Worst. Customer. Service. Ever. I called Carytown Bicycle, looking for a specific bike the Specialized website said they had in stock. I spoke to someone who verified the bike and the price. I told him I was traveling an hour to test drive it and he said come on in. When I got there the bike wasn't there. The person there, Max, told me it was the manager I had spoken to. He couldn't find him. He also didn't appear to try too hard. Max made it clear that he wasn't the source of the problem. He also made it clear he was not going to be the source of a solution. Max's only concern was that the issue didn't affect him. When I made my displeasure known, Max told me to leave. The only help he was willing to provide was to help me out the door. Worst. Customer. Service. Ever. Carytown Bicycle fails to realize three important elements of business: 1. Business goes where it is welcomed. 2. People spend money where they feel appreciated. 3. In business, everyday is election day and people vote with their wallets. I would not spend a nickel of my hard-earned money in this arctic blast of incompetence and unconcerned indifference. Nor should you. I would not return there if they offered to give me the bike. Worst. Customer. Service. Ever. read more

I ordered a bike from a company in CA that had to be shipped to CBC for assembly and pickup. Once the bike arrived, I got two calls and a text to let me know the bike was ready for pickup, which was about 5 days after it arrived (as informed it would be since it had to be assembled). When I went to pick it up, the guys who greeted me were friendly, expedient and thorough. One of them knew my name when all I said was that I was picking up my bike. He also helped me load the bike in my SUV in the rain and was just super pleasant to deal with. read more

Really wish I could give them more stars, but I can't. I stopped by and asked if I could look at jerseys & shorts. No indoor shopping due to covid 19... The employee brought out men's stuff in the same sizes I asked to see in women's apparel - still never brought out any shorts. I asked if those were for women and he said "yeah they're unisex" & still didn't bring out any women's apparel - seemed totally uninterested in selling anything. (If they were out of my size, he could have said that?) I'm not sure if this employee was lazy, brand new, and/or untrained but it was just poor service and an awkward experience. I'd give them zero stars but my boyfriend has been there & has had positive experiences with bike repairs. I want to give them the benefit of the doubt and think this was covid-19 related, but for now I'll save my money & spend it at a place that knows how to do sales. read more

I can't praise CBC enough. Whether you're a frequent shopper at CBC or new to cycling, their staff will take care of you. Highlights below. 1. I can't stress this enough - The staff is friendly & extremely knowledgably. (common complaint I've seen on Yelp is dealing with attitudes from snobby cyclist store employee's) I have yet to experience this at CBC. 2. Well stocked store even in peak season; and if they don't have what you need I've found they can get it quickly in most cases. 3. Quick turn around with expert mechanical work. 4. They're heavily involved in the local cycling community; setting up / offering group rides for most ages & levels. I've been, and will continue to go to their group rides. I've always felt welcome even showing up as "the new guy" read more

I remember when Carytown Bicycle in Carytown used to be independently owned. It was so much better then! Team members really cared about their clients and it showed. I bought my first nice bicycle there 7 years ago. I went back a month ago to get a new bike, only to find out they were bought by Specialized. While Specialized isn't a bad company, a variety of options is nice to have. I test rode and chose a hybrid and was told it was available at the Midlothian location and would be sent to Carytown in less than a week. A week went by, and I called to check on the bike. After a bit of back and forth, it was determined the bike I requested was not available in Midlothian after all. Instead, an order was placed for it... it would be available in about a week. The bike eventually arrived (took 3 weeks total), and I brought it home (paid half in cash and half with credit). Unfortunately, I was not in love with the Specialized model I chose. It did not ride as well as I thought it would after the test ride. I returned the bike, received the credit payment back and was told they could not refund the other half/cash I paid at that time. They would contact me within the next day or two for the refund, and I'd likely receive a check for the remainder of the refund. No problem, I said. It has now been 4 business days, and I ended up having to call Carytown Bike to follow-up, as I had not heard anything. I was told I needed to email the manager at the Midlothian location - he was expecting my email. Overall, the customer service has not been great. I've had to follow-up all along the way - from purchase to return. Customers should be contacted with updates, not having to make the contact each time. I have since found another Bicycle store that has certainly gone out of their way to help their customers. They have a much better selection of bicycles and are still independently owned. read more

