so, employees made no eye contact, talked to each other, but didn't asked me if I needed anything, etc. I finally just left and went to another bike shop that helped me the minute I walked in. Too many great bike shops in Seattle to go back there. read more

Love this place. The team here is really nice and is really kmowledgeable on everything bikes. During Covid shutdown, where other shops were out of stock on most things, i was able to find it here. Service was great and they kept it safe. read more

A unique resource for cyclists. Great for bike projects & everyday bike needs. Perennial supporters of the local racing scene too.

Excellent place to find frame sets or specific parts for your current or vintage bike build!

This is an update Sadly Recycled Cycles has lost some of their panache and rep as a goto shop for real bicyclists. It is heartbreaking, the last bike we bought from there was poorly supported and after we had the bike served at another shop, we discovered that they did not check the bike out and the axles were too tight. Also, there is a trend in the bike sales business that is going around to many shops, they do not cover labor on warranty repairs. This is just not Recycle Cycles, but many other shops. I think from what I am hearing it is because of a change in how bike manufacturers are reimbursing bike shops for repairs. Not sure about the details, but Recycle Cycle is yet another bike shop that will not cover the labor with warranty work. Case in point, if you buy a bike, and a part goes bad right away (which happened to us) it is up to the discretion of the bike shop to replace the part and cover the labor, you could be on the hook for labor costs. They are a big dealer for Kona bikes, and Kona has also noted in their warranty that they do not cover the costs of labor for non-Kona parts i.e. Sram or Shimano parts. Bottom line, I love this bike shop, there is a lot of Seattle cycle history here, and I still go here, I would just be aware and careful when buying new bikes and shop around. I want this shop to be around forever, but I also want them to maybe step up their shop policies and support. read more

Friendly staff who took their time with me to make sure I had everything I needed for my bike rental. Reasonable prices and nice bike! Call ahead to make sure they have your size and bike type available. They'll be more than happy to help :) read more

The people at Recycled Cycles have been so helpful with my bicycle build. They have a great stock of used parts (always go there first before thinking of getting anything online! They probably have it.) Since this was my first time building a bike from scratch they were a really great resource to check my work and make sure I was safe. Thanks all! read more

I stopped in for a derailleur adjustment this afternoon and the team of mechanics sent me on my way with a finely shifting machine. Very grateful for the quick, precise service and the good nature of everyone at the shop. I've purchased a number of used parts from RC over the years as well, and they've all been a bargain. Shout out to a Seattle institution who does things the right way. read more

Can I cuss on this review? Can I give a -5 stars review? How much bad language can I use to describe my hate for the people that work here? Ok. I think I'll take the PC approach and just replace the words I want to use with more socially acceptable words. So basically everybody that works in this store is a complete horse's ass. I've experienced bad customer service before, but not quite like I did at Recycled Cycles. It took on a new level where I actually felt there was some sexism involved as well. Here's the scenario: I just moved to Seattle a few months ago and left my car back in Texas because I wanted to get around on foot/public transportation/maybe eventually a bicycle. So I finally hit that point where I was considering buying a bike, so I look online and realize I know nothing about this new cycling culture that's evolved since I stopped caring about bikes at the age of 11. So I decide the best thing for me to do is to go seek the assistance of those who know what they're talking about at a store, assuming they'll be really helpful and do their best to answer all of my questions. I decided to also bring along my cyclist friend with me to help translate anything the employees tell me that I don't really understand or to help me find the right bike along with the store's suggestions. So I go to Recycled Cycles for some reason. Maybe God hated me that day and made me think this was a good idea. So I walk up and approach the first smug jackass in a Recycled Cycles shirt, and he proceeds to prove just what I've been thinking for a while, that the cycling community is full of elitists and if you don't know what you're talking about, they will just make fun of you instead of helping you. So I tell him that I'm after something just kind of casual. I'm not looking to use it on a big commute or anything, just something to piddle around town on because, well, that's the truth. He proceeds to show me some expensive and ugly commuter bike, and I instead ask about a Schwinn beach cruiser I'd been checking out since I walked up. He then proceeds to tell me that the Schwinn I was looking at won't be enough for me to handle riding in this city, and I say, "Well, that's fine, again, I'm not looking to race up any massive hills, I just want to get around on a bike that I like." His response: "Why don't you just get a Vespa?" .... Very seriously. What the hell. That's the issue with this shop. That's the mentality. Instead of trying to sell me the bike that I'm telling you that I want and instead of pointing out the positives about said bike, you degrade me and tell me to go get some motorized vehicle. If I wanted a akdfjlasdjf Vespa, I would have gone to a Vespa store, you jerk. Unfortunately, I did research and this was the only store that had that bike as it was becoming more and more difficult to find, so I begrudgingly returned and bought it the next day, and I had to buy it from the same old (emphasis on old) jerk that I had the misfortune of talking to the previous day. I will never return to this store. For anything. Ever. I'd rather step on dirty, rusty nails than endure these people and their elitist attitude again. I've heard so many better things about Performance Bike, and I'll be taking all of my business there. I tried to get my bike from Performance Bike, but they didn't have it and couldn't order it. So I had to give my business to this dump. Recycled Cycles, here's a little tip. Lose the god-foresaken attitude. Maybe you think it's cute, maybe you think it's fun, but it's just about the most immature thing you can do to berate people when they actually come to you with a positive attitude and seeking your assistance. It's really childish. You're a breeding ground for what's wrong in the cycling community. This holier-than-thou mentality is fine if you're just hanging out with your friends, but the minute you step into a customer service position at a store where you will be interacting with people that need and want your input, you need to leave that crap at the door. Grow up. Never going back. Never. Ever. Never ever. alskdjf;laksdjfoqiw4etoisajdflkajdsf So much hate for everything this store stands for. alsdfj;lasjdf;wjtrioasdf. Uglakjsdf. ugh. End rant. DO NOT SHOP HERE. read more

