Bikespiration – Bike Shops: Palo Alto Bicycles

A fun thing to do, unless, of course, you feel the need to bring your bike in for a service of some kind, is to explore bike shops. Taking your bike in for service is usually not fun. But going in for a walkthrough very much can be. Over the years, I’ve been to lots of bike shops across the United States.

That said, going forward, I’m going to attempt to talk about some of these shops in subsequent posts, most likely the ones cyclists consider the best. However, I’ll probably add in ones I’ve personally visited. The first shop (and one of the best I’ve been to) is Palo Alto Bicycles in Palo Alto, CA.

What Makes Palo Alto Bicycles Unique?

Based on the few visits I made to Palo Alto Bicycles while I lived in the Bay Area, I would consider them a fairly high-end shop. They sell every kind of bike a consumer might want. They even opened a new shop/ showroom just for E-Bikes that’s not far from their main location. That definitely makes them a unique player in the cycling marketplace.

Since this blog is mainly concerned with road cycling, Palo Alto Bicycles is primarily a big Trek dealer with some other brands thrown into the mix, namely BMC, Specialized, Surly, and others. Additionally, they are a full sales and service shop, so any part you need or items like apparel, helmets, etc. can also be had. As much as I can recall, they have a wide and deep selection to choose from.

Services Offered By Palo Alto Bicycles

At Palo Alto Bicycles, you will encounter some of the best mechanics and technicians in the industry. That’s why they are always very busy. It’s rare (or unheard of) for the mechanics there to take a walk-in, so just keep that in mind if you want your bike serviced.

That said, the fact that Palo Alto Bicycles has been servicing bikes for over a century shows. The mechanics/ technicians are highly educated about bikes. In fact, the shop is “certified” to perform work in the following areas.

• Shimano Service Center
• Campagnolo Pro Shop
• SRAM Service Center
• Bosch Certified Service Center
• Budnitz Certified Service Center

It’s no wonder Palo Alto Bicycles has consistently been rated as one of the best bike shops in the United States by Bicycling magazine. They even hand-build their own wheels in-house. So, if you go there with the thought you might save some money on service, I would say think again.

Just to get your bike ready for an event will run you $65.00. If you want something more extensive done to your bike, a basic tune-up, for instance, will run $145 and an Overhaul for $350. Here is their full-service menu, which is where you can also schedule your service online.

Palo Alto Bicycles Shop Rides

I have some personal bias here because I did live in the area for many years. But the Bay Area has some of the best cycling you’ll ever experience. And that’s not to mention that the amount of places where you can ride there seems almost endless with excellent California weather and scenery to go with it. Short of riding in Europe, it can’t be beaten.

Shop rides are great because most of the other riders who choose to participate are probably somewhat close to your skill level and friendly, although this is not always the case. Unfortunately, there will always be those cyclists who like to treat every ride like a race. However, don’t let that discourage you.

Palo Alto Bicycles offers 5 great rides that vary in distance from 27 miles to a whopping 66 miles. As always, get out and have a great workout but, by all means, have immense amounts of fun. The rides are Kings Mountain Road, Los Altos Hills Tour, Coast Loop, Big Coast Loop, and Old La Honda. On the shop website under Local Rides, maps, turn-by-turn directions, and a couple pictures are included with each ride description.

Last Thoughts

If you’re looking for a bike shop that can answer all your needs as a cyclist, then Palo Alto Bicycle is the place you should go. You will find a great selection of bikes, high-end service, and a place to learn about cycling in the Bay Area.

Palo Alto Bicycles is an hour south of San Francisco in the town of Palo Alto. The shop’s address is 171 University Ave with their hours listed on their website as Tuesday – Saturday: 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., Sunday: 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., and closed on Mondays.