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    The Towne Cycles

    4.9 (113 reviews)
    Closed Closed
    Updated 2 months ago

    Services - The Towne Cycles

    Bike repair and maintenance

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    Bike shop on car-free Genoa Street
    Uli B.

    A giant nail on the street deflated both my tire and my mood. But thankfully, this little bike shop - run out of garage on a quiet street in North Oakland - came to my rescue. Thanks for helping me out in a pinch!

    The shop
    Stacey B.

    I brought my fixed gear bike here, to see what David could do, in terms of creating something more suitable to my needs - and he did not disappoint. He turned an uncomfortable, difficult to ride (but pretty to look at) bike into an awesome six gear speedster with shocks that's still pretty to look at! Pricing is very reasonable - and booking appointment is super easy online. I highly recommend this bike shop to anyone & everyone!

    Best bike shop hands down. Personal touch from Dave can't be beat, and it's all about the community. What a bike shop should be!

    Melody C.

    I brought my very loved bicycle in for new brakes and a possible front wheel. I got talking to them and decided to go with a full tune-up...i mean, really...my bike needed it ! They told me 2 weeks but I got a call that my bike is ready to go in one week ! I did miss having her around ! I jumped on for a 'what did they do' ride and WOW...OH WOW....my bike is like a brand new machine ! I rode to Berkeley Bowl for groceries afterwards and it was an absolute joy ! A little over $200 ...not bad for a 'new bike' ! Highly recommend this place ! My new bike doctors !

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    2 years ago

    Goes above and beyond, always returning my bikes looking beautiful! Good price and fast work. No complaints at all!

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    5 years ago

    Great community-based shop. Gives you straight advice, even when it means less work/$ for them. Will gladly return.

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    4 years ago

    Believe the hype! Super friendly, fast and knowledgeable. I've found my new go-to bike repair shop.

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    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - The Towne Cycles

    Review Highlights - The Towne Cycles

    I brought it in and Dave recommended the carte blanche drive train upgrade (in my case, a 1x8 set up) and new flat bars.

    Mentioned in 35 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    Tip Top Bike Shop - Trek Madone 9.2

    Tip Top Bike Shop

    (325 reviews)

    $$

    Temescal, North Oakland

    I used to come here all the time when it was under the original owners, (a man and a woman) who…read morewere great! After the store was sold I came in a few times and did not have a great experience - it didn't feel friendly anymore for women, I felt brushed off when I tried to get info. I got a few services, but it wasn't my go-to place like before. Well, I needed a simple thing and was passing by, so I thought I'd check it out. For all I know it has a new owner since the last time I was there. Well, it was a change! I was greeted when I came in, the person asked if I was looking for something, he showed me where it was, asked someone else if they needed help. I saw another person on staff asking someone else if they needed help. If, like me, past experience or some of the reviews here leave you disinclined to come in, give it a try anyway. I'll be back too.

    I LOVE this place!! I recently bought a (Marin) bicycle from them after visiting 5-6 shops. In…read moreaddition to buying a new bicycle, I also asked if they could swap some of the really good parts from my old bicyle to put on the new one. Usually a request like this will cost extra cash and it should be expected because of the additional work that needs to be done. I was expecting this would come at a really high cost. To my surprise, it was a lot less than expected. I feel as though I made out like a bandit in this situation. They're really knowledgeable and extremely patient. I was hit by two cars a few years ago. My body has changed because of that and I had a ton of concerns over this big purchase, They were able to address my concerns. They totally went beyond and above what I expected. I was on cloud 9 as I walked my brand new Marin out of the store. I would recommend asking for either Eric or Pat. They are the best at what they do and totally worth checking out. You'd be pretty dumb not to.

    Westside Joe's Bikes - Storefront on Piedmont Ave, across and up from the elementary school.

    Westside Joe's Bikes

    (212 reviews)

    $$

    Amazing experience…read more I decided to move on from my non-motorized cargo bike to one that could give me a little help. I stopped by the Alameda location and they said 'here ya go" and gave me the Mundo I was interested in for a test ride around the island. I know, no hills, but... I went home to mull it over - it was a big purchase decision - and called back to confirm some stuff with the owner. Specifically I wanted it boxed and not yet assembled, not having the space yet untili I could get rid of my old one. Vivee offered to bring it to my place in Oakland, which was a huge help! She showed up in her classic old pickup truck and helped unload it. I tried to pay her through PayPal but I couldn't get it to go through. She said no problem, I think I may have given her a token deposit, she said swing by in a few days and settle up. They were really good to me with a couple of accessories for the bike, too. This was my first experience with them. I'm happy to have this shop as a local resource.

