An absolutely fantastic shop built around great service. Michael cares about his customers and it shows. He has helped me bring beauty back to some all-steel steeds and I am very grateful. We’re very lucky to have him in the community!

Best place in Iowa City. Been using Michael’s services since I moved here 12 years ago.Service is professional. Michael has years of expertise and is keen on details. He loves the bike and the bike loves him back. Will speak to you about fixing process and recommendations. Great guy, great shop, conveniently located... and small local business.

The best bike shop in Iowa City. They sell awesome refurbished and gently-used bicycles as well as new, have great accessories, but the service is what keeps me coming back. As others have said, it never feels rushed. Everything is explained really well, prices are very reasonable. No job is too big or small. This is a business worth supporting.

The peaches were perfect.

Definitely my favorite bike shop! I am not much of a gearhead and less of an athlete, and have been in more than a few shops where that combination gets you treated like an intruder in a private club. This is not that kind of shop, and thats why I love it. Its a small outfit and everyone is relaxed and helpful. Michael, the owner and chief mechanic, is an experienced cyclist and mechanic who seems more interested in keeping an old bike on the road than selling a new one. They do build and sell new bikes as well as solid refurbished ones. The business model seems to be do the right thing and cultivate a loyal customer base. Michael recently helped me strategize some new solutions for my all-weather commuting bike (a Kona hybrid that I bought new from him a number of years back and have been beating the heck out of ever since) and Im super pleased with the results. Highly recommend!

I have not had a bike since early childhood and decided that yesterday (3/13/21) was the day to purchase one and re-learn. Asa, the employee assisting me, was kind, attentive, and patient. With not having any experience, I asked many questions and received answers to all of them. Though the store was quite busy during my visit, I never felt rushed, pressured to buy, or felt stupid; I was able to take my time and learn. I was impressed with the customer service and did not feel intimidated with the process. At the end of my visit, I ended up purchasing a bike, and I know I will return for future business.

The Broken Spoke is always awesome.I have been a customer for something like 5 years now, and Michael consistently delivers.Michael will work with you whether you are brand new to cycling, and getting your first bike. Or if youre a seasoned commuter looking for a tune-up, or a new bike.Over time, Ive learned to trust Michaels judgment on essentially everything related to my bike. And have never been disappointed. For instance, recently I was in the market for a new single speed, and Michael did a good job working with me and his available inventory to get me into a multi-speed internal gear hub bike.Contrary to many places, this was not an explicit upsell, rather he understood where I was in my bicycling journey where I wanted to get to and what would best serve me on the way there.

Far and away my favorite bike shop in town. They wont pressure you to get a lot of things you dont need, and theyll get your bike fixed quickly and get you back on the road.

Always happy to bring my bike for service to The Broken Spoke. Very fast service at very reasonable prices.

Still cub side, wont be going there again

Whether youre a bicycle veteran and mechanic in your own right, or whether youre just looking for a fun ride, or a decent commuter bike-- these guys have your back. Its a small, cozy, hole-in-the-wall sort of shop, which is part of why I gravitated to it, but theyre excellent mechanics, and have lots of solutions for commuters.Thanks again guys.

Great place, and my favorite bike shop in town. I’ve been going here for years and take my friends and family to the broken spoke if they need a bike. Michael and Pete never try to sell you something you don’t need, they ask you what your looking for and then recommend the best bike. This often ends up being an older or less shiny bike but In the end has better components and is more bang for the buck. Owner has best interest of customers at heart and has really saved my skin with rushed servicing of my bike. Also, owner has a deep distaste for dropper posts, but he will service and install them without too much grief.

The guys working at this shop were extremely helpful. Ive been restoring an old bike over the last few weeks and I went straight here whenever I hit a roadblock. Theyre very easy to talk to with my limited understanding and helped me learn a few tricks along the way. Their prices are great for the service that they provide. Couldnt recommend more.

Never been disappointed in this shop. Good company, good work. Thanks!

