Pro Shops/Unique Shops in California

[Avispa]

I stumbled on this website while looking for something else on the Net:
http://www.lagunabeachcyclery.com/site/#/home

What other Pro shops do you know in So Cal/San Diego, that you think are unique and offer a pleasant visit as this one?

Any shops like it in the San Francisco Bay area? and North?

I'll be spending some time in the Golden State next month... Not riding, just visiting and want to distract myself a bit.

Thanks,

..A..

[Climb01742]

i've never been to this shop, but it looks intriguing:

http://www.abovecategorycycling.com/index.html

[54ny77]

Too funny. That place has changed (for the better) over the years. Former owner was an a$$*&^!.

Bay Area: Bike Nook in San Fran. Like no other.

I stumbled on this website while looking for something else on the Net:
http://www.lagunabeachcyclery.com/site/#/home

What other Pro shops do you know in So Cal/San Diego, that you think are unique and offer a pleasant visit as this one?

Any shops like it in the San Francisco Bay area? and North?

I'll be spending some time in the Golden State next month... Not riding, just visiting and want to distract myself a bit.

Thanks,

..A..

[sspielman]

Velo Pasadena in Pasadena has lots of really nice stuff..and California Bicycle in LaJolla has quite the boutique.

[chuckred]

Well, after the Varsity Sport...

A Nishiki. In 1973. They've been around (not sure if always same owners). Got great service then. I know my father was still shopping there a few years ago.

[erector]

So when I was down South, in addition to LAguna Cyclery, which has a GREAT view of the ocean down on Thalia, I enjoyed trips to Helen's in the LA area. Great store, great people, yada yada yada. Lots of performance down south. Surf City Cyclery is in Huntington Beach, off Euclid I think, it's a specialized concept store, but it's pretty and has a lot of other bikes there. Sean Flynn is the owner, and he and his staff have got a LOT of years behind them.

Up north, depending on what you're looking for, unique shops to see:
VeloTech in Palo Alto, Tom= guru of cycling, then you can stop by PAloAltoCycles a few blocks down,
AboveCategory in Mill Valley with Chad,
not TOO acquainted with SF,
and there's a nice store in Oakland, but I forget the name.

[Walter]

I have not been to these, but have heard they are good places to visit:

http://www.bicycleodyssey.com/
http://www.bicycleproshop.com/
http://bikesmiths.com/default.aspx
http://cupertinobikeshop.com/
http://www.studiovelomv.com/contact.html

[sg8357]

In SF

http://www.jitensha.com/

Not pro-shop, more of a Zen Shrine.

[Brendan Quirk]

Jitensha Studio in Berkeley is a place you must visit at least once in life. It's all but on top of the campus and you'll have easy BART access from SF. It's not about the stuff, but more about the vibe. It's more tranquil in there than most churches I've been to.

And I second the motion on Above Category in Mill Valley. It's my favorite bike retail store on the planet and Chad Nordwall (the owner) is pure class. You can ride there (via the GG Bridge) from SF.

As our industry becomes more homogenized w/Specialized & Trek everywhere (not that there's anything wrong with that -- those are quality products!!), Jitensha & AC represent real-deal IBD's.

[Climb01742]

And I second the motion on Above Category in Mill Valley. It's my favorite bike retail store on the planet...

would you kindly elaborate as to why? yours in curiosity and gratitude. ;)

[SoCalSteve]

If you are in Los Angeles, Bicycle Johns in Burbank.

They have a ton of really nice road "eye candy" there.

Enjoy!

Steve

[uno-speedo]

Pacific Coast Cycles in Oceanside

VeloCult in San Diego

[Ken Robb]

California Bicycles in La Jolla has lots of race bikes and a neat computer fit system. The fittee pedals his bike on the machine while watching where he is "riding" on a screen. The computer adjusts resistance in synch with the screen and power expended is recorded at the same time.

[pdmtong]

avispa,
in the bay area there are plenty of high bling shops, with all the ooh-aah frames, but I would say on the peninsula side, these three listed from south to north offer the kind of experience you'd want for an out of town visit.

1) cupertino bike shop (cupertino, near san jose) amazing collection of vintage campy gruppo on display. vance is the owner

2) velotech (palo alto) hee's where you get your peg, time, pinarello , colnago. there is a dogma and a ciavate' duende cross in the window. you get the idea. don't miss the picture of dario and bob parlee together onthe back wall. tom is the owner. also, check out palo alto bicycles just a block away. there is a killer IF XS hanging from the ceiling in my size. one bummer is wheelsmith closed and morphed, so the "museum" aspect has scattered to the wind - only the poster of paolo pezzo remains on the wall in the can of the chain store it became.

3) above category (mill valley) Brendan knows.

of course there are some great high end shops on the east bay side (oakland/berkeley) but I dont know them well

[bfd]

A Bicycle Odyssey in Sausalito, CA, been around since 1975 and Tony Tom, the owner, is one of the best fitters in the SF Bay Area. Also, one of Classic Rendezvous "bike shops of vintage interest" in the US:

http://www.classicrendezvous.com/Bike_Shops/A-Bicycle-Odyssey.htm

Other interesting shops:
http://www.classicrendezvous.com/Bike_Shops/Bike_shops.htm

I also like the Bike Nook in SF. Len is one of the best wheelbuilders around. The shop looks like it did back in 1988, with some of the same framesets still hanging since that time...Good Luck!

[uno-speedo]

I forgot Black Mountain Cycles in Point Reyes Station if you like old mountain bikes.

[Brendan Quirk]

Hey Climb-issimo, I'm not a fan of when people quote themselves, but it's easier to paste than type!

http://www.competitivecyclist.com/road-bikes/whats-new/our-favorite-bike-shop-in-america...and-other-news..203.html

Also, I know Chad has moved since I jotted those notes down. Thx, Brendan