Rode across town to pick up a part that their website said was available for pickup. When I arrived they said 'sure, we'll just order it and it will be here in 4 days." No, it clearly says 'available for pickup' until you look closely and it says in small letters 'on June 25th." Four. Days. From. Now. Thanks, Universal. If I needed it in 4 days, I could just order it myself. read more

The employees here are very friendly, and extremely knowledgeable. I did not get that snobby biker vibe that some shops give when you ask a simple question, and They don't try and upsell you to something expensive. I was working with Jake, and he was very helpful and knowledgeable. I will definitely return here, even though it is clear across town. Huge selection, incredible store. read more

Universal Cycles inventories great items that may not otherwise be available- Rennkompressor floor pump, extra brackets for h/b lights (nice for that second bike). Stop at the store--and speedy $2.99 shipping is a plus, too. read more

This shop is awesome. I recently ordered a 2012 close out deal they had on a Salsa Spearfish. The website is a BREEZE to use. The amount of stuff they have available is HUGE. I ordered the complete bike on a Saturday night and it arrived the following Friday. All I had to do was throw the wheels on and add air. Did I mention I live in South Carolina? Like the other side of the US? In addition to the huge selection, ease of use and prompt assembly / shipping, the service is AMAZING. In the process of deciding on a bike and making my final selection (I was torn on the size, they only had Large for the closeout and I usually ride a Medium) I called these guys probably half a dozen times. Since I received the bike I have called them another 5 or so times asking questions and recommendations for a few things. I have no idea how busy the shop is as I have never been there, but they take the time on the phone to explain things and go the extra mile. They follow up with emails and actually care about their customer. I told one of the guys on the phone how impressed I was as compared to my local bike shop and he said "anybody can throw a part in a box and swipe your card. We want you to have an awesome time". It is evident this was a sincere comment. Big thanks to Mark and Schmitty for ALL the help. Keep the rubber side down. read more

Beware! I was on a waiting list for 2 different hard to find Crane bells. I was emailed that there were 2 in stock, of each, on Thanksgiving day and bought and paid for them within 30 seconds of notification. The site took my order and money. They waited all the way til the end of the end of the day on Dec 1st to email me that one was out of stock. They sold one of the bells I bought online to someone else. I ask for the owner's contact info but no reply. I'd keep away from these guys. read more

I personally shop at Universal Cycles all the time for parts, service and bike repairs. I will defiantly give them a 5 star rating because every time there is a problem with my order, parts or service they always take care of me. My opinion best LBS around... read more

Zero customer service in the store. Too busy having a chat about the cool ride they did the day before. Most shops have helmets and shoes on display, and then the stock of boxed product readily available to try on. Not here. Just a display and you have to ask for your size. Not a good mix with less than stellar customer service. read more

You can't make a simple exchange for a part (they recommended) without paying for the shipping to return it. If you happened to have just placed a new order they cant add to that either, basically forcing me to pay for shipping again. (even within minutes) Just make sure you are getting the right part the first time and don't rely on their advice, do your own fact checking on compatibility. Shipping turn around time and prices cant be beat. read more

Interesting selection of stuff. But service could be way better. And some of the prices are, like, wha? There are better deals to be had in PDX. Look around. And with better and less sanctimonious service too. read more

joke, avoid at all costs, they do not stand behind the products they sell, as far as warranty claims are concerned they offer no assistance they simply give you a useless link to a web address read more

When I left I was literally shaking mad. I've never been so mistreated by a "salesman" in my life. Hey bud... I don't know as much about bikes as you do ... I do know I that I like riding them.. That's why I came into your store trying to spend MONEY on mine.. Next time drop the ego/attitude and be a good person.. Help people find what they are looking for.. City bikes is right down the street and cheaper. Thank you for directing me to a business that cares about their customers. I wish you would have been this nasty to me a long time ago, I would have saved a lot of money read more

i waited 2 weeks for a saddle i ordered after the original one i purchased snapped. i made multiple phone calls with no return calls. i went in one day and three guys where working the front desk but i could not get any help. the employees where apparently doing work in their heads because they where just standing around. one guy was so rude to my dad, when my dad asked how many gears a certain bike had and the employee responded by telling my nice old dad to "count them." that same employee later rushed by us so quickly we thought there was an emergency. he aggressively told us he needed to get past us. no emergency. after almost three weeks of phone calls and visits i gave up on getting the saddle and asked for my refund. i was told the billing department would send me an email once they had credited my card. what? i paid for something i never got and now you can't immediately refund me. read more

Best of both worlds...when you can't afford the typical LBS prices for whatever part you need but can't deal with the guilt of buying it off the internet, just go to Universal. Shop local but pay web prices, perfect. read more

