MEL Shop Visit: Shifter Bikes

It’s safe to say that I’ve been a fan of Dan’s work, well, since forever. Shifter Bikes has been the vintage backbone of the Melbourne cycling scene for years. Dan began his cycling experience racing mountain bikes professionally and soon, his love for vintage steel spilled over from a small studio to a massive, sprawling warehouse in South Yarra. Located a block off the country’s most expensive retail strip, Shifter Bikes is a cycling enthusiast’s dream. But don’t expect to find the shelves stocked with the latest and greatest bar tape. Dan’s got standards!

Check out more from my MEL Shop Visit to Shifter Bikes below!

Dan’s iconic logo marks the place where you’ll find MAX mixed with carbon fiber, ENVY with Campy and quill with threadless.

As soon as you enter the shop space, you’re reminded of an autobody shop. Rightfully so because that’s what it used to be. Dan spent weeks cleaning the paint, oil and grease from the surfaces and now the entire space is spotless. Customer’s bikes hang from the walls…

…and classic frames are hung from the rafters.

…and the walls.

Shifter’s all about a carefully cultivated collection of cultural influences. See what I did there? Dan’s spent time curating his shop, filling the walls with flash-art-themed cycling prints, vintage posters and even his old hotrod sits in the back of the shop, trunk filled with racing bikes.

It’s kind of overwhelming the first time you walk in the door. All these Beautiful Bicycles spreading it open for you. It’s like the Red Light District of bike shops.

A Rapha Condor team bike sits on a shelf (for sale by the way – $4,500). Dan ships internationally!

No matter where you look, each item has been placed on display with care.

The classics line up in queue for their owners to come pick them up.

And some await assembly. Here’s Andy’s Concorde team bike, awaiting new decals so they can begin restoring it.

Everywhere you look, you see cycling-related items, all without price tags and in immaculate condition. So how does Shifter Bikes stay open if there isn’t anything for sale? Dan’s the best mechanic in Melbourne. People come to him to build their dream bikes and not just anyone can dial in a set of Deltas!

Dan’s the preferred wheel builder for many shops in the area, as well as ENVY.

In any given week, he’ll have a dozen wheels in queue.

People in Melbourne know: if you’re into classics, go see Dan at Shifter Bikes. He’ll build you your dream bike!

Or even a pair of race wheels. No job is too large or too small.

The official opening day is the 25th of June but Dan’s already in his shop so swing through!

Claiming a shop is the “best” is a tough call but I have never been in a bike shop like this before. Does that make it the “best”? Sure, why not. I can’t find any reason not to say that. See so for yourself in this slideshow: