THE PRACTICAL CYCLIST provides accessible information to help
people with little or no experience use bicycles for transportation.

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Buying a Bike, part (c)

For those of you in the Washington, DC area, WABA maintains a list of local stores. And of course, I have a few personal recommedations:

  • Arrow Bicycles has just opened in Hyattsville, but I know Chris and Chris, and they know their stuff.
  • Bikes at Vienna - Vienna, VA. Tim Fricker is the service manager, and that alone is enough for me to recommend the place. Tim is the nicest guy you'll ever meet, and an excellent mechanic.
  • Proteus Bicycles - College Park, MD. Proteus openned in 1972, building frames that are more valuable today than ever. The original owner died several years ago, but in 2003 Jill DiMauro took over. She's a bit of a nut, but she loves bikes, she likes people, and she is very good at fitting bikes for women. Also, the shop sponsors a "beer ride series" (giro de birra).
  • Silver Cycles - Montgomery Hills, near central Silver Spring. This is a good neighborhood bike shop. The woman who owns it, Linda Mack, is very nice and sensible. She's in the bike business because she loves bikes and likes people. She's an expert at fitting women, and has broad knowledge about "family-cycling."
  • Velo-Orange - Annapolis, MD. The bicycle-aesthetes around the world have been jumping up and down with increasing frequency as VO has expanded its offerings. It's not for everyone, but it sure is nice stuff, and good lookin'.

But really, you have to decide for yourself.

The Practical Cyclist is commercial-free.

References to specific companies or products at The Practical Cyclist are editorial in nature: I have received no significant goods or services in exchange for links or recommendations. Not that I'd refuse, but no one has offered. If this changes, I'll make it obvious and explicit.