The Hub Bike Co-operative

Great shop and I bought a bike during the used bike extravaganza. Get there early, as in when it starts, because things are priced to sell, which is awesome!

The people here were very nice and helpful. They are extremely knowledgeable but aren’t condescending in any way like some other bike shops. The prices here are very fair and the free 90-​day tune-​up with 15% off accessories makes things even better. I would recommend this place to anybody who is looking to buy a bike in the Minneapolis area.

Let me just start by saying, The Hub bike Co-​op has exceeded my expectations in every way possible.
I first visited back in March, when I was searching for a new commuter bike. I picked the Minnehaha location because it’s their biggest location and I assumed they would have the best selection. The guy who helped me (Tom), asked some really good questions to narrow down what I was looking for, and then brought me to a few bikes that he thought I would like. After seeing the second bike he showed me, I knew it was exactly what I wanted. Tom let me test ride it, and then hooked me up with fenders and a rear rack, both at reasonable costs.
Tom was extremely respectful of my budget, and ended up giving me an extra 5% discount in the bike purchase, since it was a little more than I had originally planned to spend. Furthermore, there wasn’t an ounce of condescending language or pushy salesmanship. I felt like he genuinely just wanted to help me find what I wanted, for the price I wanted.
I have also had wonderful experiences with all the repair technicians at this location as well. They are thorough, and speedy. They give you an accurate timeline of when you’re bike will be done, and call you when it’s ready to go. I unfortunately got into an accident with my brand new bike, and when I brought it it to have it looked at, the service staff were so caring and empathetic of my situation. More than one person asked if I was okay/​healing well after my injuries.
I really can’t say enough kind words about these folks. They have definitely made a loyal customer out of me.

Great Bike Shop! Issues with my Burley and one of the guys took the time to figure out issue. Offered to pay for the time but they were more appreciative of giving them the chance to learn something new! Will definitely start bring bikes to these guys even though they are a little further!

I am so happy I found this place! I recently signed up for a beginner maintenance class and was so impressed! For $ 30 for two hours you get more than your money’s worth! The instructor was well prepared and the class had a great and easy to follow structure. The instructor was eager to help and answer everyone’s bike questions. And with only about 5 other people you didn’t feel bad asking questions while others were doing their thing on their own bikes.
As a beginner to bike maintenance and care, I didn’t feel lost or intimidated in the least! I will definitely be taking care of my bike needs and signing up for future classes here! What a gem of a place!

Buying a bike is intimidating. Do not make the mistake of going anywhere else to buy a bike. The people here are knowledgable, helpful, and extremely nice. I found the perfect bike in my price range (thanks Jonathan for your help). They have fair prices, and not to mention 1. 15% off accessories if you purchase a bike 2. A double-​check to make sure everything is working correctly before you can leave with your new bike 3. Free 90 day tune-​up to get your bike back in shape after breaking it in. I will recommend everybody I know to this place– they are great.
Scott

Solid five stars! I can’t say enough good things about The Hub! I’m moving to the cities and decided to outfit myself with the basics for bike commuting. First things first: I needed a bike. I came on a sunny Saturday afternoon and found a used hybrid for $ 200, which was very lucky because apparently it was prime bike-​buying weather and by the time I got there, most of the bikes in my student price range ($ 200 – 300) had been sold.
Being a co-​op, the employees are passionate about what they do and seem to do everything they can to help whoever walks in their door — whether you’re a bike novice (moi!) or some champion bike racer dude. Someone spent about half an hour with me picking out all the things I’d need to bike safely and conveniently, even while the rest of the store was pretty busy (the great part about The Hub is that even when it’s busy, there always seem to be people around to help). Since then, I’ve been there a couple more times: once when I was out biking on a friend’s bike that I wasn’t familiar with and had to ask a stupid question about the gear-​shifter (they happily helped me out) and another time when my newly purchased pannier broke and they handled the whole replacement process through Blackburn without me having to do a thing. Writing this, it doesn’t seem like what The Hub does is that miraculous (it’s just great customer service, right?!)…but it is. I’ve just walked into a few too many local bike shops where a tattooed hipster with some unnameable hairdo and a rolled up pant leg is manning the front counter and just can’t be bothered to be helpful to someone who isn’t already in The Bike Club. The people at The Hub are helpful, they’re friendly, and they actually care about their work and that you have a great, safe time biking. This is what a bike shop should be.

Buying a bike is very scary, I was very nervous about the entire process. It’s putting a ton of trust in someone (when I know only a little) and making a huge purchase.
Luckily, I met Lisa who helped me try a handful of bikes. She was so friendly, knowledgable and trustworthy. Lisa turned a scary experience into a very pleasant one.
The entire staff was so friendly and I couldn’t have asked for an easier experience.
They throw a ton of things in with a new purchase (15% off, free installation).
I would recommend The Hub to anyone looking for a bike.

