I am highly critical of bike shops that charge you for everything. When I first came into La Dolce Velo (LDV) in 2007 it was to tune up a bike I had just bought on Craigslist. I got what at other shops, I was told would be a $75 tune up for $40. I was impressed and also impressed by the owner's (Rob) bike knowledge. I've been riding all my life and used to be a decent home bike mechanic many years ago, so I know when someone knows their stuff. Rob never has tried to upsell me, unless it really was really to my benefit and several times he's steered me away from buying something I didn't need. That was when they were a little hole in the wall on Stevens Creek Blvd. Since that first experience I've been a regular customer. I've bought 3 bikes and three upgrade wheelsets from LDV. I have referred a number of friends to them with over 8 people buying bikes. All said their LDV experience was great! They moved into their new location last May which trippled their floor space. This meant more staff and they had some growing pains until key staff stabilized. I think the poor reviews from Darrick D , Steph and others may have stemmed from a couple people that no longer work there. Today their staff, led by Stephanie is friendly, welcoming, and as knowledgeable as any bike shop floor sales staff. As always Rob and his new head mechanic, Caleb are top notch and they have three other sound mechanics, as well. One thing. These guys want to get a new bike into someone's hands as soon as they buy it. Many times, they have the right size, but it's not yet built. So, they do builds before tuneups on the weekends Hey, if I bought a bike on the weekend I'd want it before the end weekend too!. Urgent and small repairs (blown tires, broken cables, etc. still get done. There's only one other bike shop that I like doing business with (because of a particular mechanic). Their pricing is moderate to pricey, but always great value. La Dolce Velo is the best bike shop I have ever done business with! read more

Friendly service, great bikes, and they help with fitting and making sure you get the bike you need. They also let you test the bikes out in the large parking lot in the back. read more

About a week ago I went in with multiple issues with my road bike. Daniel T was extremely helpful. I had issues with my breaks, tube, tires, and spokes. Within a few minutes he was able to figure out what was wrong and get me fixed up. Let's just say I rode home after my visit. The customer service here can not be beat! Thank you Daniel T! read more

They're the best in the game for mechanical service. They've done small jobs on the spot when they weren't too busy. The mechanics I've met are very friendly and genuinely love bikes. Definitely worth the trip if you're San Jose adjacent. read more

Very knowledgable (they spend the time to discuss needs and provide alternatives to bikes/parts) , honest (pricing, time-to-delivery) and very personable... The shop is small, but that's one of it's charms. Out of the many shops you can choose from for your cycling needs, I would recommend at least dropping by, saying "hi", and ask some questions to see for yourself. Personally, I've had 2 Aegis Victory road bikes built, purchased my wife's Jamis road bike, and trusted the shop with a fixed gear build up and was very satisfied with the results. read more

The guys here are SOOO great. Service is wonderful, and they sold the bike 100 under the msrp. There was really sweet dog walking around, and the staff made sure the bike was a perfect fit. REALLY cool service. The staff is super knowledgable and they seem to genuinely care about your biking experience. I love it!! read more

I went to the bike to shop with a friend, so I could ride a fixie. I am petite woman, so I was skeptical if they had my size. There were 2 bikes. I rode the fuji feather. I liked it because pedaling felt constant, whereas a bike with gears needs help to move. The bike was cute and orange. I prefer used bikes, but maybe in the future I will get a fixie. The guy who helped us out was nice. read more

Took my bike in to get some repairs I though it would take a couple days because they are so busy but they knocked in a couple hours! Super stoked about that now I can ride with no worries, and there super friendly and helpful sucks I couldn't go inside to check out the store but once this blows over I'll be going in and checking it out to get a couple more things, this is the bike store to go to read more

This store is one of the premier bicycle shops in San Jose. Their service and experience is uncanny. I went in a few weeks ago to get two of my vintage bianchi's tuned up and needless to say, they did a great job. If you are seriously into cycling and want nothing but the best come to this place. They are great mechanics, with great equipment and parts, as well as unparalleled customer service. In fact, the only reason I give them four out of five stars is because everything here is very expensive. As a consumer I believe it is important that you take this into account. That being said, "you are getting what you paid for", in other words, this place is good at what they do and that is a fact. read more

