Union Street Cycle

Friendly, knowledgable staff, reasonable prices and a great selection of track/​fixie components.

I take all my bikes here for service and one day I hope I can get them to build me a custom bike! Everyone in this shop is top notch. They have passion for bikes and it shows in their quality and care. When you need a creative solution to make something ‘just right’ they know how to make it happen. I’ve been to many bike shops over the years before finding Union. Now I won’t go anywhere else. If your bike needs some TLC then Union Street Cycle is where you want to be.

Needed a tune up and found this place on the way from work, right off a great bike path. My bike is about a year old, but needed a good tune-​up. Bob was very patient and knowledgeable, and completely understood my need to keep costs lower. He did a thorough walk through of the work. My bike works better than when I first got it now — so smooth! Definitely recommend. Excellent work and even better service. Will definitely be coming back!
Also, 30 day guarantee on service.

These people are magical! After reading several Unilocal reviews on this place I had to bring my tired ol’ road bike to have a look at. I’d been noticing she hasn’t been running as smoothly as she once did and although I’d brought her to OCB and did some work on her myself earlier this year (which was an amazing learning experience!) I felt that having a professional look at it would save me some time, and they probably would’ve done a better job than I. Bob and the rest of the team at Union Street Cycle are amazing! I brought her in this past Saturday afternoon and explained to Bob my situation. I told him what had been worked on earlier this year (new gear cassette, new chain, new tires) but that she is feeling pretty laggy lately and shifting is a struggle (he understood my ‘tick-​tick-​tick-​chunk’ description of what was going on while changing gears!). We discussed what options I had and decided to go with a basic tune up which would bring forward any other issues that might be going on, and they would let me know if anything major needed to be worked on. He told me I could get the bike back by the following day! Amazing!
I got a call Sunday afternoon saying that she was ready to be picked up. They ended up replacing a few things here and there and now she runs like a brand new bike! I am so impressed, not only with how she runs now, but with the very reasonable pricing as well! I really thought I might have to give her up and buy a new one. Now we’re flying around the seawall, trying to maximize the last few weeks of nice bike riding weather we have.
Thanks everyone at Union Street Cycle!

Such hospitality! So accommodating and kind in every way, great skill and great products!

Union Street Cycle is located on one of Vancouver’s oldest and most well-​known bike routes. The staff are very friendly and knowledgeable and the shop carries the usual plethora of cycling equipment and accessories. Their bike inventory ranges from «cruisers,» fixed gear and touring bikes. I’ve been in there a number of times with mechanical issues and was pleased to have my bike fixed on the spot without an appointment more often that not (few Vancouver bike shops offer this sort of service.) Repairs are flawlessly executed and they even offer loaner bikes while your own is being serviced. Turnaround time for repairs/​maintenance/​upgrades is very good. If you must wait a few hours for repairs to be done there’s plenty to keep you occupied with because the shop is located smack-​dab in Vancouver’s famous Chinatown/​Downtown East Side. There are restaurants, shops, café’s, museums, parks, rapid transit, etc all within walking distance. In this neck of the woods this is *the* bike shop you want to go to.

This bike shop is great. The service there goes the extra mile and treats your bike like its their own. Jacob made my older bike ride like new. I trust these guys. Go here if you want good service.

My break snapped along my usual bike route. Literately I was biking with one break to find a bike shop. Found a place around the corner from UNION street cycle. Walk in was greeted. Then one of two mechanics told me to come back in 2 hrs. Was pretty disappointed. Told them I’ll try next door can’t wait around for two hours. Went into Union cycle and JACOB was super helpful. He take a look at it and fixed it on the spot and he tuned up the spokes as well. I was blown away by his knowledge and future upgrade suggestions. Thank you JACOB. I’ll be your client for life.

Took in my old ‘second’ bike for a tune up came out with a fabulous ride. They know their stuff and I got a full breakdown on all work being done. Not a moments hesitation recommending this shop.

This shop is the real thing! I’ve been in the bike biz for over 35 years and I put these guys through the test. I brought in a bike that I had built myself in 1982. It was a criterium bike that I now use for commuting and round town riding. The chain was falling off regularly and into the shop it went since I no longer work on my own bikes. They went thru the diagnostics with me with patience, knowledge and questions. Most shops these days have inexperienced help with a lot of confidence but not good listeners. I am so happy with the process that I will certainly take my other bikes in for whatever they may need. My only complaint is that they don’t charge enough for their work… I would like them to stay in business for awhile!