Being a brick and mortar store for an internet bike shop certainly does have its benefits. Great prices and a huge selection make this my current favorite bike shop in Portland. While too many people use their local bike shop to check out product before they go and spend their money online it's nice to have a shop with so much to choose from at prices that can compete with internet pricing. I also like that I can easily check to see if what I need is in stock by looking at their website. read more

The online store is pretty good and they have a ton of stuff that you can't seem to find anywhere else in town. That part is OK. The real problems are with the retail store itself. Here are the main issues with this place: 1. Most of the inventory is not accessible to the public. They have it all hidden away in the back. You can ask for it, but who wants to keep doing that? And, if it's not there for you to see, how could you possibly know what to ask for anyway? 2. The pricing issue, or should I say the lack there of. Not one thing is priced in the entire store! You have to go scan it yourself. OK fine! I can do that I guess. They do have two PCs right there for customer use. But wait, there is a system to it: First, you may have to share a PC with someone else (because one of the two PCs doesn't really work, as stated by the sales rep). Then, you minimize the other guys shopping page so you can get to the PC desktop. Next, you click on the icon in the upper left corner and a window pops up. Then you place your item under the scanner. After that, a window pops up with a price on it. But WAIT, THIS MAY NOT BE THE PRICE OF YOUR ACTUAL ITEM, which was the case with my item (bike tire). You have to scroll down through all of the similar products and find your specific item and read the price next to that. WTF!?!?!?!?! I'm not joking! So, in my instance, the price that first popped up was $25. However, the actual price after we found it by reading down through all the various product descriptions was $37.50. Pretty sweet system eh? I have to say that the sales assistant (Julie) was very polite and did walk me through all of this and also explained that they had way too much stuff and needed a bigger store, but in the end I walked out with out my gel tape or tires that I was looking for. It's just a weird set up! It probably works for their online business, but it's just not a user friendly experience. My advice to Universal would be to at least get some type of full proof scanner, like the self service ones you can use at Target stores. Sincerely, PDXOR read more

I have placed several orders with Universal Cycles over the last few years. Their price match means I always get a competitive price and the ability to order online and pick up your order at the store is very convenient. Their staff has always been friendly and helpful. read more

They were really helpful with my flat and with helping me choose a lock. Personable and knowledgeable staff. I love that they are open really early. read more

This store has a wide variety of good equipment a great prices. If you are looking for parts, it is a good choice. If you are looking for advice, the staff is friendly and knowledgeable. Why one star? Do not waste your time with them if you want to have wheels built. I bought a new hub and asked them to lace it with new spokes, into an existing hoop. They don't like to lace used hoops, but they inspected this one and said it was in good shape. Picked up the wheel and they had 'lost' the old hub - probably a 150 dollar part in good condition. "uh, I dunno, must have given it to somebody else. If it turns up, I'll call you." Yeah right. I asked for $150 credit, which, to their credit, the provided. But c'mon guys - spacey or what? They also laced the wheel two cross when I had asked for an identical-to-OE three cross pattern. Now I am not satisfied, and they did not offer to make that right. I decided to see how it would work out. Should have insisted they do it over. Two months and maybe 400 miles later, the wheel starts to fall apart, wobbling and seriously out of true. I take it in to them for a true and tune. They put it on a truing stand and true it, but do nothing for the tensions. Nor do they inspect the hoop. Don't know if they even have a spoke tension instrument, but they sure did not use it. Upside was they did the truing while I waited. Then, another two months later, the wheel starts to throw spokes. I could have taken it back there and they would have fixed it, but seriously, after this kind of quality service, would you trust them to get it right? Finally went to a shop in Portland that specializes in wheel building - Sugar. Turns out the hoop had cracks around the spoke holes. Now, that could have been a subsequent development , and if so, that is no fault of Universal's. It's also possible they just did not see the cracks. Bottom line for me was that I have to have a new wheel built and wasted a lot of time and money on nothing. All the customer service in the world can't make up for technical incompetence and inattention to detail, especially when it comes to wheels. read more

I placed a "pick up in store" order from Universal Cycles on E Burnside. UPS messed up the order, and it didn't all arrive on time. Rather than leave me hanging, they upgraded the missing brakes I had ordered with some nicer in stock ones from the store at no extra charge. Now I will be able to go on my bike camping trip this weekend. Righteous move, UC! read more

