I went in yesterday and ended up leaving with nothing. I was looking for a cheap helmet and a bike lock. The girl at the counter was very helpful and took time to explain my options for helmets, what lock was best for me, etc, and I would definitely go there for advice/repair. Unfortunately it was very out of my price range. I'm not an avid biker, I have a cheap walmart bike just to get around town and would have been happy with a $10 walmart helmet but shopping options are limited in the city so I went here. The cheapest helmet was $40 and the cheapest lock I saw was $70. Honestly I'm just not willing to to pay more than the worth of the bike in accessories. read more

Just went to Broadway Bicycle School today, ~10AM on a Saturday. They were busy but make sure to say hi, and come and help you as you come in. Had my bike looked over, peddles changed, found a helmet and went on my way in about twenty minutes. Pricing seems fair and they were super helpful for someone who is still a bike novice. Will definitely go there for future bike needs! read more

Broadway seems to have everyone sold on their atmosphere. So much so that people don't realize that they're being overcharged. I'll agree that the staff at roadway is very friendly, but they are no more/less knowledgeable about bikes than any other local bike store. I've done much shopping around in the area, and I find that Broadway is consistently more expensive than the competitors. I've stopped buying things there except for tubes. their 5 for $20 deal is great. Please shop around before emptying your wallet on a smile. read more

the place is okay... every time I go in there I feel like I am not "cool" or "hip" enough for them but no one has ever been rude; just more friendly to others... I have some theories okay, so I ride a nice road bike? I happen to be a poor boy who saved up a long time to afford his nice bike; I'm not some weight-weenie cycle snob roadie so I don't want to be viewed as such. oh yeah, and my cheap old commuter is a SS and not a "fixie" ... AND I have brakes (and I wear a helmet) so I guess I'm not cool enough... All this is just my "Feeling" but PLEASE... If I stop by with a problem that you diagnose and then sell me the tool to fix, please make sure that: A) the Diagnosis is correct (it wasn't) and B) the tool will fit my bike (it didn't) read more

Bought my bike here back in september-- friendly guys, easy-going, reasonable prices.

Like just about everyone else here with a poor review, I wanted to support my community bike shop too. My girlfriend got a new used bike and it needed a new front wheel and she wanted a basket put on it. I sent her down to BBS. They charged her $20 just to install the basket. I looked at it when she got home and the basket just required 4 nuts and bolts to clamp around the handlebars and the fork. It couldn't have taken more than 2 minutes. They even talked her into brake work so the bill for labor was over $100. My brother, former manager of a bike shop in Maine said he would have charged about $15 for the same services to any customer coming off the street. I am never going back to this place. read more

Listen, I signed up for yelp just to write this review, I've been a long time user and never bothered for a single place I love and would recommend, but for Broadway Bicycle... I wish I could do more. This place is more than a fantastic bike shop. This is a place that offers professional quality repair and teaching, brilliant costumer service, but beyond excelling in its business, it brings real community to New England in a way we are seeing less and less of everyday. I know just a little about bikes and would love to learn more. I bought a bicycle on ebay and they allowed me to store it in the store overnight so that I could return to work on it. The following day, I came in and put my new bike on one of their stands and spend hours tinkering slowly, enjoying my time with their tools to build and tune my new bicycle. This is not just a place that makes its bread and butter off selling you a bike and repairing it for you. It's a place that is committed to nurturing a positive hobby in the community around it. What a refreshing endeavor! The people are a pleasure. The atmosphere is humble, comfortable and homey. And the location is right in the heart of Cambridge. As for my bike, it didn't turn out too well. There were some big problems that the ebay seller either didn't know, or didn't inform me about. I replaced one bad part (for more money than I was originally planning to spend that day) and finished putting the bike together. On my final test ride before leaving the store, I noticed one of the other main components of the bike was DEAD. Well I just had to give up because I had plumb run out of money. My big day, turned a little sour walking away from the shop poorer and with no rideable bike. I had to leave the bike at the shop for my girlfriend to pick up days later, and bring it home in the trunk so I could wait to scrounge some money and replace the damaged part. Well today she brought the bike home: Though they were super busy (Colombus day,) when she picked it up and asked if they could replace and install the part, they did it in twenty minutes flat on the spot. Broadway Bicycle School: I am so grateful. I LOVE YOU GUYS. This place deserves your business, offer them a chance to prove it to you. read more

