Harris Cyclery

I was astonished at how uninterested the salesman was in selling me the right bike for my needs. When he greeted me and asked me what I was looking for, I told him I was interested in purchasing a hybrid bike. He immediately pointed out a pretty, light blue bike with cheap components and flimsy frame. He didn’t ask any questions regarding my primary purpose in purchasing a bike or whether I would be using the bike for on or off road use. Additionally, he assumed I was only purchasing a bike for recreational use and never asked about my price range. When I told him, I currently own a high end trek bike, he dished the Trek company and told me that Trek was only interested in selling over priced bikes and that they did a poor job of repairing bikes. A very stupid comment for 1 very incompetent salesman. I will not be purchasing my next bike from Harris Cyclery!

These guys let me dig through many boxes of parts when I was building a bike a few years ago. It was awesome!

File Under: What Would Sheldon Do?
Once in a while I make a trip down to see some other Rivendell models up close and to look over the Bianchis. I enjoy browsing the Gilles Berthoud handlebar bags and marvel at the prices. I purchase parts and supplies here too because they supply some classic stuff like cloth bar tape and I like to support retail shops. I have nostalgia for the cramped little shop around the corner from my house growing up in a small town in New England. Harris keeps their inventory almost as cramped — but the shop doesn’t have that old smell of rubber and grease like I remember.
Today however, this place lost a couple of stars simply because of what I observed when a mechanic dismissed a father who brought his kid’s «department store bike» in for service.
The mechanic refused to tune up the cheap full suspension department store bike because the price of the service «wasn’t worth the money».
And that would’ve been ok after the father acknowledged the dismissal without complaint — but the mechanic couldn’t help but continue to tell the father what a waste of money he made: «these bikes are designed like shit, built like shit, hold adjustments like shit, and we refuse to be liable for it after it leaves our shop.»
I may still make the pilgrimage to see Rivendell’s but that attitude doesn’t make the place seem special anymore.

Went in for a helmet and an employee helped me get a good fit with my giant head. It was also cheaper then two of the chain sporting goods stores I tried before I found this place. I didn’t realize until after that it was the same store Sheldon Brown worked at but I would have patronized it anyway as everyone was very friendly and willing to help.

I have a 15 year old bike that hasn’t been ridden in over 10 years. I stopped in today to get new tires installed and they took care of me right away. They were very professional. Considering the tires on my old bike were 10 years old, it wasn’t easy mounting the new tires due to the age of the rims, but they worked hard to ensure a proper fit. Keep up the good work!

I love riding my bike. The crazy kind of love that involves superhero spandex outfits and cleats that make walking nearly impossible without looking like a duck. I road race on weekends in the early summer and cyclocross race in the fall. Despite what may be the perception of racing, we don’t have sponsors that pay for bikes, coaches, massages, hotel rooms etc. Unless you’re a pro – even then the perks are few – especially for women, separate issue. I have a few bikes and spend a bunch of money keeping them in working order. My team is not located in the area so I go to Harris for all of my basic needs. Harris is great. Period. This review mostly gives props to the mechanics.
Harris has been prompt with service and reasonable with price. I’ve NEVER had an issue with mechanical malfunctions after they service my bike. They special order parts for me and yes, I have to wait for them to come in and then wait longer for them to be installed. That’s how it works.
This shop is the farthest thing from a pretentious race shop but the mechanics know their stuff. Message me for a list of shops where the staff will REALLY treat you poorly! The shop does house a great selection of parts to service dated bikes. That doesn’t mean they have EVERY random part for every vintage bike with odd sized wheels and frame ever made.
Listen folks, you have to know what you want and need sometimes before headed into a place. I’ve seen some of the rust-​bucket-​crap bikes that come into the shop with their owners insisting they get fixed and are heartbroken to hear that the bike they’ve neglected and left out in the rain is unserviceable. If you haven’t started caring for your bike, start over.
And I’m sorry, just because you have a «vintage» bike from 1973 doesn’t mean that it’s special or serviceable. It would most likely be better suited as a wall ornament. Get a new bike for peet sakes! You’ll be shocked at how far the technology has come and how much safer, comfortable and faster a new quality bike will be. They have new bikes at Harris too, great line of Giant bikes and other sweet brands.

