I went to this shop after purchasing what I thought was a nice bike via Craigslist. I ended up need a few things replaced and or fixed. The cost of repair was nearly as much as I paid for the bike, but I digress. My original estimate was $168, but the final cost came to $178 ($10 difference), that was okay. When I went to pay for the work, I was waited on by an older lady that works the register. I asked if the work had a warranty, a simple yes or no answer....She proceeded to let me know that I had a "low end" bike and that she guaranteed that I'd be back for more repairs. Toatally NOT what I asked about. I repsonded, so that's a no? She answered my question, finally, after trashing my bike. I spent $178 in their shop and I expected better treatment. The moral of the story is, the lady at the register is crass and curt and I will not be returning as she predicted. Good work, bad customer service. read more

I had 3 bikes to get a tune up and he was very honest with me on the condition of each bike and provided me with a fair price. I've been coming to this store (when it was near 495 and Georgia) for the past 5 years and I've been very please pleased with the service and price of the bikes. read more

Last year I undertook the ambitious task of trying to build a bike--without tools, an instruction book, or much of a clue as to what I was doing...aside from the fact that I knew the wheels went on the bottom and the chain went over the knobby things and pulled the wheels... But, thanks to the guys at Silver Cycles, I now am expert (almost) in bike building and repair. The guys the work there (and one lone woman, who owns the store) are all very helpful, knowledgeable (with one notable exception), and friendly. Unlike so many other bike stores I've been to, they were patient with me, explaining how to put things together, they didn't charge for minor repairs, and they never made me feel stupid for not knowing how something worked. They're also low pressure, and don't try to sell you the most expensive version of something that you don't really need. And, best of all is how accommodating they are--one more than one occasion they stayed open late for me, shared a beer, and offered to have me come in after hours so that they could teach me how to build my wheels. I am supremely impressed with Silver Cycles, and if I still lived even vaguely in the area (Silver Spring, near the beltway), I'd go nowhere else for bike parts or help. read more

They are horrible. Just completely rude. My husband and I visited here recently and we were trying to get a bike rack put on, and the woman working there wanted to charge us 25 dollars to put a bike rack on. Seriously lady? She basically thought we were stupid and tried to rip us off. Don't go there. Go to another bike store instead....there is another much more reasonable one in Silver Spring. Also, the parking lot here is a mess. Never going back ever again. Rude, inconsiderate, and over all a horrible experience. read more

"Bicycle! Bicycle! I want to ride my bicycle, I want to ride my bike, I want to ride my BI-CY-CLE, I want to ride it where I Liiiiiiiiiike!!!" That Queen song is so sneaky, but catchy! Some thoughts: Go GREEN and trade in your car for a bike! Ok, if you're not ready for that, maybe cycle to do your small traveling? Whatever it is you're looking to do, from getting a bike for a little Spring riding to finding a good commuter bike, this is a great place to stop. My husband was looking to buy a bike to commute and we went in to ask some questions. The knowledge on this guy - his brain must have been HUGE! He really did know his stuff. He showed us various models, Fuji is one that comes to mind, but they had others, as well as much needed accessories. Safety lights, padding, helmets, seats, chain oil, you name it...they had a lot going on there. They also had a smart looking lady in the back working on a bike since they do maintenance and repairs for bikes. You get your first tune-up for free if you buy from them and the guy told us they do some minor adjustments for you for free as well. He and another gentleman helped discuss good routes to take for work and some of the best trails. Even though hubby decided to go for a "new fangled" chainless bike that he bought off the Internet, we'll be going back to Silver Cycles for all the trimmings and maintenance. All that AND a bag of chips, baby! Did I mention the healthy energy snacks too? Oh...musta forgot. read more

My first experience using this shop left me with mixed emotions. They do great work but the customer service is subpar. Out of the 4 employees that I came in contact with during my visit, only 1 left a good impression. I would never repeat my business at this shop. read more

These guys stayed open later than they should've to help me buy some silly pedals, which they certainly didn't have to--it wasn't like I was spending a lot. Needless to say, I was very grateful to them for that because I couldn't get into the city to buy other ones. I'd been there before, about a year ago, to replace some tires on a really old beat up bike and they never made me feel insecure about the fact that I couldn't afford a newer bike. They just did what I wanted and were very friendly and offered me good answers to any questions I had. I was new to bike commuting so they were very helpful. Great little bike shop! Tip them well. read more

