Dave Fix My Bike

I flatted out yesterday on my commute home. I’d had a particularly crappy day. Dave was busy but kind enough to let me use his pump, wrench and space to allow me to fix it myself. When you’re in a bind and someone recognizes it and helps you out, what more can you ask? Thanks man, mucho appreciado!

If I could give zero (or –10) stars I would. Looking for a place to fix my bike that was close to my house, I ended up here without consulting any of the previous reviews other people have made on this place. I wished I had because, as many others noted, no one should go to this place, ever! The guy just doesn’t know how to run a business, is rude, unpolite, aggressive and doesn’t know how to deal with customers or, more generally, with people.
My bike needed a simple tune up and the owner –I guess it was «Dave”– told me it would be done in a week. I thought a week was too much time for that, but I didn’t say anything and came back not a week later, but a week and a day later. My bike was parked outside. I came into the store, I was ignored for a while, and then I told Dave that I wanted to pick up my bike. He told me, without any kind of apology, that the bike wasn’t fixed yet, and that he was going to start working on that. I told him that it was supposed to be ready the day before, and he told me that he hadn’t had time for that as many people came into his store and interrupted his work, so I couldn’t blame him for that. After this answer, which I found already pretty shocking, I was still calmed and asked when he would have my bike fixed. He told me «tomorrow». Then I said that I didn’t feel good about that, as the bike was supposed to be ready the day before, so he replied that he would have it ready on that day but 4 hours later. And then he added «I don’t see a problem with that, what’s your problem with that?» Then I told him that I still did not feel confortable about his answer, and he started yelling at me. He said that I should have given him a call (me? not him??) and that if I had read his notice on the wall –which he never asked me to read or pointed at its existance when I first came– I would have known better that I couldn’t come just like that to ask for my bike, even if it was a day later than the agreed date. He even said that I (not him???) should take responsibility for coming like that and not reading his notice. I told him that I thought he should take some responsibility for his own business.
I was mad, felt insulted, mistreated and angry. I couldn’t believe that he was yelling at me, in such an unpolite and rude way, giving me such bad arguments. I ended up taking my bike and leaving, angry and frustrated. I thought the story was over until the next day, when I received an SMS on my phone. It was Dave, sending me a picture of his wall notice (which I will upload in case someone is crazy enough to go to this place), and a message saying «fare notice given, take notice, this could save you from any controversy in the future». I thought the guy had reached his limit in terms of inappropiate comments and behaviors, but I was wrong! He still had much more to offer as his SMS showed to me.

This place is amazing. My brake pads were rubbing on my rims and I called to see if he had time to fix it. He said to bring it in. I did and he fixed it then and there and then told me it was «on the house» and there would be no charge! That’s friendly, neighborhood service for sure. I’m bringing it back next week for a tune-​up.

Ultimately; in getting your bicycle repaired, you want a mechanic that knows what he/​she is doing, completes the work in a satisfactory amount of time, does a good job, charges reasonably and is courteous as well. All these things I felt I received at Dave Fix My Bike.
I was given a thorough and honest assessment of the first bike I brought to him, essentially being told that for the money I would have to invest in fixing my old clunker I’d be better off just buying another bike. He actually went through and showed me bit by bit what was wrong with each section of my bike and what the potential cost would be. To which I took his advice and bought another second hand bike. I then returned to his shop with my «new» bike to get it tuned up. He got my bike working well and I felt charged me a reasonable price to do so.
He knew what he was doing and I found him affable to boot. All in all I was satisfied. He may be a bit pricer than other shops but I think you get what you pay for.

Can I give zero stars?
Many years ago, when Dave, Fix… was on Harbord, and I lived in the neighbourhood, I went in for a minor repair. I left my bike outside and discussed the problem with him; he was dismissive, condescending, and told me my bike wasn’t worth repairing (the bike in question was a Miyata that I still ride daily today). He showed me some new bikes that he had… I have no idea why – totally out of my price range even if I’d been interested in a new bike. What part of fix my bike couldn’t he understand?
I left the shop with my limping Miyata, confused and a bit angry abut the encounter, and vowed never to go to this shop again.
Fast forward 20 years and a few house moves later, and I find that Dave, Fix… has set up shop at the end of my street. I now have grown children who are also avid cyclists, and we have about 6 or 7 bikes that require varying levels of attention throughout the year. Despite the convenience that the location of the shop may offer, I remember that first Dave encounter and will never take any of the bikes there for repair.

He once lectured me on how I should have listened to him, otherwise my bike wouldnt be broken.
It was the first time I had brought him my bike, and tried to explain that he must have mistaken for someone else.
He just kept going, being the biggest misogynist asshole ever.
Turns out, I had to get his repair fixed by another bike shop a few weeks later.
Thanks for the free air though!

I was riding up Christie when I started to have issues with my back tire. This happened to be right across the street from this store. I popped in and he took a look right away. Fixed the issue in 30 min. I never had a store like that. Most bike stores you expect to wait a few days even if the service guys are standing around. On top of that I asked Dave some questions about my bike. He was so helpful with my other bike questions. I read other reviews of this store on Unilocal.I disagree this guy is amazing. I will only go back to this place for service.

My experience here was just horrible! I brought my bike in for new brake pads. Though he wrote down what I needed, he gave my bike a full tune up. When I came to pick it up and realized that my brake pads had not been changed, he argued with me that the pads were fine and I owe him $ 75 for the tune up. In the end I paid him $ 30 because he made me feel so bad. (That is what the brake pads would have cost). This place is 1 minute from my house, but I will never go back!

