Bicycle Belle

Really hate to do this, especially for all the reasons mentioned in prior reviews (entirely owned/​operated by women, awesome location and selection, etc.). I’m a novice biker but did a lot of research and parted out a 2013 Cinelli Mash Probuild fixed gear bike. I’m a busy grad student and the frame has been in DC for over a year. My Dad built the bike to spec at a local shop and shipped the bike in pieces to me. It was simple enough to put together but I didn’t have the needed tools at my house and wanted a professional to assemble/​look over for safety purposes. I got the bike together enough and researched shops within walking distance. Bicycle Belle was the closest, so, I literally carried the bike a little over a mile to the shop. The woman who greeted me was awesome but told me the bike wouldn’t be ready until the following Thursday. I wasn’t thrilled at the prospect of waiting over a week for a simple assembly but less thrilled at the prospect of hauling a half put together, $ 3,500 bike around Cambridge so, based on the reviews, I left it. The price was reasonable and I didn’t think much of it.
So, today rolls around and I’m super pumped to get the bike so, I walk to the shop and arrive promptly at 3p, the stated pick up time. The woman in the shop was the one who was going to put the bike together and it was pretty obvious she hadn’t completed it yet. She mentioned waiting for my permission to order a part for the flywheel, a setup I explicitly told the woman who greeted me upon dropping the bike off that I wanted. She said that she would pass the information on to this lady building the bike and obviously, despite writing it down, my permission was still required to order a part that was necessary to set the bike up how I requested. Additionally, whether or not my permission was needed aside, the stated pick up time was 3p and the shop has had the bike for well over a week for a very simple task. I asked them just to put the bike together, I’m waiting now at a local Panera wasting my time because a business can’t deliver on a stated promise and pretty much the basic task of being a full service shop. Don’t waste your time, take your bike and business elsewhere.
As I was writing this, get a call from the shop the bike is done. A task that takes 15 minutes, takes this shop over a week and still, they can’t even do that on time.

LOVE LOVE LOVE this place. Carice and the women working there are all so knowledgeable and sincere! Every question I had, they had an answer. I also was able to test out several different bikes. I purchased a Brooklyn bike with a mini Yepp for my 10 month old. It’s perfect. Can’t stop recommending this place!

This review is shamefully overdue considering that I’ve loved this shop since it opened. Carice is one of the nicest, hardest-​working people you’ll ever have the pleasure to meet, and this shop is a beautiful little gem that Massachusetts — nay, New England — is lucky to have.
As for my own experience with Bicycle Belle, I bought my bike (a Paper Bicycle) from Carice in August 2013. I had a pretty good idea what I was looking for going in, but I took almost every bike in the shop out for a test ride in order to make sure I knew what I wanted. Carice was helpful and patient, even letting me test ride the Bakfiets (Dutch box bicycle) just for fun. I decided to go with one of the Paper Bicycles that she had in stock, with the addition of wooden chainguards and a rear rack. Carice ordered and installed it all for me, keeping me updated every step of the way. When it was done, the bike was a thing of beauty (especially with a new Brooks leather saddle).
That was far from my last visit to the shop, however. I’ve popped in there frequently to browse and see what’s new, as well as picking up a few additional accessories for my bike. Then the Belles Who Bike monthly gatherings started, which were fantastic. I was only able to attend a couple because I had a baby and then moved across the country, but I plan on becoming a regular once we’re back in the area. Please keep them going, Carice!
Finally, as a new mom, I love that Carice is such a strong advocate for biking with kids. I was only able to talk with her a little bit about it before I moved, but even that was very useful. I’m hoping to buy a box bike once I’m back on the East Coast, and you better believe that I’ll be shopping at Bicycle Belle.