Always great to not just support local biz but Chinatown merchants too.
Convenient location right off the bike lane to the Georgia viaduct, talk about easy breezin.
Mostly bike repairs, also sell bikes starting at $ 400, competitively priced. Even custom bikes can be made to order.
Says they will start renting bikes later spring/​summer.
Friendly service.

Bob (the manager) and Justin are fantastic. They really know their stuff, there’s no hard sell, they’re honest and direct and the prices are so reasonable. I originally went in with a bike I’d had for 5 years (from Craigslist!) and never really maintained. I knew it was in rough shape and had an idea what might be wrong, but Justin looked it over thoroughly then and there was really honest about how much work/​money was needed to make it safe and rideable again — key for me as I’m 4 ½ months pregnant and bike commute to my downtown job. When I got another bike, I brought it there right away for a tuneup and again, they did a fantastic job. A few weeks later, I started having trouble with it — gears wouldn’t change, chain seemed to be skipping, tension on the chain was getting much higher — and when it finally seized on me right in the middle of the Main/​Union intersection at 7.30am, I wheeled it back to the store and knocked the door. Bob was there early and with no hesitation, let me in and had it up on the stand right away. He called me before 10am with the prognosis and I was able to pick up my bike and cycle home that night. Not only did he replace the faulty part with a part that will likely last the lifetime of the bike, but he also looked the bike over for free, even checking a wheel that he replaced for me the previous time. They are just AWESOME. Love love love you guys — if you have a bike, this is where you need to go. Great prices, service is outstanding and they really know their stuff. This is a no BS bike shop fo sho.

Amazing service!
Had an item from there that had broken. I stopped by with no receipt. They fixed it up for free!

Justin built a remarkable bike for me, in a timely fashion and under budget. It is beautiful, fits me perfectly and rides like a dream. I live and bike across North America for work and this is easily the most friendly and helpful bike shop I have ever visited. Sad to leave Vancouver and Union Street Cycle behind!

My bike is 40 years old and weighs 40 lbs. It is not cool, or practical, or in super excellent shape (sort of like its owner, actually). So my usual Vancouver bike shop experience is this:
Go into shop. Explain in my limited bike vocabulary what the problem is («the thingamajig makes a clickity-​click»). Frustrated bike mechanic gives me the side-​eye for 1) riding such an atrocity and 2) knowing so little about it. Mechanic then does the bare minimum of a repair job, takes twice as long as they say they will, and upon pick-​up, tries to talk me into buying a new bike.
But Union Street Cycle — dear, sweet Union Street Cycle! I brought in my bike and explained what I needed; Justin then gave it a thorough inspection, asked me some questions, and suggested some (totally affordable and much needed) additional repairs. He called to update me with his progress, and when I came to pick up the bike (which was done when they said it would be), he patiently explained his work and even made a couple last-​minute tinkers to make sure everything was tip-​top.
My bike is in the best shape it’s been in since I’ve owned it. Thanks guys! I will defo be back.

I really like this little shop. The guys working there have created a very inviting atmosphere. No grumpiness or condescending attitudes — just honest people that want to help out. As others have mentioned, it’s the perfect location for those of us commuting from East Van. Give em a try!

A great shop right on the Adanac bike route. For $ 30 I got my breaks fixed, a broken spoke repaired, had my wheel made ‘true’ and got my chain oiled. And lots of explanation and help throughout to understand the mechanics of my bike. And all this for a 58 year old part-​time commuter on a second hand Cannondale. Thanks for the respect and helping me stay on my bike! Great guys who care about what they do.

Great shop! Justin and Bob are really friendly and helpful

Another great bike shop!
I must give praise to the head mech, Justin. This guy has helped me out a number of times on short notice. It’s also great that they are located right on the bike route. This is a no bull, no sales pitch, friendly shop. Just great service and very informative staff.

New owners and name here, in a primo location (union street) for bike repairs and custom built… The chap is friendly and helpful. The best part is the hours 7am –5pm, one big up on the old owners. They helped me out with air and suggestions for tuning my bike.