Top Bike Shops To Upgrade Your Ride

In a study on the effects on physical inactivity led by I-Min Lee in 2012, about 5.3 million of the 57 million deaths worldwide in 2008 could be attributed to inactivity, largely due to four major diseases: heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, breast cancer and colon cancer. They determined sedentary lifestyles are roughly as harmful as smoking! 

A great way to include more exercise into your life is on your commute to work. Ditch the metro/taxi/car/bus, and invest in a piece of gear which can keep you fit and healthy. A safe and healthy choice is the humble bicycle.

"What about Mobike?"

Sure, they're great and we are fans! But if you want a bike that is custom fitted just for you, take a look at these top bike shops and see which style suits you the best.

FACTORY FIVE

Address: S1, Anken Life, 667 Changhua Road (nr Anyuan)

Hours: Daily, 10am to 9pm

Launched back in 2010, Factory Five is regarded as one of the finest bicycle shops in the city. They specialize in fixies (or fixed bikes) which can be hand crafted to your particular preferences. Everything from the frame, to the handle bars can be chosen to match your own taste. Prices start from around RMB 3000 and depending on how much you want a top-of-the-range custom, can reach as much as RMB 20,000! 

Factory Five is also an excellent spot to pick up new parts which are both imported and locally produced. Head over to the shop in Jing’An district and check out what they have on offer. They also host a few bike-related events and socials!

HYPERGRACE

Address: No. 39, 1500 Zhangyang Lu, near Taolin Lu

Hours: Daily, 1pm to 10pm

Tel: [phone] or 13564244148

The stylishly named Hypergrace is for riders who love to be looked at! Two Shanghai natives launched the shop after turning their back on their life in the finance industry to pursue a dream of providing stunning bikes which perform as well as they look. Hypergrace provide flashy but beautifully designed fixed-gear track bikes which just make you want to ride! If you’re serious about cycling, you can also pick up Dosnoventa bikes here which are one of the most wanted around the word. They come with a hefty price tag though! Top of the line models reach RMB 110,000! However, there are cheaper options at around RMB 8000 from brands such as Cadence and God and Famous.

GIANT

Address: 743 Jianguo Xi Lu, near Hengshan Lu

Here’s a brand you’re probably more accustomed to! Taiwanese brand, Giant, have been around since 1972 and are considered one of the most reliable bikes across the globe. Their store on Jianguo Xi Lu is one of the largest and stock excellent quality mid-range bicycles for the everyday rider. If you’re looking for something a little more advanced, check out their aluminum-framed blue road bike at just over RMB 4000.  City bikes can be bought at under RMB 900 and there’s plenty of accessories available too.

WTF

Address: B101, Room 25, 550 Shaanxi Nan Lu, near Shaoxing Lu, Xuhui District

Tel: [phone]

The interestingly named WTF is on a mission to get people cycling again, by providing awesome looking customs at a decent price. Their name doesn’t stand for what you think it does! Instead, it’s World Towards Fixies and you can grab a 100% customizable bike here, with many variation of colors, parts, styling and weight requirements for around RMB 3000.

Both sports and retro styles are available and the team is very enthusiastic and talented in helping you find the right bike for your personality.  Their Jiashan Market spot is also a relaxed bar and café area, plus they often host regular rides around town as well as on-site events.

RIDEAL

Address: 383 Jiaozhou Lu (near Wuding Lu), Shanghai, China

Fed up with his job as a Microsoft programmer, Ben Yang, along with fellow bike enthusiast Brad Zhang launched Rideal, a trendy, vintage bike shop based in Jing’An. 

People travel from all over Shanghai for their stylish bikes, which are made by using mainly auction-sourced parts. They have an excellent reputation for providing tasteful apparel, bags and shoes which look good enough to wear even when you’re not riding! 

There’s plenty of style options here including a black leather and chrome saddle Brooks bike for about RMB 1,700, fixies for RMB 4500 and entry level bikes at around RMB 2500. 

Their store is open daily from midday to midnight, so if you’re inspired to get a bike after a night drinking at one of the nearby bars, pop by for a chat!

CHAIN'S SPROCKET

Address: Unit 1A, Bldg 2, No. 12, Lane 1384 Wanhangdu Lu, near Huayang Lu.

If you own a bike already and looking for parts of accessories, you’ll find it hard to beat Chain’s and Sprocket. The local shop sells everything from flasks, helmets and oil cans to chains, sunglasses and locks. 

If it’s a bike you’re after however, the shop prides themselves on their 'P.E.R.S.O.N.A.L' service. People Expertise Reasonable Price Service Open New Ideas Availability Linguistics. The shop stocks bike to suit every user, including high end including Cervelo, Wilier and Cannondale.  They also provide a convenient bike maintenance service which will keep you from breaking down any time soon!

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