First time customer, won't be back. I dropped by bike off for a tune-up. There were plenty of people working and seemingly not helping anyone, but it still took a while for someone to help me. They lady who handled my intake told me that it would probably be ready Wednesday (this was a weekend) and that they would call me to tell me it was done. I said "no problem, I'm not in a hurry, just call." Weeks went by without a call, so I called and they said it was done, so I immediately went in to pick up my bike which they told me had been ready for weeks... but they still had to go finish up completion items on the ticket and then proceeded to explain to me that I'd be charged up to $5 per day for storing my bike for taking so long to pick it up. I explained no one called me, and they said "well the sheet was marked that you got a call" but said they'd give me a "discount" on the storage fee. Whatever, I paid $20 extra for this fee even though they never called me. Is this a trick to make more money? Sure felt like it. Also, while waiting around for my "finished" bike to actually be finished, I saw that most other customers in the store had to work pretty hard to be acknowledged for questions. Just doesn't seem like customer service is important to this place at all. read more

I wheeled my bike into Mike's Bikes today totally innocent of the complete douchebaggery that apparently many bicycle shop employees are capable of. I was looking for some handlebar tape and decided, since I was there, to ask one of the guys behind the counter some questions about the approximate value of my bike; I'd recently purchased a vintage road bike and just wanted to know if I'd been ripped or not. The employee told me that my "old Schwinn" was probably worth about $100, but "if you ask me, I wouldn't even pay that much for it since I could just get a new one for $200." I took his rudeness in stride, explained that I wasn't actually looking to sell it, but was just wondering how much it should reasonably cost. He went on to explain to me, as if I were a child, that "price depends on demand," and that I shouldn't expect too much for a bike like that. Mike's Bikes might have great bikes or great selection, but none of that can make up for awful customer service. Never have I had a worse shopping experience. Clearly, this dude did not understand that people ride DIFFERENT TYPES OF BIKES. Not everyone has to ride the newest $700 carbon frame model. My goodness, you'd think these people had never seen a Berkeley student with a bike from the 80s before. I could hardly bite back my shame and absolute rage as I walked out. Needless to say, I did not buy the tape, nor will I ever step foot into this den of snobbery again, so help me God. read more

UPDATE: I have reduced this shop to one star because the expensive hand-cut spokes were... cut to the wrong length!!!! This is a well balanced bike shop which equally caters to road, mtn biking and commuting. They started carrying rocky mountain, which is excellent Canadian brand and if your tired of having the dime a dozen trek or specialized models, i urge you to try them. Very knowledgeable staff but I must warn you in the area of wheel spokes... they have a different process which makes them 4 times the price of missing link and many other shops. For one or 2 spokes 1.88 a piece isn't bad (missing links are about 40 cents a piece) but that adds up to a 50 dollar difference for one wheel. My buddy and I make bomb proof wheels on 40 cent spokes so there is no need to blow the extra coin that you could spend on pizza and beer after conquering Eldridge grade. read more

This place will not get my business again if I can help it. While the sales department was consistently polite, helpful and informative, the kid at the repair counter would have been hard-pressed to have a snottier attitude. After waiting nearly ten minutes for my presence to be acknowledged, he came to the counter, clearly annoyed that I was there. I asked a simple question about replacing a bike seat (sorry, SADDLE) and he acted downright hostile and treated me like a complete idiot. I took my business down the street to the Missing Link, where the service was much friendlier, selection was better and prices were more reasonable, so the aggro bike service guy at Mike's did me a favor in the end! read more

I got my first bike at Mike's. No, it wasn't when I was a perky, pony-tailed tyke of ten, but as a boring grown-up (still questionable) adult. You see, I was one of those who "What, you can't ride a bike? Everyone can ride a bike!" folks who just recently learned to ride. After I learned to stop hitting parked cars with my face, it was decided that it was time for my very own bike. It wasn't going to be an easy task - I wanted a comfortable, dependable women's specific road bike that would fit my vertically-challenged height (I must be able to touch my toes to the ground!). After searching high and low at bike shops around the East Bay, I ended up finding the perfect one at Mike's. Nate was knowledgeable and helpful in narrowing down the frame and style for me as well as sizing me for the right fit. He remained patient and accommodating despite my indecisiveness and noncommittal repeat visits to the shop. The bike I was most interested was delivered to the Berkeley location without any obligation on my part and they were prompt in following up with me. In the end, Mike's had the best selection of quality bikes, although not cheap, for my specific requirements. Later, Nate sent me a lovely thank you card for my business and checked up to see how the bike & I were doing. These days, you might see me riding around giddy like a schoolgirl on my bright blue Specialized Vita Sport bike (no tassels yet!). read more

