- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Coffee & Tea |
- All
Bike Pirates
Category: Shopping Sporting Goods Bikes Bikes [Edit]
1292 Bloor St WToronto, ON M6H
Neighbourhoods: Brockton Village, Bloordale Village, Wallace Emerson
- Hours:
Mon-Tue 5 pm - 9 pm
Thu, Sat 12 pm - 7 pm
Sun 12 pm - 6 pm
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
9 reviews for Bike Pirates
9 reviews in English
-
Review from Joey S.
Toronto, ON
4/16/2012 4 Check-ins Here
Bike Pirates is a Do It Yourself collective of cyclists, in the Lansdowne and Bloor St. West area. It is a totally volunteer-run organization. I've rebuilt and repaired a couple of bikes here. I am giving it five-stars because I have had nothing but great experiences here, and I've learned quite a bit about repairing my bike. This place is not for someone who wants a comprehensive course on bike repair, or a place that just fixes your bike, without you doing anything.
The gear for doing maintenance here is in good shape, and quite comprehensive. I have some knowledge of bike maintenance, and when I do not know how to do something, almost always there is someone there that can knowledgeably answer your questions. -
Review from Sahara A.
East York, ON
3/23/2012
I visited this place around this time last year to grab me a solid, female friendly commuter bike. I came in, and they guided me downstairs to pick out something to start with. The bike I got had quite a bit of rust (everywhere), a busted seat, gears missing, and muddy wheels. I didn't see anything special but the girl helping me sure did. Here, I should point out that you really gotta come to this place with the mindset that you'll be working on this bike... just you. You can ask others for help, and they will, but they expect you to be doing the majority of the work, which is cool! I cleaned my baby up, oiled her, got her a new bell, new brakes and bar handles. It's really cool to say I put her together when I take her out and people ask. The only thing that set me off was the price for such a banged up bike (especially because I worked on her... with my own effort). It came to about $130... for a rusted, busted up donated bike. I figured it was mostly for the new brakes. It's cool though, I had a good time. I should also point out I went in on one of the "girl only" days, and I'm really glad that I did. The environment didn't intimidate me as much as it could have!
I wouldn't skip this place if you like working on your bike with a community. -
Review from Nora C.
9/1/2011
If you go in the afternoon you may have to wait.
But luckily I am a female and went on Woman& Trans only sunday.
Its a good group of folks who are always doing things.
They have shows there, and I went on a group ride/ picnic that started from there.
This is what a bike co-op should be.
community!! -
Review from Alex K.
4/20/2011
Amazing do-it-yourself bike repair shop. I was at this venue for the 2nd time yesterday, and I must say that this place is WAY better than another do-it-yourself bike repair shop that's closer to my work.
The volunteers are always ready to help (and in fact walking around making sure everyone knows what they're doing). My favourite policy they have there is "Don't guess, ask someone."
They have new parts as well as used ones for the repairs you need to have done on your bike, so you're always covered. They also have all the tools you'd need to use to repair your bike with.
The "women/trans" day they have on Sundays isn't an issue for me as they're making it easier for people to be at ease when it comes to being judged, so I understand that. It's not like one of those "women's only" gyms where it's for women only 24/7; it's only 1 out of the 5 days they're open, so I'm all for that.
All-in-all, an amazing place that I'd definitely recommend to anyone when it comes to repairing your bike or even doing a minor tune-up. They also have affordable used bikes that they've put back in working order, so if you're on a budget, this place is definitely for you as well. -
Review from Christine H.
Toronto, ON
2/24/2012
The staff here are fantastic - can sure you exactly how to fix and install anything on your bike for free (make a donation though, the place deserves out.) Cheap bikes and parts for sale too. Love this place.
-
Review from Tara Z.
10/14/2010
This place is brilliant--the staff are helpful and patient and they definitely know their stuff. I went in planning to do a few small repairs that I didn't have the tools to do at home (tighten my brake cables, replace my brake pads), and ended up learning how to true my wheels and replace my brake cable altogether.
