Red Lantern Cycles

Honestly, Matt is just the best! I've been trusting him with my triathlon bike for repairs, upgrades, and tune-ups for about three years now. And seriously, thanks to him, I've never had a mechanical problem in any of my races. That's huge for peace of mind! Recently, I got a new road bike, and he did an awesome job putting on a new cassette and making sure everything was running super smoothly. He's usually able to get things done really fast, which is a lifesaver. What I really appreciate about Matt is how incredibly honest he is – if something's an easy fix or not even necessary, he'll just tell you straight up. Plus, he's just a genuinely cool and friendly guy, always a pleasure to chat with.

Matt is awesome! I hadn't realized there was a bike shop on this street but stopped by to buy a new tube + rim tape. Matt was awesome, the stop turned into an unexpected spot of great, friendly conversation. Definitely recommend stopping in if you ever need anything related to bikes, the store is very cool as well, and it's great getting to know a local business / neighbor!

Matt is awesome, friendly, knowledgeable, and patient! He keeps his store clean and welcoming. Highly recommend to anyone passionate about cycling or really cool sunglasses.

Matt and the team at Red Lantern are amazing! Matt rebuilt my bike with all new parts, he looked at my current set up and made changes so my bike would fit me better. Matt is extremely kind, knowledge and he runs the best shop in the Bay Area. I can not recommend Red Lantern Cycles enough, go see Matt and you will be happy you did.

Friendly and fantastic service at a great price, Red Lantern is my first stop after YouTube. I don't have a ton of money, so I try to focus my spending on a few things. I've been to a lot of bike shops for various reasons and, as a skeptical guy, not infrequently feel like I'm paying more than I should. Matt was highly recommended to me by a colleague and I trust him 100%. He's patient, reasonable, answers my questions, and teaches me things. I would recommend Red Lantern to anybody in a heartbeat.

This review fits into my general small-&-personal-is-better ethos. First off, tho, I need to say that I know bikes and biking. My family ran a leading bike wholesaler on the East Coast. And in the mid-70s, I was co-founder of a major & successful bike racing team. I still take a deep pleasure at the smell of a bike store... Matt, the proprietor is (I think) the only guy you will find working at Red Lantern. Its a very small shop, with an equally small selection of bikes and parts. But everything in the store is a gem. If you want to be dazzled by gobs of amazing bikes, there are other shops that you can indulge. but, If you 'd like to take the time to thoughtfully appreciate a few special bikes, carefully chosen, then Red Lantern is a match. Also, this is more a place to discuss bikes with the most well-meaning bike junkie you can find. Here, you can discuss what you want (ego) and separate that from what you need (performance). You can leave the shop without buying a thing and feel totally satisfied. Or you can work with Matt to spec a custom ride that you are almost certain to treasure for years to come. At a typical shop you could walk out with a $4,000 bike that is not at all matched to your needs and only to your spending limit and fad of the day. That's not going to lead to great biking. Before you buy, check out Red Lantern.

Broke a spoke during ride with a damaged wheel. Found this place listed nearby. Listed as Open on their website. Tried calling several times no answer. Still hopeful, I hobbled over to them with my broken wheel arrived 1:30 pm Friday . Website says they are open till 6:30pm. Closed. Lights out. Nobody home. Very disappointing. If you are the owner, reach out to me and we can work it out. I want to support bike shops in this area. But it kills me when a hobble to a shop and it's closed. Otherwise, everyone should be very cautious about relying on this shop. If they don't answer phone, assume nobody is home.

I traveled from Calgary, Canada to ride Levi's Gran Fondo. After a minor mishap, I was left desperately searching for a (apparently very unique) derailleur hanger the day before the ride. Matt went above and beyond typical customer service to help me out and get me back on the road. His laid back personality and eagerness to help represent the greatest virtues of the cycling community. Thank you Matt!!

I brought my bike into Red Lantern for some adjustments to my drivetrain and gearing as they were acting up (clunking, jumping gears etc.). Matt greeted me and listened to my concerns as we also spoke about local trails and routes in the area. I for sure thought it would take 2-3 days to get my bike back as his shop looked quite busy. The next afternoon I received a call letting me know my bike was ready pick up. After taking it out for a ride my gearing was precise and smooth and I couldn't of been happier with the work done. Matt is a chill and knowledgeable business owner with a great passion for bicycles. An easy recommendation for anybody looking for a upstanding bike shop. Thanks Matt!

