Best bike shop

With yet another MBTA rate increase looming, isn't it time you freed yourself from the chains of public transportation? The most environmentally sound answer: buy a bike. Nestled at the corner of Comm and Mass Aves, Back Bay Bicycle makes it easy for people to make the switch from T platforms to pedaling. The store stocks an excellent selection of bikes and accessories, with brands such as Cannondale and Specialized, and it also encourages test drives before buying. So hop over on a lunch break, take a spin down Comm Ave, and contemplate the financial rewards of kissing your monthly T pass goodbye.

Have more than a casual interest in cycling? Shift your bike skills into higher gear at Somerville's Ace Wheelworks. Here, you'll find a mind-blowing selection of bikes, from mountain to downhill, BMX to tandem. In addition to a full-service repair shop, Ace Wheelworks also offers numerous fix-it clinics for those not afraid of getting their hands dirty while learning how to fix a flat tire or adjust brakes.

Back Bay Bicycles, 366 Comm Ave, Boston, (617) 247-2336; Ace Wheelworks, 145 Elm Street, Somerville, (617) 776-2100.