My fiancé and I love Carice & co! Super friendly bike shop with no attitude or ego. Great selection of European style bikes — upright, smooth to ride and classic design. They sell quality gear, not crazy cheap stuff that you’ll end up replacing every season. If you are looking for row after row of mountain, hybrid or road bikes, look elsewhere.
If you want a classically designed bike that will get you around with style & comfort — this is the place. They even have leather wine bottle & six-​pack holders.
I picked up a Paper Bike yesterday (the dope one in the window) and cannot be happier with it. So, so happy. Handmade — designed with form & function. I’ve never seen or ridden anything like it.

I love this place! I’ve been riding my amazingly beautiful workcycle gr8 all over town since last fall and it is the greatest of all possible bikes. I apologize to all future customers of Bicycle Belle that you can’t own my chariot, but there are other worthy models to choose from! Carice is smart and her staff are friendly and bike savvy. It is pretty awesome to take your family, including your 5yo daughter, to a bike store owned by a woman and staffed by female mechanics who just haul these huge commuter bikes around and trick them out. This was my first foray into bike commuting (with 2 kids on my bike!) and Carice and her staff helped me do everything necessary to get the bike on the road — all season helmets for me and the kids with winter liners (very important!), huge paniers that worked with the terrific Yepp kid’s seat on the rack, flashing lights, reflective tape, a bike seat cover (adorable and preserving that gorgeous Brook’s saddle) and a solid lock. Also, we were there FOREVER trying out bikes and then waiting while the bike was put together and everyone was so nice to us and the kids and they let us use the surprisingly clean bathroom. The bikes and gear here are expensive, but if you’re buying a bike to commute with, you need to compare that to the cost of buying and maintaining a car. I’m so glad Bicycle Belle opened and I hope more people make the switch to bike commuting!

I adore Bicycle Belle, and I feel very fortunate to have a woman-​owned-​and-​operated shop in my neighborhood. I bought my first commuter bike here recently (a Biria Citibike) and it’s been great! The staff was very helpful while I was picking out my bike, but it’s really been the service ever since that’s made me a fan of this store.
There have been a few minor issues with the bike and installing various accessories that I don’t have enough knowledge for, so I’ve stopped back for help about five times. Each time, the staff is so nice and friendly, and they’ve promptly helped me out with everything!
If you buy a bike, you get a free 30-​day «checkup,» and then for the next year, all the labor on your bike is free (if you need to bring it in for anything else). I love this policy and it’s great to know they’ll be there for you if anything goes wrong.
The rest of the store has a good selection of accessories, too — I bought a pannier bag, wheel lights, cargo straps, and a crate, so I’m totally set for biking around the city!

I’m a middle-​aged dad who liked shopping at Bicycle Belle for a bike for myself.
Deal with it.
First, don’t call them «ladies’ bikes,» they’re «low step-​over.» And fellas, tell me again why it’s a good idea for so-​called «men’s bikes» to have a top horizontal bar? Really? Did we lose a coin toss 100 years ago or something?
True, I didn’t need a box bike or a one-​less-​minivan bike, but Bicycle Belle clearly understands the whole «City Bike» genre: Safer, sturdier, practical, internal hub, easy-​shift, visible, upright posture, low step-​over.
They had a lot of great choices and were patient in their explanations and generous with test-​rides (be sure to bring a helmet).
As it turned out, I found a used beauty on Craigslist, but was sure to go back to Bicycle Belle for all the other things a city bike needs: headlight, tail-​light, mirror, U-​lock (with cable) and, yes, a bicycle bell (brassy and clear).

My mom wanted a new bike for errands. I brought her to Bicycle Belle because of the customer service and selection of classy/​sturdy bikes. She wanted something for transportation not exercise. Other shops don’t focus this need but Belle does.

