Spandex Optional: Best Cycle Shops In San Francisco

San Francisco is a cyclist's dream and the city is equipped with excellent shops. Several shops even specialize in high-end road racers and team gear. There are also specialty shops with cyclocross bikes, touring bikes, hybrids, hipster cruisers and electric bikes.

Hours: Mon to Fri - 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.; Sat 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Sun 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

In the Haight-Ashbury district near Golden Gate Park, American Cyclery is the oldest independent bicycle dealer in San Francisco. This venerable shop carries an extensive line of cyclocross bikes, road bikes, track bikes and antique bike parts. American Cyclery also stocks one of the city's most extensive line of parts.

Hours: Mon: Closed; Tue to Fri- 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.; Sat 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Sun 12 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Mojo Bicycle Café is part bike shop, part café and part bar. The SF Weekly calls it "the "best place to fix your bike over dinner and a beer." A full-service bike shop specializes in urban riding and the urban lifestyle as the adjacent café has a backyard patio. Sit back and relax with a microbrew or a an espresso anytime your bike needs any work.

Hours: Sunday & Tuesday by appointment only; Wed, Thur, Fri & Sat - 12 p.m.– 6 p.m.; Mon - Closed

My Dutch Bike, located in the heart of downtown San Francisco, is the art gallery/bike shop headquarters of a San Francisco-based importer and retailer. This bike shop offers sturdy and stylish handmade Dutch city bicycles. Choose from cargo bikes, transport bikes, omafiets (grandma bikes), opafiets (grandpa bikes), bakfiets (box bikes) and more. It's the closest thing to Amsterdam you will find in San Francisco.

Hours: Mon to Fri 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.; Sat 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Sun 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Find the finest carbon fiber, top-of-the-line Italian road bikes at Cow Hollow's City Cycle. Catering to high-end products, the shop feeds the ever-growing upscale cycling market in the Bay Area. Known for world-class service, the store boasts a dazzling display of bikes and a serious cycling buzz.

Hours: Mon to Tues 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.; Wed 2 p.m. – 7 p.m.; Thur to Fri 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.; Sat 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Sun 12 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Big Swingin' Cycles specializes in friendly service, rentals and electric bikes. A true neighborhood bike shop where all the staff members are die-hard cyclists, including USA Cycling certified coaches. The store sponsors several road cycling teams, a mountain team, cyclo-cross team, tri clubs and the AIDS Lifecycle ride.

Hours: Mon to Fri - 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.; Sat 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Sun 12 p.m. – 5 p.m.

In the heart of the Mission District, Box Dog Bikes is perfect for urban riders. They sell a variety of bikes, from high-end to entry level, urban to touring and riding gear from racing to foul weather. A tool bench in front of store is provided for DIYers. In true Mission District spirit, their mission statement says it all: "to serve and support people who ride everyday. We are a worker owned cooperative…for those who love bikes and ride them for fun, competition, transportation, and adventure."

Related: Bike to the SFO airport.

Ben Davidson is a freelance writer living in San Francisco. His work can be found at http://www.examiner.com/road-trip-travel-in-san-francisco/ben-davidson