10 SoCal Bike Shops Every Cyclist Should Know

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Simplicity and reliability are the guiding principles of Linus, a French-inspired company that traffics in utilitarian bikes that are also easy on the eyes. The people at Linus understand that they are making bikes for people of all levels of ability. After all, a simple, reliable bike can appeal to a competitive racer or the guy who just rides his bike to work. This inclusive aspect of the corporate culture has been ingrained into staff at all levels of the company. Online reviews like this one from Justin W. are par for the course:

“This is my first bike (as an adult) and I was a little nervous going into Linus. I figured that since I'm such a novice, I’d be treated differently or not given any attention since I’m not a part of the ‘biker’ community. Once I arrived, I was shocked and so grateful that the staff was more than willing to spend the time with me that I needed to choose the appropriate bike AND answer every single ‘stupid question’ I had.”

No matter what your skill level is, if you are looking to make a solid investment in a good bike, then the staff at Linus will take all of the time needed to help you figure out the best way for you to ride out of the store in simplistic style.

Rolling Cowboys wants to get you on the road, even if you don’t have much in the way of gas money. The one-stop-shop for bikes, parts, and service is on a mission to provide “champagne taste on a beer budget.” One of the ways they do this is by providing 90-day layaway options for the struggling cyclist. Their commitment to your “beer budget” doesn’t stop there. Yelper Charlotte M. reports, “The guys here aren’t going to give you BS. Fixed many of my friends’ bikes for almost half the price of other shops. The guys are friendly and so on it:).” Jerkey J. added, “The prices are all on a giant chalkboard clear as day and, with parts and labor, he charged me $23. After reviewing other websites, it seemed like I was going to be paying at least $50-plus! Further, there is some retail but it’s definitely not what he's in business for and I really liked that.”

Not only does Rolling Cowboys have the best bike shop name ever, it sounds like they have some of the best bike service as well.

Since opening in 2006, Orange 20 Bikes has quickly become a community favorite. The shop has won a number of awards, including Best Bike Shop from LA Weekly. Founders Jim C. and TJ Flexer are two former Bicycle Kitchen volunteers and avid cyclists; their vision for Orange 20 was to create a shop that would “encourage and empower” cyclists of all levels of ability. In less than a decade on the job, they have done that and more.

Orange 20 caters to cyclists of all types, paying special attention to those cyclists often ignored in the larger retail market. According to the website, they service “commuters, messengers, BMX street riders, flatlanders, cargo haulers, touring bikes, and most importantly, the new urban cyclist." At Orange 20, they pride themselves on being able to handle any and all repairs on even the most obscure bikes. If you think that your bike is out of the ordinary and it’s time for a tune-up, then the team at Orange 20 would relish the opportunity to help get you back on the road.

This Orange County mountain bike shop has become something of a Mecca among serious bikers. Bicycling.com named The Path among the best bike shops in the country. So how does a bike shop an hour outside of L.A. gain this kind of notoriety? The staff includes some of the most experienced, passionate riders in the game, and the workers share their love for cycling with everyone who walks through the door. The Path is proud of its staff, and a look at the staff web page shows you why. Every employee can tell you all about his or her favorite bikes, trails, and style for riding. If you want to try to ride with these big dogs, then check out The Path’s blog for details on the races and rides of the team.

Customers love Eric, ITSA Bike Shop’s gregarious owner. The Yelp reviews of the shop are just as much about Eric’s warm dedication to his work as they are about the shop itself. After some experience working for a large corporate bike shop, Eric realized that local, personal service was the way to go. He opened ITSA in the same community where he went to elementary school and set about building a shop that would reflect his values.

Dana F. was one of a number of customers to talk about Eric on Yelp. She wrote, “When I arrived at the shop, Eric stopped what he was doing to personally greet me. I had talked to him on the phone prior to stopping in to discuss what I was looking for. Eric remembered our conversation and showed me a couple of the bikes we spoke about.”

Jorge Sosa, a.k.a. “El Maestro,” is a veteran of the bike game. Before opening the first El Maestro Bike shop in the Pico-Union area, he spent years in his native El Salvador working on bikes before immigrating to the U.S. His first shop has fallen victim to gentrification, but his second shop in Downtown L.A. has continued to flourish. Sosa has found a home in Downtown L.A. and has worked to raise cycling’s profile in the community. El Maestro proudly supports a variety of events and initiatives aimed at promoting cyclists’ rights and awareness.

Customers report that El Maestro’s dedication to the community is evident in all aspects of their business. From the free air available at the front door to the customer-friendly pricing, El Maestro’s love of cycling and community shows through in his store. As Yelper Hillary C. put it, “Overall, some of the best service I've EVER had in L.A. and for reasonable prices too. Awesome.”

It probably won’t surprise you to hear that one of the country’s most beloved mountain bike shops is located in San Luis Obispo. The hilly coastal terrain around the most beautiful stretch of the PCH is some of the most breathtaking in the country. Over the past three decades, Art’s has established itself as a premiere destination for high-end road and mountain biking needs. If you don’t have time to brave the heinous traffic en route to Big Sur, you can get a piece of the Art’s experience online. Not only does the Cyclery offer an extensive online store, but its web-based learning center is the next best thing for those who can’t seek out the expertise of an Art’s employee in person.

As Jack W. put it, “Every sales person I have worked with has been super knowledgeable and helpful, everyone that works there is a rider and that passion shows. Their customer service is above and beyond better then any of the shops in this area!”

The Bicycle Kitchen in East Hollywood is a totally different kind of bike shop. In fact, it isn’t technically a bike shop at all. You can’t buy anything at the Bicycle Kitchen, but you can get your bike fixed. The Bicycle Kitchen is an educational organization staffed by volunteers who take the old “if you give a man a fish” adage and apply it to bicycles. For a suggested donation of seven dollars an hour, you get the space, tools, and assistance you need to start fixing your bike on your own. If you’re looking to build a bike on your own, they will be happy to price a “project” for you with a suggested donation.

No matter your price range, no matter your experience level, you can expect amazing customer service from Ye Olde Bicycle Shoppe in San Diego. Despite the sea of bikes that are crammed into the small storefront, customers report a personal touch regardless of their needs. Some customers tell stories of cheap, carefully executed repairs. Other patrons were left in awe by the sales people who tirelessly answered every one of their questions. No matter what a customer needs, Ye Olde Bicycle Shoppe seems to know how to provide it with a smile.

Seth L., a guy who sounds just as broke as you, had this to say about Ye Olde Bicycle Shoppe: “If you're young and broke and need quality work done at rock bottom prices, Ye Olde is the place for you. Tune-ups are easily half the price of anybody else in San Diego, and the price isn't reflected in the speed or quality of the work. This is a great shop staffed with great and extremely helpful people who really try to make your experience the best it can be.”

An environmentally conscious fixed-gear bike shop might sound like a hipster bashing punch line, but Pure Fix Cycles is no joke. The mission of Pure Fix is simple: selling high-quality fixies direct from the manufacturer to you. Pure Fix’s goal is to make the sales process as efficient as possible. When the company was founded in 2010, it wanted to figure out a way to bring fixed-gear bikes to the marketplace at a far lower price point than the exorbitant going rate. As the fixed-gear trend took off, the founders wanted to take a boutique product into the mainstream price range. Four years in, they have done just that and managed to make some elegant-looking bikes in the process. 

In addition to their dedication to a streamlined process, the Pure Fix Team finds time to design cause-themed bikes that help raise money for relevant charities. This combination of business savvy and civic commitment has landed them pieces in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and TechCrunch. If you make the trek to their Burbank shop, odds are you’ll find yourself adding your name to their long list of admirers.