I haven't bought a bike in 30 years, but needed a way to keep up with my little one. Mitch was incredibly helpful patient and attentive in helping me find the right bike fit. You could tell he was passionate about what he does and was very knowledgeable. And I was glad I could support one of our local businesses. Will definitely be going back in the future . read more

Back in Richmond for another few months and had both of my bikes dropped off at CBC to be put together again - this was done very quickly and they were set up exactly how the shop in Missouri who boxed them up prepared. Ready to roll. Broke a spoke on my Enve this last Saturday afternoon and the wheel was ready to go on Sunday morning. The crew is all super friendly, helpful, and hustling through COVID to keep people riding. I am glad I was able to update my 2016 review. read more

I have not gone inside this place, and I won't. I called up looking for a brake bleed kit for my Avid Elixir brakes. After being placed in hold (where I assume some kids got their up sell strategy together) I was told that they could order the kit for me for $80. Yeah thank I can find things on Amazon, too and exactly what I need for half that. But really, said the post-pubescent thing on the phone, since my brakes were SO OLD that he recommended an entirely new set of brakes. Ok I'm not really a 46 year old aircraft mechanic who just needs to source the right parts and tools, I'm actually just 12 year old with a credit card and no common sense or ability whatsoever. I thanked the individual anyway and hung up. I tried to shop local and this is what I got. It's a shame. Amazon for tools & parts and YouTube for instructions/how-to's/tutorials. Don't let the service industry pillage you and insult your intelligence at the same time. Learn to do things on your own and be proud of what you can accomplish. Be self-sufficient. read more

Great service at the Midlothian store. I turned a loose spoke into a totally crooked wheel on my road bike and I needed professional help getting it true again!! The Midlothian store had me in and out the same day!! Taylor was totally awesome!! read more

Whereas they previously told me they'd be able to service the non-electronic elements of e-bikes, when I went in to get some very basic brake work done, they told me, no, they wouldn't even service it if the bike was purchased from them, after a long history of servicing outside bikes with identical hardware. They dismissively told me to take it to a motorcycle shop, which is a ludicrous proposition, before going "if you'd just buy one of ours", even after the previous statement about not servicing the mechanics of *any* e-bike. They weren't even of help in acquiring the tool necessary to fix my brakes. read more

During COVID, I, too, was turned away at the locked door, unless, I was told, I had something specific in mind to buy. What an incredibly screwy idea. Can't be bothered by people simply wandering around in the store. If you're open, you're open. Today (09/03/21), at two in the afternoon, when I called three times, no one answered, telling me a mailbox was full or had not been set up. Employees may have a love for bikes, but little interest in helping people, just hanging out in a bike shop and drawing a paycheck. A LBS faces competition from online sales, so all it can offer is repairs and service. Hope someone other than the owner recognizes this fact. read more

This is a bicycle store where you can buy a bicycle that they sell and also they will fix a bicycle you own if it is broken and you pay them to fix it for you! I own a bicycle that was broken and I gave it to them to fix and they called me to say it was fixed so I went back to the store and I paid them money and they gave it back to me and it want broken anymore! You should give them your broken bicycle to fix if you have a broken bicycle! read more

I never leave reviews but I need to share my experience. I have been to this place a total of 6 times for random repairs on my bike and my girlfriend's bike and they have been SO helpful every single time. They're super respectful of distance during covid and insanely friendly even though they probably deal with hundreds of Karen's and Kevin's all day. I am leaving this because the most recent experience I brought in my Bianchi to get some cables replaced and the turnaround times were super long everywhere. They hit me up and were able to get my bike in and out super quick. I got my bike and it came out perfect and they even cleaned it. Unreal service. Love this place. Shoutout to Jessie! read more

I came into Carytown Bikes a couple of months ago when I was preparing for a long ride without a lot of money to spend on a high-end road bike. The staff was unbelievably patient and kind, and they help me sort through a huge list of bikes to find something that would work in my price range. I can't recommend them enough, and I love my new bike. Update: the ride was great and *everything* they told me about how to prepare was incredibly helpful. I'm so thankful--great management and a great store. read more