Wow...you get so used to buying parts on amazon that you forget what poor customer service is....Called ahead to confirm they had a brake cable to fix the disc brake on my e-scooter. It’s a standard bike disc brake.Upon arrival I was greeted by a young lady that showed me the cable and I told her I was also interested in upgrading my brake calipers. She went inside to talk to the owner and came back with the cable, but before she hands it to me, she tells me that her boss said they refuse to work on e scooters and she couldn’t answer any more my questions. ( I basically asked if she had any tips for installing the brake cable I was purchasing)She made me feel so awful about asking the one question (directly relating to installing the part she just sold me) that I felt obliged to tip her $5 extra for the $5 brake cable, $10 total...I then decided to leave and told her she had made me uncomfortable by refusing me service and that I was leaving and didn’t want to discuss anything with her or the owner anymore...she then proceeded to yell inside for the owner to come out side because SHE felt uncomfortable.Anyways there is a fantastic bike shop right across the street, lucky me! Geoff’s Bike and Ski.Not only did the bright young mechanic, Sam, talk to me for 5 minutes about my problem and my options, but I’m coming back next week to get hydraulic brakes and bigger rotors. $~200 (he also showed me how to install the part that I was not allowed to ask questions about, yet purchased, back at “broke spoke”). This is the last time I try to help that small business...Ps. There was another customer standing there watching. When the girl went inside he said “Well, she could have handled that differently!”Update in reply to comment below from Michael at broken spoke:She went inside multiple times during this exchange, Im not going to argue with you about that when you were huddled inside during the whole conversation and 100% dont know what was said. Dont you have a camera? Rewatch the exchange for yourself buddy.And for the record, yes she did tell me you refuse to work on E-scooters for liability reasons. Her words not mine. You just went from terrible service to also being liars, nice job! ;)

Loved this place. Got my bike here - great vibe, great service, great expertise.I checked out the three other specialty bike shops in the area, but this place fit my bill the best - I really wanted to get a used bike that was fixed up properly, and this was the place.Friendly duo at the front. They know their bikes.I was able to spend $300 to get a 1980s bike with shift levers. Ive been riding it for 3 months and its been holding up well. Probably spent $100 on maintenance since getting it (but Im a stickler for making sure my bike is working great).

Great bike shop! The Broken Spoke has a great selection of bicycles for varying levels of dedication and price ranges. They have used, new, and custom-build bicycles. The atmosphere is casual and simultaneously small-town professional. They have the expertise that comes from being in practice a long time. I highly recommend this bike shop! They are super dedicated and love to encourage friends and strangers alike to ride more often, more safely, and more proficiently.

The overhaul I got on my bike plus bike rack remade my bike. It was entirely delightful to get my bike back and it looks new and rides a lot better than it did. And it didnt cost the earth either. And they sell bike mirrors. Highly recommend the thoughtful and prudent advice and work from this shop. They sell bikes, too!

Awesome shop, knowledgeable and personable staff. Tuned up my wife’s bike and sold me an amazing bike at a great cost. Nice local business that cares about its customers. Thanks Michael and Pete for the help and expertise!

Great bike shop with good selection and great staff. Every time I go in, Michael is friendly, helpful, and answers all my annoying questions in full spirits. Whether youre looking to get riding seriously, or just need a solid daily commuter bike, do yourself a favor and stay away from the big box store cheapo bikes and get a solid deal on a used and mechanically sound bike that will last. They also have retro arcade machines, and hilarious captions on their price tags.

Michael and Pete are very knowledgeable and helpful. They make sure youve got what you need for a great ride. Definitely my go to bike shop

These guys are awesome!They are better than Geoffs Cycle & Ski, who work on commission, and than World of Bikes who -- while a solid bike shop -- are expensive and geared towards the racer and Serious Rider, not the everyman (or woman).These guys are the real deal and have accurate information and insider tips.

I want to like this bike shop, but unfortunately I cannot. Theyre not good mechanics, do not put care into the work, and overcharge. Im a busy person. I dont have time to keep coming back while being charged $50/hour to have someone troubleshoot. The gave me incorrect information on multiple occasions, and I had to return to have work readjusted because it was not done right the first time.Specifically, they did not pull the new brake cable tight, so the brake lever rattled.They said my derailluer and shifters were not compatible, so the gears could not be properly adjusted. However, my brother in law, who is not a bike mechanic, just pulled the shifter cable tight and got it working perfectly.They said a wheel of mine was too far out of true to be fixed, but I was able to fix this myself at the Bike Library.They charged me to replace brand new brake cable housing with used and bent housing.I had much better luck at Geoffs and would recommend them to anyone. I certainly do not have them confused with another shop.

When you walk into most bicycle shops you are greeted by sour-faced experts who roll their eyes at most of your choices and questions. The snobbery is real. But not once have I ever felt that way at The Broken Spoke. It always feels more like walking into a friends garage.On top of their friendly service their work is impeccable and their selection of new and used bikes, although not as large as their grumpy, condescending competitors, is always sufficient to get you on just the right set of wheels.This is not just my favorite bike shop, it is one of my favorite businesses in Iowa City period.