We were mocked and we were looking to buy...I don't even want to think what their customer service is when something goes wrong.... The bottom line: Rude pushy sales people trying to talk you into buying the most expensive bike, not the best bike for your needs. To be fair it may not be the staffs' fault. More likely their pressured to sell hard and need the commission. So maybe I'm spoiled by the great service at REI, Performance Bikes and other indie bike shops in and around Berkeley, but my experience here was so bad that I didn't even want to test drive a very nice bike. I am a compete novice and am very honest and up front about that. My gear head boyfriend wants us to ride together and has been easing me into bike loving. He has a Fuji Roubaix and after riding it I am hooked on the smooth glide. Seriously it's like flying. Let's try Mikes Bikes he says. I said Deal! I get there and at first I'm like a kid in a candy shop. We were left alone and was just looking at them, checking out their weight and their geometry. When a sales person came to help us. I'm paraphrasing here but this was the jist. "What will you be using it for?" she asked. "Around campus" I said, "I wont need a fancy bike because I'm a beginner and not a serious cyclist" (I said this because I happened to be checking out a $4500 bike when she approached. Something way more expensive than what I was looking to actually buy.) Then she tells me that I DO need a fancy bike because it will be easier for a novice. I may be a novice but I'm not an idiot. I don't feel that I need a bike that expensive and it wouldn't last a day on campus. What she should have done was ask me for my budget and help me find a compromise between price and lightness. A nice entry level bike that fits the needs of the occasional rider. I am a person, not someone's commission. The hard sell was making me super uncomfortable and her and my BF differ greatly in their opinions of fit and style. Which meant that we would not be able to find a bike here comfortably. Her tone became increasingly aggressive, mocking, and condescending. Even inappropriate. We politely made our escape but not before she called him "Captain Noncommittal". Wow ... all because he didn't want to buy a $4500 bike after 15 minutes of her time. Half of which she spent on the phone talking to other customers. Read the other negative reviews and you'll see that rudeness and up-selling are standard at this place. What could improve the experience is a change in organizational structure where they don't feel so pressured to sell. Or at least a softer approach that is at least mindful of the customers concerns and budget. I think they'd actually sell more. I hate to write a bad review and I wasn't going to because at first I thought we were a fluke but asking around I find out that our experience was fairly common. read more

Eh ... horrible experience. I'm used to bike stores being very knowledgeable, friendly, and helpful. I didn't find that here. Brought my girlfriend here looking for a bike. She's a college student and didn't need a top dollar bike. Something under $600ish. They really were uninterested in showing us anything in the price range and were very pushy to sell us something more expensive ... much more expensive. I understand sales ... I was in sales for many years myself... but this was too much. My take away is that they are way over priced, not as knowledgeable as I would expect from a bike store, and definitely not customer oriented. Save yourself some time and visit one of the other indie bike stores in Berkeley or hit up something bigger like Performance bike shop or REI. Both of which have very knowledgeable and friendly staff. read more

I bought my bike back in April. After doing some research beforehand I came in knowing what I was looking for and wanted to try. I was helped by Aidan and told him what I was looking for but wasn't sure what size bike would fit me. He picked out two different sizes for me and I was able to take it out for a quick spin around nearby streets. After feeling completely comfortable and understanding the differences between bike brands I made my purchase. The color I wanted was not in stock and Aidan kindly placed an order for me, which was ready in about 2 weeks. I truly appreciate the honest and helpful customer service I got from Aidan. I didn't feel pressured to buy something nor was he being one of those naggy salespeople. The honest feedback and knowledgeable facts were really a deciding factor to hand over my credit card. In addition, Mike's Bikes has a bunch of great deals for newbies, including the basic package (comes with major tools, accessories and recovery equipment) for $69 and the 5-year service deal for $125. It's the great customer service and reliability that made this shopping experience more enjoyable. As mentioned in other reviews, I was surprised when I received a little follow-up thank you card from Mike's Bikes a few weeks later. Have been enjoying my bike with the good weather. It's almost time for a maintenance! read more