Carytown Bicycle Company - 250 Miles across Ohio--Thank you Carytown Bicycle Company! - Bikes Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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** Service review only ** Their new location in Carytown is amazing! It has the vibe and look of a bike shop that fits perfectly in Richmond. What makes it better, they have Goatocado inside of the bike shop if you want to get a quick bite to eat! I have come here twice now in one week. The first time was to get an emergency tube replaced. I came at 6.40 on a Friday night and there was no wait at all and it was only $20 for the service and the new tube and they even checked to see if I needed new tires (which I didn't). Several days later the same tire was flat again for no reason.. but I did take it on a light ride though so I may have ridden over something and caused a puncture? Came back again and explained my situation. Initially came in for another tube replacement but decided to also get some gatorskin tires to prevent any possible future punctures. They offered to only charge me for the new tires and one tube replacement. The employees here are super friendly and always ask if I need help when I am walking around. I also never felt pressured to buy anything or get any additional work done and it seemed like they do honest work here. All their products appear to be retail prices though so I would recommend buying online for better deals. read more

I had a great experience with Carytown Bicycle Company! It's been a long time since I rode my 1 speed commuter bike [a Specialized Globe Centrum that was purchased in Virginia Beach back in 2008], and I knew it needed some TLC. I took it over to Carytown Bikes to get serviced. The employee at the service counter was very professional and friendly. I knew I needed new tires, but he also recommended new brakes since they were starting to corrode on the inside. He also recommended to lubricate the chain since it was also old. I'm not keen on other bike shop prices, but for the services to make my bike feel like brand new, I believe it was pretty affordable and worth it. From drop off to pick up, the employees here were kind and efficient. The receipt also included a breakdown of the service prices, which was helpful. In addition, the bikes inside the shop are displayed nicely and pretty cool to look at! The store itself is very clean and organized, which makes for a nice shopping experience. The bikes are on the pricier side, but what high quality bike isn't pricey? All in all, I was very satisfied with my service. I will continue to take my bike here in the future! read more

Moved from NYC to VA where there isn't a shortage of great local Bike shops, found a great place with knowledgeable people at Carytown. Staff is inviting, warm and helpful. In particular, I spoke with Brandon at length about a bike fit and insoles, dropped a ton of knowledge and thoughts, which were in line with a lot of the top YouTube bike fitters. I will be going here for the foreseeable future! read more

Unless you buy a bike here or own expensive equipment, don't bother stopping in. I tried to take in a bike to get a tune up and the clerk in the store checked it out and said they would call me the next week with pricing for my tune up. The phone message I got from the man who called me was less than friendly. He told me my bike wasn't worth his time to work on and that I should "go to WalMart or Target or wherever you get bikes like this" and buy a new one. Fortunately another shop in town was happy to help me. They really should have a disclosure on the door about what brands or equipment are worth their time. read more

I came in here awhile ago looking for a brand new bike. I wanted to take my biking up a notch. Looking for a mountain bike that was my size and price range was going to prove a challenge but i knew the bike was out there for me. Upon walking in this store, I already felt out of place. The staff was pushing bikes on me that I did not like, did not like the feel of, and really was too tall for my 5' 4" feminine frame. I was willing to pay outside of my price range for a good bike but after dealing with the pushy salesman (who did not have 1 customer that day it seemed), I quickly left without a bike. I did find a great bike later- however, i already know if i need anything for my bike, i will not be shopping here. read more

The bike mechanics are all great! Everyone is super friendly and pleasant and the service is fairly priced. Best bike shop for repairs in the area by far. Don't waste your time going anywhere else. Great atmosphere! read more

I had an awful experience going in there for some simple repairs. The staff members were downright rude/condescending. I could see this place being good for a serious hobbyist, but don't bother if you're just a "filthy casual". read more

