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Where's the Best Place to Buy a Bike in Rochester and Rochester Hills?

Is it Rochester Bike Shop downtown? KLM south of town? What about Dunham's or Dick's?

  • Where's the best place to buy a bike?

    (Voting has been closed for this question)
    • Dick's Sporting Goods
        3022 (29%)
    • Dunham's
        2170 (21%)
    • KLM Bike and Fitness
        4243 (41%)
    • Rochester Bike Shop
        675 (6%)
    Total votes: 10110
    • Your vote will only count once. This is not a scientific poll. View Results Vote!
 

We're on a quest to rate the best of the best in Rochester and Rochester Hills. So far, we've asked you about gyms, coffee shops, nail salons, florists, breakfast spots, bakeries, car repair shops and sports bars, among others.

This week, we're talking about bike shops.

Visit Rochester Patch Directory to find out where you can go to get a bike to get out on the trails. Vote for your favorite by 9 a.m. Friday; we'll post a story later that day declaring the winner. 

Click through to the profile pages of these local businesses and leave your review (reviews will also count toward votes in the poll):

If we missed your favorite place, please tell us in the comments below.

Because this poll is not scientific, it is not the sole consideration in choosing a winner. The winner will be determined by the Patch editor, based on poll results and reviews on Patch Places. Read the complete rules here.

Read more from our Readers' Choice series here.

Do you own or manage one of these shops? Be sure to claim your page — it's free.

Related Topics: Readers' Choice, Sports & Fitness, best of, and best of Rochester
Where do you shop for bikes? Tell us in the comments.

Todd Frerichs

10:07 am on Monday, April 9, 2012

I like KLM Bike and Fitness. Ryan and the crew have great service. They are also local. They have everything from entry level bikes to the best that money can buy. If they don't have parts you need, they can get them in a few days.

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Carolyn Wells

12:36 pm on Monday, April 9, 2012

The personnel at the Rochester Bike Shop are very helpful with both service and sales. Support your local specialty stores!

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Michele Barker

11:31 am on Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Carolyn - Thank you so much for your support! We appreciate it and are happy to have you and your family as our customers.

Derek Wrathell

2:00 pm on Monday, April 9, 2012

Rochester bike shop bolsters a level of professionalism that KLM and the big box stores can't compete with. Their honesty and love of the industry can't be matched. Zac and Michele have detected their lives to support the Rochester community through heavy donations to other local organizations and causes through out the years. Just like their pro cycling team, their business drives success all around.

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Michele Barker

11:31 am on Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Derek - Thanks for the support! Glad we could help you get out on a new Salsa bike! and Rochester Bike Shop and the community really appreciate all you do at Bloomer Park to make the trails a great place to ride.

Brad Lako

3:12 pm on Monday, April 9, 2012

KLM far exceeds the big box stores in professionalism and service. KLM carries a FULL line of top brands so your not stuck choosing just one brand. Both shops are great places to buy bikes and would recommend either one. KLM also offers a full bike fit experience by a certified master BG fit staff which results in the altimate biking experience. The staff is great, pleasant and down to earth. My vote is for KLM.

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Dustin Cheney

6:33 pm on Monday, April 9, 2012

Rochester bike shop all the way

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Michele Barker

11:31 am on Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Dustin - Thank you for your support it means a lot! Also a big Thank you for all of your hard work and effort making the mountain bike trails at Bloomer Park a great place to ride.

Josh Thomas

6:43 pm on Monday, April 9, 2012

KLM Bike Shop was the last place i had to look for a bike. The assistance I got from Zach and Ryan in finding my bike was top notch. Their prices are very good as well. They were able to find a bike, in my price range and with the specifications that i was looking for within the day. KLM bike and Fitness is the shop that i will continue to shop at until I can find a shop that gives out free bikes...

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Henry Carels

6:49 pm on Monday, April 9, 2012

Rochester Bike Shop is the best hands down. They have a very diverse selection of bikes to choose from and help you pick one that fits you and your needs. They carry Trek,Gary Fisher, Salsa, and Yeti, as well as a large selection of quality accessories. The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable. They all use what they sell and are diehard bicycle fanatics. Service is great and there is a quick turn around usually about a day or two. I have been a customer of Rochester Bike Shop for 11 years and they have always done right by me. They stand behind what they sell. Also they have a weekly ride every Tuesday at 7:15pm where they meet behind the shop and go for a casual paced ride, no one is left behind. Its a ton of fun and a great way to meet people to ride with.

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Michele Barker

11:31 am on Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Henry - Thank you for your support and all of your purchases over the years, we really appreciate it!

