Who is the Best Bike Mechanic?
Who do you feel is the best bike mechanic out there? We all love our bikes, right….so when it comes time to get them serviced we don’t trust just anyone to do the job. Some of you out there are knowledgable enough to do your own repairs, but for most cyclists we need to rely on the expertise of others. But who is the best mechanic out there and what constitutes a great mechanic anyway?
What makes a good bike mechanic?
- Honesty – Being able to admit when something isnt right. Being able to ask for help. Being able to tell the customer the truth about their bike and the service the shop is providing.
- Humility – Again, knowing when to be able to admit fault and being able to ask questions.
- Attention to Detail – It takes twice as long to go back and fix bad work, or mistakes, as it does to take an extra couple mins to do it right the first time.
- Sense of Humor – Sometimes things dont go right, and you just have to laugh at why.
- Cleanliness of mechanic and shop
- Specialization in the kind of riding you do
- Highly recommended mechanics by others how are similar to you
Okay, so we’ve told you what to look for in a bike mechanic….but which ones out there are so incredible that they just have to be mentioned as expert mechanics?
We want you to leave your comments below letting us know who your favorite bike mechanic is and what makes them so dang good. We hope to hear from all of you…from around the world so that we know who the best mechanics are out there no matter where we happen to find ourselves riding.
To get things started, we’ve included a few bike mechanics/shops who have been recognized as the best in their city through reader’s poll and voting.
Chicago, IL – Marcus Moore
Chicago bike mechanic, Marcus Moore from Yojimbo’s Garage is a former bike messenger, founder of a local amateur racing team called XXX, and Yojimbo’s owner. People say “he’s an undeniably great wrench with a laser focus on customer needs, but what really makes him special is his willingness to do anything to help a fellow cyclist—even if that means recommending another shop when he’s fully booked.”
Toronto, ON – Bike Sauce
According to the readers polls in Toronto, Ontario the best bicycle mechanics are found at Bike Sauce. “This is a place where you can fix your bicycle using our tools and recycled or new parts. If you dont know how to fix it, our volunteers will be there to help you. It is also be a social space where you can come and meet with your neighbours and figure out how to improve our city.”
New York, NY – KT Higgins
KT Higgins from the Velo Brooklyn Bushwick Bike Shop is a female bike mechanic who is considered the best in New York. “When it comes to the three R’s of bicycle maintenance—repair, replace, rebuild—KT Higgins is your woman. She’ll take on any steed (fixed gear, single speed, racing bikes, mountain bikes, custom builds, you name it). She always finds time to educate riders, often lending out tools and hosting free upkeep classes in her Bushwick locale.”San Francisco, CA – Box Dog Bikes
Box Dog Bikes is considered the bike shop of choice for their great mechanics. “Box Dog is a shop for those who love bikes and ride them for fun, competition, transportation, and adventure. We cater to everyday cyclists: commuters, couriers, racers, hobbyists, collectors, and enthusiasts.”Austin, TX – The Peddler and Bicycle Sport Shop
Here in Austin, Texas the 2011 Chronicle Readers Poll had a tie for the best local bike mechanic. The Peddler Bike Shop and Bicycle Sport Shop are both considered the best places to find a great mechanic in my town. The Chronicle says, “this is the 23rd time Bicycle Sport Shop has taken home a “Best of Austin,” so obviously it knows how to repair two-wheeled conveyances while keeping their two-legged companions happy. Newer kid on the podium, the Peddler (it got the nod in ’09), might be dwarfed by the local chain, but it keeps Duval spinning with familiar faces and the knowledgeable brains behind them. What the two businesses have in common is a commitment to the cycling community with sponsored rides, events, and all-around bike goodness.”
Good job! Thank you for sharing this blog.
I wish KT was a little closer to Maine!! Or any of these guys!! I have been working to learn a lot of stuff myself because I live over an hour from the closest bike shop…so it is tough for me to get things done sometimes – so I am teaching myself little by little.
Kingsbury’s Cyclery, Elmira NY
Carrboro/chapel Hill NC: best bike mechanic is Victor Jimenez
KT Higgins rules……best mechanic out there.
She sure has a lot of fans out there. You’re lucky to have her in your city.
Look for the beard. If the mechanic has a beard then they’re the one you want.
We should have included that bit of information in the post….I’ve heard from a few people today that the beard is a good sign. Thanks Shep.
The best shop in New Jersey has got to be Krank Cycles.
I live in Austin and the guys at Mellow Johnny’s have always been good to me.
Well here in Waco Texas we have only one bike shop, Bicycles Outback. The owner, Ian Moore, is one heck of a mechanic and all around good guy. He is a humble guy, always ready to help and has run after hours maintenance clinics for new riders. He is active in the cycling community as a member of the Waco Bicycle Club, race sponsor and ride organizer. Even if we had five shops in town Ian and his staff would be the ones I would have work on my bike.
Thanks Bob, if I ever make it over there I’ll have to check Ian’s place out.
I think I have the best bike mechanic. He lives down the road from my house and loves bikes almost as much as Loving the Bike. He has an bike garage in his basement and works out of it on a full time basis. As a matter of fact, I am heading over there later today for new brakes.
A good neighbor mechanic is definitely the best…..lucky you.
and The Peddler is freaking awesome
The best bike mechanic is yourself. The bicycle is a simple machine that anybody can learn to fix and maintain. Anybody.
And volunteering at a place like Yellow Bike like you do, sure does help you learn, right? Thanks Tim.