This month I turned 31 years old. I haven't owned or ridden a bike in a solid 22 years. In fact my last bike was a silver BMX with purple grips and pedals. It also has those plastic things on the spokes that made a clacking sound as I coasted along the neighborhood helmet free, skinning my knee when I bit it along the gravel laden cul-de-sac. Moving to DC has made me rethink some things in life and one of them was how much I use my car to get around. (long story short) I needed to get back on the bike. Into Silver Cycles I went, totally prepared to deal with the uber elitist, bike obsessed, hipsters that have kept me out of bike shops for so many years. INSTEAD I was greeted by an incredibly kind, humorous and knowledgeable staff that was really looking to get me back on a bike that I would love to ride. I totally walked in there thinking I was just going to get sized for a bike and then buy a hip looking custom made single speed off the interwebs. The thing that was most impressive about Silver Cycles is that with very little convincing, no chastising or "I know more than you" looks they were able to give me the reality check I needed to realize that DC was no place for me to be on a single speed. (They were right the hills here are killing me!) I walked out with a bike that I absolutely love and great peace of mind because I have a place where I can take that bike (or buy all of the extras) without feeling like they are going to be too judgey or try and sell me something I don't need or want. read more

Silver Cycles is a good little LBS hiding in an nondescript shopping center just inside the Beltway. I have purchased a bicycle and accessories from them and have been pleased with their price and quality (not as cheap as Performance but the staff actually knows what they are talking about and are there to help you). Additionally, I have had another bike serviced by their mechanics and was pleased with the work they did. They carry mainly Fuji bikes and have a decent selection of road, mountain and comfort bikes to test out. read more

Spring has come and with this great weather, I thought to bring out the old road bike. So I took my road bike to my LBS Silver Cycles. Though small in size for most bike shops with limited selection on styles of bikes, sizes, and components they seem pretty good about being able to order what they don't seem to carry in there establishment in a timely manner. So like normal I try to get one of the mechanics attention to see if I can purchase a new chain for the coming season and a rack because I want to utilize my bike for transportation in the pleasant coming months. Wow, strange thing is one of the staff is lecturing a customer about limited life time warranties of bike lights that he has brought in. While I wait to do my transaction, I am shocked to hear the dialogue between the gentlemen. The bike staff member with glasses seems to be scrutinizing the customer's claim for warranty without any care for customer service or that there are others in line that have better things to do then listen to some kind of unwanted quasi lecture. With no time to spare I walk out in search of The Bicycle Place around the corner. What a surprise to see this from a cozy bike shop that normally has very courteous staff. read more

I don't think they're interested in working on old 3-speeds. I came in to ask how much it would cost to change the rear sprocket on a 3-speed. I told them exactly what model of hub it was, including the year, and what kind of bike. They said they couldn't give me a good estimate without seeing the bicycle in person but thought it would be more than $100. (A nearby shop gave me an estimate of under $20, also sight unseen, which turned out to be exactly right when I took the bike into them. It was a $3 part and maybe 20 minutes of labor at most.) It's weird because they *sell* internally geared hubs at Silver Cycles, but I guess it's not the kind of work they're really interested in. They're probably great if you bring in something modern with a lot of derailleur gears and chainrings. read more

Good knowledge and enthusiasm. That's it. I don't have anything else to say but I don't have anything else to say

They had the correct cotter pins in stock (as promised on the phone). Nice selection of bikes for a relatively small space. Thanks for the profesional service read more

I love these guys! They are very knowledgeable and generous with their time. They are very helpful with my cost-conscious needs. Silver Cycles is the best! read more

I went into silver cycles to get a gift certificate for my husband, the place was super crowded for a Thursday night and all i could think was its gonna be awhile. Then there was Jen, she has the aura of calm that effects everyone she is around. She was helping people left and right and staying calm, even when what I thought was the worlds dumbest question was being asked she stayed polite and friendly. When my turn was up I said I just need a gift certificate and handed her my money, she asked what it was for and I was taken back, why do you care you just want my money... But no this store and it's ppl are so amazing she wanted to know so that when she CREATED the gift certificate it would be more personal! Let me say that again, with all the chaos of that store this women was going to take the time to give me a personalized gift certificate. We will never shop at another bike store and I dare say I will shop at more small businesses because of this experience. read more

