Bike shop recommendation
 

Good afternoon. I've been biking for decades. First it was road, the last 10+ before moving to Florida was primarily mountain. Wherever I've lived, I found a bike shop to work with. Mainly repair and significant parts replacements. I like my bikes to work as well as they can be made to, and am happy to spend whatever it takes to get to that outcome.

I have always found bike shop employees to be very engaging and enthusiastic towards the customers. In essence, I've always been made to feel like the bike shop wants me to be their customer.

Until now.

Visited the bike shop in Brownwood. They could barely be bothered to show interest and seemed to be put out by the service I needed. No engagement or attempt at connection.

Biking is a community. The shop is a huge part of that. What I experienced was the opposite of community.

Questions. Is that consistent with others experience with this shop or is my experience not the norm? Any recommendations of a shop or person that performs first rate repair and maintenance?

Thanks

It’s a shame, Villages Cycles was a good full service shop when they were located in Spanish Springs. Ever since they relocated to Brownwood they transformed into a sales first operation, with service taking a low priority back seat.

I highly recommend Trek Bicycle on US301 in Wildwood (just north of FL44). Although they were bought out by Trek a couple of years ago, many of the same personnel are still there and I find them knowledgeable and very customer oriented. I not longer put long distances on my bike and take it in on an annual basis for maintenance, but have always been very pleased.

Might have been an “off day” for whomever you spoke with. I’ve been there twice and have always had good service.

I agree. Spanish Springs operation was great; Brownwood's is a disaster.

The Village Cycles in Brownwood in my experience is a very good bike store. The hard working owners are involved in all the day to day operations and they have a very good service department. I bought a new bike there 4 years ago and have always had excellent service. I also have used the Trek store in Wildwood. They offer good service as well and I bought a bike there 6 years ago. Another excellent bike store is in Clearwater. Members of the various bike clubs, where riders ride thousands of miles a year, patronize all the stores mentioned. Sometimes a store has a different service person and that might affect a particular repair, but serious bicyclists in the Villages use all three of these stores. When snowbirds return to the Villages these bike stores can get extremely busy. I always have my bikes serviced in July but then I am here all year.

I've taken mine to Top Gear in Ocala. It is right past Santos Trail. The guy is youngish, pleasant and reasonable.

I felt like they left those of us up this end high and dry. I called several times and got no answer and no response to my messages. Top Gear did a great job for me and was reasonable.

This explains it all. https://youtu.be/lJxxph5pQEg?si=crkqze_wyG89ea3K

I'm into mountain biking as well. There's a good bike shop up at Santos Trailhead.

Santos is great as well along with Top Gear.

I suggest The Bike Doctor on 466 across from Walmart. Mike is a great guy and will take care of your bike.

This is a great video. Thanks for sharing.

Another vote for Trek Bicycles on US-301 in Wildwood. We have had excellent experiences with them, both in the sales and service functions. Small shop vibe, with a big company backbone.

Trek Bikes in Wildwood.

Santos bike shop is a friendly, cool place and I've also had great experiences at the Trek store on 301 in Wildwood. The Trek store in Inverness next to the bike trail has been excellent as well.

You'll be surprised how much trail riding is here in Florida!

Joe

I still can't get past the fact that I can't ride my bicycle to the nearest bicycle shop within a half hour, and not risk imminent death by riding on a major 6-lane state or county highway. We had THREE bike shops where I came from, and one was just eight blocks away. I could get there by driving through the parking lots of a few mini strip-malls, and never have to ride on State Road 5, where the bike shop was located.

Now, I have to take the front wheel off, put it in my car, drive 40 minutes to Brownwood, then get it back into the car, and re-assemble the front wheel when I get home. Not an easy task. Back home, if I had a flat rear tire, I could even walk it that 7 blocks. Not an option here.

We definitely need a LOCAL bike shop on the north end of The Villages. Even if it was up closer to Stonegate, it'd be better than what this part of Lady Lake and Summerfield have to deal with.

It sounds like you’ve received a lot of good feedback. I’ll add, there is a bike shop on 466 across from the Walmart. I haven’t used them but I hear good things. We use Crank Works/Brick City Bicycles in Ocala, right off the square in the historic downtown. Have been satisfied.

