Mike the Bike

I rented a bike from Mike for 10 days while on vacation in Toronto and had a fantastic experience! I called the day before I was going to arrive. Mike was really friendly and knowledgeable and he reserved a bike for me to pick up the next day. I was driving up from Chicago and was worried that I was going to get in to Toronto past closing time (8pm). I texted Mike a couple of updates on my time and he said not to worry, that he’d definitely wait until I got there, which was such a relief when I was worried about all the other logistics of my trip. Later during the trip something on the bike broke and I just locked it up in front of the store after hours and Mike fixed it and texted me a picture before I went out in the morning. How great is that? The pricing was extremely reasonable and Mike was great! I will definitely come back next year!

Went here short notice after getting a flat miles away from home and was replaced with new tube within 45 mins. Sent text letting me know it was ready. Perfect.

Agree with the previous reviewer. Please DO NOT go to this place, period. I went there last year hoping that they’d install a few parts on my bike. I got the parts from MEC. And thought that I can get a cheaper rate for installation with this place. I went there giving Mike all the parts I’d like to install, and he insisted that I left the bike and the parts at his shop overnight since he was closing and he was super busy with other work that came in before mine. Although I was reluctant, I left the bike as he suggested. He promised that I can pick it up the next day. The next day, I tried to call the shop, since I don’t want to travel all the way there if he hasn’t finished the work. I called twice, and both time his assistant picked up the phone, and told me that he knew nothing about the status of my bike. The third I called, Mike was finally there. But he flipped out at me right over the phone, apparently annoyed at me for calling him «so many times». But in reality, I think he was a little annoyed that he couldn’t finish installing all the parts I’d ask him to install (a bike stand, fenders, replacing a saddle). He asked me to go pick up the bike anyways that night and told me that he didn’t want my business anymore because I annoyed him. And he was still giving me some attitude when I showed up at his store, picking up the bike. The most horrible thing is, after I paid for the parts he did install, and trying to ride back home, I realized that one of the front tire is rubbing the brake, and so it’d take extra effort for me to paddle. I went back to the store right away, asking him about it. I rode this same bike all the way from work to his shop the day before (more than 1hr bike ride), and the bike was fine. There is no way the bike was like that the day before. He started grumbling at me again, and said that I purposely accused him. Eventually, he agrees to adjusted the brake for me, and I had to ask him for this as a huge favor.
All in all, it was a horrible experience for me. I really should’ve just get everything installed at MEC. I went to MEC a few days later, and they did a safety check of my bike for free, without me even asking.

Don’t bother with this place.
It was mid-​October, and I wanted to rent two bikes for the day for the upcoming Saturday.
I emailed ‘Mike the Bike’ enquiring about the bikes available, the rates and the procedure for renting. I made it clear that I wanted the bike as early as possible on the Saturday morning.
I got a blunt response back advising me to check the website for available bikes. I then got another response, from a different email address (?) telling me to reserve a bike online before arriving at the shop at noon on Saturday.
I replied seeking more clarification and then the first email address replied again saying they don’t do reservations and to just show up at noon on Saturday! WTF? !
I get to the (difficult-​to-​find) shop at 11.55 am on the Saturday and no-one’s around. No problem, I was early and I assumed someone would show up around 12pm. I made it clear to them that I would be there, at 12pm, eager to rent two bikes and put $ 40 (as well as a$ 100 security deposit) right in their pocket.
I waited until 12.35 and no-​one showed. No answer from the phone.
THEY KNEW I WAS COMING and just deliberately chose to not to open the shop on time.
Their loss — they lost the best part of 50 dollars and now have another 1 star Unilocal review to add to their growing list.
Needless to say, if I ever needed a bike repair, I would stay far away from here. If they can’t be trusted to open a shop on time with customers waiting, I sure as hell wouldn’t trust them to fix a broken bike!