So incredibly grateful for this shop for saving me! My bike was left nearby unlocked and a sales associate let me buy a lock over the phone and then locked up my bike for me. So happy to receive such great customer service, thank you again!

I have bought special parts from this shop when Sheldon Brown was still alive, about ten years ago I guess. I think I called and spoke to him directly and was very pleased with the conversation and thought he was respectful and professional.
I have called since then a few times and not met with much success, and even tho I was able to order some parts I was not ever able to get any suggestions or advice about my bike. I have a 1981 Raleigh Tourist DL and it has very large (28 ½ inch) wheels and a completely enclosed chain guard. Since these bikes aren’t really made anymore I have had some trouble getting things fixed and repaired and in short sometimes I need some help. I know this is a busy shop (I guess) but it had such a good history when Mr. Harris was there and now — who can we go to for specialty help?
There are actually other places around the country who were happy to help me and I found them incredibly respectful and perceptive. I found one in the mid-​west that will always have my business and devotion because of their superb (free!) customer service and friendliness.
To the current owners, please learn from your reviews and try and be the friendly and supportive store this used to be under Mr. Harris. I was treated very roughly the few times I called recently and brushed off as if I was an inconvenience and a ‘bother.’

This legendary bike shop is a treasure. Around the world people know Sheldon Brown for his extensive knowledge and documentation of bicycle technical manuals. He has sadly passed but his spirit lives on through the many expert mechanics that man the open service area at Harris. These are truly experts in bicycle mechanics and customer service. No other bike shop will provide explanations and demonstrations while they fix your bike in ten minutes after walking in. No other bike shop has the expertise about diagnosing issues, fine tuning mechanisms, and supplying the parts for any and all bikes. They can fix antiques to ten speeds to modern race bikes.
The shop itself is not inspiring. If you’re looking for the hottest bikes on the wall or the most swag, go to Wheel Works or Landrys. However, Harris provides the best value, and they will sort through catalogues with you and find anything you need, taking the time to differentiate between what you need and what other shops and retailers will try to sell you. They will tell you when a low cost item is just as good as a higher priced one. They will stop you from wasting money.
I’ve never had a bad experience here. When I needed a seat post shim because my 1980s ten speed frame was stretching, they did it in ten minutes and didn’t charge me for the coke can they used to do it (or the labor). When the seat clamp on my mountain bike went they replaced it for free because I had just purchased the bike there; there were no questions asked, they heard I bought the bike from them and they took responsibility for installing it slightly loose which caused the premature failure. They then explained what they did wrong and in five minutes I was understanding how to not make the same mistake. After I installed a new crankset they explained how to reposition my front dérailleur so it shifted better; no charge for that either. When I wanted to realign my chainrings to get a more efficient chain line, they tested two or three bottom bracket widths for me before I installed. They charged me only for the parts; no labor cost. When I asked for new brake cables they stopped me from wasting money. They adjusted the cables that were on the bike and again, for free, fixed the bike to function better. When I went in for a seat post bolt the mechanic noticed my cable housing on my rear mech was slightly short. He quickly cut new cable housing and explained how I could replace it when I got home; upon checking out, the guy at the register told me the cable housing wasn’t long enough to have me pay for it. So again, free. I’m always giving the mechanics small tips because over the years they have given me so much information about fixing bikes and have saved me so much money on labor cost by teaching me to do things oh my own. This place is the best.

Took my five year old in to get a new bike. Sales person was super helpful. The guy who did the tube up did an extra good job because he said that the bike had gotten out of alignment. They give you 50% of the purchase price back when you upgrade to a new bike. No used bikes for sale which is the only reason no fifth star.

