Big Wheel Bikes

Category:	Bicycle Rental Service
Address:	3119 Lee Hwy, Arlington, VA 22201, USA
Phone:	+1 703-522-1110
Site:	bigwheelbikes.com
Rating:	3.6
Working:	10AM–7PM 10AM–7PM 10AM–7PM 10AM–7PM 10AM–7PM 10AM–6PM 10AM–6PM

Location

Photos 23

Reviews 4

A Private User

OK. So, the true test of a LBS is their service. Last week I was in a total bind. I had a race coming up in a few short days and I had an accident and my front wheel was shot. They did not have my rim in stock there, and obviously ordering it with express shipping would have killed me. I had no time to get it into another LBS. So the guys in the shop took a wheel of one of their "dead" bikes (it was a $3K Griffen - not some piece of cr@p) that would work with my bike and sold it to me for a few bucks over what I could buy it for online if I had bought it as part of a pair (I did the research afterwards) and had me out the door. Why did they do that? They remembered me when I came in and bought the bike many months ago - along with another bike for my wife. To add to this story, many weeks before this, I had a flat right off the Custis Trail right above their shop. It was dusk and I walked the bike down to their shop. They were closed. But the saw me while packing up their stuff and opened back up. They proceeded to take 30 minutes to get me fixed up and did not charge me a penny. Yes, the owner can be a bit tough, but that is his job. He is running a business. But he has great guys running the shop. I have been in that shop when its very busy and these guys do their best to help you out. And let me say, some of the folks who go in there are a bit rude and demanding. This is not a paid post. I was not put up to this. My wife and I live up the street and just felt that these guys needed the shout out. Normally people dont take the time to write a note when they are happy - only when they are ticked off. Give these guys a chance. They have bought my loyalty ( and a 12 pack of Corona that I delivered to them after saving my a@@).

A Private User

15 or so years ago I bought a mountain bike from the Bethesda location. Got a great price and service and still have and ride the bike. After a few moves around the country my wife and I ended up back in the area. Sadly, her bike -- an Electra Townie limited edition cruiser -- was stolen from our parking garage back in Aug. Turns out that the exact model was impossible to replace -- they no longer make them -- and the new version is virtually impossible to come across on the East Coast. Enter Big Wheel Bikes. Remembering my experience with them all that time ago I gave a call on my wifes birthday to see if they could help me replace the stolen bike. They didnt have the new version in stock and told me it would be a couple of months before they could get one (not b/c of them, the company simply didnt have more to ship). But the owner generously offered to lend her a bike to use while we waited. When we dropped by the shop to pick up the loaner we were floored when they pulled not some older rental bike out of the back, but a brand new Electra (different model from what we wanted) off the showroom and gave it to her. That was two months ago and her bike finally arrived. When she picked it up they not only had it assembled and adjusted perfectly, they were kind enough to mount a few accessories (rack, panniers, etc.) for her even though we hadnt purchased them there. One of the staff even spotted her wrestling it onto the bike rack on our truck as he was getting ready to leave work and went over to lend a hand. Theres a reason they have managed to stay in business for as long as they have; their prices are good, the service is great and they go above and beyond in trying to make their customers happy.

Matthew Merrill

Looks like others have had bad experiences here, well not me. I have been to this location on only three occasions. I often use a mix of big box stores and smaller shops and chains. I think I have a decent sample size for NoVa. After one shop (not named here, but in Reston) told me my 2 month old bike needed a new front wheel and that it was not worth rebuilding, I rode 18 miles on the sketchy wheel to Big Wheel Bikes in Arlington (at the end of my commute). Service here is not really "with a smile", but they are also not pushy when it comes to sales either. In 20 minutes my wheel was rebuilt by an informative and courteous, but smile-less, mechanic. He told me the wheel was now in good shape and has proven it by the hundreds of issue-free miles i have put on the bike. These guys saved me a good bit of money and gave me a significant(!) discount on the wheel build. I am a man of limited means, but I felt so bad getting so much for so little I had to buy some basic lube and degreaser just to keep my conscience at peace. I have had two average and one great experience at this shop. Clearly, others may disagree. They may not make you feel warm and fuzzy here, but the mechanic I saw was great. Thanks for getting me back on the road with considerable savings BWB. And BTW, my bike is not fancy, I dont know all the lingo, and I have never purchased a bike at this location. I cant see any reason for my good treatment other than being a customer.

Bill Kelley

The store owner gave the hard sell on a step through frame bike for my 11 yo daughter, even though they didnt have the right size and color in stock. I was very clear that she was a new rider and needed a bike asap to keep practicing but that I travel during the week for work and dont really have the ability to deal with custom orders, problems etc. I was ready and able to go to revolution or spokes to find the right bike ready to be ridden then. He promised the right bike would be there the following Wed and gave a us loaner. Bike was not there as promised and they took the loaner back. I then had to go back again another sat and the bike was ordered in the wrong color - 11 yo girls dont love charcoal grey and Im trying to get her to love biking. Bike was to be ordered again in right color and I would be called when ready. Another loaner provided. no call ever came. i called again and found out a fire in the store caused the new bike to be taken off site and stored somewhere. Now over a month later, still no bike. They are trying to track it down. Maybe Monday or Tuesday, when I will conveniently be out of town for work. I had to suggest that at this point - perhaps they should be delivering it to me at my convenience or else refund my money asap so I can start over elsewhere. Store manager seems great. Owner is a jerk and not to be trusted.