December 20/23 16:55 pm - 2023 Best Bike Shops - The Winners

Posted by Editor on 12/20/23
 

We are pleased to announce the winners in our 12th annual search for the Best Shops in Canada, as chosen by you, the readers of Canadian Cyclist. Thousands of votes were cast from all across Canada - a 20% increase from last year! It's been another difficult year for small businesses across Canada, and bike shops had it extra hard.

We have gone through the ballots and broken them down by region to determine the 2023 Canadian Cyclist Best Bike Shops. A total of 44 shops from across the country have been selected - if the shop wishes to receive a certificate identifying them as the local bike shop most respected by their customers, please contact us.

Twenty two (22) shops repeated as winners - up two from last year. The two shops that have won in the previous 11 years - The Cyclery in Ottawa and Pedalhead Road Works in Edmonton - are on our list again, making them the only 12-time winners.

Over 250 shops received nominations, with many shops tweeting about the competition, or including a link to it in their newsletters and social media pages. There were many newcomers to the nomination list.

Two things shone through for all of the top ranked stores: customer service and passion for cycling, often expressed by involvement in the local community.

Congratulations to all our winners.

Here are the 2023 Canadian Cyclist Best Bike Shops. We have included a quote from a voter for each shop.

Atlantic Region

Cyclesmith Halifax - Corner Brook, Newfoundland & Labrador They treat every rider the same whether you are a seasoned athlete or a recreational cyclist. Very knowledgeable staff. Always promoting healthy and active living. The owner is awesome & treats his employees fairly with a living wage. The shop won business of the year in Halifax for its progressive employee work environment!

Cycle Solutions - Corner Brook, Newfoundland & Labrador They are all about community! They believe in the power of bikes and love getting people on the roads or trails. They also have a fantastic program for kids and started a thriving trails-stewardship group.

Explore Velo - Fredericton, New Brunswick Explore Velo is by far the best bike shop I've ever been to. Amazing customer service, Paul really wants to find the best bike for you, rather than just selling you something.

Hub Cycle - Truro, Nova Scotia The people who work there make it my favourite shop. It isn't as big as other stores but I would rather go there because they are very helpful, patient and don't put any sale pressure on me. One time they were supposed to put a bike together for me so I could see the size to buy a lower end model. I messed up the dates and came a week early. They quickly put the bike together for me so I could see what size I needed. You don't get service like that at most stores. That is why I try to buy all my bikes and supplies from them even though they are over an hour from my house. People who work there also volunteer a lot in their community. Some of them spend a lot of hours grooming the trails for others to enjoy. They are the best.

Jim's Bike Shop - Moncton, New Brunswick Jim always greets you at the door, makes you feel like family. Very personable, asking how my family is. When it comes to bikes, I get what I need done the first time. I count him and the rest of his staff as friends.

Mike's Bike Shop - Dieppe, New Brunswick They have outstanding service and really know their gear. They have always taken the time to understand how I ride so that they are guiding me on how to make my biking experience the best it can be for me and my family.

Ted's Bicycle Studio - Stratford, Prince Edward Island A small bike shop that comes in big packages. This shop does it all! From hosting weekly road/Gravel rides. They hold women's only road rides. They organize a fantastic Gravel event called the Dusty Red Gravel Grinder. They have a fantastic crew that offers excellent service. A great place to hang out and chat about bikes. The owner is nice and approachable. He's a professional bike fitter and does an excellent job at it. He actually rides and leads out a group. Imagine that.

The Spoke and Note - Windsor, Nova Scotia Very nice products. The staff are very knowledgeable and eager to help or supply with tips and advice. As a bonus, if you have to wait for a bit of service, you can pick up on of their beautiful guitars and play a tune.


Quebec

Lessard Bicycles - Quebec City The staff is really listening to your needs and takes the time with you to make sure you purchase the perfect product for you! Excellent service!

Mathieu Performance - Quebec City Great service. All the staff are passionate. It's not just sellers, it's real cyclists who pass on their passion to us.And the selection of mountain bikes is amazing.

Polo Vélo - Gatineau The team at Polo Vélo are exceptional, friendly, bilingual and your go-to bike shop at the gateway to Gatineau Park, a treasure for Canadian cycling in the Outaouais and National Capital Region. Martin and the rest of the technician team are highly experienced providing excellent service course. The shop is always well stocked and provides a welcoming atmosphere to new cyclists and elite athletes alike. Additionally, they are massive supporter of local grassroots cycling, providing opportunities and support to Quebec and Canada's next generation of elite cyclists.

