Our mission is to grow and empower an inclusive biking community through education and affordability. We provide a non-profit, volunteer-run, educational do-it-yourself workshop offering training, rides, and events to empower all levels of cyclists in building, maintaining, and embracing the fun of bicycles.
As a local non-profit organization, we rely strictly on volunteers and funding from private individuals and organizations. Although we primarily work with recycled materials, we do spend money on consumables with include things like bicycles tubes, cables, and brake pads. We encourage monetary donations from all that use the shop.
As a local non-profit organization, we rely strictly on volunteers and funding from private individuals and organizations. Although we primarily work with recycled materials, we do spend money on consumables with include things like bicycles tubes, cables, and brake pads. We encourage monetary donations from all that use the shop.
Services
John Patterson and Christian Myers co-founded Vlocity Bicycle Cooperative as a spin-off to the non-profit viaVlo bicycle delivery and pedicab service started in 2009. Both John and Christian saw the opportunity and demand for a community-based and volunteer-run bicycle co-op in Alexandria, Virginia to grow and empower a more inclusive biking community through affordability, education, and embracing the fun of riding.
The Vlocity Bicycle Cooperative could not exist without our dedicated and inspired Vloteers and board of directors to support our mission to build a stronger community through growing and empowering biking as sustainable transportation. The people of Vlocity are focused on instituting the foundational standards needed to ensure Vlocity Bicycle Cooperative is viable and will be here to support our area for many generations to come.
Q: Can I come in and work on my own bike? A: Yes! Vlocity Bicycle Cooperative offers do-it-yourself access where we provide you with tools, parts, and guidance so you are able to service your bicycle yourself. No experience is necessary as long as you are actually able to do the work yourself. And there is no cost for DIY service access but we ask for at least a $15 donation an hour to Vlocity Coop for the bicycle stand and tools used.
To help fulfill the Vlocity mission of growing and empowering a more inclusive biking community, we proudly offer Do-It-Yourself [DIY] bike repair access to our entire community.
While expert Vlocity Coop mechanics and Vloteers still provide traditional bicycle shop labor services and tuneups, Vlocity Coop is different from traditional bike shops because we are committed to educating our community members in bike repairs so they're more knowledgeable and better able to help others in turn.
While expert Vlocity Coop mechanics and Vloteers still provide traditional bicycle shop labor services and tuneups, Vlocity Coop is different from traditional bike shops because we are committed to educating our community members in bike repairs so they're more knowledgeable and better able to help others in turn.
While a key part of the Vlocity mission is to provide education and engagement to cycling through do-it-yourself service access, you can also support Vlocity community services by dropping off your bike for a professional mechanic tune up or service. The two Vlocity staff mechanics have more than 60 years of bike maintenance service experience combined.
Reviews (9)
Teo Stefi
Aug 31, 2021
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Andrew Zembala
Aug 16, 2021
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Ashley Hathaway
Jul 17, 2021
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I unfortunately had the same experience as many folks with poor customer service. The person that sold me a bike tube only took the time to essentially mansplain how broken my bike was (yes i know that's why i'm buying new parts!). I get this is a volunteer-run organization, but if volunteers are going to be disrespectful is it even worth it?
Thomas Braden
Apr 29, 2021
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Update to my original review.
Returned today as my son’s bike had a flat tire and needed a new brake handle.
30 minutes in and out - on a Saturday nonetheless!
All for about $60 - a wonderful organization and team running this coop!!
Every neighborhood should be so fortunate!!
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Great people - great place - best free advise I've received in years!
Stopped in today to get my son's bike fixed. He only just recently told me, "Dad, I love the bike, but the brakes don't really work and well, neither do the gear shifters!?!" (WTH??)
Mike at the Bike Coop told me it's be more money
Returned today as my son’s bike had a flat tire and needed a new brake handle.
30 minutes in and out - on a Saturday nonetheless!
All for about $60 - a wonderful organization and team running this coop!!
Every neighborhood should be so fortunate!!
—————
Great people - great place - best free advise I've received in years!
Stopped in today to get my son's bike fixed. He only just recently told me, "Dad, I love the bike, but the brakes don't really work and well, neither do the gear shifters!?!" (WTH??)
Mike at the Bike Coop told me it's be more money
Leslie Jameson
Apr 17, 2021
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Went to the coop sale on Sunday, 4/4, and purchased a beat-up bike which the Coop offered to repair and quoted around $250. The frame was comfortable, so I decided to go with this option. I lugged the bike home and then came back to the shop this week, only to be mansplained to by the person running the shop that "well of course we sell bikes at the sale so that YOU can repair them yourselves, it's not really worth our time to repair the bike." I was able to get a refund, but I felt disinformed by the people at the bike sale who a) underestimated the cost of the repairs (at least according to their
Andrew Richards
Dec 30, 2020
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Velocity has an all-star team of volunteers who assist this local non-profit serve our Del Ray community. I lived in a sober house in my early recovery and relied on a bike to get where I needed to go, and Christian (the founder) and Velocity were always welcoming and helped me to get where I needed to go. They also taught me how to make repairs to my own bike and were able to sell me recycled parts at low prices. Amazing store!!!!
Chris Jones
Nov 25, 2020
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This is a great bike shop - friendly, awesome prices, and a very knowledgeable staff. In my case, my bike has old, hard-to-adjust cantilever brakes. The mechanics were able to adjust them perfectly - something three other shops couldn't do - and they only charged me $15! They did it while I waited, so I had a chance to watch them interact with a bunch of customers. With each one they listened to what they wanted, did their best to find them the right bike or part, and tried to get them the best value possible.
Just bear in mind that they only do used bikes and gear. It is a great place to get
Just bear in mind that they only do used bikes and gear. It is a great place to get
M. Alspaugh
Jul 08, 2020
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I discovered this place about a year ago when I was looking for a bike that wouldn't break my bank account and 3 of the family members wanted bikes. I also later needed a reliable place to go to as I have absolutely no idea how to repair or maintenance bikes.
The staff are good humored, reliable, and honest. Their repairs and advice, and overall, willingness to teach my 14 year old son how to repair his own bike ( and how to avoid breaking it more than necessary) is impressive. I have been exceedingly pleased with both their service and their products. I have gotten a (new) bike for my son as
The staff are good humored, reliable, and honest. Their repairs and advice, and overall, willingness to teach my 14 year old son how to repair his own bike ( and how to avoid breaking it more than necessary) is impressive. I have been exceedingly pleased with both their service and their products. I have gotten a (new) bike for my son as
USofC At
Aug 09, 2019
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Great for home mechanics in need of older parts or tools. I love coming here for odds and ends. If you know what your looking for, there's a great chance you'll something at a very reasonable price.
I recently came in with a VooDoo frameset and was able to buy and install and headset, bottom bracket and a few other bits. I got a terrific deal on some cranks along with cables/housing. I was able get most of the tricky install stuff done in the shop under an hour.
They have all the tools for bottombrackets, brakes, etc. I've even laced up hand-built wheels and finished tensioning them up here with
I recently came in with a VooDoo frameset and was able to buy and install and headset, bottom bracket and a few other bits. I got a terrific deal on some cranks along with cables/housing. I was able get most of the tricky install stuff done in the shop under an hour.
They have all the tools for bottombrackets, brakes, etc. I've even laced up hand-built wheels and finished tensioning them up here with
