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Bikes On Wheels
Category: Shopping Sporting Goods Bikes Bikes [Edit]
309 Augusta AveToronto, ON M5T 2M2
Neighbourhood: Kensington Market
(416) 966-2453
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11 am - 7 pm
Sat 10 am - 6 pm
Sun 12 pm - 5 pm
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
14 reviews for Bikes On Wheels
14 reviews in English
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Review from Sahra G.
Updated - 9/16/2011
Read some other reviews where they said the staff were snotty coz they had crappy bikes or whatever... almost can't believe that.
Went in coz my beater of a bike was in need of repair, mechanic fixed it on the spot, when I asked how much I owed he said "Don't worry about it"
These guys are nice, awesome, friendly and not snotty. Best bike shop in town.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/11/2010
Stellar staff, very helpful and I dont know anything about bikes except how to ride one (without… Read more »
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Review from Evelyn W.
11/9/2011
I can't give them only one star, because I bought my darling Clementine there in 2006. She is a marvelous bright orange one-speed. (Hi Clementine!)
When I bought her she was only $200, my lock cost more. Now the same bike sells for over $600 there. They saw the hipster value of the old school bikes, and then hiked the prices up waaaay too much. Uncool.
But here's my big beef:
Last year I ordered a new seat and helmet from them, I gave them both of my phone numbers. They never phoned. The items just NEVER came in. So I re-ordered them, and again, they never came in.
The worst.
Mo game: Around this store you can't tell if a teeny stache is hipster or Movember. It's a fun game to play. Hips-or-Mo? -
Review from Marie F.
7/2/2011 2 Check-ins Here
They probably want to rename themselves to douche on wheels!
I actually really liked the selection at this bike store but the staff here is ridiculous. I went in on three separate occasions and each time I practically had to drag the self-important staff away from their cash area powwow to get questions answered.
Not once was I approached by someone while browsing, or offered to take a test drive. Of all the bike shops I went to they had by far the worst customer service.
When you sell $400-$2000 merchandise you might want to be a bit more attentive.Listed in: Ramblings of a Bike Mercenary
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Review from Bartek C.
York, ON
7/9/2011
I was a bit conflicted about Bikes on Wheels before today, but I think I can give them a 4/5 rating, at the most.
One of the biggest factors for a bike shop is the customer service. Your bike gets you around, it's a way to spend time exploring the city with your friends, or kids on the weekend. You want it to work.
So far my service with Bikes on Wheels has been mostly good, with some snob factor thrown in. First, the good part is that they hire some very informed and intelligent cyclists who will most definitely be able to not only fix your bike at a low cost, but also answer any questions you may have about maintenance.
Thus far, all service I've actually had done on my bike has been great. Brakes, wheel alignments, regular maintenance.
However, I've had to deal with some ridiculously rude and snobby employees as well. Ones who I would attempt to ask questions, they would answer as quickly as possible, and then turn around to talk to their friend before I had to nudge them again for an additional question. These guys let off a smug factor that was out of this world. Thankfully, I now know which ones to avoid.
The pricing at Bikes on Wheels is pretty good, but you may find better deals on locks, bells, etc else where. However, the prices on service are pretty great and very comparable to most other shops.
Either way, I would have given Bikes on Wheels a 3/5, but my experience today when I brought my bike in for a wheel alignment was enjoyable and very informative and pushed this rating to a 4. So dear employee, if you're reading this and remember my name, good job and thanks! -
Review from Patrick M.
Toronto, ON
4/12/2011
Best bike staff in town. Incredibly knowledgeable, friendly, talkative, and helpful, with their expertise being offered in a neophyte-friendly manner.
I came to BoW last spring looking for a durable utility bike that could double as a light trail rider. After an hour or so talking bikes with a couple staff members, I was sold on an entry level commuter that, I was assured, boasted parts comparable with mid-level bikes at much, much higher price points.
