Bicycle Ranch, Scottsdale

At Bicycle Ranch, guests will find a staff of experienced bike mechanics and a fleet of top-of-the-line road bikes, mountain bikes, and biking gear. One thing they won't find, though is sales pressure; the shop's staff is way too busy making sure customers are enjoying themselves––preferably by swapping a good ride story over a cup of coffee––to waste time on cheap selling tactics.

That commitment to customer service is exactly what made current owners Markus Zimmer and Andy Peshek buy the business in the first place. Both had been loyal customers under the original owner and took it upon themselves to safeguard the same level of customer appreciation for the next generation of bike enthusiasts. Their expert staff includes fitting specialist Chris Pulleyn, whose work helped win the shop recognition in Triathlete Magazine as one of the country's best bike fitters. In addition to fittings, tune-ups, and repairs, the staff hosts monthly maintenance clinics that teach cyclists how to change flat tires, perform minor adjustments, and explain to their training wheels that they need to move on.

Tuesday and Thursday nights, Bicycle Ranch also leads cycling treks around the city with separate rides for road and mountain bikes. Saturday mornings welcome riders to pedal alongside others of the same experience level, with all groups reconvening at the shop for coffee afterwards.