Super nice folks here! I came in for a full tune up and was out in 15 minutes with air in the tires and oil on the chain. They didn't try to up sell me or create unnecessary delays. So thankful for their honesty, generosity and kindness! read more

My fiancee and I were recently on the market for new bikes and wanted to try and buy from a local shop, if possible. We live in Silver Spring and had driven by Silver Cycles multitude of times on our way to get onto and off of the beltway, so we were excited to check it out. During our first visit, the staff proved to be knowedgeable and were willing to stay late to talk to us about, not just their bikes, but bikes in general. There was no pressure and the sales rep even encouraged us to check out other bike stores in the area to make sure that we were getting the best deal, advising us on what key qualities to look for in a good-quality bike. A few weeks and a good number of stores later, we found ourselves back at Silver Cycles test-driving a few different bikes, including Fujis, Breezers, and Surlys. We were kind of in love with the Surly, but wanted some time to think about the purchase, as it cost a good bit more than we had planned to spend. They were completely understanding and encouraged us to sleep on it. Later that week we finally decided on a Surly and went back to the store for a third time after work in the middle of the week. We spent a good 2 hours there and even closed the store down as the staff measured numerous body parts to make sure that the bikes they ordered were the best possible fit. I joked that I felt like I was getting fitted for a business suit. We ended up closing down the store yet again, but there was no pressure from the staff to seal the deal so that they could leave. On the contrary, they were attentive to our needs, as we decided on a bike and picked out the different accessories to go with it. The owner, Linda, even offered us a couple of free "starter" panniers (side bags) as an early "wedding gift". Woo hoo! All in all, Silver Cycles had everything we were looking for in a business: Incredibly knowledgeable and courteous staff, excellent selection in terms of medium to high-quality bikes, components and accessories, and a real sense that we were valued as customers and that they really wanted our business, not just in terms of selling us a bike, but with an eye to keeping us happy as long-term repeat customers. I can't recommend these guys highly enough. read more

We've bought bikes and had them repaired/tuned-up for years with ZERO complaints. I won't go anywhere else. Fantastic and reliable service, very accessible, and they work wonderfully with my autistic son. read more

I brought my bike to Silver Cycles twice for minor repairs that were beyond my skill level. Both times the work was completed the same day. The staff was friendly and the charges were fair. read more

This place is the bomb. It's exactly what you would hope from a neighborhood bike store. They're friendly. Know you by name. And best of all - or most unbelievable or this area - no bike store snobbery. They don't care if you pull up on a 20 year old beater. Or, probably, will applaud you for riding it. They have a fairly impressive selection for a small shop. After going in and out for several years to buy new parts, gu, etc. I decided my next bike purchase would be there. I went in and rode many bikes. There was absolutely no pressure to buy anything. In the end I was totally in love with one bike and ready to take it home, when the sales rep decided I should come back in a week and try out the smaller frame of the same bike. I was stunned that they weren't going to just take my credit card and ring me up - but I decided she was right. And it reaffirmed for me that Silver Cycles is the best bike shop in town. If it's worth anything, I am a total bike fiend and frequent several bike stores in between my house and work: Bicycle Place (snobs), City Bikes (cool), Griffin Cycles (also great). But Silver Cycles is my favorite. read more

First ask how long it will take. What they told me it would take a day, ended up taking a weekend including Friday.

In LOVE with silver cylces! my new bike+ me = bff's 4-evs!

Tucked away into a unsuspecting mini mall at the confluence of Georgia Avenue and the end of the 16th Street (or the beginning, depending on your perspective!) is Silver Cycles. It's a small shop crammed with bikes and various paraphernalia. But they have a friendly and helpful staff that knows their stuff. I brought in two relatively old and worn bikes, and the young man who helped me immediately put them up 'on the blocks' and gave them a look-over and provided me a repair price. The work was done in a few days, and on time, and they even helped my lug the bikes in and out of my minivan. The only challenge I saw (which other reviewers have noticed) is the very small and busy parking lot. Granted, that's not entirely their fault but it does cause me to rate them as only 4 Stars since customers should be aware of how crowded the lot can become on busy days/times. Otherwise I was very happy with my first visit and would highly recommend Silver Cycles. read more

Excellent and honest service. Easy to work with. Fair. I would recommend this shop to anyone in need of repair of a motorcycle or Vespa.