Yesterday I was told by my brother to go to a bike store and buy the following: "Side pull calipers and 650cc wheels... Oh, and some tubes b/c the ones that were on the wheels were shot and I'd be pissed if I had to replace them a day or two after riding..." Damn straight I would be... and uh... you want me to buy a who-sit?! I decided to check out Recycled Cycles since my brother (who's a complete cycling junkie- he builds bikes in his free time) had said they have a great selection of used bike parts. And sure enough they do. On a Sunday afternoon, this place is hoppin.' There were about 3 different kinds of people in here when I swung by yesterday: 1.) The "I know what I need and I'm gettin' it and gettin' out" crew 2.) The "I don't know a thing about bikes, but I do know my whole family wants to top of the line, so I'll just buy everything here today, thanks" folks 3.) The "I kind of know what i need, but could I ask you a question" peeps I fall into the 3rd category. It took me a minute to snag someone, which is fine since there was a lot of people in here shopping yesterday. There were also a lot of employees running around too, so hats off to them for having enough folks working. Paul helped me find a used set of side pull calipers for $25, the sometimes hard to find size of wheels I needed, and tubes. For those of you who build your bikes, you already know that Recycled has bins of stuff for cheap, but for those who are new to the scene like me- try this place out first before you spend $$$ on the new stuff. Nice staff. Good service. And great deals on bike parts. Shop here (or ebay and/ or Craigslist) before you buy new. You'll save a ton of cash which you can then go and blow on more important things... like fancy bike shoes and jerseys. After graduating from Cycling 101 yesterday afternoon (thanks to my brother) I know how to change a tire, I've got a great new bike, I know what side pull calipers are, and I've got a much better understanding that bike sh*t can cost a million if you're not shopping for it at the right place. Recycled Cycles is the right place. read more

I remember having a dream when I was a kid that I was invisible. I remember it so vividly because it was so cool to go about my way completely undetected. I am kind of hopeful I will have this dream again or better yet experience it in waking life. I didn't think it was possible but thanks to Recycled Cycles my dream has come true. I don't know what kind of invisible cloak is thrust upon me when I enter their store but I somehow go completely unnoticed to the staff. Not the kind of invisible where I am lost on a Saturday in a large crowd of bicycling consumers, the rainy Monday evening three people in the shop kind of invisible. This invisibility however comes with full use of all of my senses. I look at, touch, and pick items up (weird how they don't see the floating objects) and I hear just fine. In fact the last time I was there I heard all about the previous evening endeavors of the two people working behind the counter a few feet away. I've tested my invisibility at other bike shops but they had no problems seeing me, helping me, and taking my money. Must be some weird stuff happening at the UW that creates this effect at Recycled Cycles. Needless to say I feel unwelcome and uneasy at this shop and I keep going back because I wan them to be great. I can't talk to the prices or service because I can't get anyone to actually help me. I thought the first couple of times were a fluke but it hasn't changed. Maybe others have great luck here, so I wouldn't say don't go, but it just isn't my place. Luckily this is a biker's town and there are enough other local shops to keep me in the gear. read more