Dave Smith

6:54 pm on Monday, April 9, 2012

I've shopped at KLM for years and they always take great care of me. I've purchased multiple bikes from high end to affordable kids bikes and they are always the best. Through the years I've recommended KLM to many friends and family and they always take care of by Zach, Ryan & the staff at KLM. Great bikes, great service thanks KLM.

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Kristal Linsenman

7:28 pm on Monday, April 9, 2012

The Rochester Bike Shop for sure. Not only is the staff and owners very friendly and caring, they always know exactly what you need. Plus they always have group activities like the mid week fun ride or charitable races!

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Michele Barker

11:31 am on Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Kristal - Thank you for the support! Maybe we will see you out for our Tuesday night fun ride? ;)

Dan Lopez

8:49 pm on Monday, April 9, 2012

My best experiences with buying and having a bicycle repaired have been with Rochester Bike Shop! They are experts all the way and have the best selection of bicycles in town! Both professional and courtesy make them number one with me!

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Michele Barker

11:31 am on Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Dan - We really appreciate your support! We hope we can continue to be yor go to bike shop even during the downtown makeover.

Tony Emmer

9:08 pm on Monday, April 9, 2012

I have been a customer of KLM going on 15 years. All the people there are top notch. Professional,helpful, easy to approach and willing to go the extra mile. The bike brands and all merchandise is second to none. Well worth the 45 minute trip.

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amanda

10:02 pm on Monday, April 9, 2012

The Rochester bike shop for sure. They are easy to find and even stayed open an extra 10 minutes to fix a flat I got while riding. They are passionate, knowledgeable, friendly, and professional. I have yet to find a bike shop that can compare. Zac is super hot!

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Michele Barker

11:31 am on Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Amanda - Thank you for your support, we really appreciate it. Also thanks for the side note about Zac ;)

George Ingram

10:44 pm on Monday, April 9, 2012

Rochester Bike Shop gets my vote. I bought my last eight bikes from RBS. Zac, Michele, Ryan, Jessica, Meaghan and all the others that work there are bicycle riders and enthusiasts. They can answer all of your questions to match you with either the bike suited for you or the correct part or accessory.

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Chris B

11:31 am on Tuesday, April 10, 2012

KLM, hands down. I've been to both.... well I was in RBS for 30 sec one time. Had to interrupt a conversation that 2 RBS employees were having just to get someone to help me, and yes, they did see me walk in the door and didn't say anything. Not going to say anything more, since that was the extent of my experience.

For KLM. I have recommended this shop to everyone that asks me where they should go including friends, family, co workers, and neighborts. Each time I get the same response, "What a great bunch of guys, especially Zach and Ryan." KLM has more to offer like bike fitting and custom builds, like Niners - Yeahhhh Budddy. Anyone can pull a bike off the shelf and go ride it, but the guys at KLM will help you find the right bike and fit it to you so that you get the max benefit from your new bike. I've never left without a smile on my face. Stand up guys.

Read the comments, because the guys at RBS have voted hundreds of times for themselves in this poll... cheaters.

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Michele Barker

12:53 pm on Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Chris - I am sorry you had a bad experience at RBS, it is never our intention to ignore our customers. I am also sorry that you feel we are cheating, we have no reason to be deceitful, as far as we are concerned this is a friendly competition. I am glad that the guys at KLM were able to help you out and become your go to bike shop when we couldnt.

Greg Swett

5:35 pm on Thursday, April 19, 2012

Rochester Bike Shop is awesome. We have many mutual customers that say the same! Thanks for fixing up my old bikes too!

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Josh Impossible

5:35 pm on Thursday, April 19, 2012

This has become nothing more than a contest to see who can disable cookies and sit in front of their computer refreshing this page the longest. I watched in the course of an hour last night both teams racking up HUNDREDS of votes in a matter of minutes. This poll is completely meaningless. The store with the most votes at the end of this will have proven only that they have the most free time on their hands.
To the ACTUAL bike buyers out there reading this, go to both RBS & KLM. Heck, you should check out Dick's and Dunhams too. You will see a distinct difference in the way you are treated. There are HUGE differences in employee knowledge, friendliness and the general atmosphere of each of the stores. Some stores feel unhappy and joyless. Some stores make customers feel like they aren't welcome. Like they are just bothering the employees and taking them away from their real task of doing nothing. Other stores treat everyone like a friend, get people excited and attempt to build meaningful relationships with every person who walks through their door.

I'll leave it up to you to decide. Shop around, the best place to buy a bike in Rochester quickly becomes an easy choice.

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Stylinshawn

5:35 pm on Thursday, April 19, 2012

Rochester Bike Shop is the best place to purchase that new bike. Great people Great service and the race team is fast.

