Founded in 1930, Palo Alto Bicycles has a long history in the community. This store released the first mail-order cycling catalogue in the United States. It also sponsored a young Greg Lemond, who later went on to win the Tour de France 3 times, when he was just 17 years old. One of the original owners of the store also developed the first electronic cyclometer. And of course the shop itself offers everything a cyclist needs, from bicycles to bike parts to accessories, and is staffed by knowledgeable and friendly professionals.
The store also runs the Bike Station located in the nearby Caltrain Station.
The Cardinal Bike Shop is Palo Alto's source for cycling gear. Bikes from brand names, including Raleigh, Kona and Diamondback, are offered for only $249 to $349. The store also sells bike carriers from Hollywood, Saris and Yakima, and clothing from Pearl Izumi. Cardinal is open seven days a week for customers' convenience.
The Bike Connection sells a wide variety of bicycles and accessories. The store rents bikes by the day, week and month. The Bike Connection has been in business for 17 years.
Velo Tech Cycles is a specialty road bike shop that has been in Palo Alto for more than 11 years. At this "road bike boutique," customers may buy specialty, often custom, road bikes and cycling equipment. Customers also may get their bikes serviced by the knowledgeable owners themselves. The store's owners Mark and Tom say that combined, they have some of the best road bike knowledge and mechanic skills in the Bay Area. They combine their expertise with care for both their equipment and customers. To that end, Velo Tech has developed into a cycling enthusiast hangout, complete with a fun red couch and a chummy ambiance that's described by some as similar to "going to Cheers, but for bikes."