Brooklyn Vintage Bicycles

Peter is very knowledgeable and fast. I am just starting to learn more about vintage bikes (and bikes in general) – manufacturers, reputations, dérailleurs, crankset, brakes, etc. – and he patiently answered all of my questions. I brought in a Miyata 310 road bike that I recently won on eBay. He inspected all the parts and made sure the bike was safe to ride. He then changed the handlebar tape, removed the crumbling brake covers, added new pedals, a new chain, and a rear cargo rack (a Pletscher style rat trap no less!) Everything including tune up came to about $ 100, which seems pretty reasonable for NYC.
EDIT: I’ve discovered a few issues since coming here. The rear rack was installed at a sloping angle (the back of the rack above the wheel is raised considerably higher than the front and the clamp on the seat stays is not exactly aligned). I had to take it to another mechanic in my neighborhood to get that adjusted.
Bottom line is that you can buy a decent vintage bike here and have it set up and ready to ride in an hour. But it’s not the right place to go if you want to have a thorough tune up and inspection.

Bought a sad old bike from an acquaintance after mine got stolen. It needed a tune-​up, adjustments, and the rear brakes weren’t working. I texted Peter on a Saturday (!) at noon, and was in his shop 20 minutes later (!!). In about a half an hour he made all the adjustments I asked for, switched out my brake cables, and even cleaned the filthy frame as best as was possible — all for a really great price. I’m super pleased with the results and will make Peter my go-​to for tune ups since I live fairly close by!

Amazing shop, great guy! Will do business with Peter again! He treats anyone as a friend rather than a customer.

As the rest of these reviews state, Peter is a great guy doing a very cool thing out of his place in Sheepshead Bay.
This isn’t the place to go for a super high end bike, but if you’re looking for a workable vintage bike that’s been tuned up well at a fair price, BVB is definitely worth checking out.

Pete is the real deal. He found a wonderful Nishiki for me in a few minutes and I picked up the customized bike two days later. His prices are fair, he has bikes in his DNA, and he’s a truly decent human being.

This place is absolutely amazing. Service and knowledge are top notch. Bikes are Pete’s passion and he’s happy to go above and beyond what any other used bike shop has ever been.
I walked in not sure what I wanted, but knowing I needed a new road bike. He has a huge (60+) selection, which almost makes it overwhelming. But he walked me through different options that would fit my body type and I took one around the block. After choosing a great 70’s French-​built bike, I left for about an hour while he put on new tires, a new rear hub, new chain and new cables, re-​greased everything and gave the bike a full tune up. This was all included in the purchase price, which surprised me greatly.
Amazing shop, great guy. If you’re looking for a new bike and don’t want to drop a grand, let Pete build you your next street beast.

Peter has a great selection of bikes that are in beautiful condition/​fully restored. He’s super friendly and knowledgeable, able to set you up quickly and answer questions. If you’re looking for a bike, do yourself a favor and check out Brooklyn Vintage. Worth the trip!

Awesome experience. Lots of choices for my size. Prices were very good and he was more than happy to change things or upgrade if I wanted. Bought a sweet bike that was ready to go and if there’s any issues, I have 30 days to bring it back and he’ll fix it.
Note: I showed up and he was not expecting me, saying that he works by Appointment only, even though online has specific hours. Make sure you call ahead of time or you’ll be sad that you traveled all the way down to the edge of the earth.

This place is like a «Bike Wonderland» in the underground. Anyone who wants to get a classic bike for a very good price and from a very nice guy, GO HERE!
I wanted to get my husband a road bike for his birthday but after looking at many shops in Brooklyn, I realized I needed to spend more than 800 $. So I went to the Vintage shop owned by a very pleasant and friendly guy, Peter. I was just amazed how he tried to find the best bike for my husband; he offered an honest advice and did not rush us to buy anything. We ended up buying the best and classic TREK road bike around 500 $. My husband loves it and takes it everywhere!!!
If you want to buy a good bike and also spend your money consciously, go to Peter! Not only he will help you find your ideal bike but he can also turn your cranky old bike into a modern day super bike!
Totally 100% recommend!

Peter is a great bike mechanic! I was expecting to ride into a «physical» bike shop, however I was surprised to see Peter set up shop in a family home basement. You really get a sense of community! I felt welcomed and transported to somewhere of out NY! A rare gem. I orginally went in to repair my dated mountain bike that I ride year round. I had no idea I would be leaving with a brand new one! Long story short, my old bike was shot and I had to walk a couple of miles back to Peter. That point I made the decision to get some new wheels. Peter was very helpful. Even offered to refund the repair service fee. Given the situation, he sold me a hybrid at a great deal (almost 30% off the sticker price). I was certainly a happy customer! Although Peter’s shop is not nearby, I will use his services moving forward!