Excellent bike shop. I just had my bike repaired there. They diagnosed an annoying noise that other bike shops had not been able to figure out (it was a cracked rim around a spoke hole). The replaced the rim with a good quality nearly new rim that exactly suited my needs at a very fair price. They also replaced cables and brake pads, with a tune up, so it absolutely feels like a brand new bike at a fraction of the price. In addition, the employees are avid cyclists, and could readily converse with me, but I also overheard them talking respectfully and patiently to novice cyclists (and kids) who came in unsure of what they needed or wanted. I also appreciate that it is only a block or so from the Silver Spring Metro so dropping it off and picking it up is very easy and saves time. read more

Your local shop in Silver Spring and come off like it! +Great people +mainly accommodating +quick to be there to help read more

$120.00 to build a simple bmx bike? Insane! Spoke to the mechanic about the price and he gave me some lame excuse on why so expensive. That's taking advantage of your customers. Never doing business with them again. Terrible customer service at that. read more

WORST BUSINESS PRACTICES EVER. Go anywhere else. Save yourselves.Save time. We brought in my kids' bikes and ended up donating one for them to use as the repairs were more than the bike was worth. The kicker was the bike we left for repairs. We were told a price and were clear that 150 and a rideable bike was what we could pay. 12 days later we get a call that the bike estimate was all erong and repairs were totalling 260. We said that is not cool. The owner then said that she would ask if the mechanic would do the repairs for that price but it would have to be on their own time. What kind of poor managerial practice is that?! My kids and I left and 5 days later we get a call ( husband is now being called Michelle instead of Mark) that they have gone ahead and done 150 worth of repairs on the bike [ without my authorization] and the bike still has work to be done. In any other business the owner would have honored the price given and conferred about any changes and NEVER have unilaterally decided what the customer needed done. And the kicker we have a bike that is unsafe, we are 150 in the hole and my kid can still not get to school. And no apology to us throughout all just complaints about the mechanics the owner hired. Bypass and if the store was to apologize and make right I would change this review immediately...but I have no faith that this owner has a clue about business not that she just lost this families' business. read more

Went in to get a jogging stroller tire changed. Great, friendly service and reasonable prices. Recommended.

Bad customer service. They really do not know how to treat people with respect. I have always taken my bike for repairs at this location and every time I pick up my bike something else is wrong with it. If it is not a messed up breaks then the gears have been tempered with and those were not a problem before. I always try to fix the minor problems myself when I notice it. This particular time, I purchased some new paddles online and I managed to fit the right paddles on myself but the left side was giving me a hard time so I decided to take it to the shop for the back tube to be replaced and the paddles put on correctly. I was told it was going to be an easy work so I left for them and they will give me a call back when everything was ready. The same day ( 09/02/2022) I got a call that my bike was ready, picked it up, threw it on top of my car and left. The next day (09/03/2022) which was a Saturday, I took my bike out for a ride with some friends. The moment I tested the bike I noticed my gears were off again, before I took the bike there everything was fine. I also noticed my both of the rims were lose. So many simple and careless mistakes. I still went on the ride anyways. 7 miles away from home, the paddle I took to them to fix fell off. I had to walk 7 miles home and I went straight to the store and told them what had happened. I was told to leave the bike there again. I didn't hear anything from them until I decided to give them a call today (09/12/2022). On the phone they told me they called me on (09/05/2022) and they had given me an estimate on how much it will cost to fix it. I never got any calls from them and they have my number on file because they had called me before whenever I took my bike there. I checked my call history and there was no call from them on that day. The lady on the phone told me it will be over $100plus to fix the issue. I asked her why I have to pay for it again because I paid them for the same issue the day I picked up the bike and they didn't fix it well. I decided to go to the store myself, When I got there the store, they had on file was "I BROUGHT MY BIKE THERE BECAUSE I TOOK MY BIKE TO DICK'S FOR REPAIRS AND THEY MESSED MY GEARS AND PADDLES UP". It was a total BS story, if it wasn't today I didn't know Dick's repairs bike. Dick's sells bike and they don't repair bike. After I confronted them about the stories they were telling me, the white woman in her late 50s started acting like a typical KEREN, CALLING ME RACIAL SLURS and threatening to call the cops on me because I wouldn't let her have her way. I kept my cool didn't curse or lose my temper in any form. I asked her why she was cursing at me and stilled lied and never apologized. I didn't want to say there any longer after she cursed at me and thearten to call the cops on me for nothing. I felt super uncomfortable so I decided to take my bike and leave. When I got home, I realized my gears were tempered with again and both of my rims were bent which is causing the break dics to rob against the breaks with holding them. A word to the wise is enough. I surely will never go there again and I hope you learn from this. That white lady in her late 50s is surely not the right person for that business. Racist and doesn't know how to talk to people!! read more