This is the BEST, most friendly place to fix or work on your bike! Friendly informative staff...and almost always cheaper - than your usual neighborhood bike store! read more

Like other reviewers, I live in the neighborhood, and I've been coming to the shop for 10 years. I have never experienced anything other than quick, friendly service and excellent work on my three bikes. It's a neighborhood bike store in the best sense of the term: small, yes, but more personal and hands-on than some of the larger and more corporate bike stores I've visited in the past. Some find their rates to be high. That's not been my experience. They charge reasonable fees for doing top-notch work, always communicating up front about expenses and offering options for keeping them down. They've also done minor fixes for free and given me countless riding and repair tips at no cost, so I feel that over time it has been a great bargain. I will never take my bikes anywhere else! read more

Just bought my first bike here! I am a novice rider (aka just trying not to die on my bike on the streets of Cambridge), and don't know very much about bikes. The staff was very helpful. They have a small selection, but it was good enough for what I needed. read more

Went here to buy my first bike in god knows how many years. The staff was really helpful & understood that I didn't know a damn thing about bikes, not to mention they were really respectful of my price range. They helped me get all the things I needed to get started riding in a city. Plus, they even offer a free tune-up after 30 days of riding. I ended up buying a Torker U-District (I paid $350) and it's been the perfect bike for me. Couldn't be more pleased with this place. read more

Hi everyone, I wanted to alert those you with bikes in need of repair that you should be careful when you visit one of the area's best known bike shops, Broadway Bicycle School. In May 2009 I brought them my bicycle for repair. The issues were (1) a chain that would not engage on the chain rings without skipping and (2) a loud rubbing sound combined with drag when I used the smallest chain ring from a dead stop. I was told that my bike needed the following new parts: spindle, bottom bracket and front derailleur. I was charged $87, which also included a cleaning (which I had requested). I picked up the bike 5/23/09. The cleaning had been performed, though the bike did not look great afterwards. I was told repairs had been made as described above. The bike chain functioned passably for about 15 miles of riding, then resumed its difficulties. I brought the bike back a week later for further service. I learned that the mechanic who "repaired" the bike had not taken the bike out for a test ride during its first stay at Broadway Bicycle. On my second visit, some further adjustments were made. The bike seemed better but not great. I was told that if the drive train's performance did not improve, the next step was to replace my derailleur cables. However, I was also told that the cables looked to be in good condition. It was implied in the conversation that I would be responsible for the cost of the additional work on the bike. I was sufficiently disimpressed with their performance to decline to seek further repairs through them. Within a few miles of riding, the chain was again skipping & the rubbing sound resumed. There is more to this sad story. I begged a mechanically skilled relative to attempt to repair my bike. He was not a bike mechanic but promised to do what he could. He made some discoveries: one of my front derailleur screws on the "new" derailleur was rusted in place (huh???!!!), my rear brakes were sporadically rubbing on my rims, and one of my front brake screws was rusted in place. My relative did not cure my bike but did make some progress. He loosened up some of the rusted screws somewhat, which produced improvement in the chain's performance. He was dismayed that these issues had not been addressed by bike shop. While I searched for a new reliable bikeshop, the rubbing sound & feeling of friction from the rear wheel became notably worse. (My rear brake had been partly adjusted at this point by my relative & did not seem to be causing the noise). Finally, in mid-July 2009 I was riding & the rear axle snapped. The bike suddenly & completely froze & I was propelled into the pavement in the middle of a street near Jamaica Pond. (I was unable to disengage my bike cleats from the pedals because this break occurred so suddenly). I was lucky that no cars happened to be speeding along. Subsequentlly, the rear wheel was replaced at a different bike shop. The rubbing sound & feeling of drag on the bike disappeared. It appears I had invested heavily in either unnecessary or grossly incomplete bike repairs at Broadway Bicycle. read more

broadway needs to play more gwar some gwar costumes would be cool too gwar rules!! golby did it read more

