The Hub Bike Co-operative

Came here to pick up a bike I had out on hold. The guy who helped me was very friendly and answered all my questions. He helped me get my bike set up with lights, helmet, ect. I would definitely come back here.

I am highly saddened and disappointed with the treatment my partner and I recently received at both this Hub location and the one on Minnehaha.
Last fall, my boyfriend purchased his bike from the 401 Oak Hub location (inside a parking ramp at the U of MN). He had done a lot of research and pretty much knew exactly which bike he wanted, so we didn’t require much assistance, but the employees who did help us were nice enough, and he loves his bike.
Now, let me say I have neither owned nor ridden a bike since I’ve been old enough to drive. I am completely clueless about bikes, but I’ve been wanting one for a long time, I just wasn’t prepared to shell out a lot of money, and really didn’t know which type of bike would be best for me. But my boyfriend did some more research, and found a few different bikes at The Hub that he thought would suit my needs. It’s a good thing he did, because we got zero assistance from the employees at The Hub.
We first checked the Minnehaha store last Tuesday evening, as it is only a short walk from our house. We spent a good 20 – 30 minutes there and found several models we liked, however were never greeted or acknowledged, despite the fact that there were numerous employees working and only two other customers in the store. I came ready to buy a bike, but with no offer of assistance, walked out bike-​less and feeling a little miffed.
After doing more online researching, we found a couple other bike options at this 401 Oak location, and came in last Thursday to check them out. I picked one, took it for a test spin, all the while laughing at myself for my awkwardness and lack of coordination (not unexpected, seeing as how I was on a road bike and my last bike experience was with a cheap mountain bike 15 years ago). They didn’t have the particular color bike I wanted built, so the sales guy told me they’d call me the next day when it was ready to be picked up. We left, and as we got in the car I realized I’d forgotten to ask them to validate our parking (for the record — they do not). I dashed back in and as I came around the corner, I overheard the two employees making fun of how dumb and shallow they thought I was (I had made some jokes about wanting a bike to match my purse). As soon as they saw me, they looked horrified and immediately stopped talking. I was extremely embarrassed, but brushed it off – I hadn’t had any luck finding what I wanted anywhere else, and was tired of having to sit at home while my boyfriend and all our friends went on biking adventures.
I received a call the following day that my bike was ready, and yesterday I went to pick it up. There were two female employees (who appeared to be technicians, not salespeople) and one male employee working (Evan). It was Evan that assisted us directly. No complaints on him.
One of the female techs made it her business to speak VERY rudely to my boyfriend the entire time we were there, but particularly so as we were in the process of purchasing the bike with Evan. Evan asked us if we had shopped with them before, and I said yes my boyfriend had bought a bike with them last fall, but this was my first bike I’d bought from them. This woman then very loudly interjected (from 30 feet away, in a store packed with people) «Do NOT put the bike in his name! If you have any problems with it, or it gets stolen and the police need to contact you, it needs to be IN YOUR NAME.» Wait, wait, wait. Take a seat, b****. You do NOT know the nature of our relationship. Nor is it any of your business, nor do we need to explain to you that we are domestic partners, we have a joint checking account, what’s his is mine and mine is his, therefore no matter what, if anything, «happens» to my bike, either one of us would be able to handle it. Clearly, you’re a man-​hater. Or perhaps you have a problem with the fact that we’re an interracial couple? Which is it? **** OFF. Stunned, my boyfriend just mumbled «well, I’m going to remain indifferent on that point.»
As we loaded my new wheels into the car and drove home, the shock of how we were treated really hit us. The excitement I felt over my new bike was seriously dampened by the highly unprofessional treatment we received. I spent hundreds of dollars on that bike; a big investment for me. I am so upset I’m seriously considering returning it.

I went to this Bike Center inside the Oak Street Parking Ramp. A nut that holds my rear tire in place had loosened during my ride in to school and it was so out of alignment that it was stopping the bike, and I was without any tools. So I carried my bike over to The Hub.
It was about 8:30am and there was only one person sitting by the computer and he was terribly unhelpful, seemed like he was not used to people actually coming in. So I filled out a short form that stated what was wrong, then left the bike there.
About 3 hours later I got an email saying the bike was fixed, and here’s the best part, THERE WAS NO CHARGE! THIS WAS TOTALLY FREE! So I went back, the guy who fixed it was very nice and explained what was wrong with the bike, and how to keep it from happening again, then I rode away with a bike that worked perfectly.
The people who fix the bikes here are real riders, they know what they’re doing, they have a passion for fixing and riding bikes, and they’re very knowledgeable. I would definitely go here again, and can’t recommend it highly enough.