I have had good luck with the bike shop in Wildwood. Its now called the Trek Bicycle Shop. I am not sure if they changed ownership or what as I have not needed to go in there for 2 years. But I had a similar experience as you in Brownwood and won't go back.

Great video and thanks for the link. Where can I find this guy?!

Been working on my own bikes since I was very young, not much to taking care of a bicycle! Now that you can order parts on line a view videos on line also.

Over 9000 posts and you’re at this point looking for bike shops? What’s the backstory here? I seems like you are not new to TV.

Joe

This thread is timely for me. I will drop off my Giant Fastroad hybrid bike in Brownwood this afternoon, for an appointment for a tune-up and replacement of both tires. I talked to a tech last week, who was knowledgeable and friendly, and I made the appointment with confidence. I'm surprised to hear that people had bad experiences. I'll get my bike back at close of business and Thursday and will report back on my experience.

Yes, agree! Best shop around, great, fast service and friendly staff. Highly recommend.

The Bike Docter (that's how he spells it) on 466. Mike is great!
Curt

For a mountain bike especially, I'd prefer to have someone with training and experience handle fork and shock issues. Where I also have gotten great value is when I've looked to upgrade components. Their experience with the different components is worth whatever it costs. And I'd rather they install/setup whatever it is.

Sparky’s Green Rides.

I take pride in being self sufficient and have stripped bikes down to the frame and rebuild them one component at a time. Then I got old and purchased an e bike with all kinds of technology that’s not in my wheelhouse. The bike is tricked out with a mid drive motor, a belt drive, an electronically controlled internal hub gear system, tires with built in flat protection, an on board computer system, and all sorts of other stuff that isn’t found on a traditional bike. I love riding the new bike, but I feel somewhat dependent on a good bike shop to keep the thing in tip top running condition. Ergggg!

No, I'm not looking for bike shops. Did you read what I posted?

You show up at their busiest month and expect immediate service along with every other entitled snowbird? The bike shop in Brownwood and the Trek one in Wildwood are great bike shops. I’ve bought bikes from both and have received nothing but good advice and service. My friends that didn’t even buy their bikes from them have also received great service.

Even in The Villages bicycling is seasonal. New people want to get a bike to enjoy the weather and the returning people who should have had their bikes serviced before they left now want them fixed immediately. It’s like going to a gym in January.

Bike shop in Brownwood when Covid broke out
 

Before vaccines were available and Covid was killing people by the thousands, most business owners wore masks, as did their customers. When I asked the bike shop employee in Brownwood why nobody on staff was wearing a mask, he replied that they did not "believe in them." I asked if he would wear a mask while waiting on me. "No," he replied. Haven't been back since. Trek in Wildwood is great.

I reread it, I think you lost me. I thought this was a question about "where can I find a good bike shop". I probably need you to spell it out for me but if you're not looking for a bike shop, what are you looking for?

Joe

I'm not looking for anything. I'm not the original poster. The original poster was looking for a bike shop. I know where all the ones are, that are within an hour of the Historic section of the Villages. I was expressing annoyance that none of them are in SAFE bicycle-riding reasonable distance from home.

There used to be one in Spanish Springs plaza, where I brought it for a tune-up. They moved to Brownwood and distanced themselves out of my options. There are no others near me.

Ah that's it, I was confused, thought you were the OP. And I agree, you'd think there would be a shop within riding distance of the northern villages. We just consider it "normal" in the southern villages to have to drive a zillion miles for anything LOL.

Joe

Especially since this part of the community is along the Ocala Forest, where there are family neighborhoods and OTHER communities, where there are lots of people who like to ride their bicycles.

We had the same experience there.

Yes...ownership of that shop changed a couple of years ago. They used to be David's World Cycle, and they had several locations in Florida. They were (and are) a big Trek and Electra dealer, and all of their locations were purchased by Trek Bicycles. We have dealt with that shop under both ownerships, and have had nothing but great experiences.

I have always found The Villages Bike store to be great.
Efficient & easy to work with.

Definitely go to Pedego and speak to Andy at 5806 Seven Mile Drive, #106, The Villages (Trailwinds Plaza). He's my neighbor and the nicest and most helpful guy!