My review is pretty much Marc N.'s review part 2. I had an older bike that I bought off Craigslist. Long story short, it had a lot of problems that slowly developed as I rode it for about a year. UCC was my LBS for a while, and boy did that suck. Every time I went in for a repair, I felt like I was ruining someone's day. The best was when my bottom bracket totally ate it - hopped the threads and everything. The repair guy starting complaining about how it was going to take all day to get it out, how he would have to put all his other projects on hold, and how it was only going to be $25 - emphasizing the "only." Well, I never asked him to rush it and I even offered to pay him more if he thought the price was too low. That just made him whine. Well, I got a call about 3 hours later saying the bike was ready. When I got there, he made sure to tell me how easy it was. Thanks! read more

Long overdue review for UC Cyclery. I've done lot of research online and went to other bike stores looking for a new mountain bike earlier this year. UC Cyclery won me over with their customer service. Bob(manager),Dave(owner) , staff and free lifetime adjustments if you're the original bike owner are the reasons why I handed my credit card over to buy few thousand dollar bike and absolutely have no regrets. My co-workers referred me to UC Cyclery and glad they did. Just took my bike in and they fixed my front derailleur and brakes after few months of riding for free and feels like a new bike again. Only regret I have is leaving my friends behind on the trails with my 29er! read more

Awesome service from Vincent! Everyone was so friendly and helped my husband find the perfect bike for him. Super helpful! If you're looking for a high quality bike and excellent service I highly recommend this place!! read more

Honestly the best bike shop in San Diego BY FAR. I've been shopping for a Mountain Bike looking to drop about $3k, and so far many other places just kind of brush me off. I really wish I didn't forget the name of the guy he helped me, young and blonde, but he was super helpful. I told him what I was looking for out of a mountain bike and he showed me a few options, gave me a lot of knowledge on the bikes, really knew what he was talking about. He took his time to set up the bike and let me test ride as many as I wanted, setting each one up. I still haven't purchased a bike but when I bite the bullet, definitely coming here and letting my friends know about it! read more

Perhaps the finest bicycle shop in San Diego, maybe SoCal based on customer service, experience and knowledge exuded by all employees. This establishment focuses on Specialized bikes which are highly regarded by many in the industry. The type of service is akin to that of a 5 star establishment in that you are always greeted with a smile and the positive attitude of "what can I do for you today". I have been a very loyal patron for almost 15 years. Dave S. (Owner) is exceptionally knowledgeable in everything about bikes, gear, custom fittings, etc. He is always fair as far as pricing, current value of your bike (if interested in a trade in) and exudes a wealth of knowledge. Very patient and a good man. Highly recommend UC Cyclery. read more

I needed a new helmet, so I came to UCC. I'm not much of a biker, but my bf is, and he had purchased his mountain bike here when he moved to SD, so this place was highly recommended. One thing I truly admire about this store is their customer service. The representatives are friendly, informative, and truly want to help their customers. I think I tried on over 10 helmets, but the kid that helped me pick out a helmet that fit securely and looked pretty (my bf was insistent on its security, and I was more concerned with finding a helmet that would match my wardrobe). That was a year ago. All my biking needs are done through this store, with an informative and friendly staff why go elsewhere? read more

Recently used them to fix my Specialized brand bike. The management staff is great. Bob helped out with any issues I had, as well as kept in touch with the progress of my repair. I recommend this shop for bicycle maintenance, service, and parts...especially if you have Specialized gear. There are no other shops in the county that work with Specialized..and sometimes, Specialized bikes require "specialized" parts (pun intended). I used to use BL bikes for my specialized tarmac (road bike)...and after realizing they cut corners and used lower grade parts, I decided to use UC. I can't be happier with these guys. They were 100% transparent as to what they are doing to the bike, what parts they are using, and realizing that my customer experience is paramount. Thank you Bob and the rest of the UC staff for a pleasant experience. read more

The BEST bicycle store/shop I've ever been! The staff is very professional, friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful, not to mention that they give free maintenance/ tuneup for as long as you own the bike. read more

