D D Cycles, San Francisco

To say that DD Cycles has a cult following is an understatement. More open workshop than slick retail outlet, this tiny outpost in the Outer Richmond neighborhood feels like it’s intended to keep novice riders away, though anyone is welcome. Remote though it may be, it has a strong fan base that actively seeks out their custom bicycle builds and queues up for repair work. As much more than just a neighborhood bike shop, DD Cycles crafts hand-made parts and reengineers bikes built before WWII. Owned by a salty industry veteran known simply as Mike, this borderline-one-man operation is a repository of inside knowledge and expert cycling advice. Need a 60-year-old vintage Italian bike restored? Just got a flat riding home from Ocean Beach? Mike will solve both problems, and tackle every cycling quandary in between.