Most down to earth bike experience I’ve ever had. Peter is genuinely interested in getting you on a ride that fits and meets every expectation. No nonsense, this guy is experienced and a pleasure to talk to.
After picking out the frame that fit me best, peter went the distance to make sure I loved the whole package to. With no added charge he changed the tires to a thicker gauge, swapped out the headset, and replaced the seat. Also– when he realized that there was a leak in the rear tube he put in two new ones at no additional charge.
I really valued this experience and would recommend anyone looking for a bike that suites their needs and personality to visit Peter. It’s a bit of a trek, but I wouldn’t hesitate to go out there again. He does this business SO right.

I have never been happier with a bike. Peter has a huge selection on bikes and he gives amazing customer service.
I was looking for bikes for weeks at different used and new bike stores and kept hesitating because I wouldn’t find exactly what I wanted. That changed when I went to Brooklyn Vintage Bicycles.
I really wanted to find a light bike that I could carry up my stairs but that was upright. Peter found several bikes that fit what I was looking for and let me test all of them. The bike I liked best did not have the handle bars that I wanted, so he replaced them for the cruiser style for free.
I got an amazing deal on an amazing bike and this summer I am looking forward to actually keeping up with my boyfriend on our bike trips. Even if Gerritson Beach is far, it is well worth the trip (Peter even offered the deliver the bike to my place.)

I was looking for a relatively inexpensive single-​speed bike and when I saw the reviews for Peter on Unilocal I thought it sounded too good to be true.
Not only did I end up spending less than I thought I would have to, but Peter customised the handlebars and seat height for me. The ride of this bike is unbelievably smooth and I really enjoy riding it
Peter has an amazing selection of bikes and knows his bikes really well. He’s not only knowledgable but so passionate about his bikes — unlike other bike shops (especially in Manhattan) you don’t feel as if you’re about to get ripped off or sold something you don’t actually want/​need.
If you need a vintage bike, don’t bother with the pretentious shops that try and sell you one for more than a new bike would be (I had this experience multiple times) — the selection at Brooklyn Vintage Bicycles is amazing and Peter can customise your bike any way you want so you really end up with something individual. Definitely worth making the trip all the way out!

I have a vintage Elswick English racer with the original air pump. The bike is over 55 years old. The air pump was not working properly and I wanted Pete to take a look at it. He stopped by home to help me and refused payment for his time.
Can you beat that for service?
I again recommend this shop very highly.
Glenn
Brooklyn, NY

How rare is it that a business receives 5 stars from all its customers. You can’t help but wonder if they are all legit, right?
Well, as of last week, I can officially confirm that Peter, (the owner) of Brooklyn Vintage Bicycles is deserving of not just 5 stars, but 10 star reviews if Unilocal would allow it!
I am not an easy customer to please, and my bike needed someone who had the magic touch because I was screwed over by another bicycle repair shop (I don’t want to mention any names, but lets just say their name rhymes with the word «TOYS» and they are on coney island avenue if you catch my drift). Well, they won’t be seeing me anytime soon (but they will enjoy the credit card chargeback coming there way for doing such shi**y service!
Here is the story in a nutshell.
The other bike shop did a repair on my bike for $ 32, and when I went to test ride it, the exact same problem was present. One of their «rookies» (I can tell by his face), did the diagnosis so when I asked the senior tech to «take over» and credit the $ 32 to the «real repair» that is needed, he said, he could not do that b/​c there was no way to know if the initial repair was needed. I politely said, that even if that were the case, the second issue should have been caught by «Your Tech» the first time around, and brought to my attention and I should have been quoted for both repairs, right… he knew I was right, stayed quiet, but wouldn’t do the right thing… I paid yet another $ 50 for the additional repair… it worked… but lasted for about 5 bike rides. At this point, I was fed up, so my next review for the other shop will be up in just a bit.
Back to my review on «THE MAN» who turned this bike into gold —– I went on Unilocal and found Peter. I set an appt. at 7pm sharp and he was ready for me when I arrived. I read people very well, and very quickly, and like others have said on here — Peter is friendly, cheerful, and you can tell just by the way he looks at your bike that he is a seasoned pro with a knack with spotting the real issues… and solving it the first time around!
What was really nice to see was there was a little guy (maybe a 6 or 7 year old kid) who came in and his chain broke and he was pretty sad about it. Peter fixed it, and when the kid asked how much, Peter said, no charge… That type of professional and good nature personality type is a lost art (especially in Brooklyn) that I truly cherish because it is how I run my business as well (I happen to be in the Wedding and Bar Mitzvah industry so you have to have an innate goodness in you for kids).
Long story short (yeah, I know, not possible at this point, but I am just so happy with the repair, I cannot help to gloat and to make certain that anyone that needs a repair be it small or large, that they only go here… that is if they want it done right of course).
It turned out that the other shop missed what was really going on (Peter spotted it in about 15 seconds, showed me in fine detail and being fairly technical, I understood about 90% of what he was showing me). Peter also does not do the upsell BS at all, but the funniest thing was, that I had three upgrades in mind (change the handles, brake cables, and changing the seat to something that «cradles the boys» better, if you know what I mean) and without me saying a word, he made those EXACT recommendations.
Does Peter have ESP or something? LOL.
So to sum everything up, Peter not only repaired my bike, replaced the handles and handle bar, put on the new seat, realigned everything, suggested the correct basket for me and reinstalled all my stupid gadgets etc… but he gave me an EXTREMELY fair price & managed to get all of this work done in about 90 minutes… AND he was completely tolerant of my 900 questions (I have not biked since my teen years and I am in my early 30’s now, so a lot of has changed).
Bottom Line — If you want to pay an extremely fair price, receive top notch service not only from a master, but a pure professional, and gentlemen as well, this the only place you will need to go.
Oh, and I forgot to mention that Peter somehow managed to get my breaks to stop on a dime (my bike brakes stop better than some car ABS breaks… seriously… and he managed to get the damn clicking sound to stop in my gear box too!) When I got on the bike for the first time, I really felt as if I was riding a brand new top of the line bike!
PS. Peter, in case you cannot identify me by now, I was the guy with the 1980’s Raleigh bike who showed you the crazy laser beam light thingy that draws the lines on the street so cars stay out of the bike lane!
I truly wish you the best and have already given your name to two other friends who need new chains and major tune ups!
Thanks again for sharing your amazing skill set with us bike-​maniacs and keeping us moving (and safe) on the road and recommending that cool bike chain and lock too!
PS. plenty of street parking too if driving!