Best place in sd county for a cycle shop. Not only do they have the best bikes but the best staff HANDS DOWN! The staff is kind and always greets with a smile, and the techs are awesome at what they do especially Cisco! For me, Edwin Clement is my #1 go to guy! He is the best at his job. He not only knows the knowledge of bicycles and equipment but he is a great rider and loves to teach. He is always there to help me with whatever I need and it is done promptly. If there is a problem he WILL find a way around it! This shop is my #1 shop to go to and I live in Carlsbad! Wouldn't have another bike shop! read more

Recently bought a road bike, Vince helped me out, very knowledgeable in the cycling world, since im pretty much new to cycling, got alot of good information from him, overall cool shop, everyone is very accommodating, got a dream bike from this shop read more

I went here last weekend to get a bike rack for my jetta. I walked in to a place full of professional bike riders and a bunch of staff that was just standing around. I waited for someone to approach me, but instead I had to approach them and ask for what I was looking for. I asked a guy named cisco......he was cool. He walked out to my car, checked it out to see if the hollywood rack would fit, then went inside, got the rack and actually installed it for me and showed me how to take it on and off. Next, it was time to pay, there was a $10 fee to have him install it for me so my total came to around $70. Ehhh a little steep... but isn't everything with UC in front of it? oh well...i got my rack...and its cute.....maybe next time i'll check out Dr.90210 for this sort of thing ; ) read more

I purchased a bicycle a while back from UC Cyclery. The salesperson was incredibly helpful and not pushy at all. He helped my find the perfect bicycle for my needs. The price of my bicycle seemed reasonable after having checked prices elsewhere. Overall, it was a nice experience. read more

This place is the best! Great customer service! I'm definitely going here for all my local biking needs. They really go the extra mile to make their customers happy. Dave H, Vincent and Dave are all superstars. Thanks so much! read more

I'm surprised by the low reviews, especially about customer service. I'm a new "rider", meaning I've NEVER ridden a road bike before. My husband has been riding for years, and so we went to UCC so I could join him on rides. As soon as we walked in, the staff was super friendly and helpful. I didn't feel pressured to spend more than our budget or buy anything unnecessary. Jess deserves an extra shout-out because every time we went in, she was the first to greet us, remembered us every time, and was genuinely excited to help. I was so grateful to all of them for the amazing customer service. They were always there to answer questions, but also gave us the space to look around and didn't bombard us. Steve helped get me sized when my bike came in, and spent a good amount of time making sure I was comfortable on the bike. The others who stood out were Miguel, Bob, Edwin, Mitchell, and Johnny. I look forward to going back there in the future! read more

I've been a customer for 14 years, a home mechanic for 40, and I like the people in this shop a great deal, I've bought 3 bikes for my sons at this shop. I've returned a TREK frame when it cracked, for a warranty replacement. They were totally honest with me (it was not from their shop) about the failure modes of these frames. I bought several NOS Suntour freewheels at great prices and I greatly appreciated the fair treatment and willingness to let me stand in the mechanics area to find the ones I wanted. I brought in a rear MAVIC wheel that was ticking to try to get it fixed. They didn't fix it, but for the past 30 years, when I can't fix a problem the shop NEVER CAN either, but they tried and then gave it back to me, no charge. They helped me to order a campagnolo small part to restore some used record dual pivot calipers. The part cost 20x the cost of the calipers (from the San Diego vintage swap), a horrific $40 for a stupid barrel adjuster, but that's a campy greed-thing, not a UC cyclery thing, most shops would just show you the door. Manager Dave is a mechanical engineer from SDSU, and he's a really sweet guy. I bring in top-end gear from 40 years ago, and they not only know how to fix it, they give compliments too. The other manager saved me from patronizing an untrustworthy bicycle restoration service here in San Diego. I can give you more examples of why I love this shop, but life is short. I'm into the simpler, vintage parts and they don't support that type of a customer very well, but were nice enough to let me browse their supplier catalog to see if there was anything I could use, and we're not a first-name basis. Basically, this is a place for groupies to get not only their bikes fixed, but to get a "bike fix" if you know what I mean !! read more

