Eleven Boutique Bike Shops For When You're Looking to Buy New Wheels

CBD bike shop Clarence Street Cyclery has been a go-to bike shop for 45 years. The family-operated store has more than 150 pedal bikes on display in its Victorian-era shop, and you’re guaranteed to receive good advice from its team whether you need a new lock, some lights or a whole new set of wheels.

It stocks Trek Bicycles, as well as Electra cruisers, and if you’re unsure which model will suit you best, the staff here can help you make the best decision. It also has a broad range of lifestyle and mountain bike helmets, plus booties and arm warmers for the more serious cyclist.

Image: Cassandra Hannagan

Jet Cycles is where to come for global bike brands Cannondale and Specialized. The store, which was launched by a high performance coach in 2009, offers a fitting service to make sure your new bike matches your body and feels as comfortable as possible.

The experienced team here believes a well-fitted bike can improve your speed and performance by up to 25 percent — and riders travel interstate for the store’s two-wheeling knowledge. The shop also offers comprehensive services and repairs, not to mention a range of premium gear, like Oakley sunnies, light-weight saddles and Body Geometry gloves.

If you’re new to cycling, you can hire a bike to see how it feels; starting from $100 per day, you can take home a Specialized Tarmac Sport road bike to try for yourself.

Image: Cassandra Hannagan

Inner City Cycles has been a local pit stop for residents in Glebe for more than four decades. Its selection of bicycles includes a range of road and mountain bikes, as well as hybrid and electric models, and cycles for kids who are just getting started.

The store stocks Giant and XDS e-bikes, as well as Liv road bikes and hybrids, and Southern Cross mountain bikes — which makes it a good place to start if you’re open to any style and type of bike.

As well as its impressive bike collection, Inner City Cycles also has your bicycle repair needs covered. You can opt for a full service, degrease, tube change or tyre change in the workshop. Visit Monday to Friday when the mechanic is in store.

Image: Cassandra Hannagan

Wheelhaus, on Enmore Road, specialised in bicycles from select manufacturers, including Focus, Cervélo and Stoemper, as well as clothing and saddle bags by Attaquer. Road, gravel and cyclocross (CS) bikes are this store’s, er, wheelhouse. It reserves bikes, like Cervélo’s Aspero 2021, ahead of time, and it’s a pretty punk place to pick up new wheels.

As well as ordering in small batches of the latest cycles, the shop is well-stocked with accessories like tie-dye jerseys from owner Greg Hamer’s line of cycling clothing, which is made in Italy. And Enmore Park is close enough by when you want to take your new bike for a test ride.

Image: Cassandra Hannagan

Directly opposite the road from Ikea, Bikebug in Tempe has a huge range of cycles, parts and accessories from leading brands in its shop and adjoining warehouse. In the workshop, the team does everything from custom bike builds, restorations and wheel building right through to emergency puncture repairs.

Its selection of commuter bikes includes Schwinn’s Town Bikes and the Electra Cruiser. Whether you’re looking for something off the rack, or gearing up to build the bike of your dreams, there is plenty of inspiration here — and many, many options for customising.

Image: Leigh Griffiths

A Sydney stalwart on the bike scene, Albion Cycles in Waverley is run by Frank Conceicao, who brings a wealth of experience in international cycling to his business. He was a competitor, mechanic, coach and manager of cycling professionals around the world.

Don’t be intimidated by the shop’s pedigree, as it caters to the entire community — commuters, beginners, weekend riders, professionals and children alike. Albion Cycles is a Trek concept store, stocking only Trek Bicycles, alongside top-notch accessory brands including Abus, Mavic and Look.

Image: Yaya Stempler

This Maroubra stalwart has been kitting people out with their first, second and third set of wheels for over 40 years. It’s as much of a store as it is a community, as the shop is a starting point for group rides, like the MC Saturday Classic rides (currently on hold).

Stocking brands such as Avanti, Cannondale and Parlee, MC Cyclery has what you need when you want to shop for a bike for leisure or commuting — and it has a growing BMX offering, too.

Rapha fans can also get the brand’s clothing here, including caps, gilets, jerseys and socks. Plus, if you want to give one of the Cannondale Experience bikes a trial, you can hire one for $85 a day. 

Cycleworld, in Concord, is a premium bike shop, stocking a wide range of brands including Shogun, Giant, Avanti, Bianchi, Giant, Mongoose and GT. The shop has a full service workshop attached, so if you’re in the market for renewing your current bike rather than going for a complete changeover, the team at Cycleworld will be able to help you pimp your ride.

If you’re here for a new helmet, its range of Bell and Liv helmets come in under $100. You’ll also find headlights, bottle cages, panniers and locks.

Keep an eye on the store’s Instagram page for helpful tips on making annual licensing more affordable for cycle racing, or for dream bike build inspiration.

At Cyclery Northside, in Chatswood, you can browse a wide range of cycles including gravel and adventure bikes, road bikes, mountain bikes, e-bikes, urban bikes, and bikes for kids, as well as ex-demo models.

Carrying a range of brands including Tarmac, Roubaix, Sirrus, Levo and Kenevo, the specialist cycling shop also stocks a range of thermal tights and wool socks for winter riders alongside other riding accessories. Keep an eye out for events, as the store runs guided test rides of special bikes, such as the new Levo SL lightweight e-bike.

The store also offers one-day hires of its specialist ranges from $100.

Images: Leigh Griffiths

Manly Cycles stocks a selection bikes from Specialized, whose tag line is ‘made for riders, by riders’. The US-based company is all about social responsibility and environmental sustainability; its practices include a carbon fibre recycling program and a code of conduct which it uses to audit suppliers and protect workers.

At the Manly bike shop, you can chat all things Specialized with the small team, including owners and cyclists Steve and Krista, who’ve worked at the store since 1999. Manly’s longest running bike shop has developed a community of riders who join weekly road and mountain bike social rides. It’s also where you can have your bike serviced, consult trained Body Geometry technicians, and book a cycling assessment to help you avoid injury and ride at your best.

Images: Leigh Griffiths

Endeavour Cycles in Gymea has been operating for 20 years, providing services like bike fitting and servicing to southern Sydneysiders. With bike brands including Cervélo, Pinarello, Specialized, Focus and ByK, it’s a good place to come when you want to learn the difference between a $1000 road bike and a $9000 trail bike. 

The shop also sells cycling equipment, like indoor smart bike trainers, car bike racks, and essential accessories like lights, helmets and locks. The store is also just a few train stops away from the Royal National Park, if you’re planning to get your new wheels onto some trails ASAP.

Image: Destination NSW