Review Date
October 8, 2008

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Customer Service Rating
 5 of 5

Technical Expertise Rating
 5 of 5

I visit this shop:
Once a week

Reviewed by: Paulitik ,  Weekend Warrior

Shop Summary:
Cool little shop right off the Potomac in Old Town, convenient to the Mt. Vernon Trail. Can't miss the yellow building. Old school feel, non-pretentious staff.

Customer Service:
The staff at Big Wheel are people who love to ride. They have never tried to sell me anything I didn't need and went above and beyond to make sure I got what I want. This is my kind of Bike Shop, not flashy, convenient, and great service. I bought my Kona there, and I will be buying my next bike there as well. Compared to the other places I've shopped in the DC area, I feel completely at home at Big Wheel.I am proud to call it my Local Bike Shop.

Review Date
September 24, 2008

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Customer Service Rating
 5 of 5

Technical Expertise Rating
 5 of 5

I visit this shop:
Once a week

Visitors rate this review
1.00 of 5, 2 votes

Reviewed by: liketobike ,  Cross Country Rider

Shop Summary:
Full service Independent Bicycle shop. Sponsors youth programs and are big cycling advocates and community supporters. Helpful with local trails and scenic routes. They have rentals bikes and even rental burleys, the carriers for kids. The shop gets packed with customer repair bikes and New bikes , not a cosmo scene if that's what your looking for. Great shop to get work done on your bike or get a new one,fun to hang out in and talk bikes and sports. Not some dufus site like outdoortravels.con.

Customer Service:
Great customer service, they even credit you back your rental fee when you purchase a bike or burley from them. They special order custom parts and bikes from Independant bike makers, the Big wheel folks love bikes. They even will contact another shop for you if they feel that the other shop has what you need at the moment. These are bike guys not salespeople. How many other shops put a bike stand out so you can work on your bike or keep the air hose out for you?

Other Comments:
Great memorabilia on the wall and they rotate the displays. I would ignore that first poster who said ""I wish I would have bought a couple of $150 department store bikes and a patch kit and left them with our friends in DC. "" I would never trust any advice from his site. He would have you riding on a Magna or Huffy. What kind of travel site needs instructions on how to ride a bike or cant find the local trails??

Review Date
September 21, 2008

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Customer Service Rating
 5 of 5

Technical Expertise Rating
 5 of 5

I visit this shop:
Once a week

Reviewed by: Officer John ,  Weekend Warrior

Shop Summary:
Definition of a Bike Shop. 'Enough Said

Customer Service:
Once upon a time I went to the nice and clean and spotless bike shops that plague the DC metro area... And I kind of liked it; but then I went to Big Wheel Bikes in Old Town Alexandria. This place is what a bike shop should be. I spent my youth hanging out at bike shops and learning simple tricks the mechanics used to do menial tasks such as take off grips (Who would have though a compressor could be so useful) and always loved cycling... Time passed and I got caught up in the "cycle" (Pun intended) and before I knew it I was a police officer. Not just any police officer but head of the bicycle unit... This is about as good as it gets. I have always ridden but never been in a shop that impressed me to the extent that this one did. Granted it may be dirty (not really) and a bit small but these guys know what they are doing! Everytime I go in that store one of the mechanics jumps to his feet to make sure to help me with whatever may be wrong... Even if I am just trying to hang out. The few good men that staff this shop know bikes and what they are doing with them... This is the reason why all my departments bikes are serviced here. A++

Other Comments:
Good atmosphere, great mechanics, nice dogs.

Review Date
September 16, 2008

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Customer Service Rating
 5 of 5

Technical Expertise Rating
 5 of 5

I visit this shop:
Once a month

Reviewed by: hortonwho ,  Racer

Shop Summary:
Great little shop

Customer Service:
These guys seem to live and breathe bicycles,i think they would rather work on bikes than **ck!
I cannot imagine what better service is,after my dealings with this store,they always go the extra mile to get it right.
This shop is like sex,we all want it,we all crave it,but its not for everyone.

Other Comments:
I would travel to Timbuktu if this shop were located there.

Review Date
September 15, 2008

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Customer Service Rating
 5 of 5

Technical Expertise Rating
 5 of 5

I visit this shop:
Once a week

Reviewed by: Finucan ,  Racer

Shop Summary:
This place is legit

Customer Service:
The staff is friendly and quite helpful... The young men who work at the store know a good deal regarding bicycles and the ways in which they should be maintained; on more than one occasion I have taken a problem bicycle to these guys and they have fixed what other shops have overlooked (this is especially true of this particular Big Wheels location). The great thing to note regarding this shop that makes it so different from other shops in the area is the bike "feel" to the shop... While most other mechanics ride occasionally I know that the men who staff this store ride alot and commute by bicycle 90% of the time... This plays a great deal into their knowledge of bikes. The customer service is great, these guys always bend over backwards to make sure that I get what I need and even give me some parts they may have laying around for the multiple projects I am always working on. Anywhere where the mechanics don't wear uniforms and there are dogs running around the store is a good place. These guys ROCK! I have nothing but positive things to say about this great shop and the very attractive men who work there.

Other Comments:
I am sorry to the man who had such a bad experience with Big Wheel.... He sounds like he might have chip on his shoulder. Maybe if he kept his cell phone on during vacation this whole problem could have been avoided (Hence the reason 98% of shops request a phone number where you can be reached: In case something like this happens!!!) Maybe if he doesn't like Big Wheel Bikes he should go throw a brick through their window before he sets up his crappy rental shop across the street.