I needed to replace a tire on my bike and with these guys less than a block from my house I chose the path of least resistance. I was doing the work myself and all I needed was the rim liner.
It was pouring rain the morning I came in. There was one employee working and he was helping a customer so I patiently waited. And waited. And waited. The employee completely ignored me, didn’t say hello, didn’t ask what I needed, or didn’t give me any signal that the repair he was working on was going to take a while.
Just as I was about to leave in frustration from standing there stupidly someone else (Dave I’m guessing) popped his head out from around a corner asking if I had been helped. When I said «no» he rolled his eyes realizing the fact that I had been ignored by the other employee. I told him what I was looking for and he grabbed it off the wall. I didn’t know they were cash only so I ran quickly to the ATM. By the time I came back, the first employee was freed up and processed my payment. By processed I mean, used every ounce of his brain power to figure out my change as they don’t have a cash register to tell him the correct answer.
Of the many, many times I’ve walked by this store they’re always busy. Based on my experience though, I can’t understand why. Maybe just a bad day to visit.

Dave is a friendly and honest neighborhood guy. The first time I rode by his shop, I just needed some air in my tires. He loaned me his pump and took the time to explain the ideal pressure for my tires. The next time I rode by, I was looking for a new seat. He installed a good used one for me and charged me only $ 5! The number of women that I see frequenting his shop leads me to believe that he operates a welcoming space for us ladies who are not always treated with the greatest respect in these types of establishments. Dave will not make you feel «stupid» for not knowing what you’re talking about. That said, he’s a bit of a strange guy who doesn’t have regular business hours and rarely answers his phone so you can’t really count on him being available when you pop by. But his prices are good and he works mostly in cash. Compared to other rude and rip-​off bike joints in that neighborhood, Dave is looking pretty good!

As of today, there’s a sign on the door that says repairs etc. are by appointment only.

If I could give him less than one star, I would. Absolutely the WORST attitude of any business I’ve used in I don’t know how long. He’s almost scary rude. He’s even rude on the phone and I only used him because my regular place was a long walk with a flat tire in 32 degree weather. He wanted to fix a lot of other stuff that had already passed the test at my regular place… and you know what he said? «why don’t you go back there then» and he repeated it twice! Great attitude for a struggling small business. I had a scheduled appointment to bring my bike in and was left waiting for almost two hours. He was training a new employee and was treating the guy like c – p. There’s better places than this and lots of them.

Great place! Dave fixed my brakes for super cheap, and was so nice about it!

I don’t know anything about bikes, so I really have no idea if Dave is doing a good job or a shitty job when he tunes up my bike, but everything seems to be working, so I guess it’s good.
Here’s the thing about Dave — he’s a bit of a character, but I enjoy it. Here’s the other thing about Dave — the hours during the off-​peak season are a little dicey, I would definitely call ahead. You know what? I’d probably just call ahead anytime of year.

Dave is very good with repairs & his prices are fair. He told he was busy & a repair would take two weeks. Other bikes shops have told me it will take at least a week, just to get my business. Then I was stuck using the TTC for 2 wks.
Another time I was there & he quoted a repair price parts & labour for a customer. The guy said that’s too much, can you give me a discount? He said sorry I can’t but go to Bike Pirates & you can buy the parts there & do the repair yourself for less.
Another time I needed sealed bearings & he told me to get them myself, make a few calls & I’d save $ 20 or so. After I bought them, he asked what store sold them, then he wrote down the store, part & price for his own info. How’s that for openness?
Anytime I need a repair I see him first for a quote &/​advice.

Dave F’d My Bike.
I brought in my bike to replace a worn out brake cable and got it back with a broken headset. He claims not to have touched it, but it was fine before, and now the bolt is entirely stripped. Granted, it’s an old bike, but he could at least have owned up to it instead of pretending it never happened.

He can replace just about anything you want, he might just have to order it first. His prices and turnaround are very good.
He gives lots of free advice about what type of bike and accessories you need for what you want to do with your bike (even though he doesn’t sell the bikes), and he’ll never rip you off by trying to sell you something you don’t need.

Great for quick fixes and adjustments that require specialized tools you may not own. Very reasonable pricing.

RATING ALERT!!!
I’m giving 2 stars not because Dave is bad… but because his services as a «shop» are quite limited compared to a real bike shop.
Now I may be aging myself, but I remember when Dave Fix My Bike was actually a roaming bike repair station setup on various street corners in the U of T downtown campus /​Annex area. It was a big deal when he actually built a repair stand kart to move his stuff around… and an even bigger deal when he added to his street corner «stand» a REAL Park bike repair stand and some newer parts as opposed to somewhat beat up salvaged items.
He had no permit… so it always seemd a bit dodgy if you were to leave a bike with him for repair… but many people seemed to do this… and somehow find him when he really had no shop «hours», or even a stable location for that matter.
In spite of this nomadic business model, he actually started having customers drop off items for repair that he would have leaning on building walls where he was working, and he started getting regular drop-​in customers (the only kind when you have no fixed address or a phone) looking at having simple things fixed (seized or sloppy brakes, broken basket, squeaky chain, wobbly wheel, etc).
Fast forward a few years and Dave actually has a shop.
He has posted business hours.
He doesn’t have a phone I don’t think… but he does have an email address and a website.
If you’re looking for a full service bike shop… this ain’t it.
What does Dave Fix My Bike do? Well… Dave fixes bikes.
He doesn’t sell them. He doesn’t really have parts for sale aside from simple consumables like cables, tubes, and a handful of new commuter upgrades like lights, baskets, racks, fenders, bells, and the occasional used bike frame, and some wheels that he has happened to come across. But, he will fix flats, true wheels, fix broken spokes and things to a non-​mechanical, neighbourhood clientele.
He doesn’t have parking. He is local. If you live in his stomp, he is convenient.
And…he has a free air hose outside his shop.