Fantastic bike shop, Rob, Jacquie and Charlie are great, I don't know where I would be without them. I hang out at the store a bit now, but all events in the review were when I was an infrequent customer. I walked into La Dolce Velo for the first time when I noticed it riding my bike on Stevens Creek. I was doing some wheel building at the time and wanted to know about ordering a set of spokes. Most stores think that is a funny question and quote triple what a set would normally cost. Rob didn't even blink and gave me a good price quote. Then I knew this store was different. I am a big guy, 6'4" 210lbs and for the longest time I have always ripped spokes off of wheels. The sound of a spoke popping was a common and frustrating experience. Because I use my bike to commute I needed a more reliable set of wheels. I came into the store and asked Rob if he had something that would fit the bill. I also reminded him that I was a student on a budget. He recommended the set of wheels (in my budget) that I ride on to this day. When one of the spokes broke on the front wheel (the only spoke to break on the set) I brought it in. He had to order a new spoke because it was not in stock, but while it was in route, he gave me a loaner wheel so I could keep on riding. To date that wheel set has been as sturdy, reliable and light as I needed it to be. It even survived a collision with a car at speed. When I had a collision with a car, my bike got pretty well destroyed. My frame and fork became wall art and I needed replacements. I went to Rob and he gave me plenty of new options and their individual pros and cons. With that information I ended up with a bike that satisfies my needs far better than my previous ride. It was built from the ground up and it fits like a glove. I am an odd size, but there was no problem getting me fitted. I have also bought good accessories there, a rear rack with detachable bag and some lights. If you know what you want or you know what you're going to be doing with it, Rob will let you know what is out there that fits your needs and get it for you. This shop really goes the extra mile for their customers. I have yet to go to a shop just like it. read more

Really cool, totally awesome place. The staff is helpful and friendly, and the atmosphere is fun. I bought a cruiser here, and the salesman was really nice. A lady even came in who had a cruiser that they were holding for her and letting her make payments. Its obvious this place really cares about their customers. I highly recommend! read more

Pretty much the same experience as the other Living Social reviewer. I have always gone to Tread Bike shop in Campbell and been very pleased. But I recently moved much closer to La Dolce Velo so when I saw the living social deal I thought, hey I'll give these guys a try. Wow what a bad experience. Upon me mentioning my living social coupon they seemed very annoyed about the whole living social deal and told me multiple times how much money they were losing, how many problems it has caused their shop, and how most the bikes brought in are total junk. I brought my bike (an upper end carbon road bike) in on a Wednesday afternoon and mention that I really want to join a group ride on Saturday so I'd like to pick it up Friday evening. He says that should be doable but with all the junk they are working on from the living social deal they are really backed up. Understandable. The guys says i am close to needing a new chain so I splurge for a $60 chain and figure that may help me get on their good side and have the bike done by Friday. I call Friday afternoon to confirm it is ready and the laughs at me and says, "you just dropped this off it won't be ready until Sunday." I told him I had a group ride on Saturday and that I had asked to please have it ready by close of Friday. He says they are all booked and can't get to it before Sunday. So Monday I pick it up and the rear derailleur actually shifts worse than before I took it in. I have to agree with the workers, the living social deal was bad for them. It caused them to act like a totally incompetent bike shop and lose multiple potential customers. Sounds like a lost opportunity for the shop. read more

Good service and great prices. I needed parts for my Campy 10 speed and they had the right parts for the fraction of the price found online

It's easy to give good customer service when nothing goes wrong, but businesses really distinguish themselves when things don't go as planned. This occurred about a half year ago, so it is far less angry than it would have been originally. The situation: I was looking for a road bike for under $1000 and wandered into the shop. Rob went over all my options with me, giving me a list of bikes to review. Awesome, great. I went home and did more research and thinking online. I made the decision to put a ~$500 deposit down on a prior year's model because the price was right. Rob did say that they would have to order this from the distributor, but that the bike should be in in a week. Two weeks later, I call the shop as I had not heard from them yet. Rob said, actually, the model I wanted was no longer available. I went back in the store and looked around, but I didn't want a different model, or to pay more for the current year's model. I called Rob back to let him know and to get my deposit back. At this point, he wanted to charge me $25 because of the credit card surcharges associated with refunding me the deposit. I let him know that I was not comfortable with the fee because he hadn't let me know this was a possibility upfront. I could have given him a cash or check, and I had fully intended to purchase the bike I had ordered. We finally settled on splitting the charges, $12.50 each, but I have to say that for the sake of $12.50, he lost a potential customer which is definitely not the way to run a business. Not only will I never purchase a bicycle from him, or take mine in to get serviced, but even if my bike breaks down right in front of the store I will probably go out of my way to purchase parts or service from a different shop. read more

