Boise Bicycle Project

The folks at Boise Bicycle Project are knowledgeable about bikes and seem to emphasize bicycle education. I have been coming in on Fridays to fix my bike and take their member classes. I finally feel that I can routinely work on a bike without much help now. Full bicycle competence is coming into reach thanks to BBP. They also seem to be doing a good job balancing Sales with customer service. I can always find knowledgeable help here.

BBP is one of my favorite places in Boise. The staff are knowledgeable but welcoming. I always get good advice about my bike, and the mechanics go the extra mile to help me understand how my bike actually works and how best to take care of it. Plus, every purchase goes to an organization that makes incredible positive impact on the community.

We have purchased two bicycles here for my wife and son and the staff were very helpful. I also brought my own bicycle in and received assistance from the mechanics. I am a novice to bike repair and the mechanics didn’t make me feel bad/​ashamed for being inexperienced with repair work or that the repairs were so simple (I could have done them at home in 3 minutes).
I support non-​profits that have good financials, great mission and serve the community with vigor. For these reasons, I have given money and plan to give time to the BBP.

I walked in this place only knowing how to adjust my bicycle seat. I literally didn’t even know how to hang my bike in the repair stand. They have hands on training with people that actually care. Sometimes these guys get busy and they are not by your side at all times, but that is the point. If you get stuck with something they will lead you through the process. Most bike places turn their nose up when you mention the words: Used Bike.
This is not the best place if you are looking to just watch someone fix your bike. This is a place where people show you how to properly maintain/​customize/​repair your bike. i just moved to Boise from San Francisco, and this is one of the coolest concepts when you take a second and actually think about what they are trying to accomplish.
This is an organization helping the homeless man, the rich yuppy from New York, the redneck with jorts, Lance Armstrong’s cousin or the struggling college student. It is a place for all to have a dependable ride at an affordable price. This organization is improving the Boise Community in many aspects, so I really don’t understand some of these sketchy reviews. Thanks BBP!

The purpose of having a place like this is so that people can go in to fill their bike tires up or even learn how to give your own bike a tune up. I mean, it’s a nonprofit bike shop that is suppose to be for the communities best of interest… Right? But you really get is some pretentious a$!holes. When you go into a location that was begun with the motto, «How can we make bicycles and bicycle education available to the entire community?» Well, I’ll give you an example of the hello you get when you walk into the door… Yeah silence is about it, but you do get a sassy look from one of the paid staff. What a way to walk into a place that is suppose to be helping you! I could only imagine a person that knows nothing about a bike and is shy to learn about them walking into this place.
I will begin with my last two experiences at Boise Bike Project:
I walked in to a big woman sitting in a chair that just eyed me all wrong without greeting me or even saying anything. I asked, «can I use a bike pump real quick, cause I think my bike pump just shot the s^|t and didn’t pump my tires up adequately.» She was not busy btw, but she had time to roll her eyes and point to the bike pump leaning against the wall. I guess I was in the wrong and definitely felt uncomfortable to use their bike pump that is free at every bike shop in Boise!
Second time going into BBP, I was looking for a bike part and I was going to have them assist me with some bike maintenance. They were busy with a couple of people, so I just asked for the bike part and was pointed in the direction of the bolt bins. I bring my dog with me everywhere I go… Mainly cause she is a SERVICE DOG! Now because I let my dog be a dog, I will not put her vest on unless she is required to for a location of business or whatever. Just so you know, I have PTSD from being Army Infantry for 6 years and spending 2 of which in the Middle East, so taking a service dog with me everywhere is legally legit. She was not identified as a service dog at the time so I won’t press anymore on the topic. Jimmy brings his dog to work on a daily basis and his dog is not friendly, matter fact, that dog tried attacking my service dog. When I asked who’s dog it was everyone acted like I didn’t say anything and kept doing what they were doing like nothing happened, so I began to leave and that freaken dog tried to attack my dog again on the way out. I don’t think a good citizen of the community should have this issue at a nonprofit. This especially when this topics was brought up later to the owner (Jimmy Ha) of the dog was brought to the attention of the matter and his response was, «I don’t understand why people bring their dogs to the shop all the time?» To that statement I say, «You take your dog to work almost everyday you dumba$$!» I actually think my service dog is smarter than this guy. Sorry, guess I shouldn’t talk about the founder of this establishment like that. Maybe a founder should apologize for the actions of his people and beast instead of diverting the blame into somebody else’s problem while in a conversation with a person that has concern about his establishment.
I am a avid cyclist that can give a normal person advice about where to buy, fix, or work on your bike around town without using BBP. So I will leave my personal email if anyone needs assistance. My goal is to have this establishment reform or close down. I will not be treated like this ever again!

Anyone who claims to have had a bad experience here must have a chip on their shoulder or misunderstand what the BBP is. The shop is like a thrift store for bike parts, and the membership is an amazing community of volunteers working to empower people to ride and understand their bikes. Sure, sometimes things don’t work perfectly – they are used (and a deal)! But help is always swift, friendly, and genuine. This is one of the institutions that makes Boise wonderful. Long may they keep patching tires and giving away bikes to kids.

Owner/​Founder is extremely rude, very unprofessional individual. Told another one of his fellas that he had already answered my question and what do I think that please was. I have seen a few people mad because the bikes that were sold to them, that were junk and not what they say they were. Parts you buy brake, the somewhat good ones are to expensive to pay for. Anyway I am done with this place. I wish I could take my 50 $ or something membership money back cause I feel like robed.

I have a hard time understanding how there are so many bicycle shops open in Boise when BBP exists. I love my 1960s Schwinn road bike as much as the next hipster, and this place always keeps my beloved up and rollin’. What is so fantastic about BBP is they actively engage their customers in the repairing process. You stand with the staff member in the back, helping them tighten/​loosen parts. If you’re more advanced, they let you take the reigns even more. They charge $ 10/​hr +parts for non-​members. I usually walk out of there spending under $ 15, for issues that made my bicycle unusable. I’m a happy girl! I know any other bike shops in the area, I wouldn’t be so lucky.
The staff is SO kind, and SO competent. I always have a pleasant experience here. You can tell they want this city to love bikes as much as they do. I’m a huge fan of local non-​profits, and BBP is such a beautiful example of a non-​profit done right. I’m so proud to have my bicycle worked on here, and I’m so proud to have a business like this in Boise.
*Keep in mind that this place is getting more and more popular. In Spring and Summer, the wait may be a little while. Go on an afternoon where you don’t have concrete plans 1 hour later.

This is such a great bike shop. Marc, Jimmy, Nate, Cass and Andrew are so helpful and knowledgeable, and they will help you fix your bike up in a flash. And you get to help fix your bike, so next time it breaks down you may know how to fix it yourself.