Epic fail, Carytown Bicycle Company!!!!! Much like the other 1 star review, I had a horrific experience with this place. The Shop duchebag basically tried to hard sell me into buying a new bike by telling me a simple tune up on an operational bike would cost half as much as a new bike and cause it to break. WTF? Save you time, energy and money and go to Agees next door. They are nice, cost effective and will take care of you. There is a reason why they have been around Richmond forever...... just saying. :) read more

I'm not a habitual Yelper, but I had such a pleasant experience today at CBC that I couldn't help but share: I was in Richmond for a wedding and ended up having an extra day to kill. Coming from overcrowded and dingy Los Angeles (For the record, I do love Los Angeles), the beautiful scenery and history of Richmond were beyond refreshing. I wanted to grab some wheels and check things out, but I had no experience in the small universe that is biking and consequently didn't know the logistics of renting one... but I was hoping to find a shop that would accommodate my spontaneity. I met Tim coming in and immediately felt welcomed. The circumstances and timing of me wanting to ride were not great (the store was not far from closing for the day), but Tim went out of his way to make sure I could enjoy an afternoon bike ride. I was very impressed by his personability and kindness. The store itself is very well put together and accessible, which was also impressive. Tim quickly got me a bike and out the door to enjoy the neighborhood and surrounding area. When I returned the bike, I casually mentioned to another employee that I wasn't sure how I would get back to my hotel since I was visiting from out of town and didn't have a car. The woman I spoke with went out of her way to figure out a solution for me to get back to my lodgings so I would be spared having to walk a few miles or an expensive cab fare. I left Richmond and headed back to LA feeling so grateful for the opportunity to explore for a few hours. It really was the cherry on top of a memorable weekend. So many shops lack the humanness and service that TIm and his staff demonstrated. I saw Tim exhibit the same magnanimy toward every other customer in the store that he showed to me, which is indicative of some real business integrity. I have several friends back in Richmond and will be recommending CBC to them and anyone I know that heads east to Virginia. read more

The guys at Carytown Bikes are always down for a bike chat. I've talked to them about mountain bikes, their trade in deal, and kid bikes. Very helpful and friendly. You owe it to yourself to let them help you get a bike. read more

Excellent service. Getting back on my road bike after a 'long' hiatus. Old classic sea foam Bianchi. Staff was exceptionally responsive to my needs and seems to have take heed to older posts here. Hooked my up with a 'wide' road show. And have me a bit of a discount on a higher end brand since they couldn't find the brand I was looking for. I paid more but got a better shoe. Chatted it up with one of the owners (Tim?) and he offered me a coke and to hang out a while to ensure the shoe was a good fit. Can't say enough about the awesome space here very cool shop and genuinely friendly staff passionate about the sport. Bonus: took care of my pups (dog friendly atmosphere). Water bowl at the entrance. We always stop there on our daily walk. So 'Otto' & ' 'Jinks' give their Boxer stamp of approval! read more

I've had my seriously negative run-ins with this unabashedly high(er)-end bike shop before... not for undue reasons, but let me say: all made was made right by one of the owners. While some may have legitimate bones to pick with them, my overall impression is that these guys and gals really know what they're doing. I actually think it's the fact that I'm embarrassed that I'm not as hard core as they are that makes me mad. Anyways, as soon as I have $4,500 to drop on my next bike, they are my first stop. My apologies to the staff for any drool marks left on their Ellsworth rigs on display. read more

Since my last visit, i have been in Carytown Bicycle Co several other times. They are now much more friendly. Guess you have to start talking to the staff in order for them to be nice/chatty. Odd way to run a business, but whatevs. At least they are nicer than Agees. read more

I visited Carytown Bicycle on Thursday searching for a road bike. I have been to a few bicycle stores recently comparing models, features, weight and price. I can say that Tim of Carytown really did a great job of explaining the differences between sizes and features. He fitted me into a 54cm had me ride test a couple of bikes. I felt more knowledgable and more aware of features that I may want to spend extra on after my experience. He was not a pushy salesman but esablished trust and ensured that I was a more informed buyer. I didn't purchase the bike as I am narrowing the bike down and need to get final approval from the wife. Thank you assisting me and when Im ready to buy I will definitely go back.. read more