Dangerous business practices!!! TL;DR: Replaced my tire, offered to install it, Didnt readjust the spacers on my back brakes, causing me to nearly careen into the first intersection i came across. Took my bike in for a rear tire re-true, They trued it in a few minutes and sent me on my way, a week later a spoke snapped and my tire went out of true again. So i brought it back in and the mechanic reccomended i replace the wheel. Sure, its an old wheel, thats fine. So they showed me a few of the cheaper wheels and i decided on one, Purchased it and they offered to replace it for me, it would only take 5-10 minutes. After the replacement was done, i paid and rolled off, Stoked for my new tire. about half a mile away a light turned red on me, As i went to stop, my brake didnt work at all. luckily i quickly just used my front one and leaned back quite a bit to avoid flipping. Had i not been more experienced, or not kept my calm i could have easily flown right into the middle of a busy intersection. I made it home safely and noticed they hadnt flipped my brake spacers for the new wheel. His blatant disregard for customers saftey left a very poor taste in my mouth. Between the inflated prices, the rude staff, and the potentially dangerous mechanics, i would reccomend staying far away from this place. . read more

I live fairly close to this bike shop. I called to ask for a shimano ultegra chain, and I was told they didn't have one. The person on the phone then told me that shimano chains are the worst chains on the market, and that customers are always coming in with "blown up" shimano chains. I called with a question and not for opinions. Was that their justification for not carrying shimano chains? A few weeks later I send my friend there to pick up patches. They give her those sticky patches and tell her they are much better than the patches with vulcanizing glue. She patched her tire and ten minutes later, the patch gave and the tire deflated. Don't lie to your customers. Will take my business elsewhere, these clowns apparently can afford to offer poor service in this economy. read more

Had a carbon fiber rim blow up on me during a ride so I decided to visit this shop after reading the good reviews. I believe the name of the guy who helped me was Quincy. He's easy to spot as he is probably 7 feet tall. He was super nice and helpful. I wasn't expecting anything to get done the same day but they hooked me up with a great deal on a new wheelset and got it installed on my bike right then and there. I was expecting a lengthly order process then having to wait some time to get an appointment. I was pleasantly surprised to get fixed up so quickly and back out on the road. Thanks guys! read more

I won a helmet from Dolce Velo in my company's wellness auction. We went in this afternoon to get the helmet and received terrible service. We stood at the check out counter for 5 minutes to ask about the gift certificate. When no one asked if they could help us, we decided to go ahead and look at the helmets. After finding the helmet that matched the description on the gift certificate we went back to the checkout counter and were ignored by the attendant who talked to another customer then after finishing with him, left and went to the back. Finally I went to the back and asked for someone to help me only for the man to fumble around in the computer and then tell me he had no record of our gift certificate. I will never go back in after our experience. There's a lot of other great bike shops in town don't waste your time here. read more

I was COMPLETELY unsatisfied by these people. I had a thorn-resistant tube installed on a Saturday that went bust by Wednesday. When I brought it in, the repairmen discussed the need to "be careful when installing tubes" right in front of me. The representative that I spoke to freely admitted that it was probably a poor installation that caused the flat. They then charged me 18$ for a new tube and installation. When I asked if they were really going to charge me again, they informed me that they would fix it for free if it happened again. I guess third time is a charm there. Take your business elsewhere. read more

I have to agree with the reviews saying that their customer service is not very good. I had a problem and it wasn't resolved in a timely or friendly way. I will agree with the reviewer that says that Rob is like the mechanic on Sinefield though. He and His Wife are really nice people. I was kind of shocked when what happened to me did. I go someplace now. read more

this place is really cool. despite it being more of a road bike store (road bikes outnumber mountain bikes 8:1) and road bike stuff, i still come here for minor things that are too far to drive to buy, such as certain types of chain lubes, which are all competitively priced. there's a lot of high-end product here too. high-end bikes both road and mountain. bike repairs are competitively priced as well and have good, informative mechanics. no complaints from me. read more

I brought my bike in to be repaired on a Sunday shortly after they opened and were understaffed. They were able to fix my bike within 30 minutes. The staff were friendly, helpful, and very efficient. I had a great experience and will definitely be returning when I'm in the market for a new bike (or another repair :). read more

I just purchased a Bianchi Metropoli Uno and my husband bought a Bianchi the week before at La Dolce Velo because the customer service was superb and so was the selection. Stephanie was extremely helpful, courteous, professional and above all, knowledgeable. She helped me find the best bike to fit my budget, riding needs and size. It didn't matter how silly my questions were, she was patient in answering all my concerns. What impressed me about Stephanie was that in the midst of helping me out , she made sure she greeted/acknowledged every new customer that came in. At one point, she must have been assisting 3 customers, yet I felt like I got primo service. I would recommend La Dolce Velo and Stephanie to anyone looking to start riding or upgrading. I will definitely buy my next bike here. read more