Came in to buy my first bike since I was a kid. I knew little to nothing coming in about what I needed. We were approached right away as soon as we walked into the store even though it was clearly very busy. The gentleman asked me a few questions to help determine what I needed. We tried out many bikes in different price ranges. When we found the bike that best fit it turned out they did not have anymore in the store. The associate happily tracked one down at another store and sent us there to pick it up. I couldn’t have asked for a better experience.

Very impressed with the employees here. They are super friendly and helpful. It felt good to support a local business especially with such a great group of employees working here. Already looking forward to going back for tune ups!

I just LOVE this place! Everyone is super friendly, and I always feel welcome here. Some bike shops have that snooty hipster air about them, and while hipsters do work here at the Hub, they’re not THAT kind of hipster like the ones you’ll find at Alt Bike and Board. They are always really thorough with me when I bring my bike in for repairs or when I need to get it ready for winter riding. They’ve also got an excellent selection of bikes and gear and everything, and do make sure to check out their used bike sale that happens in late spring or early summer. I got my road bike from the sale, and it’s fantastic!
So yes… super friendly and honest… very reasonable prices… plus they’re a co-​op! What could be better!

I had popped my tire on a nail in the road and Tiana at the Hub had me fixed up in a jiff. She was super friendly and the bill was cheap! The woman behind the retail checkout was also warm and friendly, informing me and welcoming me as I entered the store.

My first trip to the Hub (many many years ago) was for something minor; a flat tire or a simple adjustment, something I now would fix myself, but back then had no clue about. The mechanic treated me (and my crappy bike) with respect and care, charged me a minimal fee, and then answered all my stupid, newbie questions. I’ve been back many times, and I’ve seen this repeated over and over again. It doesn’t matter if you roll in on your feather light road bike or carry in your kid’s POS Walmart bike: you and your bike will be treated with the same amount of respect and care.
The same holds true if you’re buying a bike. No one is going to judge you if your budget doesn’t allow for a carbon fiber bike. They’re just as happy to show you less expensive alternatives, even checking with the store by the U to see if they have something that would better suit you. I’ve bought a few bikes from the Hub, from high end road bike to a simple single speed and my experience each time is the same: no pressure and a sincere interest in making sure my purchase suits my needs. And I’m not surprised at all that so many reviews for the Hub seem to be from women. This shop is one of the few I’ve been in that doesn’t automatically assume female=idiot (Varsity, I’m looking at you).
I’m trying not to wax too enthusiastically, but really, this place has been so good to me, going above and beyond when I needed something customized because I stupidly bought something that wouldn’t fit. Seriously, check them out, take a class or two, try out a bike and you’ll see.

I have never had anything but exemplary service from The Hub, despite the fact that I’ve been very upfront with them about not having the funds to buy anything more extravagant than a lock there.
Most recently, I brought my (crappy, Target) bike there when a problem with the brakes made it pretty much unrideable. Even though the problem turned out to be entirely my fault, the staff member who helped me out was incredibly patient and not at all patronizing. He spent about 15 minutes fiddling with my bike, fixed all of my problems, and didn’t charge me a cent. He did recommend a couple of services that would have cost $ 10 – 20 but was honest about them being optional and not safety issues (and was completely supportive when I said no, thanks.)
Every experience I’ve had with The Hub has guaranteed that I’ll take my business there when I do have the money to spend on a nicer bike.

Still 5 stars for me. Just bought some new tires last week, the guy I bought them from was very knowledgeable, and even tried to raise up my handlebar stem for me after I complained my riding position was too low. And they let me use the DIY room for free. Sorry I didnt do the Bridgestones (I think they wanted me to upgrade but I didnt want to spend more than $ 60 on tires) but the tires I got are great

I would give 5 stars, but the only thing holding me back is that my Mom told me when she brought in her bike, she overheard staff making fun of her. Not cool.
But I did not have that experience. I was treated with respect, even though the the guy knew a lot more about bikes than me. Bike shops are no different than auto-​repair. I acquired a bike from Annie D. that only required a few tweaks. They quoted me at more than I ended up having to pay, so I appreciated not getting overcharged. When my bike was ready, I got a detailed voicemail about everything they did. It sounded like a Dr. reporting how a surgery went down. I liked that.
Speedy repair, a huge store full of bikes and accessories, and even a DIY fix-​it area. Approachable for new bikers and hipsters alike. Just don’t bring in a bike from Target.

