Isla Vista Bicycle Boutique

Hello, fellow Californians and cycling enthusiasts! If you're living in or around the vibrant, bike-centric community of Isla Vista, nestled near Santa Barbara, you've likely seen or heard of **Isla Vista Bicycle Boutique (IVBB)**. This local establishment is a familiar landmark for many, particularly students and long-time residents, serving as a key resource for all things cycling. In a town where bicycles are often the primary mode of transportation, having a reliable and friendly bike shop is absolutely essential, and IVBB aims to fill that role.

Isla Vista Bicycle Boutique is a small family business with over 40 years of experience serving the community. Owned by Kit Delmarsh, who has been a fixture in Isla Vista since the 1960s, the shop prides itself on its fast, reliable service and its integral place in the community. What started as a small bike repair stand has evolved into the well-known boutique on Embarcadero del Mar. They carry a large selection of new and used bicycles, including beach cruisers, hybrids, mountain bikes, road bikes, fixies, folding bikes, and electric bikes, aiming to cater to diverse riding styles.

While IVBB is praised for its prompt service and helpful staff, some customer feedback highlights a need for transparent understanding, especially concerning pricing for used bikes. This article aims to provide a clear, engaging, and informative overview of Isla Vista Bicycle Boutique, drawing on both its strengths and points raised by customers, to help you make an informed decision for your cycling needs in the Isla Vista and greater Santa Barbara area.

Isla Vista Bicycle Boutique is conveniently located at **880 Embarcadero del Mar, Isla Vista, CA 93117, USA**. This address places the shop in the very heart of Isla Vista, a highly walkable and bikeable community adjacent to the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB). Embarcadero del Mar is a central street, making the shop easily identifiable and accessible for most residents and students.

The shop's location in Isla Vista is particularly advantageous due to the area's strong cycling culture. Many residents, especially students, rely on bicycles for daily transportation, making a centrally located bike shop incredibly convenient. The area is highly pedestrian and bicycle-friendly, meaning that bringing your bike to the shop for service is often a short ride away. While parking can sometimes be a premium in Isla Vista, the boutique's central location typically allows for easy access by bike or on foot from most parts of the community.

For those coming from outside Isla Vista, such as Goleta or Santa Barbara, Embarcadero del Mar is accessible via local roads and connections to major routes. Public transportation, including local bus services, also serves the Isla Vista area, providing another option for reaching the shop. Its deep integration into the Isla Vista landscape makes Isla Vista Bicycle Boutique a well-known and frequented spot for locals seeking bicycle sales, service, or rentals.

Isla Vista Bicycle Boutique offers a comprehensive array of services designed to meet the diverse needs of the local cycling community, from quick fixes to more involved repairs and sales. They emphasize affordable and fast, often same-day, service for their customers, many of whom are students with busy lives and budget considerations. Here's a detailed look at their key service offerings:

• **Bicycle Sales (New and Used):** They carry a large selection of new and used bicycles, including beach cruisers, hybrids, mountain bikes, road bikes, fixies, folding bikes, and electric bikes. Their inventory aims to cater to various styles and budgets, though customer reviews suggest checking pricing for used bikes carefully.
• **Bicycle Repairs:** A wide range of repair services are available for all makes and models. This includes specific services such as:
  • **Flat Tire Fixes:** Quick and efficient inner tube replacement, including checking tire pressure.
  • **Brake Adjustment:** Adjustment and lubrication of brake cables, checking brake pad wear, and minor wheel truing.
  • **Gear Adjustment:** Adjustment and lubrication of gear cables, checking derailleur alignment, degreasing chains and gears, and proper tightening.
• **Tune-Ups:** They offer various tune-up packages:
  • **Basic Gear Bike Tune-up (starting at $50-75):** Includes oiling cables, adjusting gears and brakes, truing wheels, adjusting bearings, tightening bottom bracket and headset, checking crankset, inflating tires, checking chain/gear wear, and tightening all bolts.
  • **Basic Cruiser Tune-up (starting at $35-45):** Includes wheel truing, wire brushing/tightening/oiling chain, checking/tightening bottom bracket and headset, inflating tires, and tightening all bolts.
  • **Electric Bike Tune-up (starting at $90-110+):** Similar comprehensive tune-up as geared bikes, adapted for e-bike specifics.
• **Bicycle Assembly:** Professional assembly for any kind of bike brought in by the customer, including geared bikes ($65-95) and electric bikes ($165+).
• **Bicycle Rentals:** They provide a wide variety of rental bikes for periods ranging from a single day to an entire quarter, including commuter and high-end options.
• **Lock Cutting:** Service for cutting lost bike keys or stuck locks (cable, U-lock, chain), requiring valid identification.
• **Key Cutting/Copying:** House key cutting/copying services (not car or U-lock keys).
• **Air and Oil Service:** A low-cost ($1) service for airing tires and oiling chains.
• **Free Self-Serve Bicycle Pumps:** Available for customer use at the shop.
• **Bike Loaning for Repairs:** If you need to get back on the road ASAP, they can loan you a bike while your repair is underway.
• **Summer Bike Storage:** Secure summer storage for up to 3 months at a flat rate of $70.
• **Parts and Accessories:** Sales of various bike parts and accessories.