The Broken Spoke is the only bicycle shop with a heart in Iowa City. They never try to sell you what you dont need, they never try to sell you new overpriced bikes if a used one fits the bill, and they never push you aside to help Mr. Fancy Pants first. The Broken Spoke is there to keep you on your bicycle. One less car is often the words you hear. Michael the owner rides his bike to work even in the winter. ALL winter. Peat is the best wrench in Iowa City, and they are both really funny guys. If you need your bike fixed right, and for less than the other shops, this is the place. Hope to see you there.

Brought in my bike that needed a lot of work done (new chain, cassette, brake pads, etc.) and they finished the work in the same day! Very happy customer!

Michael and his mechanic Pete are extremely knowledgeable and very helpful without any pretense. Technical work is always outstanding and they offer a nice selection of used bikes, which is a good alternative if you arent looking to spend a ton on a new factory bike. Will always recommend them!

I really wanted to like this place. Im new to bikes, repair etc and was hoping to find a good local shop. After literally finding a perfectly good bike in a dumpster I decided to fix it up and went in to broken spoken spoke for a bike cable. The first two guys I spoke to were very friendly but said I needed to talk to Mike. Mike while giving me what I needed was not friendly, treated me like I was dumb,(Im female and a Phd in Engineering thanks), and actually accused me of stealing the bike. Not really the service I was expecting.

I have been to this establishment exactly twice, stretched out over a six month period of time. I was impressed, both times, by the integrity of the establishments staff--while some bicycle shops deserve a reputation for snootiness or pretense, thats wholly lacking in The Broken Spoke: one suspects that the video games (QBert and one other) that occasion the stores interior are perhaps used more by staff than customers--but in a way that betokens a lack of self-seriousness so fatal to stores. Theres a kindness and gentleness that one feels throughout ones purchasing experience.What impressed me most in my six month hiatus, however, was the fact that the staff actually remembered much of my transaction (selling my kids bike, outgrown). To have a recollection of a relatively banal 20 minute encounter, whose everydayness is the bread and butter of the store, with some amount of detailed precision after a span of time is one of the strongest indicators of care that I can imagine. in a world where fewer and fewer individuals know how to pay attention, the fact that I was recognized really stood out, beyond the ability to banter back and forth (check) and know their business (check). I would highly recommend.

Ive lived in Portland (Oregon), in Colorado, and in Iowa - this is the single most knowledgeable bike mechanic Ive encountered. Even better, his primary interest seems to be sharing his wisdom and improving your experience rather than pressuring you to buy something. Broken Spoke is the best place to go with questions regarding older bikes or questions that deviate from standard use. If you want to purchase a brand new bike frame, Id recommend visiting World of Bikes or Geoffs Bike & Ski as the selection of bikes at Broken Spoke is sparse. That said, the frames he does have assembled include a hodge podge of new and used, all of which seem to perfectly fill a niche purpose or include unique, high-quality components I havent seen elsewhere in the Iowa City area.

I can not recommend this bike shop. My husband took our bike in for a repair and neglected to pick it up in a timely fashion. When he went to pick up the bike, he was surprised to discover that it had been sold without any notice. In order to locate the bike, we posted ads on Craigslist and fliers all around town, and eventually the new owner of the bike contacted Michael at the Broken Spoke and asked to return the bike. We offered to pay the full cost of all work done to the bike as well as reasonable storage costs for the time after the repairs during which we did not pick up the bike. However, Michael indicated that he would only accept the full cost of the bike, completely neglecting the fact that it was originally our bike and meaning that the bike shop received all the profits from the sale of the bike beyond the cost of the repairs. In my opinion, the owner of this bicycle shop took advantage of our situation. I will be taking my future business elsewhere. I do not think that high quality work makes up for duplicitous behavior.

These guys gave me a couple free used bike tires from their trash pile. My daughters power wheels can now go on grass. Thanks guys.

My favorite bike place in town - I come here for parts and service, and the staff is always friendly. Good for advice for new bikers, too.

Best bike shop in town!

Super friendly staff, fixed my horrifically bent rim and popped tube in 15 minutes. if you need help, stop by and i’m sure they’ll take care of you

I put my bike directly into the store to adjust my brake 21 dollars .Im not sure if its expensive for the Just within 10minutes work. maybe Its my mistake that not inquire the price ahead.

The only place I take my bike to in Iowa City. They really know bikes.

Expensive but sophisticated bicycle shop for the devoted cyclists of our fair city.

Nice people and has Surly, VooDoo & Kona bikes. One of the 4 bike shops within a mile of this location.

Zumiez did it!