Studio Vélo - Drummondville Great service. Vendeurs supers compétents ils connaissent les vélos et toutes leurs spécificités. Les mécanos sont aussi supers compétents et sympathiques. [Super competent salespeople, they know the bikes and all their specificities. The mechanics are also super competent and friendly.]


Ontario - Greater Toronto Area (GTA)

Blacksmith Cycle - Toronto Gorgeous custom bikes, super friendly & knowledgeable staff, and a super cool vibe! Also nice to see female employees working there and a culture that encourages and supports female cyclists.

Cyclepath Danforth - Toronto Casey and his crew are the most helpful and humble group of people. They are welcoming and helpful to complete beginners and able to answer technical advanced questions. Casey has done such an incredible job to contribute to the biking community in Toronto and I can't recommend these guys enough.

D'Ornellas Bike Shop - Scarborough Great personnel! Neil's a fantastic bike fitter and Kathy is a superb bike mechanic. Lori Anne and Eon know their business and clientele. Their passion is for cycling - not only making money. Poison is bad-ass too.

Giant Vaughan - Vaughan It helps the community to provide quality bikes. Robert Pamplona loves for biking is what makes Giant Vaughan the Beet Bike Store in the city. Way to go Giant Vaughan!

Velofix Hamilton - Hamilton very, very knowledgeable about makes of bikes and types of repairs.. efficient.. friendly .. good prices.. !!and mobile .. what is not to like .. we have 2 trikes and it isn't easy to get a shop that wants to accommodate .. also they will work on indoor bikes too. for example we have an airdyne that would be so hard to get to a shop.

Via Ciclante - Mississauga The team is professional and knowledgeable. They have a top bike fitter in JP who uses cutting edge technology and fits Canadian pros. They also have a national champion on staff in Scott who brings next level service. These guys are industry experts and leaders.


Ontario - East

The Cyclery - Ottawa Vince and his team are incredible! They go out of their way to solve the wildest of bike issues, get the job done efficiently, to a high degree and without any surprises at the register. The Cyclery is a great shop for beginners to the most advanced riders, they have great selection and standout as a great bike shop!

Velofix Ottawa - Ottawa They're always participating and present at races, great community support, quality service and the staff are really good at maintaining/repairing as opposed to just recommending replacing. Oh, also good fitting services.


Ontario - North

Algoma Bicycle Company - Sault Ste Marie Algoma Bikes is an amazing shop. They never try and sell you something you don't need but instead work with their customers to find out the best option for them. Recently they even started offering mechanic workshops to teach you whatever you want to learn about your bike and I can't wait to try one!

The Bike Zone Barrie - Barrie The owner Joe, and his team, take such pride in their work and in ensuring you get the right bike/part for what you need. They have built a community of riders.

Crank & Sprocket - Orillia I had my bike in another shop and they charged me a fortune and still didn't fix the problem. I took my bike to these guys and they not only fixed the problem but they didn't charge me because I had already gotten screwed over by the other shop. They are so modest, kind and knowledgeable. They are honest and not trying to take you for all you are worth. They are the real thing!

Forks Bicycle Shop - Owen Sound (formerly Erin) Brian is extremely knowledgeable and friendly. He supports the cycling community and shares information and expertise willingly. He also happens to be very competent in service and his shop rates are reasonable. He doesn't try to be everything to everyone. He stays in his lane - the bike lane.

Nielsens Bicycles - Bracebridge Matt is a great guy. Very knowledgeable. *Really* good rider yet humble, super approachable and friendly. He'll always listen to your needs and guide you right. The shop is a great place to visit and meet like minded people from the area. Their shop dog is a dear. Most of all Matt has revelled at some of the more "unique" mechanical challenges I've bought to him. No shame, just good vibes. 10/10 would highly recommend.

Parry Sound Bikes - Parry Sound Great people! (And great service and products). Aleesha, Thomas and Kevin are also amazing promoters of cycling in our community. They organize and lead two rides every week in the summer as well as several special events on weekends. They do more than entire clubs in some cities!

Velorution - Sault Ste Marie It's like the show Cheers going in! They know you by name, always smiling, knowledgeable, helpful and can always get you going quickly. Best part are the homemade cookies every Saturday morning. I stop after riding just for those!