What an amazing service I've received today. My right side break wasn't working and the shop owner(?) fixed it for me for a free of charge while he let me run my errands. Thank you for your kindness and encouraging me to continue riding my bike to work! It makes my heart so warm that we have a local bike shop that we can always go to and rely on. Really appreciated your service today! Highly recommend this place for a quality service!!

My daughter's little Woom bike wasn't staying in gear properly, and it was making the bike ride to Oak Knoll a bit anxiety-inducing. Although servicing kids' bikes is not what Red Lantern Cycles is about, they were very gracious about giving it a look (for free!) and making some small adjustments to get her back on the road. Thanks so much to Red Lantern Cycles for dedication to keeping our kids on bikes!:)

Absolutely amazing shop and I highly recommend anyone to go there for they're biking needs. The service was better than any shop I had ever been to and I was treated with the upmost respect.

Staff is so friendly and welcoming. Very knowledgeable and helpful. They aren't looking to just make a sale, they actually are genuinely interested in you and care about you. They were very quick with the bicycle service I had and they made sure everything was up to standards. Nice to have a good, friendly, and local bike shop I can come to here in Menlo Park.

I had never been there previously, and dropped in there today to see if they had a small part I needed (a brake lever, if that matters). I have to say the service was absolutely excellent. I got the feeling that the guy who helped me really cared. Highly recommend.

Met Matt briefly today while looking for nothing in particular - a small but very focused shop with a breadth of knowledge and experience. It's a cozy place with very classic stuff - and though I ended up only getting a replacement strap for a toe clip, I'd go back anytime. Where so many shop experiences are either corporate or elitist, you'll find yourself welcome and well attended to here, though be forewarned (not the right word, really) that Red Lantern's focus is on mid to high end road bikes, at least nominally; however you'll find that they deal in some very tasteful brands, like Fairdale of Austin TX, which stock bikes that are both comfortable and affordable. I'll certainly keep my warm experience in mind when considering my next bike. It doesn't hurt to be right next to the Menlo Park Caltrain station, if you should find yourself commuting and in need of any basic parts, tires, and so forth.

Great local bike shop. I've picked up a few odds and ends (tube, bar tape, etc) here, and recently just got my road bike serviced here. Quality of work was high, turn around was quick, and prices are fair. Matt is a fairly laid back and knowledgeable person, and although his shop does seem to focus on high end bikes there isn't any sort of elitism or anything like that. He will give the same quality of service to a $10k Litespeed or a $2k Giant or $300 single speed. One note the actual shop is pretty small you just walk in tell Matt what you need and he will locate or order for you. It's not a big box bike retail experience.

Well it took me a good 6 months to pick a frame, have it ordered and handmade for me in Italy (I visited their shop in Milan when I was there) and Matt assembled a beautiful bike on the new frame. He even had no qualms with using my own groupset off my current bike since I didn't have the money to buy a new one. I have had the bike now for a year and Matt has already had to fix it up for me after a small crash with a bent derailleur hanger. I consider him a friend at this point and still would recommend him to anybody.

This review fits into my general small-&-personal-is-better ethos. First off, tho, I need to say that I know bikes and biking. My family ran a leading bike wholesaler on the East Coast. And in the mid-70s, I was co-founder of a major & successful bike racing team. I still take a deep pleasure at the smell of a bike store... Matt, the proprietor is (I think) the only guy you will find working at Red Lantern. Its a very small shop, with an equally small selection of bikes and parts. But everything in the store is a gem. If you want to be dazzled by gobs of amazing bikes, there are other shops that you can indulge. but, If you 'd like to take the time to thoughtfully appreciate a few special bikes, carefully chosen, then Red Lantern is a match. Also, this is more a place to discuss bikes with the most well-meaning bike junkie you can find. Here, you can discuss what you want (ego) and separate that from what you need (performance). You can leave the shop without buying a thing and feel totally satisfied. Or you can work with Matt to spec a custom ride that you are almost certain to treasure for years to come. At a typical shop you could walk out with a $4,000 bike that is not at all matched to your needs and only to your spending limit and fad of the day. That's not going to lead to great biking. Before you buy, check out Red Lantern.

woot . . . *finally* a high end quality shop in Menlo . . . Service . . . is the key . . . And all those lovely bits . . . c'mon are you serious? the loop? Skyline? thank god . . .