Thank you Steve and Kyle!! The tubeless Roubaix tires are PERFECT. Ideal combination of speed, toughness, and resilience. Steve is a wealth of knowledge on just about anything related to the Specialized brand. He also saved me from installing tubeless tires on my Reynolds rims, which I might have eventually found out the hard way were incompatible. He advised me to install them on the Rovals instead. Don't take it personally if Steve doesn't stop working and chat with you - he is usually very busy, but can multitask and talk while he wrenches. Dave is the owner and is very friendly. Helpful that they are open late during the week for last-minute needs. read more

This was the 3rd Bike shop we visited in San Diego since we didn't have any luck at the other shops we were hoping this place would be our lucky gem. It was and so much more! Uc Cyclery was amazing! Harlem, Vince, and one other guy (whose name I cannot remember) were all so helpful and honest! They found us bikes and were so knowledgeable about everything. We were able to test the bikes out which was a huge win! Thank you UC Cyclery for not only amazing road bikes but amazing service you guys have won yourselves customers for life! read more

The employees were nice and helpful and I had no problems. I bought a Santa Cruz Chameleon and the salesperson went over some things. After bringing it. home and taking it on the maiden ride, found out that the installation of the drop post was inadequate and it was not installed properly and the it never worked. Then I went to changed to a different fork and discovered that whoever put the like together, they did not put any kind of lube, it was pretty drive. I hope other people will not go through this trouble. read more

As a new rider, I am grateful for any expert opinion I can receive during a visit. Vince is very knowledgeable and was exceptionally helpful in guiding me towards reliable bike equipment. From the moment I walked in to the moment I rode out, I believe I received quality service and more during my visit at UCC. read more

I felt compelled to write a review after seeing all the negative ones about customer service. This place was absolutely great when I went so I don't know what people are complaining about. The staff was very knowledgeable and made sure that every customer that walked in had somebody helping them throughout the whole process of whatever they needed. I saw some people complain on here that they were rude or patronizing but again I experienced quite the opposite. Everyone was helpful and polite. My only complaint would be that some stuff is a little pricey but that's kinda what you get when you go to a legit cycling outlet. The gear is inherently expensive. Otherwise great place and I'm stoked about the road bike I got. All the equipment they sell is quality. Plus they guarantee free tune ups and its a great place to get involved in cycling groups - tons of riders gathering around the store on a Saturday morning. Overall great store! read more

UC Cyclery has to be one of the best bike shops around!!!! The staff is very nice and friendly, not to mention extremly knowledgable and helpful. I bought my frame and parts from other places and was recomended to UC Cyclery to have it built up. They built the bike up for me no problem. When I went to purchase a new stem I went to the first because of the customer service. They didnt have the part I wanted but ordered it for me. I had the part, and had it instaled that week no problem. No matter what goes wrong or when you bring your bike in they never seem annoyed, or put off unlike some other shops I have been to. This is and will be my first stop for all my bike needs. read more

Just bought my first MTB 2013 stumpjumper evo. I was quickly greeted by Edwin, and we spent the next 1.5 hours talking and trying a couple bikes. He does have a riding background and is very personable. Not a pressure salesman. While I did spend a bit more than I intended I did get a bike that I will grow into and be able to keep for a long time. Good Shop, great deal on a bike. Only con: No triathlon stuff. :) read more

Great customer service, incredible selection of Specialized bikes, friendly staff and decades of experience. What more can you ask for? Got my Tarmac from Dave and also some accessories and my kit. The free tune-ups if you get a bike there is the icing on the cake. Highly recommend! read more

These guys are fabulous! First they sold me the bike I needed, not the bike I thought I needed. Two months later, when the bike needed a part that would take days to get from the manufacturer, they were willing to canibalize one of the bikes in the showroom to get me on the road as soon as possible. read more

They took the time when they were really busy to help me with my young son's bike brake. They were so kind and I appreciate them for helping me get my son back riding! read more

This place rocks! I rent an amazing Tarmac Expert for a great price every other week when traveling here. The owner is so nice and makes all customers feel special. read more