I love this place. They are nice, and honest, and friendly. They never talk down. They do sometimes get busy, but I've never felt overlooked or rushed out the door. I learn something new every time I go in there. read more

my husband and i visited three different bike shops in the boston/cambridge area. we went to the allston bike shop (cant remember the name but it's on brighton ave) and the ace wheelworks on elm st near porter sq. broadway bike school had by far the best service of the three. we are biking newbies and i knew even less about biking and owning a bike than my husband so i had to ask all the basic questions. michael helped us and he was SUPER helpful and not pretentious at all. he was patient and was happy to answer all my dumb questions and also give us honest feedback about other bike shops and bike makers (good and bad). we didnt feel like we were pushed to buy anything.. he was just happy to provide his expertise and hang out w/ us as we tried out at least 6 different bikes outside in the burning 95 degree heat wave. we really appreciated his help. after seeing michael at broadway, we went to ace wheelworks. they were helpful but we ended up going back to broadway because the bike that we tried out felt the best for our needs (just riding around town, nothing fancy) and we were happy to spend our money on a local, helpful establishment. the allston bike shop just spewed off specs about different bikes but if you dont know anything about bikes, then you're not going to know what the specs mean. the allston ppl weren't as ready and willing to explain what everything meant. waste of time coming here. cons about broadway bike school: they don't have a ton to choose from. whatever you see hanging in the storefront is pretty much what they have. that's why we wanted to go to ace wheelworks to make sure we tried out other bikes that broadway didnt carry. we just happened to prefer the Marin bike that Michael carried. read more

biker gods among men. so wonderful, it brings a dewy shimmer to my eye.

I was recommended here by my roommate who is a serious bicycle enthusiast. I need to grab a cog and lock ring to put on the flipflop hub of my singlespeed incase I ever feel the urge to ride alongside my fixie friends. I walked in off the street with bike at my side and was promptly greeted by an employee. I told her what I needed and she went to a drawer behind the counter and pulled out some basic options. I chose what I thought best and she said that it could be installed then and there, and within 20 minutes I was walking out and ready to ride. I was very happy with my experience here especially after reading some of the other reviews, which made me a little concerned. The staff was very friendly and answered all my questions. read more

How do I love this place? I have been coming here since I was 20 or so and I am one year short of 60. It is a rare place. A collective with a combination of young and long time repair people, the shop is a place that feels like a community center for kids, adults and even dogs. I have always found out everything I need to know about my bikes, repairs, cost, options. Many years ago I had the school build me an "ugly" bike because my nice looking ones were getting stolen. The bike they built for me was wonderful and I had it for many years. I love this place, I love the atmosphere and the professionalism and the politics. read more

I've been here a few times, I've never had any major work done, but that's the whole point. They're wonderful, friendly and very helpful. After seeing my Harvard Credit Union card, she explained to me a new benefit that reimburses employees who bike to work (I was aware of it, but it's great that she was spreading the word.) I've had service on my bike elsewhere and the experience was reminiscent of trips to the auto mechanic, you have a vague feeling that they're full of sh*t but you can't quite be certain. Here, they explained exactly what they would need to do, pointing to different parts of my bike working through everything with me (this was not during a class mind you, this was just after asking a few maintenance questions.) She gave me a quote and everything was done in about an hour. Also, when I arrived the other day, there was a man outside refilling tires, singing opera to himself. It was fantastic. I highly recommend them, and look forward to taking part in their classes when I have the time! read more