Went on over to Silver Cycles because of a great little profile on the owner that showed up in the Washington Post Magazine quite a while ago. She was a producer (?) at NPR for years, but then got a chance to go for her *other* dream career. The place is cozy (yes: small) and the folk who work there know their stuff. But here's the weird thing: you don't get that condescending AUTHORITY on BICYCLING vibe, which can be found in some DC bike shops. If you time your visit right, one of the mechanics will kick around ideas on how to better your ride and you don't feel like he's trying to sell you something--and he's often not. This isn't to say that the knowledge is all theoretical. These guys know what they're doing an turn things around quickly. I bought a Fuji Cyclocross for my all-too-brief commute of 4 to 6 miles each way. I took the advice of Sam and now have a bike that's almost identical... down to the flashing back light and silverblack fenders that keep my white shirts stripeless on muddy rides in. I'm putting 4 stars in because I can't do 1/2 a star. The half star will come when they expand the shop and you can see a broader range of gear and bikes. A catch-22, I know. (Silver Cycles did expand! If you're looking for great advice on anything cycling, this is the place to go.) read more

Sold me a bike well over the MSRP value. Unfortunately, I didn't catch it until it was too late. The service was rushed and instead of ordering me a new bike, they attempted to modify a larger frame that wasn't the best fit. Be sure to shop around and check prices elsewhere. read more

Honestly, if there were more stars I would give them to Silver Cycles. We have only been in the area about a month, but we have been there multiple times. My husband is a triathlete and when he a repair to the bike, it was obvious they were true pros! Then it was my turn to buy a bike and their service was truly outstanding. Their patience with me proves they truly care about their customers. Today my stepson came for a visit and there was a problem with his tire, they fixed it right on the spot. They are just awesome and I am glad they are in the neighbor! read more

I'm pretty surprised there are so many high ratings for this bike shop. Maybe its their first time at one? Anyway, I recently moved to DC from Austin, so maybe we just have a better bike culture or something. I shipped my bike and wanted to get it rebuilt. I borrowed a friends car to bring it in. I tell the service guy and he explains that to rebuild it would be $80, which was the price for a tune and included one, which I did not really need but whatever (in comparison, I have previously paid $35 for this service). Then, after having gone through bringing my bike inside and giving all my information, he says that service would take 3 WEEKS or longer and that i would have it within a week if I paid an extra $40 to expedite!! They wanted me to pay $120 to get my bike rebuilt (which takes about 35 minutes) and have it done in less than 3 weeks. That is crazy. Both the price and the schedule. Its essentially extortion. Because I commute by bike and was getting a ride from a friend, I was stuck with the place so as not to have my friend driving around town looking for another place. So I go and pick it up a couple days later when its ready (I paid the extortion fee), and take it outside, and get on, and find out that they had not even inflated the tires or cleaned the bike. Furthermore, the pumps they have outside are garbage and barely work. Once I get home I realize they "forgot" to put my rack on, so when I go to attach my pannier to do some shopping, nope. I call to notify them of their error and the lady on the phone "finds" my rack in the shipping box and tells me to come in to get it installed. I said I would come in sometime on the weekend because heading out to silver spring on my bike during the week after work is not possible, and she responds "actually the weekends aren't the best time for us." Really? Well maybe you shouldn't have screwed up the rebuild in the first place making me have to go hours out of my way to fix your problem, and I wouldn't be so inconvenient for you. In short, this place has bad prices, customer service, and bike service. It is good if you want to grab a bagel while fulfilling your bike related errands or if you are a junky who just wants a good sidewalk to pass out on, as there was one there the last time I went and the staff explained that they didn't want to disturb him. TL;DR Their bike service is very pricey (x2-3 normal) and they will hold your bike for 3 weeks unless you pay an additional fee. The service is marginal and the store is always kindof a zoo. They will screw up simple service orders requiring multiple trips to obtain the simplest bike service. read more

