At the risk of raising howls of outrage from Dallas' bike community, we're just gonna say it: There's a lot of snobbery and cliqueishness in the bike world. "Oh, you have derailleurs? My fixed-gear just seems more kind of the back-to-basics real thing." "Ah, still riding aluminum, eh? Well, maybe when you get serious, you can make the jump to carbon frame." "Carbon? I find it just doesn't have the same feel as my custom-made titanium beauty, hand welded by an artisan in Boulder." It's driven by gear lust, and it's why we once heard high-end bikes described as "a poor man's Porsche." No place in Dallas satiates gear lust better than Richardson Bike Mart, the perennial readers' favorite for best Dallas bike shop. The main shop on Campbell Road isn't the cheapest shop in town. It doesn't offer the personalized service of some of the smaller local joints. It's just so damn big. It has everything, from entry-level commuter bikes to recumbents to e-bikes on up to a $12,000 Trek Domane roadster with electric shifters. (Pedals sold separately. No kidding.) Neon spandex, ultralight and cool helmets, shoes that would make Manolo Blahnik envious — it's all there. Don't worry. You can get out of Richardson Bike Mart with a decent set of wheels and money in your pocket. But if you fall in love with the sport, you'll be back for more. So much more.
Readers' Pick: Richardson Bike Mart