Just wanted to re-​five star this place. I went in this past weekend and bought a bike from them (before this, I had only gone there for service/​parts).
The staff are always super nice and I left with a beautiful new set of wheels. Customer service here is grade A stuff: D

HOLLAAAAAAAA.
I’ve been rocking a 1970s Schwinn for four years. Pearly pink and as heavy as my grandmother, she’s been put through the paces of year-​round commuting in Denver, CO and a recent spate of 90-​mile-​per-​week commuting between Minneapolis and Saint Paul. On our commute yesterday, she spent the entire ride literally screaming for retirement. Point taken, dear Caliente, point taken.
So my bad-​ass hipster little brother met me at The Hub for an hour of the fastest, simplest, most rewarding bicycle-​creating time ever. For $ 5, we got to use all of The Hub’s tools to piece together my bike from a slew of used bike parts, which they keep track of on a tab basis. I got a set of Velocity rims for $ 175, hand-​made and light as a feather. Little brosef did all of the work (like a CHAMP), and was able to ask for help from the guys behind the desk when he got stuck– a totally empowering way of handling bike building.
BONUS: this place is worker friendly as HELL. It is worker-​owned and operated– no boards. They pay living wages and are a true cooperative in every sense of the word.
I walked out of that place having spent only $ 350, with the sweetest, lightest, fastest, simplest bike I could have ever hoped for– everything I could have wanted, made from scratch.
As for Caliente, she shall enjoy a peaceful retirement as the guest bike at our new house.

I bought my first bike! Technically speaking, anyway. It was the first bike I bought… my first adult bike was a gift from my mom. The second was an old beat-​up thing that my 6’2″ boyfriend used in college… it fit me perfectly and it was actually pretty funny to think of him riding around on it for four years — his equivalent of a tricycle. Then, two years ago my neighbors moved to Chicago and left me their vintage cruiser, which is still sitting in storage due to my plans to one day fix it up.
I digress. Let’s talk about The Hub.
I had visited a few other bike shops (Freewheel, Penn Cycle, County Cycles), done my research and knew the basics of what I wanted coming in last month. I was looking for a simple, lightweight commuter bike. No bells and whistles needed. I’m not a winter biker and I’m not a racer… I just needed something to get from here to there.
I checked their site and asked to see a couple of the secondhand commuter bikes that were my size, but unfortunately they had just hosted their big spring sale the weekend before and almost all of the used bikes were gone. Wish I could remember his name, but the guy helping me was really apologetic about not having much in secondhand stock and he said he had some other new bikes that might fit the bill. While I was bummed at first, I was determined to get myself a bike that day and they had plenty of others to choose from.
Thanks to this knowledgeable dude, I found myself standing in front of the perfect bike. It’s a robin’s egg blue Jamis Commuter 3, light enough to drag into my apartment, and has just enough bells and whistles to seem classy (like leather handlebars and 7-​speed internal gears). Plus, it’s a step-​through frame so I can get on easily even when I’m wearing a skirt. The price was steeper than my original budget, but I fell in love on the test ride and couldn’t help myself. Another selling point was when The Hub guy said that he has this same bike, has been abusing it for decades and it still rides like new. I thought that was a good sign that I could treat m’self.
The customer service is the biggest reason to come here. They spent a lot of time with me, answered my questions and never made me feel like I was being sold-​to. If you buy your bike at The Hub, they will install anything you buy that day for free and all the merchandise is discounted. They have a big free tune up that they do for you after 30 days of riding. You can come in for workshops or just to pick their brains. But the biggest perk is FREE MAINTENANCE FOR LIFE.
In the local bike shop realm, I think this co-​op is at the top for me.
P. S. IF YOU STEAL A BLUE JAMIS, I WILL HUNT YOU DOWN.

So, I got an itching to fix up a bike for the first time. I thought it would be a good summer project. The problem is that it only took me 2 days to fix it thanks to the Hub! (…and 4 trips to the bike shop but not their fault)
After looking at my former favorite bike parts store, I needed a cheaper option. I was referred to the Hub by a friend of a friend. As I walked into this location for the first time, they could tell I needed help. Brandon was extremely helpful and knowledgeable while getting my parts. He looked up specifications that I did not know and got me the most affordable option they had. This was just what I was looking for!
They have a used parts section in the back corner, where wheels hang from the ceiling, handle bars stick out from the walls, and everything else is piled into drawers. Help yourself or get someone to help you.
Their new-​part options are even better! If they don’t have it, they will order it. Green wheel, white chain, yellow tires, you name it. All of these also come in a spectrum of prices. Not to mention their plethora of saddles, fenders, helmets, lights and oh yeah, bikes! If you are feeling overwhelmed, just ask. They love to talk about bikes!
My favorite part about this place is the DIY section! For only $ 5 per hour, you can rent their space and tools to work on your bike. When you don’t have the proper tool to take your hub off and calibrate it, you can do it here for $ 5. (They have an array of books that tell you how to fix it if you are new like me.)
Now, maybe you like to spend a little more than you need to to impress your friends. If so, good! I know other places you can go. If you want an affordable and helpful option, go here — especially if you are the DIY type person just starting off!