THE WORST CUSTOMER SERVICE EVER unless they are taking your money!!! I came here back in April to purchase a bike during their annually big sale. I felt that they were not too informative and thus lack BIKE/BIKING knowledge. When I was asking questions on the different types of bikes, I felt as though they wanted me to have prior knowledge about bike/biking even though I did mention that it was my first time buying a bike. However, I did some research before attempting to purchase a bike so I knew what I wanted but I still wanted to be sure and happy with what I was going to choose. The day of the purchase, the guy was pretty nice but our interaction was really short. Anyway, bought the bike and was happy with my choice. A couple months later, I got into a bike accident and I brought in the bike for an estimate. Never have I been spoken to as if I was a child or as if I didn't understand English. Rude. Just plain rude. The guy behind the "repair" center seemed irritated and so I just got his written estimate and left. Didn't bring my bike for them to repair. I love their sales. The next time I come in, I will not ask questions and get what I want and leave. Sucks because they have a lot of good stuff but they have to improve on their CUSTOMER SERVICE. 2 stars because I LOVE my bike =) read more

Not only was I embarrassingly overcharged for the part I bought, but they were packaged as new and were USED. I felt cheated.

For my birthday this year (March), I decided I needed to kick up my physical fitness up a notch by gettin' my bike-ride action on!. Given that the last time I purchased a bike I was 12 years old (20+years ago), there was a bit of a learning curve. After calling a few bike shops and explaining my needs (sturdy enough to have a toddler seat; not for mountain biking, but primarily for tooling around, and OH; needed to be smokin' hot red), I narrowed my list to a few spots and conducted a few site visits. Pound for pound, Mike's Bike's was the sure shot. Highlights included: a) Great selection b) SUPER helpful and friendly staff (shout out to Jonas) c) Uber cool about letting me have a test ride d) Installed all of my accessories (toddler seat, kick stand) e) Jammin' reggatron/reggae music f) The perfect candy-apple Gary Fisher commuter bike I would recommend Mike's to anyone who may be re-entering the biking world; Mike's will make you feel like a biking QUEEN! read more

Mike's Bikes = Poop I purchased a bike here 6 months ago with some of my hard earned stimulus check money. On my way home, the chain snapped and a few of my gears got bent up (I was not cross chaining). I flipped a B and coasted down the hill back to MB. After reminding me that they don't have a return policy, they offered to put on a new chain for $30. Upon leaving the store the second time the chain snapped again. I was given the option to buy yet another chain, but refused and headed over to Missing Link. Additionally, the majority of the staff at MB in composed of bike enthusiasts who seem to dislike the un-bike enthusiast public. Moral of the story: Go to Missing Link read more

This place is spotty. I purchased several bikes from Mike's in Berkeley over the past couple of years. They use to have better customer service. In fact, their customer services use to be outstanding. I recent went in to purchase my first road bike. The person that helped me told that my size wasn't in stock, but they would have my size shipped/transferred from another store. They would call me when it came in. Well.... I never got a call (it's been 2 months). I ended up purchasing from another bike shop in Oakland. Plus, the sales person tried to push me into buying a smaller size bike. I don't appreciate their sales practices. I am not sure I will be back. read more

I hate this place. The GM consistently treats me like I'm an incompetent, silly, female. After deciding to buy a new bike elsewhere, I stopped by Mike's the other day for a new seat post. The GM proceeded to sell me the wrong sized post and then make fun of my bike and me. Bad business move, dude! I'd gladly pay more for parts at places like Left Coast b/c at least they'll treat me and my bike with respect and I won't land with any surprise $10 service fees! Note: there are a few awesome sales people at Mikes, most notably Taylor. Good guy. read more

My friend Young always finds these places that offer 25$ bike tune-ups. Maybe they are a good deal, I'll never know. I like to bring my bike to Mike's. They put a pair of wheels on my road bike three years ago that are amazing. They have stayed true and inflated for hundreds of miles. I also like the way the store smells, which you can get at nearly every bike store, but here they never make me feel bad about not having really veiny, muscular, hairless calves. read more