Hands down the worst customer service I have ever experienced. If you’re a bike afficianado or shop online, then maybe this is the place for you, but if you’re an everyday cyclist with a beater bike, stay away.
I’ve had the same great bike for almost a decade, and this spring it was stolen and recovered in fairly bad shape. I took it to Harris to get it fixed up. After waiting 5 minutes at the service counter watching a mechanic work work on a bike (there was no line), he asked someone else to help me. I told the guy what had happened, he said that it was in bad shape, but they would do what was needed to get it back on the road. I got the distinct impression that they were not interested in working on my bike, that my old steel frame was beneath them to work on.
When I returned 2 weeks later to pick it up, I was told that the mechanic had insisted that before I could pick it up I needed to sign a hand written note on the back of my slip saying that I had been informed that the frame was rusted and it was unsafe. For starters, this is in very poor taste and unprofessional. Secondly, if they were going to make this request, the time for them to have done it would have been before they did the repairs. Taking someone’s money for repairs and then insisting that they sign a note saying that the bike is unrideable — really?
–david

Buying a bike often comes down to which brands a shop carries, what they have in stock, and prices. So I rarely judge a shop on bike sales, but rather service. I spend a lot of time in bike shops, as I rotate several commuters and a road bike. I’m always fixing something or needing something bike-​related.
I do a lot of my own maintenance, but when I have a problem where I need expert advice, a special part, or I need a quick fix, Harris is always my go-​to shop. They can get busy on weekends, but they do the best to do simpler fixes while you wait and they offer you straight advice, never trying to sell you on a part or a service you don’t need. And these guys are passionate about bikes and cycling but without the snobbery you’ll get in some other shops.

I was in the market for a new mountain bike. So I gave this bike shop a shot. I was very satisfied with the service. I end up buying Raleigh Talus mountain bike. They let me test drive a few bikes before I bought Raleigh. I would recommend this bike shop to anyone.
A++++

I have to say first that the sales staff were relatively pleasant and very willing to sell me a bike.
That being said, I got the feeling that they were a bit prejudiced against either women and/​or people of color. Unfortunately, as someone looking to purchase a Brompton, I fall into both of those categories.
Prior to driving from my home in Quincy, MA, I did extensive research on the bicycle I wanted on the Brompton website. The price quoted was 3 grand (I had no problem with this, as I paid 2,000 for my Antbike). They had Bromptons in stock, and I was thoroughly pleased to finally see one up close and personal.
I know you’re probably thinking:
She has money to spend.
They have the bikes she wants.
My problem with Harris Cyclery is:
They NEVER OFFERED ME A TEST RIDE.
What shop doesn’t offer a test ride when trying to make a sale?
I would not ever consider purchasing a car without first driving it. Hell, I was halfway up the street on my Antbike two minutes after Mike Flanigan (shout out) showed it to me. I spoke with Harris’ ‘Brompton guy’ for almost ten minutes before he routed me over to the sales desk for a quote on a new bike. That was done by ME, at HOME, long before I entered their shop. At that point, I had already made up my mind to purchase my bike SOMEWHERE ELSE.
I don’t know if the folks at Harris Cyclery read these reviews, but, if they do, maybe they will learn a basic tenet of customer service:
Even though people are different, our money is universal (same color and unisex).
Treat EVERYONE the same.
Maybe they won’t lose any more potential customers.

Nice family run bike business. Good selection of adult bikes and they have a great repair service. I always get answers to my gearing issues there. They can be alittle pricey on some work and items but you will never walk out of there wondering why you have gone there for service. They are top notch. Parking in the area is tough so drive to the back of the store and use the metered parking spaces.

Snobbery central. I went to Harris when looking for a new, possibly custom, touring bike. They said online they sell one of the frames I was intersted in, so off to Harris I went. Explained this to the salesman/​manager. He refused to show this or discuss this with me and instead showed me an off the rack bike I could have seen at a lot of other bike shops without driving 30 miles. He was rude the whole time (maybe 5 of his precious minutes). Then he had one of his minions take over. She was a little less rude, but not any more helpful.
Apparently 40– something women who cycle a lot don’t fit this store’s profile? I spent my $ 3k elsewhere.
Too bad there is not a zero star rating.