So my husband, Chris, discovered Peter from his ad on Craig’s list. He was looking for a quality custom made bike within a reasonable price range. Based on Peter’s website and reviews, we were pretty confident that he would deliver! So we called him up and in less than a week, Chris got his custom made bike as requested.
We were also impressed with the fact that Peter kept us updated with the progress of the bike and even delivered it himself to our house. Chris really appreciated the fact that Peter was very flexible with delivery time and took his work schedule into consideration. I was so impressed with the quality of work, quick service and Peter’s overall professionalism, that I had to ask my husband to get Peter to make me a bike too! Needless to say, we are both 100% satisfied with our purchases.
Even later down the line, when my husband incurred some tire problems (due to a maladjusted fender placed by a different bike shop in our neighborhood), Peter was there to the rescue! He came over to our house to look at the tire and in a couple days returned with a new one that he applied to Chris’ bike. It was very refreshing to do business with someone who is as professional, respectful and resourceful as Peter.

Got my bike from them three summers ago. Cant complain about the bike yet, it was certainly past its heyday but restored and tuned right and it’s served me very well. They have a great selection of bikes coming in all the time, so it’s tempting but make sure you ride them first for a little while. Vintage bikes seem to widely vary in comfort levels and rideability.
Pete’s a pro and offers excellent customer service. I do believe they have a delivery option once you buy your bike but I opted to ride it home so I can’t comment on that part of the process

Great bikes, great service, great prices!!!
Upon making the decision to buy a bike to trolly around the city on, I quickly realized the following…
1. I had no idea what I was looking for/​what I needed size wise, price wise, etc.
2. I would only be able to afford a used bike
3. All of the used bike stores in Manhattan were way over priced and tended to be a little pushy when it came to budget.
Thats when I went to Unilocal and found Brooklyn Vintage Bicycles beaming with rave reviews. I immediately checked out Peter’s website and noticed that he had a great selection of used/​renovated bikes at really reasonable price points. I decided to trust the reviewers of Unilocal,and decided to make the 1.5hr treck to Gerritson Beach, Brooklyn. It was 100% worth it!
Peter could not have been more helpful! Before making the treck, I called to confirm that Peter had bikes that would fit my weight and height. He answered honestly, confirming that he did, and also gave me simple directions on how to get there from Manhattan. Upon arriving, Peter gave me all of his attention and answered all of my silly questions. He let me test ride as many bikes as I wanted, and reminded me that if i found one I liked, he could customize almost any aspect of it… wheel color, handle bar height, etc. etc. He was patient, honest, knowledgeable, and professional!
After and hour or so of testing out a few contenders, I walked away with a great bike at a great price ($ 320 w/​metal basket!).
With great service, great inventory, and a 30 day return policy — I would 100% recommend Peter and Brooklyn Vintage Bicycles. He made the experience of purchasing a bike fun and easy!

Had a flat in the middle of riding from Coney to Rockaways, which could have been a disaster had I not found these guys from Unilocal!These guys took care of it in a blink of an eye.
While they were working on my ride, I spent the time ogling through their selection which proved to be amazing. Each bike cooler than the next one and with price tags that made me want to buy several right there and then.
Once my current ride gives up, I know where I’m heading.

these guys are super nice, helpful, and knowledgable. I never felt pressured to buy anything, but walked away with an amazing bike. I would definitely recommend BVB to any of my friends.