Bought a brand new bike here about a year and a half ago. The bike, with their 5-year maintenance plan cost me about $1500 combined. Most I've ever spent on a bike. I tested out the model that I purchased at the store, and they had to order and deliver a new bike to the Berkeley store for me. When it arrived, I arrived; picked it up; rode it home. Didn't feel right. Didn't shift smoothly; sounded like a rusty clunker; not like the bike I'd tested. I brought it in; explained the situation; was informed that I should've tested it out more before taking it home. Mikes Bikes mechanics looked at it, made some adjustments, said they fixed things, and sent me on my way. I took it home, and during the ride, it still didn't feel or sound like it was shifting smoothly.... Long story shorter- This all continued for 3 or 4 more visits to Mikes Bikes for them to fix the bike. Each time they claimed to have fixed one thing or another; each time they missed the mark. Finally I stopped trying, and rode my brand new, squeaky-geared bike the way that it was... Today, I brought it to new bike mechanic for another opinion. He checked it out, Made a few minor adjustments to my de-railer and fixed the disc brake that had been rubbing against the wheel the whole time. (I KNEW the brake was rubbing!) It cost me 17$, and 20 minutes of my time, and for the first time, my bike rides like the new bike I thought I had purchased! Not a "lemon" after all! ---------------------------------------------- UPDATE: My earlier review caught the attention of mikes bikes, and they reached out. I understand it's not always easy to find the culprit of a squeaky gear/brake/ wheel of a bike. What I previously described was an unfortunate, and unlucky situation - and probably not much more than that. Mikes bikes followed up with me and dealt with the situation very reasonably, and professionally - leaving me a happy customer after all. Thank you for the good service - I'll be back! read more

You know, this shop definitely has more bikes & parts than most of the local indie shops which I normally patronize. And sometimes in a pinch you need something fast so there you go, they've got a big website with real-time inventory, Amazon just isn't fast enough, and you bite the bullet out of necessity. But my first (and probably last) experience today with Mike's reminds me why I will always go back to the people at TipTop in Temescal or even Hank and Franks in Rockridge. I had an urgent need to replace a broken shifter. None of my usual shops had the part in stock and I had a ride the next day so I couldn't wait for mail-order. Late in my part hunt, I found the needed item on Mike's website, called to confirm it was in stock at the Berkeley store, then bought it online to guarantee no one else would grab it before I got over there after work. Upon arrival I was told that since I had placed my order online, the part wouldn't be ready to pick up for 2-6 days. Not comprehending why the mode of ordering should matter if the part was physically in the store, I asked to cancel my online order and I'd just pay onsite for the part that was right there at the store. No, that wasn't possible either, along with a story about bureaucratic complications related to their online inventory system that they couldn't access (headslap). "Well, can we do anything to bring some sanity to this transaction? I mean, I am here, the part is here, my wallet is here..." I asked. I was rebuffed with an incredibly sarcastic, "Sure, I'll just mess up my inventory for you..." The clerk disappeared for almost 10 minutes and came back to tell me that in fact they *don't* have the part in stock (so my confirmation call was for naught) but she was sure it would be delivered from their warehouse in 2-6 days. Finally a 3rd or fourth person got involved in the spiraling confusion my small order apparently created, and they miraculously found the needed part on some mysterious shelf. I dropped another $20+ on accessories that caught my eye while I was waiting, but I was sent out the door with a rather gruff, "thanks for your patience." Listen, I get that its not easy to manage huge inventories and online systems are designed by coders not salespeople. But definitely don't lay YOUR inventory control issues on me. I just want to buy a freaking part. Your store wasn't busy, there weren't other customers waiting, and all I wanted to do was buy a part you confirmed you had in stock. I'm not asking for a favor here. read more

UPDATE: While I'll keep this rating for now. Wanted to say that the owner of Mike's bikes actually dropped me a nice note. Hopefully this kind of interaction with customers will work it's way to the shops, and improve their stores. ********** While not a horrible bike shop, there are so many better shops in the area that you could do so much better. I think that the disparity in the reviews for the shop is related to the "car lot" structure of the business (Think Glengary Glen Ross.). There are commissioned sales, service, desk help, etc... And I think that the service that you get reflects the organization. I needed some brake pads for my v-brakes, and could not get them to slide in... I found a great "sales guy" on the floor, who was helping figure out why I was having a hard time putting them on. While he was helping me, his "sales manager", took him aside, and started to lecture him... Why would you want to help me out, when there is no sale out of it.... That is service's job... There is someone over there who is looking at new bikes, etc... And this was 15 feet away from me! To the guy's credit who was helping me out... He tried to argue that I shouldn't have to spend $20 of service on a $5 brake pad. Mike, hope that you can fix Mike's Bikes. read more

