Broadway Bicycle School

Category:	Bicycle Repair Shop
Address:	351 Broadway, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
Phone:	+1 617-868-3392
Site:	broadwaybicycleschool.com
Rating:	4.3
Working:	8AM–6PM 8AM–6PM 8AM–6PM 8AM–7PM 8AM–6PM 10AM–6PM 12–5PM

Location

Photos 58

Reviews 7

A Private User

I have to admit that I like the concept of Broadway Bicycle School. The idea of being taught to do the repairs while a mechanic is fixing your bike is fantastic. But be careful sure and leave any sense of manhood at home or you will get a heavy dose of disdain from the bull daggers and limp wrists that turn the wrenches; wear pink and/or walk gingerly and you will be fine. The repairs are way over priced and the format for getting service is absolutely ridiculous. You have to make an appointment several days out, even if the racks are empty at the time, AND give a $20 deposit just to get an appointment. THEN you have to bring your bike in a day or two before the service is actually done, and your bike is held hostage for 2-3 or more for a service that only takes a few minutes. The owner is another story. What an unhappy fellow. He looks at all customers with contempt for some strange reason, barks at them like a dog, and does everything in his power to make your experience there a miserable one. Sell the store for God’s sake and crawl in a cubicle somewhere! There are several people that advertise on CL that are willing to come to your house or work out of theirs for better rates and with friendlier service; I was forced to find them after my experiences at Broadway. Good luck.

A Private User

I went in to find a small part that had been lost off my bicycle. I had originally gotten the bicycle from BBS many years ago. When I arrived, I was helped by a friendly (but busy) woman, who went and looked and found no replacement for my bike. No bother, I understand--the bike is over 10 years old. She offered to let me root around in the old parts bin (and even apologized for giving me the wrong parts bin later--rear derailleur instead of front--and grabbed the right bin). However, I had brought my bike in the store front with me, and started to have some troubles running in to stuff. One man--I wont call him a gentleman--suggested that I should have left the bike outside (duh!), unless I was going to have it up on a stand. OK, sure, I understand; that should probably be on a prominent sign somewhere, but whatever. Then he told me that otherwise theyd take a picture of me and ban me from the store permanently! What!?! For disobeying a rule I clearly didnt know about? After that rude of a response (and $2.13 for a bolt, nut, and washer), I might just choose to never come back again anyway. Come on, be real!

A Private User

My most favorite of bike shops. Not only can you have your bike serviced here by a very accommodating and friendly staff, but you can also do your own repairs in a very easy-going atmosphere, and take classes! I came to Broadway Bicycle School seven years ago as a late-blooming cyclist needing a friendly face to help me figure out which bike was best for me. Since then Ive taken their bicycle repair class, encouraged my husband to buy his bike there, and always pick Broadway first for any thing I need: replacing parts, tune-ups, flats, buying a new bike seat, etc. I go back to Broadway Bicycle School again and again because of the people who work there and the imprint they leave on their neighborhood and their customers. Ive been in that shop when neighborhood kids roll in with bikes needing seat adjustments and tires needing air and the staff ushers them in to take care of them as if they were paying customers, fixing whats broken and sending them on their way with no discussion about cost. Its great to support a shop that supports the community like Broadway does. Plus they have great taste in music.

Richard Bondi

Ive been having my bikes repaired and maintained at BBS for almost ten years now. At most other bike shops I always felt like I was being ripped off: prices were high, turnover was high, and customers were treated like inanimate bicycles themselves. At BBS, all the employees seem to be part of the BBS family; its a co-op. Theres nothing flashy, the prices are reasonable, and the service is personal. Nobody will ever try to upsell you or rush you. Theyll take the time to go over all your options with you, and what theyll want is what is best for you and your bike. They arent gear-heads, they arent into the latest cutting edge bike technology, and theyre not trying to sell it to you. They care about bikes, bikes that will last and are affordable, and repairs that will last and are affordable. For them, bicycling isnt a sport and it isnt a business: its a lifestyle, and they are all about helping you to live it well. Its all very Cambridge; if youre looking for a neighborhood bike shop that really is a part of the neighborhood, this is the place.

Hunter Snyder

I took my bike to Broadway Bicycle School to remove a gear shifter, but after doing so, the mechanic failed to securely reattach a small and extremely difficult to find part needed to reattach the shifter to the handlebars. Instead of just claiming responsibility for not fastening the part properly and replacing it with another, the mechanic who worked on the bike declared that I lost the part, and demanded that I go to the shop to rummage through a bin for a replacement. His colleagues also failed to take the professional initiative to reconcile the issue themselves, instead requesting that I contact him, or come on down to the shop to look through old parts bins for a replacement. Is it my responsibility as a customer to rummage through bins looking for a part that a mechanic lost? If an auto mechanic failed to tighten your shifter and it fell off while you were driving, you bet they would claim responsibility, but these folks sure did not. I took my business elsewhere.

A Private User

Ive been to many of the bike shops in the greater boston area at one time or another. Sometimes for a part, sometimes for a repair. Ive found several shops where the staff either wasnt knowledgeable, or they made me feel like an idiot. Ive never had a bad experience at Broadway. They are very knowledgeable, and they have never talked down to me or made me feel stupid. Ive gone there and rented a stand, Ive also bought numerous pieces and parts. I will concede that sometimes they are busy or there are people who come in and expect immediate service no matter what - and during those times, some of the staff can be terse or direct. But never condescending. On top of that, they are cooperatively owned, provide classes, and are more active in the community than most other bike shops.

A Private User

I had a great experience at BBS. I went in during the morning for some advice on a lock and a helmet and the guy I was speaking to advised me to come back later with my bike (rather than try to sell me something instantly that was the wrong size). I check two other bike shops south of the river and the same locks and helmets were at least $2-$8 more expensive, so I went back in the afternoon with my bike and got the gear. The guy serving me was very friendly throughout, and was happy to adjust my saddle at no extra charge. As for the negative experiences below, if someone advises you to get something fixed for safety reasons, and then it doesnt break, is this really so bad? If there is only a 10% chance that a key part will break, thats still a danger and I want to know about it.