Best bike shop in San Diego period!!!! I purchased a front derailleur at another shop and could not get it to work for a new frame build up I did. I took it here and Steve looked at it. Turns out the one I purchased was bent, oh yeah, they put my bike right up on the stand to take a look while I was there, that was cool. So he fixed the derailleur. He then noticed my bottom bracket was not installed correctly and that I completely botched the job on my headset. Pretty much if I did not take it here I would have crashed while riding my bike do to part not installed correctly. He spent an hour going over it with me, was professional, fixed it up even know I could tell he had a ton of other work to do. I used to go to this shop when I lived in UTC, now I live in North Park I started going to other shops. Today I learned first hand it is worth the drive to go to the best shop in town! read more

Had a super positive experience Daniel and with Dave, the owner, while purchasing a new S-Works Tarmac. Very easy to talk to and they listen to your needs and try their best to accommodate. Staff is knowledgeable and the shop has the best selection of Specialized you will find in San Diego. Two thumbs up for sure!! read more

We sold an old bike to a ucsd college student on Craigslist. We had not ridden it for years and she unfortunately discovered it needed a tune-up. We sent her to uc cyery for them to help. They quoted her $40 to fix the problem. My husband was suspicious so we took the bike in ourself to get it fixed. They fixed it and charged us $10! I find it despicable a service shop would rip off a female foreign college student. All for $30. read more

i recently bought a mountain bike from here. They matched a discount price from blackmountain store which didn't have my size available. After taking the bike to my home, i wasn't happy about dirtiness on handle grips and saddle. I called them and they offered to replace them with new one out of box, sweet! the store seems small and tight but good service, i definitely recommend this place :) read more

I've visited 7 or 8 times and it's uncanny how I always walk away feeling patronized. They are polite, but when I walk in with my old used road bike and ask novice questions, most of the staff (not all) give me condescending looks and act like I'm interrupting them from more important work (or more important customers). Maybe if I was buying $300 in parts and gear, not a $10 bottle of lube or $4 inner tube and a couple of spokes, they would be more friendly. Not sure. I'll go back, cause it is the closest bike-shop. But here's hoping that, maybe, one day, the staff at UC cyclery will realize that a good bike-shop is friendly and unpretentious to even the humblest of cyclists. read more

I went in after deflating my own tire when I tried to pump it up as the pump i had was designed for a different valve stem. Hank was very pleasant and said in fact there is nothing wrong with my bicycle, only needed a new pump to match the stem. Great. Easy. He proceeded to pump up the tire for me, which was nice, indicating how much air pressure is needed. He stopped when it reached about the midway mark and then kept pumping, only to have the tire explode. That was fine, an accident, though, he showed me the tire and said that the reason it exploded was actually due to a problem in the tire, so he ended up charging me for the new tire, taking 10% off. I thought, well, i suppose i cannot expect that they give me the tire, so it is what it is. I wouldn't have left irritated had his colleague not made the asinine comment in the meantime about how he 'highly recommends' me to buy a 'lady pump' as 'females sometime have a hard time pumping up their own tires.' that might be the case for some women, but even if I had bird arms to justify such an assumption about my pumping abilities -- which I don't!! --the patronizing tone was super off-putting. This is an attitude that I have also encountered in hardware stores -- the male salespeople adopt this tone that suggests 'he knows best for the ladies' -- read: I must have never done anything related to before and they have to explain everything. But come on. This is very demeaning. Suggestion for another way to go for that up sell without relying on gender stereotypes -- just explain what the product does! For instance, 'we also have this great pump that is much easier to use due to the actual stroke force being stronger. That means the pump is more effective with less effort. It is ten dollars more for a more sophisticated system.'' Is it that hard? I left with a bad taste in my mouth -- the combination of having to pay for someone else's mistake plus be made to feel like I must be a weak idiot means I will look somewhere else for bicycle upkeep. read more

This comment is in response to Dave S. I realize there could be a discrepancy in pricing as you stated, however, I found the exact same part you charged me $149.99 for online at 3 comparable places for approx $70. That is not competitive in my mind. I also noticed on the box that my new parts came in and was given to me had a sticker price of $132.00 on it. Can you explain why I was charged $149.99? read more