I've been in here three times in the past couple of months - tune-up for my bike (old Schwinn road bike off of Craigslist); tune-up for my wife's bike (newish cruiser), diagnosis and repair of a weird wheel shimmy on my bike. Each time they've been helpful, fast and courteous, and the repairs have been done earlier than the quoted time (and occasionally for lower than the quoted price). I don't know what else you can ask for in a bike shop; I've had much better experiences here than at Cambridge Bicycle on Mass Ave. One potential complaint (though one that hasn't been an issue for me) they're a smaller shop, so I assume that if you want a huge selection of helmets or something then they might not be the right place. But overall, a great business that I'll continue to use whenever I need bike help. read more

I've had the privilege to take repair my bike at the shop and drop it off for more complicated items. Great store, good prices, I wouldn't go anywhere else. Well maybe I would if my bike broke while I was riding it and there was a store right there. But otherwise, my top pick. read more

Nice service. I stopped by for minor repairs and parts for my Kona mountain bike. The bike was fixed quickly at a great price. They charged me only for some broken bolts without labor. read more

Fantastic experience all the way through. They really listened and helped me bring my ideas for the bike to life. Razor sharp mechanic work. Super straight. Attention to detail was spot on. cheers. read more

This store is really excellent. I just bought a Marin 7 speed at Broadway Bike School. The people who work there are incredibly knowledgeable and helpful. They really made an effort to find the right bike for me, without pressuring me to buy. They changed the handlebars when I asked for a slightly different angle, and made a few other adjustments. As a result, the bike is the most comfortable one to ride that I've ever had. I love it. It's less expensive than any of the others I looked at, too. Broadway offers a free tune up after a few weeks of riding. Any question, they have an answer. This is the place to shop! read more

Great shop. Friendly, knowledgeable staff, parts bins to pick from, very comfortable atmosphere, good prices, and a good attitude (teach a man to fish...). Need tools? They've got it, and high quality versions of it for good prices. They never talk down to people and are always happy to help. read more

The guys here know their stuff. They put me into a great road bike, taught me some good things. Definitely worth stopping by.

I've been a long time advocate for Broadway Bicycle School but their recent practices leave a lot to be desired. I bought my first used mountain bike from here back in 2008 and I always return for routine repairs like flat tire or chain oiling.The customer service in the past has always been great, fast and reliable. However, my past experience was a little sketchy. Last week I brought my sister's bike in for repair and they claimed I'd have to reschedule an appointment to have it fixed, and leave a $25 deposit. I asked the lady if it would be refundable and they said that yes on condition that they had not started work on it. I wasn't able to make the appointment so I called to cancel and get my deposit but the attendant on the phone informed me that my deposit is non-refundable since they committed to that work. I feel like I've been taken for a ride and now look at this shop with some suspicion regarding their practices. I will try out Hub Bikes in Inman square since they seem to be getting better reviews read more

I had not rode a bike in years and was excited to get back into it so I stopped by Broadway Bike. I had a lot of questions and the staff member (can't remember his name) was very helpful. He wanted to make sure I walked away with the right bike and I did. I really like the new bike. I went back a few days later to get a seat cushion and the service was once again excellent. I have been riding almost everyday since. read more

I feel fortunate to have a bike shop so close to me that is knowledgeable, flexible and has fixed each problem I've encountered. I commute year round and it's critical that if I have a problem with my bike, that it gets fixed quickly and correctly. From wiring a new generator light, to replacing a destroyed crank, to maintenance of my Rohloff hub,, to upgrading my fenders and lights for my wife's bicycle, to maintaining my son's bike which he got at Broadway, they have never let us down. I think what I value most is that they are so experienced with any kind of bicycle, including older bicycles and internally geared hubs. I have been to other bike shops in the past which I will not name where I was pushed to upgrade components and after a repair my bike came back missing the original skewers from my quick release hubs and the shop was not able to find them. I've been able to call Broadway and get a quick turnaround on a fix for my bike and not have it impact my commute. I feel living in Cambridge has many perks and advantages. Broadway is one of those advantages. read more

