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5 top bike shops around the world

Must visit bike shops in Canada, the United States, Spain, Japan and Australia

Cyclists rely on their local bike shops to get them equipped and ready for the ride. From apparel and accessories to their bikes along with expert tune-ups and service, a good shop will give you a pleasant experience that gets you excited to get out on your bike.

While the list of amazing bike shops is extensive here are five shops from each corner of the world that stands out when it comes to its reach, influence and services.

The Service Course – Girona Spain

When Christian Meier retired from professional cycling his focus shifted to the businesses he owns and operates with his wife. La Fabrica Girona and Espresso Mafia are both must visit establishments in Girona and soon after stepping away from his professional racing career he opened The Service Course. The shop offers builds of boutique framesets and high end apparel and accessories to make sure you ride in style. It’s all located in a space in the old city of Girona.

The Service Course was conceived from Meier’s experience racing professionally incorporating all the best elements he experienced. The shop offers tours personally guided by Meier who will set visitors up with route recommendations, bike rentals and more. If you want a follow car for the day, they will do that for you. The shop has Roubaix inspired showers, lockers and offers massages. The Service Course hosts very popular group rides that attract visitors and locals to ride the scenic roads around the city. Going to The Service Course is designed to be an experience and allow visitors to Girona to have a personalised experience of the riding around the cycling hub.

Northside Wheelers – Melbourne, Australia

This shop is filled with cycling paraphernalia and if you talk to owner Malachi Moxon you’ll get insight into the sport you probably didn’t expect to get. The shop’s slogan is, “Purveyor of fine cycling wares” and visitors will be hard pressed to walk out without coming to a greater appreciation for the sport. It doesn’t just have what you need for riding but around the shop you’ll notice a fine collection of cycling figurines, books and cycling t-shirts. You’ll also be able to pick up a niche kits alongside all the other goodies you’ve spotted and may have added to your cart. Northside Wheelers is a unique shop and one of the top in the world because of the way it allows visitors to better appreciate some of the lesser known but fascinating aspects of the sport.

Mellow Johnny’s – Austin, Texas

Lance Armstrong’s notoriety supersedes the cycling world with his name being forever linked to doping in sport. While his seven Tour de France titles have been stripped and he is facing trial for defrauding the United States Postal Service, his bike shop is still a must visit when in Austin because of all the cool stuff there is to check out inside.

The shop has weekly rides, host events, offers bike rentals, has the Pedal Hard training studio and a cafe. It’s two floors with merchandise and a repair shop on the main floor. Downstairs is the training and fit studio, You’ll spot relicts from Armstrong’s racing career such as Tour de France yellow jerseys, time trial bikes and many other cool things. Even if you are not a Armstrong fan, a stop at Mellow Johnny’s will give you the opportunity to see some of the pieces of cycling history during a period when the sport skyrocketed in popularity in North America.

Bonsai Cycle Works – Tokyo, Japan

The Greater Tokyo Area is the world’s most populous metropolitan area and hidden in a backstreet in the Shibuya ward is Bonsai Cycle Works. While owner Hideo Yoshida can direct visitors to the best spot to grab a bite to eat, the shop has a mix of traditional and modern decor for the setting in which customers can expect to have the bike they walk out with completely customised to be unique to the owner. They offer boutique and high-end brands to complete your dream built and then get flawlessly outfitted for the ride. The owner’s wife Natsuki is also known to bake some delicious pastries. Bonsai is a must visit shop because it offers a collection of personalized and customised products, memorabilia and a fine attention to aesthetics in every aspect of the shop for those who appreciate the beautiful details.

The 11 Inc. – Toronto, Canada

The 11 Inc. is only a little over two-years-old but cyclists from around Canada looking for a top-end bike and great service know they can count on owner Heath Cockburn and his staff at their location at Shops at Don Mills. Alongside high-end fashion outlets and retail stores, bike enthusiast will find the top brands in cycling on the shelves of the beautifully light open space store. On the walls and shelves it’s hard not to stop and take a long look at the beautiful Bianchi, Pinarello, De Rosa builds. If you are looking for accessories and apparel they’ll have you rolling out in style with many top brands to choose from. The 11 Inc. will service your bike, give you a bike fit, get you equipped with everything you need and more. It’s a shop where you are sure to see a couple of dream bikes.

Alongside building dream bikes, The 11 Inc. also supports Canada’s top UCI Continental men’s team, Silber Pro Cycling. The team has found great success developing the next generation of cycling talent and the shop provides technical support and has done bike fits at the Milton Velodrome with its riders.

Have you visited a notable shop during your travels? Let us know in the comments below.