Eh. I've got mixed feelings about Recycled Cycles. Here are the pros: -They have bins of used parts if you want to find replacement pieces or build your own bike -They have a shop (with decent prices) if you want to have them make you a bike, fix your bike or add new parts, replace old parts, etc. -They have a decent selection, larger than some other stores in town -They have competitive prices. Here's what I wasn't too excited about: -I went in looking for a specific style of bike. I explained that to the salesman and he took me directly to the pink and purple section that I specifically mentioned I didn't even want to be within 5 feet of. -When I reiterated what I was looking for and described the style and named some of my favorite brands, he still insisted I look at these pink and purple things. -A big sales pitch. Look, I know this is a good bike. But I don't like it so I wont buy it. I ended up doing that nightclub move where if a guy hits on you, you pretend you have to go to the bathroom and disappear. He wasn't hitting on me and I didn't have to pee but I made a face like my boyfriend was calling me over and said I'd be back if I had more questions. But instead, I left. Quickly. Lots of beautiful bikes here but most aren't for sale. They have a great collection of vintage road bikes but if you're looking for Look, Bianchi, Cannondale, Eddy Merckx, or Masi, they might not have them. There's a decent selection of Surley and some Raliegh too. Not really my style but nice nonetheless. Seems like a great place to get a mountain bike, bike parts, kids bikes or even a fixie. Most bikes are also pretty large. Almost nothing under 51cm. So...I'll come back I'm sure, but not after I look a few other places first. read more

This is part review and part response to the bad reviews written by previous people, who make it abundantly clear they don't know much about bikes, about the nature of recycled cycles and have no patience. I've been a return client for more than a decade and have never once had a bad experience with the staff. I have witnessed bad customers with bad attitudes. As a person who is a moderate biker, I can offer that I think the bad reviews below are just weird. GOOD NEWS *Great pricing on used parts. Recycling parts for bikes is good karma. * Professional repairs and service. * They will point you in the right direction of where to find do-it-yourself repair manuals if you don't want them to do the repairs at the shop. * First class repair work. * Experience!!! These folks know what they're doing, which is why they've been in business so long. BAD NEWS * You won't always find the brand of part you want, you take what you can get. * Special orders - forgetaboutit. The name of the store should tell you all you need to know. * Long waits due to customers (see below) who don't know the first thing about bikes and waste everyone's time being unprepared. Please do your own research before coming. Would you buy a car or a pet or have a baby without doing some kind of research? Of course not, so why would you even think of going to a bike shop and not know anything about biking or about the terrain of Seattle. I'm not surprised some bad attitude girl was told she should buy a Vespa. If you are that vapid about bikes, I would have said the same thing of not mocked you more. * Novice bike owners can be exceptionally rude because it's not a regular bike shop with stooges who are willing to tell you anything just to get a sale. DO Your own research. If you don't know the first thing about bikes, please take the time to research your question at least a little bit so you aren't wasting everyone's time. Asking questions is great, but starting from scratch and evidencing you know zero about bikes is the very reason it can take 40 minutes for others to get a rep to help them. Some of the rest of us would love to push you to the back of the line because we know you're not going to buy anything and irritate everyone. We don't because we're more patient and know we won't take up as much of their time as you do. DON'T Start talking to the clerk with a statement like, "I've been waiting a long time." If you don't have patience like the rest of us, just leave. read more

