There are larger and more-established bike shops, but few demonstrate a stronger commitment to quality and customer service than Banning's Bikes, which opened in 2006. Rather than selling a buttload of bikes from one or two major brands, Banning's offers a highly selective inventory from many manufacturers. Sure, you can roll in your old beater for the most minor adjustment, but this is definitely a more high-end shop with a focus on serious riders. Which is why it offers custom bike-fitting and wheel-building and sells high-performance products such as Pegoretti frames and Pinarello and Colnago bikes. The emphasis on competitive street riding comes from its founder, Banning Fiber-Ostrow, a former professional racer as well as co-founder of Minnesota Junior Cycling and head coach of the University of Minnesota cycling team. An attention to detail and high-quality work are borne out in Banning's staff, all of whom are knowledgeable, experienced and quite unabashed about asking questions about how, where and why you ride. It boils down to emphasizing quality over quantity. Whether you're stuck on a bike because of a DUI or can't stop daydreaming about competing in the Tour de France, Banning's Bikes will help get you where you need to go.