It's not really a bike shop, so don't go there expecting it to be--they don't have a regular stock of bikes for sale and they don't seem to carry accessories like bike helmets and bells. They do have a supply of parts, though, both used and new (used parts are pay-what-you-can, while new parts have set prices), and of course, all the tools you could possibly need to fix your bike. -
Review from Valentina A.
Toronto, ON
8/25/2011
This is a great place to do work on your bike yourself. Not only do you save money compared with paying a mechanic at a bike shop or buying the tools yourself, but you get a real sense of empowerment from learning how bikes work and being able to repair them (or even build one) yourself. Especially for people like me who spend all day in front of the computer, it's a great way to get dirty and actually make something with your hands.
In my experience the volunteers are generally knowledgeable and helpful, if at times brusque. Get there a couple minutes before opening times if you want to be sure to get a bike stand, otherwise you may need to get on the waiting list. -
Review from Amanda C.
Toronto, ON
3/8/2010
Last year, I rode my vintage bike all summer but didn't learn much about bike maintenance - then my trusty steed's chain broke last fall and I didn't bother fixing it before I put it away for the winter. Now, with daylight extending past work hours and the layers being shed, I was eager to get back on my ride.
I headed to Bike Pirates yesterday, as I wanted to actually learn how to give my bike a little TLC. The volunteers were wonderful - Andy met me at the door and helped me load my bike onto a rack, then directed me as the best way to start fixing up my jalopy. This is a community bike space, so there are tools and parts available for everyone to use. Everything is clearly labeled and any time I had questions, all of the volunteers were eager to help me out.
My bike's issues were a little more extensive than I'd originally thought, and I ended up learning about the mechanisms of my bike and how to adjust the back wheel. Any time that I had any questions, there was someone experienced there to help me out - Lisa and Andy gave me great advice, and made me feel totally capable of handling my repairs myself. Two hours later, with some greasy nails, I pedaled my way home with a great sense of satisfaction and gratitude for the awesome crew.
This place has used and new parts available - I bought a new bike chain for $10 - and the spaces operates on donations, which I was more than happy to give. The vibe was friendly and fun - someone cooked a vegan lunch around 5 and everyone (not just the volunteers) was invited to join.
I'm sorry to hear the original reviewer felt discriminated against when he stopped by to pick up an item on Women and Trans-Only day. I researched their site beforehand and was encouraged by the fact they had a day set aside - I think the intention is to make the space feel safe and welcoming to everyone, and those groups can feel intimidated by traditional bike culture. I know I was certainly more inclined to go because it was a W&T Only day, and I saw a sign out front advertising the designation and asking people to respect it. Bike Pirates is open another 4 days of the week when all are welcome. -
Review from oh b.
Toronto, ON
7/3/2011
i wish i could give this place a better review, since all i've heard about from friends were positive experiences. mine was not. i think it really depends on the person helping you, and how busy the space is.
i initially went in to tune up the brakes on my bike - the cable housings had somehow broken in some spots, and it was near impossible to come to a complete stop using brakes alone. after asking the guy helping me how to go about fixing it, he squeezed the levers to show me that my brakes did indeed work, failing to realize that there is a difference between the bike being stationary and the brakes appearing to work, and then having the bike in motion with a load applied to the system. when i asked if the broken housing was a problem, he didn't answer and asked if i had anything else to fix. i mentioned that sometimes my derailleur shifted the chain off the gears entirely, and he told me that was impossible. he then suggested that i oil some parts of my bike - so all i ended up doing was lubing some parts of my bike, and none of the major problems that i had come in to fix were addressed. the oiling required some disassembly, and when i asked him if he could show me the correct way to put everything back, he snapped, 'well, i'm not going to do it for you.' at that point, i could see it was going nowhere, thanked him for his 'help' and left.
i'd be very hesitant to go back, unless there was a specific tool i wanted to use. however, looking around, it did seem like other people were having better experiences than i.