I really like Mike's Bikes! To be honest, I don't know that I've ever actually BOUGHT anything at this store. However, it's my hub for filling my tires and scoring free valve caps and asking stupid bike-related questions and looking at the pretty and pretty expensive bikes. And next time I need to buy a bike accessory, I'll definitely check Mike's Bikes first. I had a great experience here the other day. I'm pretty not-at-all-knowledgeable about bikes and my front brake was giving me trouble. I attempted to fix it myself and made it unusable (booooo). I brought my bike into Mike's and it happened to be their Wednesday evening Do-It-Yourself thing! You can use their tools and ask them for assistance and it's all free. A nice girl fixed my brake in about two seconds and changed my bike's saddle for me and showed me how to do both things myself in the future. I've had a little bit of experience at Missing Link on Shattuck and I don't have any complaints about them either, but Mike's is always right on my way home from campus and very clean and friendly. They have a check-in offer, so get out your Yelp app next time you're at Mike's. I even met an awesome GIANT wolfhound there once! Dogs + bikes = fantastic. read more

I've had some pretty positive experiences at Mikes Bikes. Typically I'm the kind of cyclist that does all of his own mechanic work and I usually don't like anyone else touching my bike.. But the mechanics at MB have earned my trust. I've also had some good purchasing experiences at MB. 1) If you wheel your bike to the mechanics area someone will usually drop what they are doing and come help you, sometimes fixing it on the spot. If I were a mechanic I certainly wouldn't do this. I have been impressed. 2) If you find a bike part online for cheap, you can email MB to price match it, and they will. So you get all the advantages of a brick-and-mortar store with the cost of an online outlet store. Pickup at the store is even free (as I recall). Cheers RS read more

At least in regards to aerobars, the people who work here were not helpful at all. They knew less about the aerobars they had in stock than I knew from reading online. The service seems to be hit or miss. Some days they act like they have better things to do than talk to you. Other days they can be pretty nice. I get the impression that the people who work at Mike's Bikes are not passionate cyclists themselves, and their apathetic service shows it. read more

Unfortunately, due to the fact that I live two hours away from Mike's Bikes, I bought my bike elsewhere. But, before I bought my bike I did a lot of research and looked at a lot of different bike shops. While in Berkley on vacation, I visited Mike's Bikes, and discovered they had by far the best selection and prices! The salesman that helped me was very friendly and knowledgeable and let me ride several bikes even though I told him I wasn't ready to buy at that time. I'm sure like every store, Mike's Bike's has it's problems, but from what I saw, I don't think it gets much better than this. Bottom Line: great selection, great service, awesome prices. read more

I was looking for a beach cruiser and I knew the one I wanted. A black Diamondback Bella Cruz. The bike was priced around $250.00. I went into the store and they did not have the bike, they order one for me and received it on Friday. I went there Saturday and the bike was ready to be taken home. i called approx ten bike shops looking for that bike. Great service and followthru. I highly recommend them. See you crusing..... read more

Went in for some basic components (new tires) because my normal shop wasn't open. The upselling began immediately and I was mocked for not purchasing a more expensive set of tires in spite of doing plenty of research before hand and knowing exactly what I wanted. I am obviously not a performance cyclist, but they pushed and pushed for me to buy expensive tires and then to upgrade my wheel set to something inappropriate for my weight and bike. I was shocked actually. Their prices were overall parallel to other shops in the area - they have some more low end accessories like lights so you can save money there (though only a couple bucks and generally it doesn't seem worth it - lots of the lights and whatnot seemed flimsy at best). But bikes and quality components are quite expensive here and only similar to local shops prices when on sale. I wouldn't consider buying a bike here and their prices are not good. If you want to be talked down to by staff for not spending more money, this is the place for you. On the other hand, they do sometimes have longer hours than other shops. Last note - the offered to install my tires, something that takes 15 minutes even without their bike stands and better tools ... they said I'd have to leave my bike there over night and the price was, well, excessive. Not a shop I'd recommend to a friend, but good luck! read more

