Ferrara Cycle Shop

I had to come to this place sometimes for a flat. It’s really the only place around Bensonhurst. I do feel though its been hit or miss with the owner. Sometimes, if its a small thing like a flat, its been very easy to fix. Other times, if there are other questions, problems, then there may be some hesitation. If you’re in need of something small, come here. That’s my suggestion. Also, I would like to add, I’ve never detected any sort of racism from the owner. It’s a bike shop and he’s just there doing a service for others in the neighborhood — which is commendable, actually.

Vehicle: 2003 Raleigh C700, 700c Hybrid bike
Experience: After reading the previous Unilocal reviews, I decided to give the Ferrara Cycle Shop a try today. All I really needed was a new tube for my rear tire so there was little risk involved if the service was as bad as I’ve read.
As I first walked in I queued behind an elderly customer trying to convince the the shop owners in broken English to change his brake cable for $ 2. Understandably, they gave him the cold shoulder for wasting their time and were clearly frustrated trying to make out what else he was saying.
The manager side-​stepped him and greeted me with a «Can I help you sir?» I explained what I needed and inquired about prices. He advised that the tube would be $ 6+ change, if installed it would be a total of $ 12. I agreed.
The work took about 7 minutes (I was in no rush) and wound up spending another 10 minutes chatting with manager & mechanic about bike accessories and models. The chit chat was pleasant and they seemed to know their stuff. I appreciated the unhurried manner and that they weren’t pushy or trying to bloke smoke up my you-​know-​what to sell anything. These guys were adults not kids striving to make an extra $ 5.
One of my brake cables had started to become frayed (but held up), and since I was curious as to how offensive the previous customer had been, I asked for a repair estimate. He offered $ 12 and added that the cable looked good enough to last for a while so it wasn’t critical. Honesty –rare for any business transaction in the Big Apple.
The owner said that the shop had been open for around 80 years. I could see that since it seemed like a classic, no nonsense bike shop –not a place where they get into the finer points of frame geometry, or argue over cliff bars vs creatine for endurance.
All in all it was a pleasant, easy-​going, experience for me without any pressure to buy any extras (which I loathe). As I examined a $ 30 accessory he offered to reduce the price by $ 4 for me. I think it pays to act friendly and reasonable rather than an entitled, demanding customer.
Note: no hints of racism during the visit (as mentioned by previous reviewers). To be fair, there are a lot of immigrants in the area (predominantly Asian) who might not speak English well enough to be understood by many. Communication problems are always frustrating.
Soapbox warning: To call someone «racist» is a serious accusation. I’ve found true racism to be rare in NYC –and I’ve lived here my whole life.
PS Before your cultural sensitivity Geiger counter starts clicking you should know that I’m Black and was married to an American Born Chinese woman for 4 years. And yes it was a pain in the ass to understand her well educated parents’ arrhythmic, clipped, tonal accents. I’m sure my monotone Cantonese was just as frustrating for them.
Peace!

I am still mad with this cycle shop and here I am writing this review at 5 in the morning.
I brought a brand new bike to the shop for basic tune up. The owner seems friendly, but the work he did was totally ridiculous.
1. The front brake was not tightened at all. I brought it back immediately and the owner tightened it. How can you miss the brake for a tune up?
2. A few low gears are not shifting smoothly. The chain is also rubbing on the front dérailleur cage and making noise. The tail is too far inward and making the gears shifting poorly. The bike chain derailed in a few minutes and I brought it back again. The owner gave me a «Oh You again, stupid noob» face. It’s not helping when another old guy there telling me to read a manual. So I left as I didn’t want to be embarrassed for being new to cycling. I went back home and adjusted the cable tension after watching a few youtube videos and fixed the gear shifting issue.
3. Both of the pedals were not tightened. I rode it for less than 15 minutes and the right pedal broke. Half of the thread is damaged and the crankset is toasted. I checked the left pedal. It’s loose as well. I didn’t give him a time limit or make any request. I was nice and I even asked if he wanted me to pay first. I just don’t understand how can he did his job so poorly. It’s almost like the owner was trying to kill me for no reason.
Seriously, WTF? If I know how to fix a bike, why would I spend my hard earned $ 40 for a tune up? Not to mention now I need to get a new crankset and probably need to spend at least $ 50 to get it repaired. My wife said I should bring the bike back and ask for refund, but I really don’t feel like arguing with the old man.
So, if you want some cheap parts and accessories, you may try this bike shop. I would stay very far away for repair/​tuneup even it’s in my neighborhood.
I ll be back for another tune up when I need to commit suicide.

BEWARE! racist against asians! my mother brought a kids bike to have the tire fixed and they gave her such a hard time. you do not call your customers «stupid» and you do not make racist remarks. seriously absurd.

For my 100^th review I’ve decided to give a redeeming one.
I came in here on a BEAUTIFUL Saturday afternoon during Memorial Day weekend after attempting to get my bike tuned up at the very busy Bicycle Station in downtown Brooklyn. I called Ferrara’s after being told my bike wouldn’t be ready until Tuesday (due to high volume) at the Bicycle Station and the owner told me to bring it in and he’d have it out in 40 minutes. Sure enough he installed a new tube, two new tires, and adjusted my gears for me in no time. Charged me $ 20 (I previously bought the tires elsewhere) and I was ready to ride.
Service was fine — he even let me know that I could have gotten the tires at his shop for the same price I got them on Amazon (which made me feel a little bad — I prefer to help out the little guys), but that I made a good choice when it came to the tires I got.
I’d definitely recommend Ferrara’s to others and next time my bike needs some adjusting I’ll be happy to bring it back.

Went in looking for a used bike, or ideas on how to make my current bike work for me. There were two guys in the back watching a movie when I came in. They didnt see me at first, then Bob (Ferrara) got up to help me.
I have a single-​gear cruiser w a coaster brake, it is heavy and slow and doesnt stop very quickly (hurts my knees too). He doesn’t sell used bikes anymore, so I asked about putting a handbrake on my bike. He said «Your bike already has a brake.» as if he thought I was being nonsensical.
I was disappointed in his lack of interest in helping me problem-​solve. That’s something I look for in a bike shop… ideas, options. I never got the brake since I wanted to think up other solutions or see some bikes first, so I can’t speak to the quality of work. I did think it was annoying that he couldn’t do anything until tomorrow. He even said «pick it up tomorrow» to someone for a tube change, though he was just watching a movie. Guess that’s just how he rolls.

Not the friendliest service I’ve seen. Apart from that, I came in for a minor adjustment on the seat and rear brakes.
I probably should have checked on the work done. I later discovered that the guy left the rear brakes rubbing.
Even though this shop is in my neighborhood, I’d only come back for emergencies.