Isla Vista Bicycle Boutique boasts several features and highlights that contribute to its reputation as a significant local business, alongside some areas noted by customer feedback:

• **Friendly and Awesome Staff:** Customers consistently praise the staff, with direct comments like "Friendly staff no issues at all there they’re awesome" and "Pedro and his staff treated me like gold."
• **Prompt Service:** A significant highlight is their commitment to "prompt service no matter what," with offerings like "same day and next day service" for repairs.
• **Experienced Team:** The shop emphasizes that "Every employee has 10+ 'hands-on' years of experience and takes pride in their work," ensuring knowledgeable and skilled service.
• **Focus on Customer Satisfaction (Service):** They are committed to making bikes "the best it can be" and standing by their products, as evidenced by a satisfied customer's purchase of an Aventon Pace 500.
• **Community-Centric:** A small family business with over 40 years of experience, deeply rooted in Isla Vista, serving students, long-time community members, and visitors. The owner, Kit Delmarsh, has been a fixture since the 1960s.
• **Wide Variety of Bikes:** They carry a large selection of new and used bicycles, aiming to cater to diverse riding styles, from beach cruisers to electric bikes.
• **Rental Options:** The availability of bike rentals for various durations is a convenient feature, especially for students or visitors.
• **Competitive Repair Rates (compared to some local shops):** Their website suggests "lower rates than other local shops" for repair services.
• **Free Assessment/Quote:** They offer to assess service needs at no charge and provide a quote before proceeding with work.
• **1-Year Warranty & Free Tune-up for New Bikes:** New bicycles purchased from them include a 1-year warranty and one free tune-up, offering added value compared to online purchases.
• **Used Bike Pricing Concerns (Customer Feedback):** A key area highlighted by a customer is the pricing of used bikes, which were described as "absolutely horrendous," with rusty used bikes priced at $300-400, leading to a perception that new bikes online could be of better quality for less.

For your convenience, here is the essential contact information for Isla Vista Bicycle Boutique:

Address: 880 Embarcadero del Mar, Isla Vista, CA 93117, USA

Phone: (805) 636-2001

Mobile Phone: +1 805-636-2001

Please feel free to reach out to Isla Vista Bicycle Boutique using these details for any inquiries regarding bike repairs, sales, rentals, or specific service needs. Given the feedback on used bike pricing, it might be beneficial to inquire about current inventory and pricing details for both new and used bikes before visiting, especially if budget is a primary concern.

In conclusion, for residents of California, especially those in the highly bike-dependent community of Isla Vista and the broader Santa Barbara area, Isla Vista Bicycle Boutique stands as a deeply embedded and often convenient local resource. Its long history, family-owned nature, and commitment to prompt, professional service make it a go-to for many in the community seeking bicycle repairs and rentals.

The shop excels in providing essential services efficiently, with a friendly and experienced staff who are committed to getting your bike back on the road. The ability to offer same-day service and even loan a bike during repairs is incredibly valuable for the busy lifestyles of many Isla Vista residents. Furthermore, their specialization in e-bike tune-ups and their comprehensive repair list for all bike types underscore their technical capabilities.

However, potential customers, particularly those on a tight budget, should be aware of the mixed feedback regarding the pricing of used bicycles. While the service is consistently praised, carefully evaluating the value proposition of used bikes sold here versus new alternatives online is a wise step. Despite this, for reliable, expert bike service, friendly staff, and the convenience of a truly local shop that understands the unique needs of the Isla Vista community, Isla Vista Bicycle Boutique remains a suitable and widely utilized choice for cyclists in the region.

Isla Vista Bicycle Boutique

880 Embarcadero del Mar, Isla Vista, CA 93117, USA