Great experience at Mike's Bikes, start to finish. I am completely new to cycling and came to Mike's to purchase my first road bike. They were incredibly patient with my questions and were even willing to set several bikes up on a trainer, since I lack the skills to take them on a proper test ride. (I know. It sounds ridiculous but you've gotta learn sometime, right?!) After lots of research and several visits, I made a decision. They didn't stock the color way I wanted but they were able to special order it and charged me the discounted price of the other color! WAHOO! They also allowed me to take advantage of an amazing gift card special they were doing for the holidays, even though my bike was a special order. I wasn't sure that would be the case so I was pleasantly surprised. The bike came into the store MUCH earlier than anticipated. When I came to pick it up, they took even more time with me: answering questions and demo-ing the quick release. All of the people I encountered were friendly and helpful. I'm sure this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship with my gorgeous bike and the folks at Mike's! read more

So happy I came here! I brought in a road bike to have it tuned up, new pedals installed, grip tape, front light, tools&bag and new tires put on. They had the bike tuned in 3 hours and talked me through everything I needed help with purchasing. The guys in the shop let me walk up and just installed the pedals for me without an appointment in less than 5 minutes. Francois & the other sales guy were probably the two coolest guys to hang out with and they adjusted and installed everything on the bike in no time. Really grateful you have such awesome & knowledgeable people working here. Thank you so much! read more

Everyone who works there is hot. They sold me a helmet or something, but all I could focus on was that everyone who works there is hot. Highlight of my life: one of the experienced (hot) bikey dudes who works there was checking out my $85 craigslist bike and telling another coworker (hot) what a good bike it was. Score! Minus have an invisible star for using "all the cool kids have these" as a selling point for more expensive cages. Although I bought them so maybe they just know how impressionable I am. Damn. read more

Just moved to the Oakland Hills and after a month or two of walking the trails in Redwood Regional Park, I'm ready to join my kid and start biking the hills. Stopped by Mike's ready to buy - - actually burning to get on some wheels! Browsed through the bikes on display for fifteen or so minutes and stood around for another fifteen minutes waiting for someone to help me. No "hellos" or "be right with you" or "hey, how you doing?" . . . maybe they need more people on the floor. Kinda strange experience especially after I get back in the car and hear the radio squawking about recession, unemployment, consumer confidence, etc. read more

The short story: Exceptionally awesome bike shopping experience thanks to Barry in the Berkeley store! The long story: My sixteen-year-old daughter outgrew her bike, so it was time to shop for a new one. No big deal, right? Run down to the bike shop and get one in her favorite color? Well, if your daughter is one of the only half-dozen or so dead serious female road racers in her age group in all of northern California, it's one heck of a big deal! She'll spend some 400 hours or more with the bike over the next year alone, training rain or shine, racing more weekends than not, so shopping for a bike is not only fun -- it's serious business to her. Our plan was to have her try a bunch of different bikes and brands to get a feel of the range of fit and handling characteristics available. We started setting aside blocks of time to visit bay area shops for test ride sessions over a period of a couple of weeks. We soon found that not only were we shopping bikes, but we were shopping bike *shops* as well. Most shops tended to be fine. The nadir of our experience at another shop was this seemingly polite and patient salesperson who wouldn't look at or speak directly to my daughter, but would just talk to me (Dad), even though my daughter was standing right there in front of him. WTF? I'm not the one who's going to be getting leaned on in the bell lap at 20+ mph in the turns in crits -- talk to the rider! We came into Mike's in Berkeley to check out their Specialized and Cannondale bikes. Barry greeted us when we came in, and asked questions that clearly showed he was trying to understand our bike-shopping goals -- intended use of the bike, fit issues, general price range, desired handling characteristics, and so on. Barry took on our "problem" -- finding the right bike for this particular rider -- and made it his own. Combined with his detailed knowledge of the product lines carried by Mike's (as well as brands they do not sell!) and Mike's large in-stock inventory of brands and sizes, Barry and my daughter began the process of discovering whether or not Mike's had the bike for her. (Compare to some other shops where the salesperson asked only half the questions and then seemed to try to find which of the few in-stock bikes they might be able to sell us!) We visited Mike's several times for test-ride sessions, and Barry was exceptionally patient and helpful each time. At one point I asked some stupid trivial question about bike geometries...and on a followup visit, we were pleasantly surprised that Barry had busted out the manuals and done some online research to get more information for us on the subject. Yeah, his job is to sell bikes, but he was truly our ally in the process. Note that while we were shopping off of the "upper rack" at Mike's this time, we also bought my daughter's beginner mountain bike racing bike at Mike's several years ago. That was definitely a lower-end purchase, but Barry took similar interest in helping us with that process as well. Daniel in the shop was also very helpful with the new road race bike's handlebar swap -- my daughter needed narrower bars than the bike's stock set. Daniel took an interest in the bike, was happy to take the time to do the job right, and answered my mechanical and maintenance questions in a very friendly and helpful way. My kid is stoked with the new bike -- it makes its racing debut with a pair of races this weekend, and she's over the moon with the bike's fit and performance. Thanks, Barry! read more

