Editor’s note: This article was updated on March 15, 2017.
With warmer weather just around the corner, you’re probably getting ready to spend more time outside on two wheels. And if you’re like most, you probably let your bike collect dust in your garage all winter.
All your bike needs is a good clean and it’ll be ready for kilometres of cycling adventures. Generally, minor tune-ups include brake and derailleur adjustments, bearing adjustments and some cleaning. Major tune-ups offer more – they usually include a full clean and more detailed safety checks. Note that the prices at most bike stores are just for labour and don’t include any additional parts you might need.
Here are some of the best places in the city to take your bike for a tune-up and some places to learn how to do it yourself.
Leave it to the pros
Bike and Brew
This new spot in Bridgeland is part coffee shop, part bicycle and repair shop. If you’re not looking to buy a bike right now (the store sells everything from bikes for kids to commuter bikes to fancy, Tour de France-worthy bikes), you can still stop by just to get your bike serviced. Bike and Brew offers three level of tune-up package, costing $79.95, $119.95 or $214.95. After dropping off your bike for its service, stick around to browse the shop and sip on a Fratello coffee.
921 1 Ave. N.E., 587-356-2739, gobikeandbrew.ca
The Bike Shop
Whether your bike is only a year old or it’s decades old and covered in dust, the mechanics here will make sure it’s safe and ready for the road. The basic tune-up (called the Stop & Go Service here) costs $90. The Essentials service costs $140 and the full tune-up, called the Works, costs $240. The full tune-up includes special extras like new cables and housing, and will make your bike ride like it’s brand new. For all three tune-ups, new bike parts and shop supplies aren’t included in the cost.
801 11 Ave. S.W., 403-264-0735, thebikeshop.com
Bow Cycle
The mechanics here have more than 80 years of combined experience fixing and repairing bicycles. The store offers five levels of tune-up, starting at $95. New parts will cost you extra.
From October to February, the store is able to open up a service school. They offer introductory courses for beginners that teach students how to do basic road-side repairs, make basic adjustments to gears and clean the hard-to-reach parts. A more advanced “complete overhaul” course is also offered during these months.
6501 Bowness Rd. N.W., 403-288-5422, bowcycle.com
Calgary Cycle
Calgary Cycle has been around for 85 years. This bike store has three locations that offers tune-ups: two Calgary locations and one in Bragg Creek. Choose a basic service ($95), a full tune-up ($175) or a full overhaul (between $350 and $450 depending on the kind of bike).
1414 Centre St. N., 403-277-3430; 1101, 380 Canyon Meadows Dr. S.E., 403-201-4300, calgarycycle.com
The Cyclepath offers three different level of tune-up. The basic tune-up is $84.95, the tune-up plus is $129.95 and the premium tune-up is $264.95. If you’re an avid cyclist, know that weekly group rides leave from the Cyclepath North store on Wednesday evenings and Saturday mornings in the spring and summer. There are also clinics offered here – check the website for specific details on the clinics and group rides.
9176 Macleod Tr. S.E., 403-253-7717; 4112, 4112, 8650 112 Ave. N.W., 403-454-4404, thecyclepath.ca
Prime Tune Shop
This friendly community shop in Parkdale services skis and bikes. Bike tune-ups here cost between $95 and $200 depending on how much work your bike needs. The shop is located right off of the Bow River pathway, so you can ride your bike home once the servicing is finished.
7 Parkdale Cres. N.W., 403-452-2142, primeskiandbike.com
Ridley’s Cycle
As soon as you step through the doors, you’ll be helped by a knowledgeable staff member and you’ll get your bike back in a timely manner. Ridley’s offers a variety of different service packages, including the drivetrain clean ($49.99), the basic tune ($79.99) and the performance tune (from $149.99 to $169.99). There is also a Ridley’s location in Okotoks.
223 10 St. N.W., 403-283-1421, ridleys.com
SpeedTheory
For those who ride fancy road bikes, this is the place to take your bike for a tune-up. At SpeedTheory, they know how to deal with high-end bikes and will make sure your ride is race-ready. The minor tune-up costs $65 and the major tune-up costs $90.
735A 10 Ave. S.W., 403-202-1030, speedtheory.ca
Sports Rent
Take your bike here for a deal of a tune-up – complete tune-ups will only cost you $65. This is also a good store to take your bike to if you know you have one, specific problem that needs addressing. For example, changing the tire and tube will cost just $8 per wheel.
4424 16 Ave. N.W., 403-292-0077, sportsrent.ca
Mobile services
Joe’s Garage
If you ride along the Bow River pathway during the spring and summer, you’ve probably seen Joe’s Garage parked on the south side of the 10th Street LRT bridge. Depending on the weather, you’ll see this mobile bike shop between April and October, and up to five days a week. There are three levels of tune-up offered here, ranging from $60 to $135. Drop your bike at the shop in the morning and pick it up later that day. But, keep in mind that this servicing operates on a first come, first served basis.
403-874-5637, joesgarage.mobi
Nomadic Bicycle Services
Mitchell Sharpe, the owner and operator of Nomadic Bicycle Services, makes sure that getting a bike tune-up is convenient. The mobile service comes to you – tune-ups and bike repairs can be done at your home, where you work, or really anywhere that can be accessed by the mobile shop. Tune-ups range from $75 to $100, and that includes the cost of part installation. If you need something special done (like cable replacement or a hub overhaul or getting a bike built from scratch), get in touch with Nomadic Bicycle Services for a quote.
403-999-2397, nomadicbicycle.com
Velofix
Sometimes, taking your bike to the shop isn’t the most convenient. Velofix makes getting your bike serviced really, really easy. And it doesn’t matter what kind of bike you ride, because Velofix can service them all. (Prices range depending on what you ride and what kind of servicing you’d like.) It’s a mobile bike shop and you can book your appointment online. The mobile shop will arrive at your home (or wherever you want the servicing to take place) and the tune-up is done right there in the mobile shop. These tune-ups will take anywhere from one hour to two hours, and you’re more than welcome to stick around to learn what the mechanic is doing.
Learn to do it yourself
Good Life Community Bike Shop
Take a workshop, use the tools here to fix up your own bike or donate your used bike. Every Wednesday, this location hosts Gender Equality Magic Night, which is where women, transgendered individuals and non-binary individuals can learn basic bike mechanics skills in a safe environment.
There are also full-service options here now if things don’t go as well as you’d like when you’re doing the work yourself. The basic tune-up costs $40 and the intermediate tune-up costs $75.
2100 4 St. S.W., 403-984-4727, goodlifebikes.ca
Lifecycle Community Bike Shop
This is a community bike shop in Bowness and a friendly environment for fixing up your own bike with the tools provided. Hours are limited though – check their Facebook page for more details.
8144 34 Ave. N.W., facebook.com
Mountain Equipment Co-op
MEC’s bike courses are popular and fill up fast, so you’ll probably need to book a few weeks in advance. Here, there are courses that teach students how to fix a flat tire, how to clean derailleurs, how to personalize your bike and how to adjust brakes. Bike courses are offered about once a week and they cost between $10 and $20. MEC also offers free safety inspections.
830 10 Ave. S.W., 403-269-2420, mec.ca