Manufacturer, Retailer, Survey and Consumer Feedback - Great Commuter Oriented Shops?

I did a little search and wasn't able to turn up any threads regarding great commuter-oriented bike shops. I'm willing to bet that one must exist (?) but I'm too much of a tech dummy to find it. If a thread exists and someone can point the way, I'd be much obliged.

Otherwise, I'm doing a little research on commuter oriented shops and would be curious if anyone had particular favorites (name names!), why, and where those shops are. Full disclosure: I work for a company that makes bags and I'm trying to find some potential LBS's around the country that would be good partners. I think that I'm within forum guidelines in asking but if not, mods please pull the plug.

I'll share too: My favorite shop in Seattle to cover my commuting needs is Recycled Cycles (I have no affiliation to them). I love new gear and racing bikes but I like simple, cobbled-together commuters so having easy access to used parts is important for me and RC has bins full of old but useable parts (I love digging to find stuff!). They also have the least expensive cables and housing I can find from a LBS in Seattle - I go through a fair amount of this stuff. The staff is suitably well versed in old and new tech and while I do most of my own maintenance, they've done great, on-the-spot work for me on the stuff I won't touch (wheels). They're also close to my house :-)

So, what makes a good commuter shop for you and who do you like?

Rapid Transit Cycleshop (http://www.rapidtransitcycles.com/) is an LBS here in chicago with two locations, one in wicker park the other in university village. they are 100% geared (get it?) toward the commuter/transportation cyclist and have absolutely no interest what-so-ever in selling carbon fiber wonder toys to the racing crowd. i don't think they even stock a single carbon fiber frame. they deal Surly, Torker, Jamis, Kona, & Marin bikes. they also deal Brompton, Tern, and Bike Friday folders and Bacchetta and TerraTrike recumbents.

some folks might find the place a bit too heavy on the hipster scale, but i've always received great service from them, and they are very active in promoting the notion that everyone really should be on a bicycle.

In Phoenix, there is The Slippery Pig, but it also sells road/mtb bikes. In Tempe there is Bicycle Cellar, which is straight-up commuter oriented. I think they only sell Linus bikes in there. Tempe Bike has multiple locations and gears itself to college-aged commuters. There's lost to choose from in there but I find the only people who know what they're talking about is the older guys. The young dudes are kinda narrow-minded and inexperienced.

The Bike Commuter (http://www.pdxbikecommuter.com/) here in Portland is my favorite.

My favorite shop when I lived in Calgary:

http://www.bikebike.ca/

Moved from Commuting.

Thanks, no1mad. There are so many options in the forum that I had no idea that this sub-section even existed!


Moved from Commuting.

Thanks, no1mad. There are so many options in the forum that I had no idea that this sub-section even existed!
Not a problem. I just took a look at your public profile page and saw who you work for- my primary LBS stocks some of your stuff. Matter of fact, the seat wedge that I bought from that shop is one of yours. :)

My favorite shop when I lived in Calgary:

http://www.bikebike.ca/
Seconded! I came into this thread to mention BikeBike, but looks like you beat me to it :)

Awesome! Who's your LBS?


Not a problem. I just took a look at your public profile page and saw who you work for- my primary LBS stocks some of your stuff. Matter of fact, the seat wedge that I bought from that shop is one of yours. :)

...and thanks to everyone who has contributed so far. This is hardly a hi-tech way of going about research but I think that it's meaningful to hear from the forum on this type of stuff. I'll definitely look into the shops that you all have mentioned!

Awesome! Who's your LBS?
Tom's (http://tomsbicycles.com/). He has accounts with QBP and J&B that I know of. The smaller bags (seat wedge) are primarily Detours, while the larger bags are represented mainly by Sunlite, Delta, Topeak, and Banjo Brothers, with an odd Jandd or Detours bag thrown in. That's for the main store; the other store on Cherry Street (15th) is smaller, more of a boutique vibe, and has rather limited display space for bags of any kind.

Cool - I was just curious. I don't think that I've spoken with them yet but I'm sure that I will.


Tom's (http://tomsbicycles.com/). He has accounts with QBP and J&B that I know of. The smaller bags (seat wedge) are primarily Detours, while the larger bags are represented mainly by Sunlite, Delta, Topeak, and Banjo Brothers, with an odd Jandd or Detours bag thrown in. That's for the main store; the other store on Cherry Street (15th) is smaller, more of a boutique vibe, and has rather limited display space for bags of any kind.