You'll be hard pressed to find anyone as knowledgeable, thoughtful, and friendly as Matt. He's clearly doing this for a love of the sport and its community. All through the shop you can see the care and attention to detail that has gone into his inventory. He clearly cares about quality both in craftsmanship and bicycling as a form of art. My bike needed a lot of drivetrain work and Matt was very willing to accommodate my crazy schedule and need for a quick turn around. His repairs to my shifting were spot on. The bike is in dramatically better condition now and my ride-happiness factor went way up. It's just so nice to be able to go to a bike shop that has the "small town" feel to it, and where I know my bike will be handled with care and courtesy.

As an SF inhabitant, I'm not too familiar with bike shops in Menlo, but was stoked to see one on Gmaps that was so close to the Caltrain. I had gotten a flat tire, and then difficulties getting the effing tire back on!! I got to the shop and although the store manager was just about to close up, he checked it out and fixed up my situation at no cost. He even taught me how to not get myself in this predicament again, although I think I'm a useless case :) Two excellent thumbs up, and for all you Caltrain commuters, this place is the business

Matt is incredibly knowledgeable about bikes. Very helpful fitting me onto a used high end bike I had bought. Gave me great tips and bought very good biking shoes from him. I definitely trust him when it comes to bike advice.

Always seem to have random parts that I need. Fair prices and friendly staff, great combination. Thank you!

Red Lantern Cycles is a great shop. Very welcoming. Matt is a good man. Knows his trade and has a beautiful shop. Highly recommend patronizing his place.

Matt did a great job cleaning up my hybrid bike that was sitting for much too long in the closet. When I first came in he adjusted the front brake pull since he was so worried for my safety (no charge!) He later ended up charging me less than his original quote for the tune-up since my bike was apparently in pretty good shape! He's got lots of interesting gear for bikes and will work with you to make sure you get what you need and not necessarily just to make another buck. Great guy to work with and a great little shop.

A boutique shop with the créme de la créme of road bikes and components. Matt is respectful and reasonable. Great espresso!

Excellent service and knowledge! Had issues with my campy shifter and Eric and Matt found the problem and fixed it. This will be my service shop from now on.

The owner Matt is super knowledgeable and approachable. Brought my bike to him for a tune-up and they did a great job. While the shop is small compared to others in the area, it really has just about everything you might need for your road bike.

I was recommended to go to this bike store by a coworker. I was looking for some bike shoes and pedals for my new road bike. Matt the owner was able to spend ample time with me discussing the right pedals and shoes. Matt sells quality stuff at his store and he is willing to spend the time to ensure that all your equipment and bike fits optimally. Matt was able to make adjustments to the fit of my bike that have significantly improved the ride of my bike. I never knew this store existed but it is right next to Su Hong to Go and across the parking lot from the back of The Left Bank in downtown Menlo Park.

If there were six stars, I'd give them to Red Lantern Cycles! I came upon this shop quite by accident, really, in looking for a flashy blinky bike light (which he does have). Matt was fantastically nice, enthusiastic, and the shop just gave a sense that it was relaxed and friendly. What I wasn't expecting was that Matt would be able to help me get my first real adult bike. Now, I'd been on this search for several years, and more recently checking out other bike shops for their bikes. None compare to the absolute thoroughness and impressing-my-pants-off as Red Lantern. None. Matt took much time and care with us, and even fitted everything from my handlebars and seat height to my shoes... and the whole time worked within our budget. I came out with a fantastic bicycle that I spent the entire afternoon riding, and I can't wait to get up tomorrow morning to ride it again! I've never ridden such a comfortable bike... something that was really sized appropriately to me. Awesome -- thank you, Matt! He even helped teach me to clip in with my shoes, and then stood by to help out when I fell over onto a parked car in the parking lot. (Thank you, car, for breaking my fall.) He didn't make me feel self conscious at all about being a beginning cyclist, even though he runs such a high-end shop. :-) Will be around there in the future I'm sure. My husband is totally jealous of my awesome (and awesomely-fitting) bicycle.