I went in today looking to buy a used bike. The guy I talked to (never could get his name out of him) treated me like shit: couldn't take the time to answer any of my questions, barely let me tell him what I'm looking for (and even then, only got half of it out), generally just a "not worth my time" attitude. He told me it's better to call to see if they have things in rather than "wasting our time with you coming down to check it out yourself." Oh, so you'd rather I not spend time in your store, looking at all the cool stuff I can buy for my bike? Well alright then. But the clincher was the comment about me being fat. For the record, I'm barely "overweight" and if he had asked the pertinent questions, would have been told I'm looking to get a better bike than I have now so I can get more exercise. I went elsewhere and received wonderful service from staff who genuinely cared about getting me onto a bike that will do what I want it to do without paying more than I have to. And managed not to insult me in the process. Take note, Recycled Cycles: Elitists don't belong working with the public! read more

I'd write a proper review, but they didn't even try. . . I went in looking for a used bike, and I'll admit it, it was late in the season and most of them were gone. But to be honest, I was ready to drop $600 on a bike and helmet, new or used. I realize that won't buy me a racing model, but can you at least TRY to make a sale? I wandered around for 6 or 7 minutes thinking someone would eventually offer to help me out or at least say 'hi'; but that didn't happen, so I ended up asking for help, and basically got the "you're too late" speech. Again, I realize that supply is limited, but don't just show me your lowest price model and go, "It might be fine. Should be okay on hills." Sell it. If you want me to buy something, sell it. Offer options. Give me a contact card. SOMETHING!! Since I know I'll be buying new, I'll take my business (and increased budget) to a shop that at the very least acknowledges my presence. read more

I rode into the Lake Union store with a broken fender strut this week. A young tech looked at it, went to the parts bin, split a double strut, cut the rod, bend the loop with a vice, compared it with the good strut, and said "Put a dollar in the tip jar." This was for a bike not purchased there. How could I ever NOT come back here to buy stuff? 'nuff said read more

I ride my bike to and from work, and the gym, five days a week, rain or shine. Yes, I do think this makes me a better person than you when I breeze past you, stuck in traffic, picking your nose, on Mercer. Yeah, bet you didn't know I saw you. But I did. This, is the lovely local shop that keeps me up and running. My boyfriend, a far more knowlegeble an proficient cyclist than I, probobly would shrivel up and die without this place. The staff here all seem to be passionate, dedicated cyclists, with a lot of knowlege to share and some appreciated enthusiasm for doing so. The best selection of used gear is here, tempered with a little bit of elitism. Last time I was here without my boyfriend, and my friend who works there was on his day off, yeah, I was very intimidated. But, I left very happy, and with a smaller dent in my wallet than I would have elsewhere. The convenient location right of the Burke-Gilman doesn't hurt, either. read more

"That pump has a lot of plastic, so when it breaks bring it back for a refund." Not a stunning endorsement of your products. But a good return policy I guess? read more

There's plenty of things to like about this shop, but at least one serious downer. First the good: They have an amazing selection of used parts, most of which are priced to sell. There really isn't a better place in Seattle to get a second-hand freewheel or a replacement headset, especially for under 20 bucks. Also, the service staff is genuinely nice and helpful. They're smart, skilled, and also charge very reasonable rates for their work. Next the bad: Their selection of used bikes SUCKS. In fact, it's basically non-existent. You may be able to score a frame which you can build up, but if you're looking for a relatively cheap 2nd hand bike, don't even bother. Really all they sell is new bikes from 500 to 2000 bucks, or very expensive consignment bikes. If you're looking for a good used bike, look elsewhere. read more

Firstly, I did purchase a decent bike from here, or at least I think I did, and, I think my experience was ok, though I now feel somewhat misled. Walked in and explained that I was in the market for a used bike. My immediate need was to replace the bike that was stolen from me 2 days ago with a replacement used bike in the price point of $150-$200. The employee told me that my "timing was impeccable" and led me to a bike that was on "sale for $200." After test riding the bike and agreeing to the purchase I waited while the employee took the bike for adjustments. He soon returned with a price sticker in hand and told me he was wrong, "the price wasn't $200, it was $280, do you still want it?" Once I came to terms with the sticker shock increase, I agreed to the sale and decided against purchasing the $50 lock that was suggested to me, at least until my next pay period. At the cash register and on my bill, I was led to believe that I received 10% off my purchase because of my UPass, however, this was not reflected on my final sale bill. When I returned home I called Recycled Cycles to inquire about the 10% discount and was told "if I had a problem with the bike sale, I could return it and he would sell it again in a hot second." I explained that I was only calling because the receipt says I saved 10% with my UPASS discount but it was not reflected on my final sale. Apparently the discount doesn't apply to my purchases....it remains unclear to me. I also purchased a used bag for $10. The guy took the time to talk with me and offer suggestions, he was helpful but, isn't it supposed to be about customer service? In the end and after the price confusion, I would have been happy to give 4 stars if Recycled Cycles had just thrown in the used $10 bag and said "here, my bad, I'm glad you bought the bike" but, that wasn't the case. read more