    Pains my heart to give any 1 star review for small businesses…read more But I ordered a Veloric folding bike on 3/17 so I can reduce use of my car. Especially with gas prices. I also live in Walnut Creek and decided to go with a more "local" (used to live in Alameda) shop. Originally I was going to go for an Letric bike, but got convinced to go for the Veloric. So Vivee was nice enough to let me test ride one that was in the shop for service and I decided to buy one, but they didn't have any in stock. She asked if I can use Zelle and I wanted to use card, but she said she would face a 3.5% fee. Ok sure. We also bonded over tennis as well since my brother played and her kids play it and she was a hitting partner, which we found funny. We go over the options on what the bike looks like, what options I wanted and add-ons. I got a date of mid-April, probably more on the early end for me to pick up including assembly and shipping. Veloric would take 3-10 days to ship (from their site for direct to consumer) and then it would take time to assemble. So I presumed, ok, maybe it's quick and coming early. I'll call! I text Vivee on March 20 and she said she would check Monday when she got back. I didn't see a response. So I text back on Monday to check. No response. I call the shop (no response). I text again (no response). It's now 4/7 and yes I called and left a message on the phone and text. So the lack of response + Zelle payment + reviews I didn't read up here = panic. I decided to go and call Veloric to see what's happening. Veloric told me to try to work it out and confirmed there was a fold 1 that was delivered, but they couldn't confirm this was mine. Vivee did eventually answer the phone on 4/9, but said she was waiting on the shipment and said that she ordered a pallet and blamed the tariffs for the delay. So I decide to go in 4/23 when my bike was supposed to be there, but it turns out it wasn't. She told me she was ordering a pallet and she would install my bike first. She also said it was difficult to talk to Veloric's customer service team since there were trade shows. Turns out she lied. I had been in contact with Veloric's customer service team since March because I read some of the reviews and there was a Reddit post on them buying a bike there with a few other horror stories on people getting repairs and either never getting them done and having to pay upfront. Veloric told me they had not gotten an order from Westside Joe's since March 16 and I had come in on March 17 to order my bike. I truly wanted to support a woman owned minority business in my hometown of Alameda. But unfortunately, they are unable to be transparent on ETAs to the point where the manufacturer had to check for me and now I have to dispute with my bank. I've also posted my story to Alameda Peeps, and it looks like there are more horror stories. Moral of the story: It's great to shop local, but please be careful on who you chose to do business with.

    Sports Basement

    Sports Basement

    (436 reviews)

    $$

    South Berkeley

    Rating: 5/5 Stars If you're heading to Sports Basement…read moreBerkeley to gear up for the season, do yourself a favor and ask for BRANDON C. I came in needing a full "head-to-toe" setup for winter sports, and Brandon provided the kind of elite, professional service that is rare to find. His technical knowledge of snowboards, skis, and bindings is extensive; he doesn't just know the specs, he understands how the gear actually performs on the mountain. What really stood out, however, was his approach. He took the time to listen to my specific needs and concerns, making me feel both seen and heard throughout the process. I walked out (after 2.5 hours that flew by) not only with the right equipment but with the confidence I needed to get back out there. Whether you're a seasoned pro or a beginner, I'd recommend Brandon C. to anyone. He's a true professional who knows his craft inside and out. Thank you again Brandon C and SB and NIN.

    My biggest issue here is no longer the exchange itself -- it is the people representing your…read morecompany at the counter. The reality is that rude, dismissive customer service drives people away. Customers can tolerate mistakes. Customers can tolerate policy issues. What people do not tolerate is being treated as though they are an inconvenience when they walk into a store prepared to spend money. I spent nearly 50 minutes looking for replacement shoes after following the instructions given by your staff. I returned to the counter and was met with an attitude that made the entire experience feel unnecessarily unpleasant. That kind of interaction leaves a much bigger impression than any return policy ever could. You should seriously consider the long-term impact of allowing employees to interact with customers in this way. One negative interaction may seem small in the moment, but over time those experiences absolutely cost business. People remember how they were treated. I can say with certainty that experiences like this make customers question where they want to spend their money in the future. If I have to choose between dealing with rude and dismissive interactions versus shopping somewhere that values customer service and basic professionalism, the decision becomes very easy. I think your management team should understand that poor customer interactions do not simply create one unhappy customer -- they create people who share those experiences with family, friends, coworkers, and others making decisions about where to shop.

    Alameda Bicycle - White Industries Freewheels, Got that!

    Alameda Bicycle

    (397 reviews)

    $$

    WHAT WENT RIGHT?!? Everything. Not just today, when I came in with grease all over my hands and…read moreholding back my tears. Alameda Bicycle on Park Street is a part of the community, and I feel so honored to spend my money here. Gene, George and Crew are unmatched in the Bay Area. They sell mid-price range bikes, so no $300 bikes or $14,000 bikes. I bought my first new bike here after graduating from Cal, and got my first Wall Street bonus, moons ago. It was my dream bike, a black Cannondale, top of the line. After that, got married and had children and Gene saw me through training wheels through teenage years, then sadly through a divorce. Back in a bike and climbing mountains - loving life! Anyway, today, after trying all night to get my chain back on my new e-bike (not possible on the road) I walked in and George was at the door. He sensed my frustration and said, "Come on in." It wasn't an easy fix. But they worked on it, two guys 25 minutes, and 5 tools. Meanwhile, I walked into the showroom to check out the bikes (tee hee hee). Then I noticed a new coffee and tea station with a couch and chairs, and Madeline cookies. It's just what I needed after a frustrating night and morning trying to fix it myself. Such a mindful and kind touch. People easily complain, so positive heartfelt reviews are gold. Alameda Bicycle is a solid community member and business. Honest. If I don't need something, George will say, "You don't need that." Last time, I picked up some gorgeous Ortlieb panniers (which they installed) and a fix-a-flat for on the road flats. I forgot it on the counter -- it was here waiting for me when I returned a few weeks later. They only had my old digits! BTW, I didn't eat the last Madeline cookie. I saved it for you! Come and get it -- and remember to support these incredible bike angels. Super, super Good Vibes. The absolute best Alameda bicycle shop -- to me.

    I came here in 2020 or 2021 to use their outside public bike tool station, but the air pump was…read morebroken or no longer available. One of the employees offered to let me borrow their floor pump. I was struggling to figure out how to use it, and the employee ended up helping me pump my bike tire. It's been years, but I still remember this kind gesture from one of their employees. It's hard to find parking around Park Street; it's convenient that they have four compact parking spots and one handicap accessible parking spot in their parking lot.

    The Towne Cycles - bike_repair_maintenance - Updated May 2026

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