Now that I’ve been enjoying my new bike for a couple of months, here’s a report on the shop where I bought it and its many accessories.
I initially visited this neighbourhood shop solely for the sake of politeness, having decided in advance that the Linus Dutchie, much loved by mommy bloggers, was the right bike for commuting with my toddler. But the friendly, laidback and very knowledgeable staff at Bicycle Belle helped me to think a bit more about what I wanted in a step-​through, were very responsive to my questions and concerns, and offered test rides on the inexpensive stepthrough brands they carry, the Bobbin Birdie and Papillonaire. The former turned out to be a surprisingly good match although I’d never heard of it before.
I thought about my options over the next week, then decided to go back to Bicycle Belle and purchase the Bobbin Birdie. Bicycle Belle’s staff had some helpful suggestions about registering the bike with local police and such. And when I declined the child seats they sell, opting instead to share my husband’s iBert, they didn’t bat an eye. The bike came with complimentary front and back lights.
I’ve since made two return trips. Shortly after purchase a cable came loose and prevented shifting; it was fixed for free, on the spot. More recently, my kid’s sudden growth spurt necessitated a new seat and all of the gear that goes with it (new rack, extender for panniers, panniers, double kickstand). The labour cost ten dollars, the work was completed in under an hour and we felt really safe and looked after by the smart, compassionate staff, who made sure we knew how to hoist our child into the seat, strap him in and so forth.
Whether you are an experienced cyclist or just want a starter mum-​plus-​one bike (I’m definitely the second kind of customer), I cant’ imagine a better way to start or continue a family biking experience.

Bicycle Belle fills an important niche on the bicycle scene in greater Boston area, catering to commuters and family bikers. Want to test ride a bakfiets (box bike)? A long-​tail cargo bike? A pretty, loop-​frame 3-​speed? They have them! Carice, the owner, has also been very patient and helpful as I’ve tested the waters for a new bike to use in biking with my kids — answering questions by email and getting bikes set up ahead of time to make my visit to the shop efficient. I appreciate her going to special efforts to help me retrofit my small (15″) hybrid frame with a special rack that I needed for a Yepp Maxi seat as a temporary commuting solution while I save up the money for a Dutch bike. There is no hard sell here and no judgment, just a lot of helpful advice and support to make sure you have a safe and enjoyable bike that meets your needs. If you are interested in commuting by bike and/​or riding with kids, go check out the shop.

Let me first say that I do not own a polka-​dot helmet. Okay? My helmet is plain black and if it goes with any of my outfits, that’s strictly accidental. But, I am a woman and I do like upright cruisers. I was not satisfied with the selection of uprights available at other bike stores (and at one, I was told straight out that hybrids are «just better,» sigh). This shop has plenty of them. I bought one after multiple test rides and was told that service for the first year is free. I had occasion to test that theory since my shifter cable came out when I was putting a handlebar basket on. Sure enough, she fixed my bike for free. Didn’t even ask me for ID, just remembered who I was.
This is a good place, and it feels good to be taken seriously. I recommend this store especially for women cyclists and anyone who prefers cruisers.

Bicycle Belle is a new bike shop in Somerville. Despite not being able to swing a cat without hitting a bike shop in the ‘ville, this new shop may actually bring a unique element to the mix. It is clearly catering to the cutesy crowd. If you imagine yourself on a new but vintage looking bike, maybe in a pastel or a bright color, wearing a polka dot dress and matching helmet, maybe with a baguette or tiny pug mix in your basket, then this is the shop for you. I’d been there on opening day, and it seemed like a very soft open. I returned just recently, and the inventory is still very low, and completely scattered (bicycle bells in three different locations). I think as she gets her feet wet, the owner will understand she has an excellent piece of the market here. Bicycle Belle should embrace the Anthropologie-​inspired merchandising they are now just toying with. Artfully arrange your cute merch on rustic wooden tables! Have a bigger selection of bike accessories. Stand behind the thing that makes you unique: be the bike shop for «that girl».
The pics on Instagram are great (bike porn) and they show what’s in stock. I finally found the perfect «classic» bell at Bicycle Belle because I saw a photo of it on Instagram and went in just a few days later. I was expecting it to be expensive, but it was only 7 bucks! The bikes are gorgeous, and definitely worth the money, but for now, I just browse and dream.