Comrade Cycles

Opened by three guys who collectively worked everywhere from Johnny Sprockets and Blackstone Bikes to Rapid Transit and Recyclery, this Ukrainian Village shop is all about building community: Every employee has the option to buy into ownership after two years. The equal-opportunity ethos extends to the selection of custom-made steel bikes (starting at $700) and, eschewing the stereotypical bike-shop snobbery, these guys will just as happily build a bike from scratch as they will fix up your $5 thrift store find. As for repairs, Comrade offers the hard-to-find service of handling cracked steel frames. A limited clothing and accessories selection is available too.