Seattle has four of the best bike shops in the country, according to the 2014 list from the National Bicycle Dealers Association. Bike Works, Gregg’s Cycle, The Bicycle Repair Shop and Montlake Bicycle Shop all made the list, which is based in part on the experience of a “mystery shopper” and part on the shop’s service to the community.
Classic Cycle on Bainbridge Island also made the list. For a list of other Washington and west coast bike shops on the list, see this post by Biking Bis.
More details on the program (and a well-deserved victory lap) from Bike Works:
Bike Works Seattle has been named one of America’s Best Bike Shops for 2014 by the National Bicycle Dealers Association.
There are approximately 4,000 bike shops in the United States, and fewer than 300 were chosen to be named “America’s Best.”
The shops were asked to fill out a detailed application describing what sets them apart from the average store. Mystery shoppers then evaluated the business in more detail by visiting the store, reviewing their website, and contacting the shop by phone to assess the performance from a consumer’s perspective.
During the application process, Bike Works stood out by utilizing their full-service bike shop as an earned-income source for their youth and community bike programming. But the Bike Works shop also scored high in “operational excellence,” getting the most out of a relatively small space to provide a high level of customer service, sell refurbished used bikes, and provide a high volume of affordable repair services.
The Best Bike Shops program is designed to help consumers find great stores in their areas that will provide the expertise and professionalism they need to get the most benefit from cycling.
The recipients of the America’s Best Bike Shops title not only offer great shopping experiences, but are also rated on their support for their communities, as well as support for bicycle advocacy both locally and nationally.
Response to the new program was positive from the start; especially from smaller shops that are not normally recognized. One store owner wrote: “Exciting stuff! Now maybe smaller shops like ours will have a chance at being recognized.” At the same time, the larger retailers agreed and stated “we do what we need to do to be at the top. This can only help the entire industry.”
Comments
3 responses to “Bike Works one of 4 Seattle shops among ‘America’s best bike shops’”
WOW! Congratulations, Bike Works! You most certainly deserve this national recognition! Go Bike Works! (I am jumping up and down with delight while reading this from Pittsburgh at the ProWalk ProBike Conference).
I do my own labor on my bike collection, but I visit various bike shops including Bike Works for one reason or another. Bike Works has second hand parts and sometimes I buy them. I like Re Cycled Cycles in the U district better and I spend a lot more there and in their Fremont shop. I also go to Sprockets, Aaron’s Bike Shop and Performance Bike and occassionally Gregg’s. I will say those are my favorites in Seattle although I don’t spend a lot now that I am retired. The others don’t seem to get me in the door. Well, REI gets me once a year to pick up my STP packet. Than I spend about $30 or $40 there.
Hooray for bike works. They do so much more than being a bike shop such as training the next generation of mechanics, builders and designers. I like Montlake but our go to shops are Counterbalance in the U District, Free range in Fremont and also Cascade Bike Works. Mostly Counterbalance are our guys.
Greg’s? Greg’s? I would never go to Greg’s. I’ve seen them do some monstrous bike fits perhaps to get a bike off the floor. Once I went there looking for a helmet. as I tried it on the sales person instructed me in all seriousness that the strap should be completely loose, not touching me because “that is how everyone wears it.”
A close friend does medical bike fit and has seen people put on bikes by Greg’s that should be grounds for malpractice.