DO NOT BRING YOUR BIKE HERE. I dropped my bike off several days ago, and was quoted a high price for a tuneup. After a few days of considering my options, I called Silver Cycles to ask if they had started working on it. They had not, so they said I could come pick it up the next day if I wanted to put a hold on the service. We agreed I would come pick it up the next day and no work would be done. I got to the shop and turns out, my bike had been worked on that morning and nobody received the note that I no longer wanted it serviced. Linda gave me two options--pay the full price for the service or donate the bike to the store (give them my bike for FREE?!?!). I was treated like an idiot and it took me getting upset with them for them to decide to help. I declined both options and returned a few hours later. I was then offered more options, including Silver Cycles selling my bike and receiving the difference in a store credit. The woman went as far as to say they "value their relationships with customers since they're the only bike shop in Silver Spring" (as if there aren't any other bike shops in the DMV), but clearly they do not. I will never return to this shop and would recommend trying anywhere else. This place is a scam. read more

Cramped shop. Awful parking situation. Cold staff. I considered buying a new bike here but the woman really didn't want to sell me what I wanted. She clearly thought she was more knowledgable and said thing like "that's not the bike you want." It was actually the bike I wanted... I bought it elsewhere (Revolution Cycles). read more

The person who helped me today was very friendly but for what he charged me, my brakes are still rubbing against the rim. I paid $15 per brake for just adjustment (and other stuff like a new chain all added up to around $100). So I'm still left with trying to figure out how to adjust the brakes after spending all that money. He test rode the bike and said it was fine. I should have checked again myself, which I only did after I got home. I'm going to have to find another bike shop unfortunately. I really wish I had read the negative reviews here before I went in. If you charge $9 for a paid of brake pads (more than double of what you'd pay online for brake pads), and $15 per side for brake adjustments, at least make sure you do it right! I have a very busy life, like most others, and so taking it back in is not an option. I'd rather find a reliable bike shop because I am sure I'll need more bike service in the future. Summary: Too expensive, and unreliable for the price! $30 is what most bike shops in other places in the country charge for a minor tune up. $30 for brake adjustments alone is daylight robbery, especially when they don't even do it right! read more

Silver Cycles' move to Dixon Ave conveniently happened the same month I began bike commuting 16 miles/day, and I don't know what I would do without it! The location is exceptionally convenient, and the staff is always friendly and willing to help and answer all of my bike questions with as little wait as possible. On an exceptionally rainy day, my bike slid on a grate leaving my office's parking garage and knocked my front brakes askew. I hopped on the bus with my bike, stopped at the shop, and they fixed me up in five minutes. I feel more confident on my ride because I know I can stop at the shop right before I get home if I have any problems. This certainly isn't the cheapest shop, but their prices for replacement parts are spot on what I would have paid for the parts on Amazon if I could've installed them myself. Plus, the staff has always offered me either immediate (for easy adjustments) or same-day service (for replacement of multiple parts) without charging extra, so I'm happy to pay what always seems to be a fair price. read more

I'm glad other reviewers had a positive experience at this shop, I did not. Recently on the prowl for a single speed, I popped into this shop to see what they had. After walking in, I was excited. There on the rack was the bike I may have been looking for. Give me a few minutes for questions, a quick ride to check fit, and the cash willingly will come out of my pocket. Unfortunately, the employees were too busy talking to each other. Not a "hello" when I walked into the shop, not a "can I help you?" when I am looking at the bike. Final straw, when I asked for help, I was asked to wait a minute; I guess the personal conversation was more important. After waiting four or five minutes, I left. read more

We are new to the area and staying in a hotel before moving into our home and spending our time while waiting getting to know the area and locate shops that we will use and adopt as "home". We are cyclists. My husband is a triathlete. We have six bikes in our house. That said, we love to shop and utilize local rather than big box stores whenever we can and I think we've found our cycle shop at least for the more leisurely cyclists in the family! I can't wait until our bikes get here next week and I can bring them in for tune-ups! read more