Buy a bike
As an introduction…
Contrary to one might think, San Francisco is a bikers friendly city, and its uneven ground should not discourage bikers of good will...
You can dodge the hills, or even, ignore them, living in a quite flat neighborhood (like the Mission, Lower Haight, SOMA...)
You can also use the Wiggle… aka ''how to ride your bike on a flat and even ground. Actually, it is a one mile ride between Lower Haight, Panhandle et GGP. We do not really go through the City, but it is a good and cute painless view of some neighborhoods.
Another option would be to buy the bike, the super light hybrid 45-speed one. Requires an athletic shape and some money to invest, but still a solution.
Otherwise, just grab a bus when it is too steep (there are bikes racks in the front).
Lastly, just give up and take your car to go to your yoga lesson!!
Bike stores... or cycleries... the illustration of a ''galore'' in the city!!
We had to make a choice, so below is a bunch of addresses.
By the way, but is it really necessary to say it?... Buying a bike can be super easy on Craigslist where you might find real steals.
And for the kids, there are Christmas bikes that you can find @ Target or Toysrus. But is it really a clue, or simply, an obvious fact?
NEIGHBORHOOD STORES
Citizen Chain
Their website sounds like an ode to bikers attitude and way of life.
Wide range of new and refurbished bikes.
They do insist on the fact that they rebuild old bikes from scrap and tune them as they would do with a piano...
2064 Powell street
San Francisco Cyclery
Sales, Repairs, Classes et Rentals and... a good reputation.
672 Stanyan
Big Swinging Cycles
Another store offering sophisticated bikes.
Prices don't show up online.
2260 Van Ness
Freewheel Bike Shop
Minimalist website of a kind. The store has got a good reputation with bikes addicted ones.
2 locations in 2 ultra hip spots (not only for bike lovers).
Offer maintenance service as well as training sessions to be taught how to take care properly of one's bike.
914 Valencia - 1920 Hayes St
Avenue cyclery
''Wide range'' of brands for a ''wide target'' of people.
756 Stanyan
Mojo Bicycle Café
Coffee or not coffee? Coffee sounds good.
Sell and offer maintenance services. They have some mountain bikes, specific sophisticated bikes, but basically, they're much ''neighborhood's and city riders'' oriented.
639 Divisadero Street
American Cyclery
The oldest independent bikes store in the city!!! Let us think that the service is good... but primarily, it does confirm that SF is a city for sportive people!! Riding a bike in SF 60 years ago... was such a challenge!!
Warm welcome, price policy, service quality, reliable ... global good reputation.
510 Frederick Street
858 Stanyan Street
Valencia Cyclery
We tested it for you and we can confirm their good reputation.
They have 2 stores side by side on Valencia.
Wide range of brands for the whole family plus maintenance services. Good to know!
1065 Valencia Street
City Cycle of San Francisco
300 Steiner Street
Ocean Cyclery
Brands for the whole family. Service quality and warm welcome sound like guaranteed...
1935 Ocean Av.
Box Dog Bikes
On 14th street, super bikeriders oriented neighborhood.
Looks like a real, genuine SF style store: look and image.
''Box Dog Bikes is honored to hold the title as the Best Bicycle Mechanics for 2009 and 2010 from the San Francisco Bay Guardian. We are dedicated to providing an outstanding service experience.''
Sounds good, isn't it?
494 14th Street
Roaring Mouse Cycles
Inner Sunset, close to Andronicos.
Quite professional range, with prices accordingly set.
1352 Irving street
Bespoke Cycles
Good reputation. Nice neighborhood. Upscalle brands. Mechanical services. Attractive website...
2843 Clay street, SF
''BIG & LARGE STORES
Pacific Bicycles
Everything is offered from the bike for sure to the bottle, from the super t'shirt sliding down the wind to the antithheft locker...
Not the same experience as in an independent store, but you've got everything alltogether.
They do offer rentals as well.
345 4th street
Performance Bicycle San Francisco
Super large store in the REI area.
635 Brannan Street
GENERAL SPORTS STORES OFFERING BIKES AS WELL
Sports Basement
Excellent! You feel like in a neighborhood store despite the wide structure. Nice people, good advice.
610 Old Mason Street
1590 Bryant St.
Lombardi Sports
Bikes, but not only!! 1st floor.
Rentals are available as well: some models from 30 to 40$ a day, half the price the following days.
Also demos to rent for a day (more expensive, 100$), to test bikes that you might buy, but which price makes the decision not that easy!!
1600 Jackson Street