Ontario - Southwest

Bikefit - St Catherines It supports the Milton Revolution U21 Women's team that is giving young female cyclists opportunities to race and develop as cyclists.

County Cycle - Beamsville Focused on quality and value of the brands they carry, including the whole array of Canadian manufacturers. They actively promote the sport also and motivate people to get out and ride by hosting teams in different local races as well as a casual riding group.

Cycle Culture - Tecumseh They stock a great selection of bikes that serious racers and triathletes want and all the proper accessories. They have a very friendly and approachable staff that understand the needs of serious athletes yet they love helping beginners and youngsters get into cycling. They have great mechanical expertise and can fix all types of bikes from old classics to top high end road and mountain bikes.

Outspokin Cycles - London The owner and manger and mechanics, basically the people that work there. You walk in they are welcoming and will help you out or order all that you need. They are kind and courteous its a place that if you drive by you drop in. You walk in to say hello and start a conversation and a coffee. Weekly Wednesday night rides are organized by the owner Russ with weekend rides too. It's a bike shop that you feel included and welcomed with diverse thoughts and ideas that are shared with the customer!!! Best bike shop in Ontario!!!!!.

Ziggy's Cycle - Kitchener The staff at Ziggy's is extremely supportive for youth competitive cycling. They donate shoes and helmets to the local youth cycling club (KWCA) and sponsor local races. For my sons in particular they have helped by providing a significant discount for shoes, bike parts, nutrition, and bike fitting. They have also rushed orders and repairs so we had working bikes for important races.


Manitoba/Saskatchewan

Alter Ego Sports - Winnipeg, Manitoba I've been going to this shop for close to 10 years for all my cycle and ski (alpine/nordic) needs. The staff is always very friendly, helpful, knowledgeable. It's the one shop I get excited to go to. I've always been happy with my purchases and the services. This is the shop I recommend to everyone.

Bikes & Beyond - Winnipeg, Manitoba Great staff and product knowledge. Their Essential Bike Fit service is one of the best values I've encountered even with the few componentry changes suggested, I've never felt better on my bike!

Dutch Cycle - Regina, Saskatchewan Old school/New school service. Lawrence and Fred have an amazing family of staff and customers. Every service has been an inspiration and I learned so much about my own bike. You definitely don't get dealership vibes here!

Western Cycle - Regina, Saskatchewan The staff at the shop are amazing. The shop hosts/ leads all kinds of bike related rides and events all year. The shop is extremely supportive of grass roots cycling development and racing of all disciplines. The shop has some amazing inventory of great brands as well!!


Alberta

BikeBike - Calgary The owners are strong advocates for bikes as everyday transportation. They have a ton of knowledge about ebikes and cargo bikes, and are committed to putting folks into the right bike for their lifestyle.

Bike Bros. - Cochrane I like the vibe. Very chill. Being able to check out bikes and ask bike questions without feeling like I'm opening up to sales pressure... everyone I've spoken with just seems to enjoy chatting about bikes.

Bow Cycle - Calgary I've been going to this shop for almost 20 years. They are my go to and sponsor many of our events. The owners are great people and they are a huge part of the cycling community in Calgary.

Hardcore Bikes - Edmonton The first time I went there they helped me so much and guide me through what my bike needed. I have kept going ever since and I brought multiple friends in who ended up buying new bikes from there. I also got a new bike from there! Exceptional and fair priced service always!

Pedalhead Road Works - Edmonton Guri helped us sort out my daughter's bike, and took the extra time to ensure it was ready for her to ride. He was kind, meticulous and dedicated, even when we were in a panic. I highly recommend PRW, they have the best staff I have ever encountered..... and the bikes and shop are something very special to see for every enthusiast!


British Columbia

Okanagan Bike Co. - Armstrong Okanagan Bike Co. not only has amazing products and services, the staff team is unreal. They continually support riders and their customer service us unparalleled in the industry. The staff have assisted my wife and I on various cycling needs and have always been extremely helpful and knowledgable. We have been impressed with the store and staff each time we visit. When I walk through the doors the owner makes a point to come and talk to us about how we have been doing and how the cycling season is going - and he knows everyone by name.

Norco North Shore - North Vancouver They offer the best service in the area! Griz is also a legend and runs that place better than it ever has.

Corsa Cycles - Squamish Best staff and they support DH racing! They have the best selection and are very involved with the community.

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