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Stylinshawn

5:35 pm on Thursday, April 19, 2012

RBS gets my vote. Black and Yellow!

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Brent J

7:49 am on Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Go to KLM. I work with a group of "cyclists" as well as a number of casual riders and guys just looking to get into the sport. For the past 2 months, almost like clockwork, one of these guys new to riding comes into work Monday morning talking about the bad experience that they had at RBS. The running theme seems to be that no one even said hi to them or when they did the sales guy just tried to push them into whatever they had in stock. Every time I have heard someone talking about this I either send or personally take them to KLM, Without fail they leave that store with a bike, a ton of knowledge and a real excitement to get out and ride. Keep it up KLM, You guys ROCK!

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Gregory Cueter

5:36 pm on Thursday, April 19, 2012

Zachary and Staff of KLM:

I recently visited several stores in the area with the intention of purchasing a new high end mountain bike. I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank you and your staff for the upmost attention you provided me during my visit. You not only answered all of my questions but I believe sold me the best bike for my purpose. While I was there you also assisted me in picking out and installing all of the necessary accessories for the bike so it was ready to ride. The next morning I took a short twenty five mile trip on the bike and its absolutely GREAT! In closing I will say that the other stores I visited did not provide any of the attention that you and your staff did during my visit. Their loss, your gain and my gain. A Loyal Customer! Greg Cueter

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Michele Barker

2:57 pm on Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Brent - I am sorry to hear that you and your co-workers have been treated in an unfriendly way at RBS, I would love to have you email or call the shop and have you elaborate more on the situation. Poor customer service and being "pushy" is not at all what RBS strives to offer our customers. Hopefully the staff at KLM can continue to help you out with all of your cycling needs. Thank you for your honesty.

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Michelle M.

4:48 pm on Wednesday, April 11, 2012

KLM fixed my son's bike for about $50. I previously hauled it into Rochester Bike Shop, only to wait 20 minutes for someone to help me, get treated like a total moron, and be told the bike wasn't worth fixing. (Then they tried to sell me a new bike.) I took my "piece of junk" to KLM and they were super nice and helpful, and fixed it within a couple days. That was two years ago and the bike is still serving its purpose well. My feeling is that RBS is for high-end cyclists, not the common man -- the level of pretentiousness from the staff I talked to was out of control.

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Patrick Colasanti

11:14 pm on Wednesday, April 11, 2012

KLM ALL THE WAY! So I went with a friend and our two children to RBS. I was impressed with the size of the RBS, & they had the same bike seat that my mom has in florida, so when I went to ask someone for help, i was pleasantly surprised that the gentlemen that was going to help me looked like a cool dude. He was a fellow beard & Mohawk sporter, When I asked him about the bike seats he asked how old the kids where. I told him 10m. He said that he would not sell my one, that they where to young to be in a bike seat, they had to be 12m. I told him "I call bullshit to that" My son is in the 97% for size and height, and he has already been in a chariot and bike seat i just needed one for my bike. He then goes on to tell me that he would never put a kid in a bike seat because when you go over the child's head is getting hit, but don't take his word for it he does not have a child. So that conversation did not go much farther I was kind of mad but I wanted look for a mountain bike too. So I asked him about something that was easy to use, full suspension bike, that possibly has a brain in it. He then made the comment, Well you must be a Specialized guy, so you probably don't want anything here. That was it we left and went to KLM. Where Zach and the guys were all so helpful. They let me test ride the new Epic, they threw on a bike seat on my trek, & explained all the different tech in bikes, from alloy to carbon to the different comps. I ended up getting a EPIC Carbon Expert!!!

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Grant R.

7:28 am on Thursday, April 12, 2012

RBS is the place to go if you want a great serious top end bike, or a beginner to jump into cycling. Carrying brands like Yeti (only dealer in the state) and Salsa set them apart from KLM who stocks good product, just you can pick it up at many places throughout the area. From a service aspect I would trust my bike to RBS all the way, they simply know their stuff. Yes you may need to wait a moment if they're busy (which is frequent) but its worth the wait because you're talking to someone who not only knows about bikes, but also participates in races and has the experience needed to fit you to the perfect bike for your intended use. I can't help but feel the nice Rochester hometown atmosphere when I walk into RBS that just quite isn't there south at KLM. RBS employees will work with you to find exactly what you're looking for, if they don't have it, it can be ordered for prompt delivery. All in all I would say RBS encompasses all of the aspects one should look for when choosing a bike shop to begin a relationship with, because as riders know, once you get your first serious bike... there will be more (usually many more) and dozens of parts upgrades along the way as well.

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