I went home to read reviews and was pleased to see these guys were not at all trying to sell me a line. Damned fine bike, and they tossed in all my peripherals at close to cost.
Out of curiosity, I priced out what I got compared to a couple other larger bike outfits in town and I really think I might have committed a crime.
They obviously care about customer retention more than single sale, and they've definitely scored a repeat customer in me. -
Review from Amy P.
Toronto, ON
8/31/2011
I'm no bike snob, and I love this shop. I've always been treated very well here by the staff, and they have an amazing selection of bikes and bike accessories/seats/helmets/trailers....you name it. Prices range from moderate to pricey.
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Review from Renata R.
7/11/2010
Probably they will give you lots of attention if you're very pretty and look rich and look pro.
I'm neither. I went there with my crappy bike and asked for something very difficult: a bike for someone 4'10", how much it would cost. The guy was not even close to interested in talking to me and we have the following disappointing dialogue:
"we don't do custom builds"
"Ok, but do you have something my size?"
"Maybe. I do have a 13" framed here."
"May I see it?"
"Yes"
It was probably not a 13" framed because it was too big. I have a 14" framed one and it fits. He was leaving and I asked for juniors bikes.
"Yeah, we have one"
"So...? "
"Ok, let's see it"
I thought it was a very nice bike, but I really didn't like the guy, so I left the store and the bike. If I want to buy a new nice bike, I'm not going there. -
Review from Shawn K.
Toronto, ON
6/18/2011
I had been saving up for a bike for quite some time. I finally decided to buy my bike at the Kensington location. On top of the shitty service and being sold shitty products you can ask for 'Liam', he will help add insult to financial injury.
I was made to feel like a fool for spending my hard-earned money. The jackass even rolled his eyes and said "you can afford this bike". Take my advice, buy your bike elsewhere. Somewhere where your questions will be answered and you won't be made to feel like an idiot if you don't know about the latest in bikes. -
Review from Aaron B.
9/25/2010
I'm a huge bike fanatic, so whenever I see a bike shop in my travels around town I like to stop and check it out. That's how I came upon Bikes on Wheels. I always have a list of parts and accessories that I'm looking to get but can't find...and I didn't find a single one of them here. Not even a simple frameset to build up. They don't do that sort of thing.
But it's a nice store and comparable to any of the other "real" bike shops around town like Urbane Cyclist or the Cycle Shoppe in terms of selection and prices. Different stuff, but the same level of products and services. I talked to the owner here and he knew his stuff so could probably do a good job matching a person who wanted to get more serious about cycling to a good bike. For me it was more a matter of, "yeah, that stuff is awesome, but we don't carry it". But nobody in Toronto does so I don't hold this against them.
So if you're in Toronto then this is a good shop, but on the grander scale of bike shops I've been to it's about average. -
Review from Rachel L.
Toronto, ON
10/6/2009
I am one of those people who loves! my bicycle but when it comes to fixing it, I am pretty helpless and am willing to pay lots of money to have someone else do it for me. Granted, I have a 1960s vintage cruiser and I don't really want anyone fiddling with its bicycle parts if they don't know what they're doing (which clearly includes me), so I normally go the three blocks to Bikes on Wheels.
While abroad for the summer, my friend informed me that I had a broken wheel and he was unable to find anyone in all of Toronto who could do anything about it and I was, well, devastated. I plucked up some determination to get it fixed and went straight to BoW, where they said after two minutes that not only did they have a wheel for my peculiar measurement of a wheel but it'd be ready in four days and the wheel only cost $28. Hurray!
In addition to speedy and professional service*, they always remember me (or my bike), they have a lot of fun bike things that you probably don't need if you can't even fix your own bike, and the boys that work there are nice and cute.
It can be a bit on the pricey side but it really depends on what you're paying for. Me? Location and service.
Once your bike is fixed, go celebrate somewhere in Kensington. I'd recommend sugar cane bubble tea and dumplings on Spadina or a Delirium beer at Ronnie's. (But ride safely!)
