Services
Curbside Cycle
Curbside Cycle does indeed have its roots on the curb, when owner Don Watterson first set up shop outside of the Brunswick House over 15 years ago. If this were a commercial, one would expect the narrator to say "a lot's changed since then, but the one thing that's stayed the same is the store's commitment to neighbourhood cyclists." Formulaic and cheesy as that might be, however, it's also true. I've been popping my head into Curbside for years, and it's always been clear what type of cyclist the store serves best: commuters.
Although staff member Gillian Goerz tells me that she and her colleagues "try not to limit who we cater to, our most common customer uses his or her bike as a tool rather than a toy." That's a useful distinction when it comes to figuring out where you want to shop for a bike. In my experience, stores that carry lots of what Goerz calls "toys" aren't the best places to go when you're looking for wheels to get you to work or merely for shorter trips within the city.
Like Sweet Pete's, Curbside does sell higher end bikes, but the majority of sales fall in the $750-$1000 range. The cheapest bike they generally carry comes in at about $350, and they don't offer used. While there is a small section of kids bikes, it wouldn't be fair to say that this is a specialty.
So what is? Hybrids, city bikes, travel (folding) bikes, and cargo bikes. As far as brands go, you'll find quite a few European bikes here, including Batavus, Abici, Pashley, Brompton and Babboe. On the more local end, Curbside also carries Devinci road bikes. Perhaps most noteworthy of these products are those from Babboe, who make cargo bikes — an item that you won't find at the majority of bike stores around the city.
In keeping with the urban focus, there's a good selection of accessories tailored to the city rider. Some of my favourites in this category are the Basil and Ortlieb messenger bags, Abus locks (which some say are better than Kryptonite), Chrome clothing, and Brooks saddles (of which Curbside has a good selection). If you're always trying to look cool on your bike like me, these niche products will help you with street cred (just as long as they look like they've actually been used).
Having said that, "street cred" is one of those things that Curbside's staff say they have little interest in. If there's a goal here, more than one employee tells me, it's to be as unpretentious as possible. A lot of bike stores say this type of thing — i.e. "we're not like those other guys" — but in this case I'd say it's true. Even the mechanic is a pleasure to deal with, and I've had some nasty interactions with mechanics over the years. This is an all-around solid city bike shop that takes good advantage of its Annex location.
THE SKINNY
Who the store caters to: urban riders, commuters, travel and cargo bike buyers
Bike price range: $350-$3500 (sweet spot $750-$1000)
Service capabilities: Full service shop, comfortable with all repair requests regardless of bike
The tune-up: For $60 you get adjustment of the entire bicycle, tightening of ball bearings, wheel straightening (tire left on bike), tire pump-up and full cleaning.
Discussion
14 Comments
Sort By Oldest First / Newest First
Subscribe
Expecting just a yes or no answer, I walked in and inquired about the seat. The friendly pair at the counter were surprised to see such a defective Brooks product. They both agreed that they'd never seen such a defect on a Brooks Saddle.
Next thing I know, one of them is on the phone with Brooks headquarters in Illinois arranging for a return of the saddle. Within 5 minutes they had set up the whole return and promised to call me when they received a credit. No more than a week later I had a brand new, fully level, Brooks Flyer from their own store stock. All that effort and I didn't even buy the bike OR the seat from them in the first place. In fact, they didn't profit at all from that exchange. But at least they'll benefit from having all my bicycle related business from now on.
I've never had such a positive experience at a bike store in my life. Best staff in the city!
If not, I can do as the guys at Curbside did, and for repairs recommend their former employee, Rob, at Bateman's Bicycle Company (Barton at Bathurst). Good, fast, reasonably-priced service.
I went in there with my dad's old bike from like 20 years ago that I've been riding around. It needed a new rear wheel. The first thing I was told, within seconds of walking in there, was that they don't make that wheel anymore and I should just buy a new bike. I told them that no, I won't be buying a new bike, this one has sentimental value and I would prefer to fix it up again rather than buy a fancy new one. Could they find me a new wheel somehow? The response was NO but I could look on ebay, they told me. I asked them if I found a wheel, could I bring it in and have them put it on my bike for me? Again, no. I asked what they suggested I do, and AGAIN they told me to buy a new bike.
Well, I found a wheel after only a few minutes looking online. I had it shipped to my place then I took it to Bikes on Wheels in Kensington. They put it on my bike and gave me a tune up. I was more than happy to pay them for their services. Sorry Curb Side, won't be visiting you again.
The staff I spoke to told me that this used to be the practice (only to fix bikes purchased at the store), but that's no longer the policy. Though I haven't brought a bike in, they assured me that they now welcome all repairs.
Hope that helps.
DB
Z
For those looking for repairs, I suggest Sweet Pete's across the street - they're super friendly, won't judge you cos your bikes old and are new so 'hungry' for business right now.
i am talking to u from Afghanastan Kandahar we want to your
on thing taht is 26,24,28 inch bicycle if u how so pleas contact me to my E_mail
thanks
http://www.sholod.com/en/6250511397636246691
But none of this ameliorates the fact that Curbside (and Bikes on Wheels) is pretentious and grossly overpriced; the competition across the street is no better.
If you are looking for guys who do decent work with honest prices, go to the places on Harboard west of Bathurst. In fact, go anyplace other than this list that blogto recommends.
The staff at Curbside is generally great; it's the prices and the owner who are a bit much.
The next time I went, a few months later was to help my cousin and his wife each find a bike. We bought a Devinci Wellington for his wife as well as a Bobike seat for their son but my cousin preferred a Kona and ran across the street to buy it street at Sweet Pete's. When I inquired about a free bell and bottle holder for the Devinci, the lady at the cash (different from who I had) said no though. The Wellington is much cheaper than the Oslo, but they also bought the Bobike, locks and skewers and I figured it still isn't much skin of their nose, so I was disappointed.
But I was pleased that when my cousin brought his Kona from Sweet Pete's over, they installed the Bobike on immediately.
So, overall good experiences but I think how good depends on who you get and what kind of day they've had.