Although Mike's Bikes is a "chain", it is a small and local chain so is really in the category of a really great Local Bike Shop. Their prices are always very competitive, but when they have one of their sales, the prices are amazing. And the Berkeley store is especially good. The people are all knowledge, helpful and friendly. Sam fit me on my Specialized Ruby Pro, made a few changes and eliminated the discomfort I had been having for a year and a half since I got the bike! Thank you, Sam!! Nick and the service department are really great too. Fast, helpful and fair. The Walnut Creek Mike's is closer and more convenient for me, but the Berkeley store is now my Local Bike Shop! read more

Outstanding Customer Service!!! Great Selection. Only problem was they did not carry the specific bike I was looking for ... BUT that's just my problem really for being so darn particular!! Definately recommend this SHOP!!! read more

I visited this side of the bay on my last search for a road bike. A friend of mine loves the Mike's over here and was kind enough to bring me by. I had a great experience with the staff; I guess it was Jonas whom I talked to for the most part. This was towards the end of my bicycle search, so I'd already narrowed down the options. He talked to me very candidly and knowledgeably about the different specs of the bicycles I was considering. This isn't to be taken for granted. In fact, I think it's the only time I've had a bike shop guy talk to me about the considerations of my purchase overall, rather than simply the bikes that shop in particular had to offer. read more

While heading to Mike's Bikes for a new shifter I earned some abrasions after taking a turn too aggressively on Shattuck and Bancroft. I walked to the storefront on University where I was pleasantly greeted on my way to the service department. Kevin asked how he could help and found my derailleur had snapped off my bike frame. I told him this occurred only 5 minutes prior when he noticed my still bleeding arm. Without hesitation, Kevin offered me the first aid kit and the password to the bathroom. After I cleaned up, Kevin accepted my bike and took my contact information. Throughout the entire process I felt supported as a client and cared for as a human being. Thank you Kevin, and thank you Mike's Bikes. read more

Yeah Mike's Bikes is a chain. But they have an above average selection of good quality stuff, not just discount stuff like Performance Bikes. And what I like about this particular store is that all the times I've been here the service has been friendly and helpful. Many months ago I dropped off my bike shades here trying to get a broken arm fixed under warranty. It was passed the warranty period but the guy said he'd try to get it taken care of since MB does good business with the vendor. Unfortunately this was a discontinued model and no interchangeable arm so I was out of luck. But kudos to them for trying. They even apologized and offered me a discount on an updated pair. But most surprising is after over 6 months they still knew where my bike shades were. Finally today I retrieved them. Time to McGivver a fix for 'em. read more

"Dude, you know you have a life time warranty on that frame?" That was the head bike mechanic's comment when I dragged my wounded steed into Mike's Bikes for radical surgery. Over the past 12 years I'd replaced every single piece of my bicycle, affectionately dubbed "The Scraper" by my students, with the exception of the frame. Now the frame had finally broken in two places, and I was here for whatever wisdom the bicycle sages had to offer. "But you have to have the original receipt, dude." "I have it." "Dude, *nobody* has their original receipt." "I do." Happier than a blind priest at a wienie roast, I went home, dug wildly through my files, and found the document. Now, courtesy of Mike's Bikes, I have a brand new bicycle that's actually better than the bike I originally bought oh so many years ago. Over the years, they've always been there to offer advice, the occasional tool, and friendly commentary: when I ran into my ex-girlfriend, her kids, and her grandchildren. After she departed, they asked me if that was a neighbor. I told them who it was, and the three heads behind the service counter wagged in agreement, "Dude, you sooo dodged that bullet." They charged me a nominal fee to swap over a bunch of accessories onto Scraper II and I sailed off again, secure in the knowledge that Mike's Bikes has my back. read more

Nice store, good selection, but terrible management. Salesman very rude to customers. Management inept. In addition, the manager's high-strung little dog is allowed to run freely in the store, putting it at risk of running out to the street and disturbing dogs accompanying customers. read more