I have been going to Broadway Bicycle School for over 15 years. I have taken a class and spent countless hours working on my own bikes (two tandems, a road race bike, a commuter, Mt. bike, and an Xtracycle). They have always been very patient with me as I am an aggressive DIY type and often get in over my head. I've been to and done business with most area bike shops and must say there is something special about this place. They are knowledgable, honest, fair and always helpful. No matter what you need, a new bike, parts(used!), service or an education in bike maintenance, this should be everyone's first stop. read more

This shop is perfect for anyone who wants to learn how to fix their own bike instead of just having it done in some back room. The bike stands are all up front in the main room and you can watch your bike getting fixed right in front of you. Great friendly staff and reasonable price for a professional tune-up. read more

I took their beginners class and I did NOT like the instructors. They were rude and also kind of bullies. The store is small and does not have a wide a selection as other bike stores, as well as the one time I got my bike repaired here, it was done incorrectly. I realize this is going against the grain of all the previous reviews, but based on my experience it is not at all a constructive place to shop/learn. read more

Brought my mountain bike in here for a tune up. I was participating in a race that weekend and the lovely and knowlegable staff turned it around in about a day. Not to mention all the employees have no pretensions and are genuinely thrilled about riding bikes! read more

I was impressed by the staffs who were polite despite that being the last hour of their work on a Sunday. I went here because I had a flat tire, and they went about their business without any fuss. I haven't done any other business with them, but I would definitely redirect you to them if you have a flat tire, especially if it is a Sunday. read more

I love how they have their work area out on the floor for you to see. Presumably it is this way because it is a school and you can learn about how to fix your bike just from your walk-in service. The man who helped me checked everything out very carefully and solved the problem that was caused when a guy from ATA put my funky wheel bolts back on in way of the chain after replacing a tube. The man at Broadway then rode the bike on his own to make sure it was in good working order. I appreciated how he gave me safety tips and told me to keep an eye on a weakening spot in my frame that he noticed. This place was down to earth, friendly, and most importantly thorough. For this, if I decide to buy a new bike in the future, I'll plan to give them my business. read more

I refuse to give any star. This place rips off its customers. Instead of fixing your bike, they will tell you to replace this and that. Every customer gets in, they will make sure you spend at least $100. That is not surprising. Every time you go there, they have lots of servicing people waiting there. I guess it is costly to have so many people get paid. And they have to sell, sell and sell. They will not care about you if you look like not willing to spend money there. read more

This place is the best! I've been riding a pre-owned, 10+ year old Mongoose for a year now, and these guys have fixed me up twice. The first time was for a flat tire that took all of 10 minutes to fix (for only $15). The second time, they fixed an issue I was having with my gears dropping. I couldn't shift into a higher gear. They didn't even charge me for that one. The staff was knowledgeable, and super laid back. Very nice people. I'm definitely planning on coming back the next time my bike has issues (which knowing my bike, should be in about a week.) read more

Took my road bike in for a complete tune up. I was treated with respect (important for an old person like me) and the work they did was first rate. Multiple folks were there giving me sensible advice and information in a pleasant, non-condescending way. The overall feeling I got was that they care about humans in addition to the bikes and you totally get what you pay for-SOLID is the word! read more

Fantastic honesty. I came in with a flat. I asked what they thought else was wrong. They said it would take about $200 to get the bike up to snuff but the $15 repair will be okay for a short amount of time. Awesome people and service. read more

There is a small bike shop at 351 Broadway, Cambridge MA that has provided educational opportunities as well as standard bike shop services to the Boston area cycling community. Due to the space constraints they carry limited but top notch yet affordable brands of bicycles, parts, and accessories. I've purchased everything from leather bike saddles to rims and spokes for making my own wheels with expert advice of the staff. How long have I been a customer you may ask? How about 30+ years. If they didn't stock what I needed, they could get it within a few days. Am I biased, sure! Most there are friends from way back when I used to race. Yet "Broadway Bicycle School" has been my #1 go shop when I need to get my two wheeled vehicles up to snuff. Check them out if you can. 30+ years of great service should give you a clue read more