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.