Best place to get in gear -- and not feel like a third wheel

You won't find sleek Italian road bicycles here. Or funky Van Dessels. Or a host of other makes and models. But what Ferris Wheels lacks in superstore-type quality, it more than makes up for in personable staff and exceptional service. In this way, the 20-year-old institution is a Boston cyclist's dream. Tired of creaking bicycle gears? Just ride over to Ferris Wheels, where the crew will tune up your bike in 15 minutes. Frustrated by a flat? They'll pump your tires in no time. Or, if the problem requires serious labor, it's not uncommon for them to work on your bike after-hours so you can collect it the next day; if you live nearby, they'll even deliver it to your doorstep. Of course, the small shop is jam-packed with essentials: lights, locks, helmets, reflectors, maps, and gloves, as well as an extensive line of Fuji bikes (including a $4500 team-issued road bike hanging from the ceiling). So why would you bother with that impersonal superstore anyway?

Ferris Wheels, 64 South Street, Jamaica Plain, (617) 522-7082; www.ferriswheelsbikeshop.com.