What a great in-​store experience!
Great service. Relaxed. Not pushy. Honest.
Everyone was helpful.
They sized all our helmets, made helpful suggestions and asked pertinent questions regarding our bicycle purchase. They weren’t trying to sell us the most expensive bike — they wanted to know our needs and made suggestions based on our responses.
I highly recommend Harris — Take the time to visit the store.

The Dude told himself that if any of the staff recognized his Black Sabbath Vol. 4 shirt as an icon of importance, he’d buy a bike from them. Upon entering the place, one of the floor people immediately commented that it was indeed one of his favorite albums of all time. I was committed.
Now, The Dude had done a fair amount of reading online from Sheldon Brown’s huge catalog of cycling lore. He’d been assured that Harris was the place to buy a touring bike from friends with more cycling knowledge than himself. But besides the Sabbath loving sales dude, the experience was not what I anticipated.
Like Belmont Wheel Works, I felt I wasn’t spending enough money in the place to rate any serious attention though I was dropping $ 1500. They didn’t even offer to show me other bikes in the price range or style. There was a certain amount of impatience surrounding the process of finding the right frame size for me. I felt rushed when I was picking out pedals and fenders. I received no discount on accessories. They seemed unhappy that I chose to have them put the pedals and fenders on. When I returned to pick up the bike, it was with reserved coolness that they delivered it to me. There was no «thank you» and no mention of a free tune up.
I have to give them at least two stars because they have some really beautiful bikes, but they obviously don’t need my business, and that’s cool, man.

I have become disillusioned with some of the other, closer, larger bike shops in the area. What I have read on Unilocal about Wheelworks, for instance, I have found increasingly to be true. Poor attitude, deliberate misinformation, etc.
Over the last few weeks, I have been to maybe a dozen different bike shops in Massachusetts and New Hampshire as I have been doing thorough research before buying my first road bike. The main thing for me was to get the right bike. Of course, getting a good deal and dealing with good people were the ideal.
I found all three at Harris Cyclery. Today, I purchased a bike there that I have ridden elsewhere and priced extensively. At Wheelworks, the price is $ 50 ABOVE the MSRP for the bike, and when you try to negotiate there, they act offended.
At Harris Cyclery, the EXACT SAME BIKE is priced at $ 20 below MSRP, and before I had a chance to inquire about price flexibility (we’re talking about a $ 1400 bike here) I was offered a $ 100 discount on this 2011 model, as the 2012’s will be arriving soon. So, do the math: $ 170 less than Wheelworks for the exact same bike. And with friendly people who are polite and interested in helping you.
From where I live, there are a half dozen bike shops that are closer than this one in West Newton. I don’t care. This is my only bike shop from now on.

I’ve struggled with finding a good bike shop in Bean town. Let’s do a little recap:
Cambridge Bicycle: go here if you like hipsters who don’t know anything about bicycles turning their noses up at you
Boston Bicycle: See Cambridge Bicycle, but for some reason not *quite* as bad
Ace Wheelworks: Too busy, mixed levels of competence among employees — some great experiences here, but some really bad ones as well.
Belmont Wheelworks: See Ace Wheelworks
Landry’s: Overpriced.
These are the ones I’ve dealt the most with. Harris is where I bought my bicycle, and even though it’s the most out of the way of the bunch for me, it’s the one that I will continue to try to frequent the most. I mean — Sheldown Brown (RIP) used to work here — what more do you really need to know? All the people I’ve dealt with here have been incredibly knowledgeable. I had one question I asked people at Ace Wheelworks, Cambridge Bicycle, and Boston Bicycle — and none of them knew it. Jon at Harris answered it immediately like I had asked him the time of day.
Their prices are good, and they don’t charge an arm and a leg for labor. This morning I called three shops (Landrys, Belmont Wheelworks, and Harris) with regards to having some work done on my bicycle. Landrys was more than double what Belmont said, and Belmont was 20% more than Harris. When I had it done at Harris they actually charged me about 25% less than what they said they would.
If I had a complaint about them — it’d be their location. That’s it. Go here.