This place is night and day compared to some shops in the bay like trek bikes staff. Walked in having no expectations walked out with self respect. Matt is very knowledgeable and helpful whether you come in with a 10k bike or a piece of junk you're trying to convert into a single speed. I picked up a crank remover which given the size of his shop he had it. I really enjoyed the small shop which gave you a sense of trust and reliability. I'm going to pick up all the parts for my single speed build and future builds or improvements at this shop. Also I like Matt didn't try to sell you or pressure you into buying anything you didn't need. I asked about a chain and he told me to double check which chainring I would go with to avoid selling me the incorrect chain. Really impressed with this shop and the way it's being run.

just moved to the area, got one of my bikes out of storage and noticed it needed some love - it had a broken spoke, a cut tire and needed a lube. saw red lantern's 5 star review on yelp and i dropped off my bike. nice guy with a pretty impressive shop. said it would take a couple of days. took more like 10 days - i know covid has impacted service levels at bike shops, so i wasn't too bothered. a couple of weeks after i got it back, i noticed the new tire would not hold pressure. and my bike was squeaking again. not wanting to wait another 10 days, i thought i would give menlo velo a shot. they told me the tube was installed incorrectly as it was creased inside the tire. and they asked me if i had been taking the tire off a lot because the rubber was peeling at the edge (i hadn't as i just got it back). they also noticed that i had a cut on my front tire, so they replaced that as well. took 45 minutes after i dropped it off and it cost me less for 2 tires and a lube than i spent at red lantern for 1 tire and a lube. red lantern had a bunch of super high end bikes in the shop, so he must know what he's doing, but he didn't do me any favors.

I purchased my first road bike from Matt. I wanted something that would last for years to come and also look good because, well, it's like purchasing a car to me, you want something that fits your tastes. I ended up getting a Ridley Damocles custom colored paint job straight from Belgium and am very satisfied with it. Matt was really helpful during the whole process and I'll definitely be stopping in more often.

I'm not a hard-core cyclist. I mostly bike to commute or for fun. My bike cost less than $1,000. Nonetheless, Red Lantern makes me feel totally comfortable. There's not much in the shop, but they will order anything for you, get it in quick and their prices are often better than even REI. And if you like to look at cycling "porn", there's plenty here to ogle :-)

Whenever I'm in town my fiance and I (triathletes living in upstate NY with family in the Bay Area) always stop in. Each time, we are continually impressed with the knowledge of the owner and the amount of time and energy he is willing to spend listening to our needs and concerns and answering our questions. His store is small but full of fun merchandise and we always find something new! His website is also very well constructed and a good way for us to keep up with the shop when we are back east.

A great shop and if you love bike a must visit store! Matt stocks a lot of different items to so unlike many high-end "studio" type shops there is actually a ton of stuff to check out. If you're a bike nut than this place is perfect for you.

This Bike Shop is so awesome. Part museum, part bicycle information center. Matt knows bicycles inside and out. They carry and sell some very unique bicycles and accessories. Highly recommended.

Friendly and fantastic service at a great price, Red Lantern is my first stop after YouTube. I don't have a ton of money, so I try to focus my spending on a few things. I've been to a lot of bike shops for various reasons and, as a skeptical guy, not infrequently feel like I'm paying more than I should. Matt was highly recommended to me by a colleague and I trust him 100%. He's patient, reasonable, answers my questions, and teaches me things. I would recommend Red Lantern to anybody in a heartbeat.

Matt can go into the minutia as deep as you need to go, when it comes to bike builds, etc.. Always a pleasure visiting this out of the way shop. It's bicycle heaven here on the peninsula, and we're very fortunate to have Red Lantern Cycles for our cycling needs!

I went in to have a cassette changed on the fly. Matt helped out no problem. Plus, you gotta love a shop that has a La Pavoni EPC-8. Kuddos to you Matt and I'll get you that coffee soon, plus, come out and ride with our group sometime.

Red Lantern Cycles is a breath of fresh air among Silicon Valley bicycle shops. Proprietor Matt Barkley has quite possibly the best understanding of the complete cycling experience of anyone I have ever worked with. I say "worked with" as his entire style is as your extremely knowledgeable partner, for fit, frames, frames ideal for your fit, clothing, shoes, tires, you name it, the complete experience. Highly recommended.

I'm not a huge biker but anytime I want an honest opinion about a bike purchase I go to Red Lantern. It's nice to see that there are still boutique bike places that focus on quality and not quantity.

This is a small yet inviting local bike shop with an emphasis on quality over quantity. Matt took my measurements and worked within my budget to build a beautiful bike that fits perfectly and is tremendously fun to ride. He also ordered several pairs of cycling shoes for me to try on to confirm the right support for my feet. This place is tops!

Very friendly and accommodating owner. Made it possible for me to rent and go for a ride over the weekend even though they are closed on Sundays in January.

I made the trip down from San Francisco, to work with specifically with Matt at Red Lantern. He spent the time to get the right frame, and build it exactly how I wanted to to look and feel. If you want great service, attention to detail and fit, and a great bike frames you can't find just anywhere then this is the shop for you.