Image courtesy of Richy! at Flickr.com
It doesn’t matter if you are a professional trail biker, an occasional weekend cyclist or someone who uses its bike to get to work every day, you most likely have a favorite place to take your beloved two-wheel beauty to get serviced. Some of those places are true sanctuaries to hobbyists young and old. The goodies inside could keep you busy in awe for hours on end and the always-ready staff will make you feel at home with excellent service, answers to all your questions and fun chitchat about the local community and new places to discover the latest gear to fit your needs. Expert cyclists, athletes and beginner riders altogether gather in local bike shops for personalization, knowledge and quality equipment. Big stores just don’t offer the experience that you’ll find at local cycling shops. South Florida continues to be one of the best areas of the country to live the biking culture. Part of this is due to the weather that allows all year-round riding, and the growing community that makes it friendly for all type of bikers to join. There are many trails and nice places to visit, restaurants and hangouts where to meet fellow bikers and on this occasion, let’s take a look at some of the best places available, to shop for a bike, personalize or repair your own and browse for clothing and new accessories for this amazing lifestyle.
Mack Cycle and Fitness
5995 Sunset Drive
Miami, Florida, 33143
http://www.mackcycleandfitness.com
With almost 60 years in the business, there are few places that compare to Mack Cycle and Fitness when it comes to meeting you biking needs. The place is household name in the local biking community. The store prides itself in their excellent customer service, the variety of products they have in stock and the knowledge and insight they provide into local biking activity, all of these backed by many reviews of satisfied customers who quickly become regulars at Mack Cycle and Fitness. The shop doesn’t stop there, Mack Cycle and Fitness has funded over $100,000 toward MS Bike Ride Sponsorship, presenting races, team support, special celebrity presentations and workshops, team development, bicycling advocacy and community education. They support groups such as Bikes Belong, Florida Bicycle Association, IMBA and Green Mobility. Current projects comprise the development of the new mountain bike trails on Virginia Key, a Share the Road bumper sticker for City of Miami vehicles, and continued support for the Ludlam Trail.
Mack Cycle and Fitness
5995 Sunset Drive
Miami, Florida, 33143
http://www.mackcycleandfitness.com
With almost 60 years in the business, there are few places that compare to Mack Cycle and Fitness when it comes to meeting you biking needs. The place is household name in the local biking community. The store prides itself in their excellent customer service, the variety of products they have in stock and the knowledge and insight they provide into local biking activity, all of these backed by many reviews of satisfied customers who quickly become regulars at Mack Cycle and Fitness. The shop doesn’t stop there, Mack Cycle and Fitness has funded over $100,000 toward MS Bike Ride Sponsorship, presenting races, team support, special celebrity presentations and workshops, team development, bicycling advocacy and community education. They support groups such as Bikes Belong, Florida Bicycle Association, IMBA and Green Mobility. Current projects comprise the development of the new mountain bike trails on Virginia Key, a Share the Road bumper sticker for City of Miami vehicles, and continued support for the Ludlam Trail.
Image courtesy of sensasiana1 at Flickr.com
Bicycle Center
3795 Tamiami Trl
Port Charlotte, FL 33952
http://bicyclecentercc.com
People love this store, and not only locals, but also those who live around the country and have had the experience of ordering parts or accessories from the Bicycle Center. The website offers a lot of information for new enthusiasts about purchasing a new bike and also for experienced ones who like to learn more about maintenance or even how to their bike for travel. Clients praise their friendly and knowledgeable staff; their commitment to customer service and willingness to go above and beyond to make sure your experience at the store or even doing business online is unforgettable. Their service department offers free estimates and will patiently explain to you what your bike may need before they work on it. They are certified and experienced and guarantee to get the job done right every time.
Acme Bicycle Shop
615 Cross St
Punta Gorda, FL 33950
http://www.acmebicycleshop.com
This small family owned shop is one of America’s Best Bike Shops according to the National Bicycle Dealers Association’s best shop program. Their staff is required to be involved in the biking community in order to work there and the owner prides herself from guiding a local biking group out of her store every Saturday morning. The place is beautiful and has a great selection of bikes, parts and accessories. Their mechanics are highly qualified, friendly and more than willing to help you out whatever your needs may be.
3795 Tamiami Trl
Port Charlotte, FL 33952
http://bicyclecentercc.com
People love this store, and not only locals, but also those who live around the country and have had the experience of ordering parts or accessories from the Bicycle Center. The website offers a lot of information for new enthusiasts about purchasing a new bike and also for experienced ones who like to learn more about maintenance or even how to their bike for travel. Clients praise their friendly and knowledgeable staff; their commitment to customer service and willingness to go above and beyond to make sure your experience at the store or even doing business online is unforgettable. Their service department offers free estimates and will patiently explain to you what your bike may need before they work on it. They are certified and experienced and guarantee to get the job done right every time.
Acme Bicycle Shop
615 Cross St
Punta Gorda, FL 33950
http://www.acmebicycleshop.com
This small family owned shop is one of America’s Best Bike Shops according to the National Bicycle Dealers Association’s best shop program. Their staff is required to be involved in the biking community in order to work there and the owner prides herself from guiding a local biking group out of her store every Saturday morning. The place is beautiful and has a great selection of bikes, parts and accessories. Their mechanics are highly qualified, friendly and more than willing to help you out whatever your needs may be.
Image courtesy of alex de carvalho at Flickr.com
Alex’s Bicycle Pro Shop
5992 Coral Ridge Dr
Coral Springs, FL 33076
http://alexbicycles.com
Another family owned shop; Alex’s Bicycle Pro claims to be on a mission to make cycling part of people’s life. Their philosophy centers on the desire to help all types of people, from the first time rides to the real professionals, to be conscious of the benefits of biking in a community and how they can be part of this revolution. Great costumer service, a welcoming atmosphere and the belief of promoting a healthy lifestyle with a strong body-mind connection are all part of the ethos of Alex’s Bicycle Pro Shop. They offer bicycles, components and accessories, professional bike fitting, information about events and an excellent rental service for those who want to give this pedaling business a try.
5992 Coral Ridge Dr
Coral Springs, FL 33076
http://alexbicycles.com
Another family owned shop; Alex’s Bicycle Pro claims to be on a mission to make cycling part of people’s life. Their philosophy centers on the desire to help all types of people, from the first time rides to the real professionals, to be conscious of the benefits of biking in a community and how they can be part of this revolution. Great costumer service, a welcoming atmosphere and the belief of promoting a healthy lifestyle with a strong body-mind connection are all part of the ethos of Alex’s Bicycle Pro Shop. They offer bicycles, components and accessories, professional bike fitting, information about events and an excellent rental service for those who want to give this pedaling business a try.