Wheelie Cool: The Best Bike Shops Around Town

If there’s one thing Portlanders love, it’s biking! And kids are no exception. Help your budding bicyclist be their best with gear from a few of our favorite local vendors. Read on to get all the details.

photo: Community Cycling Center via Yelp

Community Cycling Center
A non-profit with the belief that all Portlanders (regardless of income or background) should have the opportunity to experience the joy, freedom and health benefits of bicycling, Community Cycling Center has bikes for everybody! CCC sells new bicycles and restored and as-is bikes that just need a little TLC, so there’s something for all budget ranges. Kids can also earn a free bike, lock and helmet through their after-school Bike Club program.

Along with selling bikes and bicycling gear, Community Cycling is a full-service repair shop, so you don’t have to ditch your two-wheeler when it breaks down. Show the staff your Oregon Trail, Washington Quest or an equivalent EBT or Medicaid card and receive a 20% discount on all new and used parts and accessories, repair services and bike and frame sales.

What do we like most? This non-profit give it’s proceeds to benefit community programs.

Open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily
1700 NE Alberta St
503-287-8786
Online: communitycyclingcenter.org

Photo: Lumberyard Bike Park via Yelp

Lumberyard Bike Park
While primarily an indoor bike course with after school camps and private bike instruction, the Lumberyard also has a pro shop with bikes, parts and demos to try out onsite. They carry all of the gear your little pedal pal can dream of including a full selection of frames, accessories, apparel and safety equipment.

Plan to spend your day there riding, shopping and even eating, because there’s an onsite pizza pub for when you and the kiddos need a bite. Shopping for a bike has never been so fun!

Open: Fri.-Mon., 9 a.m.-10 p.m; Tue.,Wed., & Thurs., 2-10 p.m.
2700 NE 82nd Ave
503-252-2453
Online: lumberyardmtb.com

Photo: Clever Cycles via Yelp

Clever Cycles
This shop cleverly picks its bikes based on their value as transportation in Portland. What does that mean? It means their gear is low maintenance, safe in all seasons, comfortable and plain-clothes friendly and comes with some cargo space. Clever Cycles also keeps family transportation top-of-mind.

Need a cargo bike to haul two, three or even four (or more?!) tots around? Clever Cycles carries over six brands of cargo bikes, as well as baby seats and children’s bikes. And if your commute requires and uphill haul, they have bikes with electric assist too.

If you are not sure exactly what you want, don’t stress, Clever Cycles also rent family and cargo bikes so you can try two-wheeled commuting before investing. Once you do buy your bikes, they also provide maintenance services to help keep them in top condition.

Open Mon.-Fri., 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sat. & Sun., 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
900 SE Hawthorne Blvd
503-334-1560
Online: clevercyles.com

Photo: Islabikes via Yelp

Islabikes
Isla Rowntree, the founder of Islabikes, started working at a bike shop and racing bikes in England at a young age, and now has a children’s specialty bike store right here in Southeast Portland. Islabikes prides themselves in custom-fit, ergonomic children’s pedal bikes, cyclocross and mountain bikes.

From balance bikes to starter bikes to multi-purpose bikes, this store has everything your little racer needs to get them bicycling from the time the can stand until they day they leave for college. You definitely want to check them out for serious kid-friendly gear.

Open Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-5 a.m.
2113 SE 7th Ave
503-954-2410
Online: islabikes.com

Photo: River City Bicycles via Yelp

River City Bicycles Outlet
While the River City Bicycles main store has kids bikes ranging up to $500, their outlet makes use of their industry relationships to get better-than-usual deals on bikes and gear. This spot is great for discounts and deals on coasters and multi-speed bikes for youth. They also have a trade-in program, which will come in super handy with your growing bicyclist!

Open Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m.-7 p.m. & Sun 12-5 p.m.
503-446-2205
534 SE Belmont St
Online: rivercitybicyclesoutlet.com

Photo: Bike Gallery via Facebook

Bike Gallery
In business since 1974 and with six locations in the Portland area, Bike Gallery has a massive stock of children’s bicycles, and if they don’t have the one you want onsite, they are likely to be able to get it from their warehouse within a week. Parents can ease young bicyclists into the sport with a trailer bike or “kickster” before graduating to a single-speed model. They also have rentals, an indoor test track and riding events.

Check online for each store’s hours.
Locations in Downtown Portland, Hollywood, Woodstock, Lake Oswego, Beaverton and Clackamas
Online: bikegallery.com

What’s  your favorite kid’s bike shop in the area? Tell us in the comments below!

—April Hasson