At 5'0" I'm a petite woman. So, it was a challenge to find a bike in the right size. I went to 10 bike shops. Several never acknowledged me. Two said I could take a ride, but made no adjustments for a more comfortable ride. Three made an informed recommendation and made seat adjustments, but the bikes didn't quite fit. One tried to sell me an expensive bike that had nothing to do with my requirements. Oh, and it didn't fit either. The products at 2 other places were just not good quality. And these were shops with the higher Yelp ratings. Then I went to La Dolce Velo. I explained how I planned to use the bike. Abe picked out a red Nordco. He put the bike up on a stand, had me pedal, and made adjustments not just to the seat, but to the stem height on the handlebars. He made sure my ankle-knee-hip were in alignment, that the reach from seat to handlebars was correct, and that I was comfortable! This took 25 minutes before I even went out the door! From the first minute, the bike fit me perfectly and I had a wonderful ride. Throughout the fitting and after my test ride, everyone in the store - Martin and Rob particularly - were supportive, informative and friendly. They were genuinely happy that I'd found a good match. Because of my frustrating experiences elsewhere, Abe could have sold me a much more expensive bike ($1500-2500). But he put me in a relatively modestly priced bike ($500) which was exactly what I needed to start riding again after 10 years of not riding. When I ordered my bike, I requested an upgraded set of Shimano components ($240). There was no pressure from anyone at the store to upgrade or buy anything else. They estimated it would take 2 weeks to order and assemble the bike. It was ready 5 days early! I came in and was fitted again by Abe. On that visit, I tried on helmets but couldn't find the perfect fit. So Rob the owner ordered a Lazar Blade without any obligation. The store called a few days later to say the helmet had arrived. It did fit very well. And because I'd recently purchased a bike, accessories were 15% off. It's now been 10 days and I've ridden my bike every day. With joy! Start to finish it has been a great experience. read more

I love this place and I hate that I have to give it 4 stars. The staff is knowledgable and friendly and they have everything you need for your bike and more. Plus, they are right near my house, so it's very convenient. I had to take away one star because of a few issues I've had with their repair/tune-up service. Once I had my flat tire changed and they put my rear tire back on too loose. Then, when I had a tune-up, they put the tire on too loose again (and in free wheel vs. the fixed gear it was in before). Sadly, after my tune-up, I rode before I realized and the loose tired made a few of my chain links break. When I went back they replaced them for free, but, seeing as I had a lime green chain, I was slightly disappointed that I had to get them replaced with gold links. However, I now call the few gold links on the chain the "gold tooth" of my bike, so it's a conversation starter. I will continue to support this shop and allow them to work on my bike, however, I will be cautious to check my bike before I ride off. read more

I went in a few days ago with my daughter just to kill time and a lady approached me if I needed help. Since I was on my phone I politely said not yet. Once I got off the phone I started to ask her a few questions and pretty gave me a run down on the type s of road bikes they carry. I was surprised that I wasn't recommended or steer to a certain type of brand. Basically it all depended on your needs and how much you wanted to spend. Very knowledgeable. Still not sure if Im ready to drop 3k on a road bike yet. Will see read more

Found La Dolce Velo through a friend and I'm glad I did. I was looking for a pair of bike shoes for my weekend riding. I called up the shop asking about what kind of shoes they carry and if they have any in my size. They gave all the information i asked for and i did my part of reseach online on the shoes they gave over phone. After i decided on the type of shoes, i went to the store. They were about to close that day and i was greeted by this nice lady who was taking care of closing the shop. I asked for shoes and she advised to talk me to Nyk. Nyk was super helpful in answering all my questions and took the time to explain everything about shoes. For less than $50 i got an awesome pair of shoes. I wore my shoes this weekend and they were amazing. If i need anything else for my ride or bike i wouldn't hesitate to try out La Dolce Velo. read more

They don't sell you bikes- they help you choose and decide on one that suits and fits you. Shopping for the right bike is an experience, and here you won't see pushy salesmen, only folks who know and love bikes. Everyone at the store is extremely customer friendly. I purchased my first Bianchi bike from the shop, and unfortunately it was totaled in an accident. A month later, I was in the market once again for a new bike. Without doubt, I got my second Bianchi, again from the same store. read more

