Eugene bike shop directory

If you notice any information amiss on this page, have something you think should be added or take issue with anything I’ve written here, send me a note: eugenebicyclist [at] gmail [dot] com.

Arriving by Bike

• Address/phone: 27o5 Willamette St. / 541-484-5410
• Website: arrivingbybike.com
• Hours: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday; noon to 5 p.m. Sunday; closed Tuesday
• About: Specializes in cycling-as-transportation — that is, commuting gear, freight bikes, cargo bikes, panniers, etc. I have made a couple of big-ticket purchases here, including an Xtracycle kit and some rain gear. Nice shop, helpful people.

Blue Heron Bicycles

• Address/phone: 877 E. 13th Ave. / 541-343-2488
• Website: www.bicycleshopeugene.com
• Hours: 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday to Friday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday; noon to 5 p.m. Sunday
• About: I always thought of Blue Heron as just “that campus bike shop.” I don’t really know what I meant by that, but I’ve been in there a couple of times lately and have been greeted by super friendly and helpful employees. They say they specialize in the repair of vintage bikes. I’ve never used that service, but judging by the numbers of retro bikes I see rolling around campus, I don’t doubt this.

Collin’s Cycle Shop

• Address/phone: 60 E. 11th Ave. / 541-342-4878
• Website: collinscycleshop.wordpress.com
• Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday;  9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday; closed Sunday
• About: As I understand it, the people who own Hutch’s (see below) own Collin’s, too. For some reason I don’t go in Collin’s that much, but I did buy a Groupon that lured me in there. I bought a new pair of shoes and some fenders. One of the employees was very patient with me as I tried on several pairs of shoes, hemmed and hawed, couldn’t make up my mind, and then finally chose a pair — all while my kids were dragging bikes around and causing trouble. So they get bonus points for putting up with all that.

Eugene Bicycle Works

• Address/phone: 455 W. First Ave. / 541-683-3397
• Website: www.catoregon.org/?page_id=15
• Hours: noon to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday
• About: This isn’t a traditional bike shop. It’s part of a nonprofit called the Center for Appropriate Transport. If you like to work on your own bike but don’t have tools, you can rent space at CAT by the hour and use their bike stands and tools — and also get help from staff. They also sell all manner of used parts — which is pretty much self-serve. If you are the kind of person who likes clawing through 5-gallon buckets full of used brake levers, this is the place for you. You might find what you need, you might not. If you do, the price will be right. They also sell a small selection of new components, lower end stuff that is very reasonably priced. Don’t be in a hurry if you go in here. Not only might it take you a while to find what you’re looking for, but the staff is often busy helping people work on bikes. They aren’t always in a hurry to come over and help you pay and check out. On the other hand, I think the staff here is mostly volunteer, so I’m not going to make a big deal about it.

Hutch’s Bicycle Store

• Address/phone: 960 Charnelton St. / 541-345-7521; there’s a Springfield Hutch’s, too: 2100 Main St. / 541-741-2453
• Website: hutchsbicycleseugene.wordpress.com
• Hours: 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday; 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday (Springfield store has the same hours but is closed Sunday.)
• About: Hutch’s in Eugene is my regular go-to store for routine stuff like inner tubes, tires, a new helmet I bought recently, etc. It’s more or less on my commute and it’s usually open when I’m passing by in the morning. Folks in the shop have always been helpful. (I’ve never been to the Springfield store). I’m told the owner of Hutch’s also owns Collin’s (above).

Life Cycle Bike Shop

• Address/phone: 1733 Pearl St. / 541-686-2994
• Website: www.lifecyclebikeshop.com
• Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday;  9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday; closed Sunday
• About: I’ve only been in once or twice, as the hours don’t jibe well with my schedule. But I know a couple of people who have bought bikes at Life Cycle and they say they had a great experience with the staff there.

Paul’s Bicycle Way of Life

• Address/phone: Four locations –
1. 2480 Alder St. / 541-342-6155
2. 152 W. Fifth Ave. / 541-344-4105
3. 234 W. Sixth St. / 541-344-4150
4. 3870 W. 11th Ave. / 541-343-2250
• Website: bicycleway.com
• Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Satuday; on Sunday, the Fifth Avenue store is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the others are closed
• About: I occasionally stop in the Fifth Avenue shop for something, and they can usually help me there. They also have a free air hose outside the front door if you need to swing by to get your tires up to pressure. Of the four Paul’s, I think my favorite is the Sixth Avenue shop, which specializes in roadie stuff — but then, I’m a recovering roadie. The 11th Avenue shop is right off the Fern Ridge path, convenient if you cruise that stretch regularly. I have to say, I don’t think I’ve ever been to the Alder Street store, which I understand is the original Paul’s. I guess I should stop by sometime.

Simply Cycles

• Address/phone: Two locations — 13th and High and 1090 Bailey Hill Road / 541-868-8000
• Website: www.simplycycle.com
• Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday at 13th and High; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at Bailey Hill; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday
• About: The shop at 13th and High is new as of spring 2011. I’ve never been to the Bailey Hill store. I went in the new shop to buy some tires and tubes and was met by a guy who had a strange combination of surliness and charm. I kind of liked him. And he was helpful and had what I wanted. He also had a cast on his wrist and said he had recently been hit by a car while riding his bike. The shop windows are full of stylish fixies, though they appear to sell all kinds of bikes, new and used.