Being a UCSD student, this place is definitely a better choice than the on-campus bike shop in terms of prices and service, and while their service is generally very good, I have to knock one star off for the attitude and remarks I often get from some employees. The bikes I've owned have always been very regularly-priced bikes purchased from big-box stores since I really only need them for basic commute, but I feel that about 2-3 times out of 5 that I go to this place, I get a degrading comment or condescending attitude towards me because of the "price range" of my bike. That then leads to them nitpicking or even attacking me for my neglect to properly maintain the bike, when sometimes I really didn't know about it or don't have the proper equipment. This most recent time that I brought the bike in, I had noticed noises coming from my bike after bringing it in for service before. The last technician had oiled some parts of my bike, but when I brought it in this time, the representative straight up criticized and blamed me for the noise, remarking "well of course it's making that sound, your bike is filthy and you don't take good care of it. Look, its FILTHY!" while pointing to the oil. When the other technician remembered me and said he was the one who oiled it, he just didn't say much and walked off. The technician who ended up helping me free of charge was a very kind old man who had worked in the bike industry for many years and even let me behind the counter so he could explain everything to me, and while he still did make some remarks about the quality of my bike, at least he did it lightly in good humor. If it weren't for the remarks I get somewhat often, I would easily give this place 4/5, but as a customer, I feel that I should be treated equally and without bias or a condescending attitude, no matter what bike I own. I always learn a little more here and there about proper bike maintenance every time I go there, but often at the expense of being laughed at or looked down upon, which is my biggest peeve with this place. If only their customer service were respectful to customers of all price ranges, they would also have my loyalty as a customer. read more

Refused to fix my bike. Said it would be over a hundred bucks.

Great customer service! Bought a bike from an online store and when it arrived, one of the fork dropouts was warped. As a result, I couldn't get the front wheel on. I called up UC Cyclery and the technician I spoke with over the phone walked me through what they'd need to do, depending on the severity of the warp. He quoted me $25 if it needed a lot of work and a turn around time of 2-3 days. I took it in an hour later and the technician ended up fixing it in about 5 minutes and didn't charge me a dime as it wasn't nearly as bad as they originally thought! I will definitely be coming here whenever I need something fixed on my bike! read more

I haven't been to a lot of other bike shops, but this one helped me out a lot in finding a bike meant for commuting. I wasn't sure where to go or what I needed, but the guys here definitely found me the bike that was suitable. As a working professional who doesn't have a car and there is limited parking in the parking lot, I need to find a reliable mode of transportation that I could use and finding this bike was the best option for me. I asked the guys here what I would need and they all recommended to me that I get the Specialized Sirrus Sport. This bike was in my price range between $450-850 and since some of it was going to be reimbursed, I felt that I was getting a great deal. The bike itself has been fantastic and I haven't had issues. They made sure I was fitted to the bike while also ensuring I knew the laws (making sure I have my lights for when it gets dark). In addition, they also told me more information about the bike that I had never known before, such as what a presta valve is, how to use my legs and not drop my heels, and also make sure I stay hydrated. This bike is definitely an upgrade from my previous bike and has done the job! read more

I have been going to this store for years now, and could not be happier with them. Like "Ian D., " I have never had a bad experience. When I bought a new road bike about two years ago, they let me take all the time in the world, and really worked with me to get the right bike (a Specialized Roubaix), on which I've been happily biking up and down the coast. But as great as the sales people are, the service folks are really fantastic. And I have to say, free service if you buy your there really makes a difference. In sum, very strongly recommended, especially if you live in the La Jolla/UTC area. read more

Brought my bike in to get the gears fixed. After getting charged $20 and coming in a 2nd time, I am still having issues. Staff is rude and definitely shouldn't be charging what they are charging. Service is slow too. read more

Good selection of bikes and I have purchased three bikes overall from them. Only used the mechanic once and would not recommend for service. My last purchase was a high end tarmac that when I got it home noticed it had a frayed rear derailleur cable. Took the bike back and all they did was trim off the hanging ends. I still have a new bike with a frayed cable that they were too cheap to replace. Extremely disappointed. They have lost a returning customer. read more