5 stars for the Bike Service Staff. 5 stars for how many bikes they built up and for sale at the store. 3 stars for bike store accessories/gear (at bit expensive and lacking). I bought my 2010 Stumpjumper Comp from Fitzgerald and he sold me on the service policy. For $150 you get 5 years of service on your bike. Worth EVERY penny ... that is if you actually ride your bike. After completely mashing on my stumpy over the last three years, my bike is still in TIP TOP shape due to the excellent service staff. I have gone through spokes, 3 chains, 4 brake pads, seals kit for the front suspension, rear cassette, front chain rings and a warranty issue with my rear shock. I always felt I was in good hands when I left my baby with Kevin (the service manager). They will also price match on parts and I always got my bike back when they said it would be done. On Wednesday evenings, they open up their bike stands and their mechanics will assist you with fixing your bike. Dont expect them to be helping you with every move. Also make sure to throw them a beer or two. When your pumping down exposed single track, you want your bike working well. These guys deliver. Ride it like you stole it read more

If you work or live nearby, it is a no brainer to do your bike tuning business at Mike's Bike. I wanted my bike tuned Friday afternoon for an evening ride. I called the morning of and they fit me into their schedule and charged me less that the quoted price. - super convenient to UCB - economical bike tune-up - easy to schedule day of (unlike REI who likes to keep bike for a few days or schedules 1+ week out) - did not try to over sell me parts (REI told me to replace parts last time I was there, I ignored them. Mike's bikes thought the parts still had a lot of wear left 6 months later to boot!) - friendly staff read more

I am the owner of a 1986 Schwinn Prelude, 100% original. I let my house mate borrow my bike, and he unfortunately was run off the road by a car, causing the front rim to twist a bit. I used to work at a bike shop in college and I knew the rim could be fixed with a simple truing. Not having the tools to fix it myself, I was going to take the rim to a bike co-op in town. Not knowing my plans to do a DIY fix, my house mate being the good person that he is, took the rim to get fixed. I don't know why, but he took it to Mike's Bikes. My roommate who is not very knowledgeable about bikes was told by the staff at Mikes Bikes that the rim was unsalvageable and must be replaced. They told him the "repair" would take a day to "fix" and it should be ready to pick up the following day. They took TWO days to replace the FRONT rim of a bike. That I know for a fact it is a 10 minute job max, especially with all brand new components. So after two days my house mate goes to pick up the bike. Rim + tube + tire + labor the total was about $140. My house mate asks for the original rim back, and the staff gives him a dirty look. They informed him they threw it out, and weren't apologetic in the slightest. As he was walking out, back turned to the employees, he could hear them snickering under their breath and one of them says loudly "Did he ask you to hold the rim?" My house mate upset at this point turns around and says "Why would you throw something away that belonged to one of your costumers? Whether it was broken or not?" They were both surprised and stared at him blankly. Since they didn't have an answer, he left, frustrated and $140 poorer. Honestly, Im not too upset they threw away my tire. Im more upset at how they treated my house mate. They definitely abused his lack of knowledge about bikes. And the fact that they were talking about him as he was walking out of their shop. So disrespectful. I just want to throw in there too that the wheel they sold my house mate was a complete rip off. I found the same rim online for half the price. I don't like talking negatively about anyone, but this situation just blows my mind. I try to support local shops. But why would I go to a place that treats their customers so poorly? Next time, Im ordering online. read more

I bought my bike from Mike's about 4 years ago and have been coming back for tune-ups/maintenance ever since (I highly recommend getting their 5-year maintenance plan!). Their tech shop is fantastic and super professional. It's easy to book an appointment and their turnaround is typically the same day. Also -- their customer service is several notches above any of the other bike shops in the area. A quick story: I recently replaced the tires on my bike after several years of wear. I decided to get the "armadillo reinforced" tires which supposed to protect against flats. 3 months later I was frustratingly repairing a flat tire on the side of the road. When I got back home, I noticed there was a really nasty gash right through the tire and the inner-tube was exposed. I brought the bike back to the tech shop and explained what happened. Nick mentioned that I had likely hit a particularly large/sharp piece of glass and no tire can really protect from something like that. However, he still replaced the entire tire -- free of charge -- and said that he would cover it under warranty. I was floored. Totally came in expecting to be forced to buy the same tire I just replaced 3 months ago. Mike's bikes, you have my customer loyalty for the next 4 years and beyond. Thank you for having such a wonderful shop! read more