anbu

Hi, I did check yelp for some good reviewed local bicycle shops. But is there a favorite among the forum members here in the east bay. Around san pablo/berkeley/oakland/alameda area.

Thanks in advance. I am looking to purchase my first road bike.

genesplitter

I like Rivendell - Lugged Steel Bicycles, Wool Clothing, Leather Saddles & Canvas Bike Bags from Rivendell Bicycle Works

Mike's Bikes by UC Berkeley campus is also popular.

4151zero

Mikes in Berkeley +1, and several shops in/around the Alameda and Castro Valley area are very helpful, if not the 'cheapest'

Go Ride bikes (redwood city) is already marking down 2014 bikes, full featured ones with 11 speed Ultegra groups... so you your money will go further there! They typically are 40-50% off list.

bikingshearer 

If you are willing to go a little further afield, Livermore Cyclery (go to the one in Livermore, not the one in Dublin) has a phenomenal amount of stock on hand, knowledgeable staff, and a great owner (Steve Howard) who knows his stuff and is very friendly. I've known Steve for more than 40 years, and I can't enough good things about the store he has built up from scratch. I think it is the best shop in the Greater Bay Area, and not because Steve is a friend.

A little closer is Dublin Cyclery. Good people, good service. They will take good care of you.

Closer to you, I have had good experiences with Missing Link (Berkeley) and Sharp's (Lafayette). Stone's (Alameda) has an old-time feel and one of the long-time fixtures in the sport in owner Dennis Stone. The Pedaler in El Sobrante has done right be me over the years.

Any one of these shops will do you right. There are other shops that Forum members have praised, but these are the ones I can recommend based on personal experience.

verktyg 

What kind of bike are you looking for?

For classic steel frames:

Stone Cyclery in Alameda - Waterford, Gunnar and Bob Jackson frames, custom built bikes, classic used bikes. No pressure.

Bicycle Odyssey in Sausalito good mix of old and new. Knowledgeable with pleasant attitudes.

Cycle City in Alameda is pretty good for more modern bikes. Good attitudes.

Robinson Wheel Works in San Leandro - new and old. Chris was a team mechanic in Europe and the US so he's very knowledgeable.

I've dealt with all of these shops and I'm pretty fussy about service. I ran a pro bike shop in the 70s so I look for service, attitude and selection.

I have little patience with wanna-be not there yet CAT 1 "raceurs" with serious attitude problems!

"I don't cotton fools well"

verktyg

Chas.

jeremybrooks

I have been going to Pursuit Bicycles in Albany lately. Great guys, no attitude. Their stock is limited, but they are happy to order anything you want.

gpelpel

Wrench Science in Berkeley for fancy and exotic. Check their website: Wrench Science: Custom Bicycle Builder Online - Road, Mountain, Cyclocross, Track Parts, they have a great fit calculator.

Otherwise +1 for Mike's (Berkeley and Walnut Creek) and Sharp (Lafayette). You also have Pegasus Bicycle Works (Danville).

verktyg 

I thought Pegasus Bicycle Works in Danville went out of business but it looks like they moved. Good attitude people there.

Also California Pedlar in Danville. They have a wide variety of bikes plus a nice collection of classic bikes from 70s and 80s on display. Nice people.

verktyg

Chas.

Roadrash3

Livermore cyclery is my place to go. Fast great service, best pricing and great shop. I would not go anywhere else. Although i do to look around then buy from Livermore cycler.

c0lnago

I love WrenchScience...great group of guys there as well.

verktyg 

Not in the East Bay but 2 shops in SF that are worth visiting:

American Cyclery and Citizen Chain

verktyg

Chas.

FrenchFit 

Coincidentally, I had reason to run a test today which included driving by Livermore Cyclery (Livermore), Mike's Bikes (Pleasanton) and Dublin Cyclery (Dublin). I was fitting nuts to track axles, with what seemed like an odd thread pitch.

Livermore Cyclery: got it right, but had only one of the two needed parts I needed in stock.
Mike's Bikes: waste of time, though I got to watch the mech put together a $300 pink cruiser bike
Dublin Cyclery: got it right, and had the other part on hand.

In sum: Take your pink cruiser to Mike's Bikes (Pleasanton).

Roadrash3

You are right on mikes bikes waste of time. The only way i can describe them is very corporate feeling. No discounts, no bargaining on anything. Then they try to sell you some 150 dollar maintenance plan to adjust your stuff when it breaks in. Sorry most local LBS shops do this for free. Service sucks, price sucks. Only thing they have going for them is clean store

fmt_biker

2nd Dublin Cyclery. Very friendly and a nice place to take somebody who needs starter bike; as they carry a pretty good selection of tuned up 90's bikes for very fair prices.

SkyeC

Montano Velo in Oakland. Very small on-hand selection but the owner is a great guy and will get you what works for your needs. I've been going there for several years. Road, track, cross, touring...

Cycle Sports in Oakland... I tend to go there when Montano is closed. I've bought everything from a complete bike (CAAD9 MUSA back in the day) to small parts. They've always been incredibly friendly no matter a tube or a wheelset purchase.

King Kog in Oakland; buddy works there from time to time as a mechanic. Nice mix of new/used. Road, track, cross bikes.

Mike's Bikes in Berkeley. I never really went there for advice about anything, bought a Raleigh RX2.0 cross bike (sale...) a few months ago and some S Works road shoes years earlier. Always treated me well. Probably your best bet for a large selection of built bikes to tool around on. They've never pushed any kind of sales or service plans at me but then again I tend to just say "no" and move on.

spdntrxi

I go to Mike's Bikes in pleasanton all the time (it's close)... I'm never pressured and the service ppl are good. Yes the store is very clean.. The guy who does the fittings is knowledgable as well. Very much a Spesch and Wilier store.