So I needed a BJ real BAD!! NNNOOOO a brake job....dirty minded yelpers!! They had the lowest quote....I can't be precise for this but lets say $40/ front and rear. Get there to p/u the finished product. Excellent job, not residual oil anywhere. Went to pay, and they said $50. I was taken back by this as the est. was for less. So I paid....then walked halfway out, and thought wait...."He" did say 40 over the phone. I went back, explained this, and his explanation was that the $5/per brake of disposal fee for the old mineral oil. AHHH makes sense, but he said he feels bad and doesn't want to be dishonest by not explaining this with the original quote....Gave me $10 back!! That's customer service. And that is why I will cont. to patronize them!! read more

This place is awesome! When I took my bikes in for the first time in January I did not expect that I would be treated so well or find such a good gem of a store. The staff is great, very knowledgeable, and prompt. Recently, I was hit on my bike and hobbled the bike in, they were incredibly helpful and were able to check it over and make the needed adjustments so it could be road again safely. They are a great group of folks! read more

This place is great for fixing your bike,they are not expensive and they always fixed my bike a couple of times for less than $20.

Bought a Bianchi C2C from them and have been very happy. They were very helpful and informative about every aspect of the bike and biking. My next bike will be from them. read more

It's true, I probably spent about five dollars more on my 45 dollar purchase at La Dolce Velo by not buying my new tires online, but these folks let me assemble my everything right there on their floor giving me pointers and watching over my shoulder. I didn't just buy new tires, I bought professional advice and lifelong biking know-how that I get to keep forever. These people know and love bikes and they have a very unpretentious approach that helps you learn and understand the sport better. Go here to buy, to shop idly among their incredible two-wheeled zoo or pick the brains of the knowledgeable and friendly staff. This place is as much a destination and community center as a shop. read more

Wow! I cannot say enough good things about La Dolce Velo, the staff, and Rob the owner. I brought my bike in for service after having recently gone to a sporting goods store for a sub-par and overpriced tune up. Rob not only gave me top notch service, but he patiently showed me what he was doing and why. This is absolutely now my LBS. Pretty excited.... read more

Very nice bike shop in 1 of my most favorite areas to go shopping (or to just spend the afternoon). I was really sad when Andy's Pet Shop closed before this shop opened up. But I think cute bike shop fits in this community quite well. They had a lot of very nice Bianchi bikes... Especially in my favorite color: mint. I was so tempted to buy myself a new bike because of their wonderful selection. Sometimes, it's a bit of a wait to get someone to help you at the cash register because they're always helping customers on the floor. I don't know if that is a good thing or bad, but when I want to leave, I want to get checked out right away. I think I waited 6mins before someone helped me. They do have a great return policy: "If you don't like it, bring it back!" I think that's simple enough to remember... =) read more

This bike shop is the best! In fact, it feels more like a community center that happens to sell bikes and cycling gear! It is a welcoming shop with equipment and support for new and experienced cyclists alike! In addition to having a great selection, they organize rides, host clinics, and really contribute to the community! I always come here instead of buying things online-shop where you ride!! read more

Needed a spoke for my wheel ASAP. I was greeted by friendly employees and the mechanic immediately went to work fixing it. Got a new spoke, trued wheel, and freehub service for $25. Excellent. Its about time San Jose had a decent LBS. read more

The guys at La Dolce Velo are super friendly and extremely helpful. I wish I had purchased my bike from them but I didn't realize they were so close to me. Lesson learn. Next time I will go there for anything and everything bike-related. read more

I was looking for a road bike and I went to 6 shops in the south bay area and this is the best in terms of customer service. Rob took the time to listen to me and made me try 3 different bikes with 3 different frames (aluminium, carbon and steel) in my $1000 price range. I liked a particular saddle and he was patient enough to swap saddles and see which bike I liked. He did not overwhelm me with information on cranks, derailleurs, gear shifters because he understood that I was new at this and all that info didn't really matter to me. In the end I went for a 54 cm steel frame 'Olmo' with Shimano ultegra crankset, shimano 105 derailleurs. read more

I got a flat on my way to work this morning which really sucks and made those last 3 miles a pain. Somehow I was able to get myself to the dolce velo to get a new rear tube. I was greeted with a nice hello, and Renee helped me with a new tube. Since I'm relatively new to riding, he showed me a few tricks and how to change the tube with ease. He even went ahead and regreased my saddle post and lubed my chain without me even thinking of it. I went ahead and got a set of levers and a patch kit, and Renee showed me how to use those as well. I will be coming back here for all my cycling needs for sure. A+ service from these guys. read more