Really dismayed to say it, but I recommend avoiding this shop unless you're just looking for spare parts. I've been an avid road cyclist and trail biker for years, having moved to Seattle from Montana, where to be fair the terrain is different, but bikers are bikers, right? Evidently not. My partner wanted to get a decent used bike for heading to and from work, something within his budget that would still be nice. We did our online research first, and Recycled Cycles sounded like the perfect spot to check out. I figured I'd be able to help him find a good choice there based on my own experience and knowledge. I was unprepared for the way this store seems to be run. Two store visits in two days--yesterday the place was swamped, and there was some festival or bike related event going on, so long waits and lack of friendly staff seemed like something you could chalk up to that. Went again this morning and there were far fewer people in the store, although trying to get someone to assist us or even so much as say hello proved near impossible. Which is not to say there weren't several staff in the place because there were. Several of them were talking together. I finally nabbed one guy so we could ask about bikes, and it seemed like we'd bothered him. He told us simply go look outside. And that was the extent of any "help" we got at this place. Unreal. Perhaps store management think that because they're near the UW campus they've got a built-in clientele and so they don't need to put forth effort to make sales. A Recession might cure that, I suppose, but really, for anybody who's ever worked in sales, the way business is done at this shop seems anathema to earning money. It won't kill you to be polite to people who walk in, to say hello, to even say, "Wow, we're really busy, but we'll have someone with you as soon as we can." It seemed like they had done some good reconditioning work on the bikes we saw, and I could have had a great in-depth bike convo with some of them if they had deemed me worthy of the time. I don't know if their aloofness was more about being snobs or more about being stoned or just not caring. But it was really disappointing. We arrived ready, willing, and able to spend money. We won't come back. read more

I signed up for my first sprint triathlon this summer & was super excited until I realized that I hadn't rode a bike since the 5th grade, much less owned one since then. What I know about bikes I could fit in a thimble, so after talking to a few people & going to a clinic at Gregg's I decided to look for a 2nd hand bike. I had been scoping out Craigslist for a while, hoping to score a decent used road bike, but no luck. So I decided to visit Recycled Cycles. I'll admit I was a little nervous going to RC after reading some of the reviews of poor customer service from previous reviewers. I already knew I'd off come as a bumbling idiot when it came to bikes, but I decided to brave the waters & give them a try. I called the shop to make sure they'd be opened during a holiday (Good Friday) & a friendly-sounding guy named Alex answered. I felt a little better after speaking with an employee & finding out firsthand that they weren't all jerks as the previous reviews had said. The shop wasn't too hard to find & thankfully they had a free parking lot next door because I was there for a while. The outside had rows & rows of used bikes for sale. Most of them actually looked in pretty good shape for used bikes. Some looked a little ancient. Inside were even more used bike & a section of new bikes. After wandering around for a bout 10 minutes I had a curly brunette employee named Megan ask if I needed any help. I told her about the triathlon & how I was looking for an entry level bike that wouldn't break my budget. She didn't make me feel bad about knowing zilch about bikes & patiently pulled bike after bike off the racks & ceiling so that I could give them a test ride. I did put 2 bikes on hold (REI was also having a 20% off novara bikes sale) & I also wanted to see what else was out there. The next day I received a call from Alex from RC saying that there was a lady that was interested in one of the bikes I had put on hold. I had decided I did not want the bike afterall & appreciated that the shop called. Overall I would say my experience at RC has been both positive & informative. Megan was extremely helpful & knowledgable (I later learned it was only her 2nd day on the job & that they had let go a few people after seeing numerous negative reviews & receiving complaints). I would definitely return to RC in the future. read more