I went here today and had the worst bike store experience I've ever had. I went here four or five years ago to get a flat fixed and it was a little expensive but overall a positive experience. Oh what a difference a few years makes apparently. My bike is my only transportation besides the bus and my girlfriend decided for some reason to dissemble it much more then was necessary in order to put it in her car and being a bike repair novice I couldn't figure out how to get it all the way back together properly. So I was trying to take it to the wonderful city bikes coop to get it fixed but they were already closed so I took it up the street to universal cycles. I waited in line at the repair desk for fifteen minutes while being subjected to listening to a bunch of rich jerks also in line literally bragging about how much money they spend on their fancy bikes that they will only ride wearing biking outfits because they don't want anybody who sees them thinking that they actually need to ride a bike and don't own three cars at home. When I finally got to the front of the line the guy looks at me with my groceries hanging off my bike handles like I'm some pest who needs to be removed from the store as quickly as possible before I scare away any of the rich people. I told him I needed my chain put back on properly and my brake line reconnected, a task that would of taken him about five minutes or less and I guess he didn't think I had money or something because he told me he couldn't help me, that he was booked out for three weeks. He didn't ask me if I wanted it done in three weeks he just told me no. I can't help you dude were his exact words I believe. It would of been so easy for him to just fix it real quick so I could go on my way but instead he was absolutely no help at all. If your store can't do minor repairs in a timely manner, something you used to be capable of four years ago, then maybe you should hire some more staff. After all you should have enough money to hire more people since you are able to just flat out refuse a job. I would of paid a premium too, I didn't care, I just needed my bike fixed that badly. As I walked out I noticed the line at the checkout counter was almost out the door so if I had wanted to buy anything it would of took thirty minutes of line waiting. Hire some more staff. Until then I'd recommend bike farm or city bikes where they treat you with decency even if you don't use hundred dollar bills as toilet paper. It's not just the fact he wouldn't take a quick look at it as the fact he didn't even ask me if I wanted to book a spot three weeks from now, he just said he couldn't help me. Take your money elsewhere they apparently have enough already. read more

Very friendly staff and very helpful. I purchased a frame here and had it built up. They gave me a great deal on the frame and an even better deal on the build. With so many great choices in PDX, I still highly recommend this shop. read more

Best of the best. Have been there multiple times and they always give great, patient service, even when swamped. Repairs have been fast and efficient, even when difficult. Prices are surprisingly competitive with online. Selection is stellar. One of the best businesses of any kind I have dealt with. A super store! read more

Excellent selection and knowledgeable staff. A bit pricey, though.

I live on Oahu and the selection of bike shops well, are lacking. So many of us (I can only assume here) are forced to go online and find the deals as well as abundant supply there. which leads me here! I am in the process of building my first mountain bike, wheels and all and I found these guys. They were a great help, had everything I needed for the wheel build. During the rear wheel build I ordered some items for the wheels such as a nipple driver, more nipples and additional spokes. A short while later, after placing the order, I realized that I needed to add different spokes. Once I completed the order I requested it be shipped with my original order in which it was. Not only did they pair it with the first order they also refunded my shipping fees on the latter order. They did this without having to even talk to them about it. Kudos to Universal Cycles and if I lived in Portland I think I would be there every day! Keep it up!!! Jim Missing the mainland!! read more

This has become my go-to online bike shop. They have a great selection of items, competitive prices, and price-matching when others top their deals. I usually only order one thing at a time, so the $2.99 shipping makes them much more attractive than paying $7-8 for shipping or padding my order with junk I don't need to reach free shipping. And if I can select the Minnesota warehouse, my stuff arrives several days sooner since I'm on the East Coast. They pack everything very well and I've not had any quality problems to date. read more

This is my go to place for bike parts. Great selection and fast delivery. Can't recommend them enough.

They have the largest selection of bikes and accessories I've ever seen. Thanks for all your help Brad you guys definitely will be getting repeat business from me. read more

Awesome customer service and knowledgeable staff. They even gave me a discount. This will definitely be my new neighborhood cycling shop.

I was a customer of UC for many years. Definitely no longer. Their customer service has steadily declined to the point of being non-existent. There are WAY too many bike shops in PDX to put up with poor customer service. As Smar T. noted: "They were nice when they first opened, but now their customer service sucks". read more

once i found out they moved across the river to their current location, universal cycles has been my go to source for bike parts. their prices are competitive with the other high volume shops like western bike works and performance but their staff seems to be the most laid back of all three. easy to use computer kiosks to check inventory and a huge supply of most everything out on the floor. you need a floor pump, sweet anodized chain ring bolts, and a beer rack for your handlebars?? of course you do and they have you covered. read more

I live in Seattle, but this is my "go to" bike shop! They offer a wide range of products, great pricing and the best customer service around. I have a bike shop within walking distance of my house but Universal gets my business. Their shipping turn around is well within reason with great communication after the order has been placed. The site is easy to navigate and I've been into their retail location in Portland and was very impressed. Their live chat saves a ton of time too. On at least 4 occasions I had to return some items, (by no means was it due to lack of service, I had ordered the wrong sizes of some items) and the return process is fast and easy. If you are in Portland or on line check them out..As good as it gets! read more