*I used to be a fan of UofT's BikeChain, and I do support them, but they shouldn't be dealing with a bike like mine because I normally wound up with another problem after I left. If you have a vintage bike, really, take it to a professional. -
Review from Matt M.
Toronto, ON
3/17/2010
When you get a new bike, you need to get it tuned up within a couple of weeks because the new cables will slacken a bit. You get two tune-ups included with the purchase of any new bike from this store, valid for a year after the purchase. So, use the first one right away and save the second for when you get doored really badly or the following spring when you take it out from storage. This will save you between $80 and $150, depending on where you go and what needs to be tuned. I don't know if all or most stores offer this but regardless it's nothing to sneeze at.
These folks stock a great selection. If you want to spend between $350 and a few grand on a bike, you'll find something you like here. (If you're looking for a commuter/hybrid, check out the Opus brand--currently on sale.) They stock the requisite Kryptonite and Abus locks at the standard price (the Kryptonite NewYork and a high-end Abus are on sale during March--never seen these discounted before). If you don't use one, or an equivalent, your bike will get stolen because you wanted to save $40 on a lock. Skimping on a lock is what stupid people do. Are you a stupid person? I was, and then my first bike in Toronto got stolen. Doye!
The staff are generally nice people and very much engaged in their line of work. The mechanic I've dealt with is excellent and the bike rides like a dream every time I leave their shop. They may not have the brand you're looking for, but you'd be well advised to come here anyway prior to purchasing your sweet new whip for summer 2010. -
Review from Ryan S.
Toronto, ON
1/23/2010
I can be a storyteller sometimes. This will be one of those times. A few years ago, I took my older road bike to a different bike shop in the city. They said it was too old to work on. I was a bit surprised. I suppose, when I wanted a new one, I wouldn't be going there either. I ended up at Bikes on Wheels. They treated my bike really well. They liked it too.
A couple of weeks ago, I decided to go out to look for a new bike. Guess where I decided to go. It's a bit farther than some other stores, but good experiences tend to stick. I was looking for a road bike. Their selection of road bikes is not stellar, though if you have the savings, go for a hand built Marinoni. So beautiful! I digress. The staff were really helpful and I ended up with a really nice touring bike. It was not a brand I had been searching for, but the experience of being in the store made me quite happy to take the advice of the staff. If you are into singlespeeds or fixies, this is the place for you. If you need really great service and a place that you want to go back to, this is the place for you. If you want ... you get the point.
They are bringing in a line of clothing and stuff in the spring. Looking forward to it. Need a new jersey, I believe. -
Review from Jimi S.
ON
1/7/2009 14 photos
in this large space are housed many bikes of different sizes, shapes, prices, and expertise. igor the bike thief would have a field day.
it appears that they have a lot of variety in every aspect of the cyclists needs. youll find over half a dozen helmets from skater helmets to regular cycling helmets, all, guaranteed to be safe and make you look as nerdy as possible.
in each category of bike essentials they have variety. kryptonite and bike guard and many choices within each brand are available. theres a wall devoted to baskets for bikes both in wicker, metal and plastic.
i could go on, but really the stock is plentiful and it seems to be in a good area of town, as anyone who knows kensington knows that you are constantly dodging bikes as a pedestrian.
i havent shopped here yet or given my bike for servicing but it seems like id be in good hands. -
Review from ness y.
Toronto, ON
8/31/2009
the guys behind the counter at Bikes on Wheels are usually behind the counter. they hang out there and exude bike-boy coooooool.
once you get their attention (finger a $300 mess bag a few times and look really helpless in their direction), they'll happily help you.
personally, i like this approach. there's nothing worse than hovering sales people.
less than the boys, it's the bikes and bags at Bikes on Wheels that makes this girl swoon. they carry Canadian makes: Norco and Marinoni bikes and PAC bags. and a bunch of really neat gadgets and trinkets for your ride.