Went here blissfully unaware of the complexities that are road bikes. I only have experience riding mountain bikes and was really nervous to begin looking! However, Mike immediately dissuaded my worries with his knowledge and friendly smile. He helped me find a bike that fit my height once I told him what kind of bike I was hoping to purchase. I test rode it around the parking lot, and then he rode his bike with me around the block. I really appreciated the ride-along (although I'm sure that's standard when it comes to expensive equipment), since I was uncertain of my abilities. I didn't want to commit right there, but he wrote down what bike I tried and then told me to come back if I wanted to test ride something else. He then thoroughly answered my questions when I called like 5 min later....ha! read more

My wife and I purchased two bikes yesterday at the Carytown Bicycle Company in the west end Greengate location (one eBike and one mountain bike). Our sales associate Erin was extremely helpful and friendly. She provided excellent information and used language/terminology that was easy to understand. The shop service here has always been solid, too. I visit this location regularly, and will continue to go there. Thank you CBC and Erin! read more

This is where I take my bike to get it fixed. Fast, efficient service, and the guys are cool. Don't go to Agee's. Agee's sucks. Last time I had a flat, I took it to these guys. He fixed it while I waited (thankfully, in Carytown, there's lots to do while you wait). I only had to kill about 20 minutes. The fix came to $20. I don't go anywhere else in town anymore. Love this place. read more

Will at Carytown took great care of me! I accidentally bought 2 of the same thing and Will was able to set everything straight and provide excellent customer service. Customer service is of utmost in this day and age! I recommend this shop. read more

They completed a phone order based upon a product I had seen online. The credit card transaction was completed professionally and the package arrived promptly. I have visited this shop. The staff on shift at the time were friendly, professional, and knowledgeable. My experience was very satisfactory, and I will recommend Carytown Bicycle Company to anyone in Richmond looking for a Bicycle, or looking to have their bicycle repaired (no matter the pedigree of that person's ride). read more

Went in today with my old road bike that I use to get around town. Only needed a minor repair--to retighten the grip tape around one handlebar--and the super friendly staff person repaired at no charge since it only took a couple minutes. Thanks Carytown Bicycle Company. I will be back for other bike needs/repairs. Guy at the front desk was not friendly though, odd. read more

I have had many bike wrenches over the years work on my bikes and it never fails some irritating (or serious) thing goes wrong a few days later, requiring a repeat visit or a roadside repair. Braden (or his crew) are quality bike mechanics. I have NEVER had an issue arise after taking a bike to CBC for work. I don't live in RVA anymore, but I wish Braden would visit H-Town and teach a few local wrenches That and his team kits are always killer. read more

The staff is super friendly and the owner Tim is a great guy. The repair area is well organized and they are very knowledgeable read more

Carytown Bicycle Company - Repair area - Bikes Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

A shop full of people that love bikes and cyclists. Definitely not elitists or bike snobs. They are more then willing to work with everyone to find a bike best suited to their needs. They dont steer you to the most expensive bike or part, but what fits your needs and budget. They are very accommodating on service. Most times it is same day. They have fixed my bike the day before an event, with no extra charges for 'rush'. A very chill place to shop or just stop in and hang out. One of my favorite shops! read more

My father bought my son the PERFECT bike here! Andy had a bike built for my 10 year old that was just incredible. He even took him out back to show him how to ride it before we left! Awesome experience and we will definitely be back!!!! read more

I have been using Carytown Bikes for years!!!! It is the only bike shop that I will take my bike to be serviced. They are the nicest most educated bike people not only in Richmond but yes.... THE WORLD!!! I just had my bike tuned up, new cassette, chain and bottom bracket and she rides like a dream!!! Special shout to Latane!!! Once again he did an amazing job on my bike and he is also just a really nice guy!!!! I would give 100 stars if Yelp would let me!!!! read more

You won't a nicer and more helpful staff than here. I shop here for random bike needs relatively frequently since it's near my weekend job. While prices may not be able to compete with national chains, you can always leave knowing you made a good purchase that will benefit you. Most recently o needed a new light and they charged it for me before I arrived because I was going to be out past dark. read more