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FAQS


 

FAQs?
An acronym for Frequently Asked Questions.

Bicycle Information
Delivery information
Ordering
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Bicycle Questions

What size should I order?
We have a handy size chart to help. If you're in between sizes, we recommend contacting us so we can help you get the best fit.
What's your size?
PUBLIC C3, C7 PUBLIC V3, V7
  STD       4'8" -  5'5"     STD      4'10" -  5'6"  
  LG       5'6" -  6'1"     LG       5'7"  -  6'2"  
PUBLIC D3, D8 PUBLIC M8
  S       5'3" -  5'8"     S       4'11" -  5'3"  
  M       5'8" -  6'1"     M       5'3"   -  5'8"  
  L       6'1" -  6'5"     L       5'8"   -  6'1"  

How much do your bikes weigh?
Our bikes weigh anywhere from 26-32 lbs, depending on the size and number of gears on the bike. Our bikes are designed to be light enough to carry a flight of stairs but durable enough to withstand the bump on the road. Lighter bikes tend to be made by aluminum or carbon, but we've built our bikes from lightweight steel which will last a lifetime and beyond – and will comfortably absorb the shocks of urban riding significantly better than other materials.

By comparison, here are weights for typical steel bikes:

Track bike: 18-20 lbs
PUBLIC bikes: 26-32 lbs, depending on size and model of bikes
Dutch bike: >40 lbs

I'm short. Got a bike for me that is not a kid's bike?
Definitely. We specifically designed a bike that would work for people 5'3” and under. Take a look at our Small or Standard Size bikes.

Is assembly required?
If you live in or near San Francisco, you're in luck. We can assemble your bike at no additional cost to you for pick-up at our 2125 Harrison Street warehouse - and of course there is no shipping charge too. If you live far from San Francisco, we recommend our Ready to Ride Assembly option where you receive a bike 99% assembled and shipped by FedEx. You can read more details about our Ready to Ride and other delivery options here.

How do I test ride one of your bikes?
We have test ride locations in San Francisco and other select locations around the country. If you are in the San Francisco Bay area, you can test ride our bikes at 123 South Park in San Francisco's SoMa neighborhood. Please click here for test ride locations and schedules. We are regularly adding new test ride and showroom locations around the country so make sure to visit here for current partners.

Where else are you selling your bikes?
We are primarily selling online, but you can test ride bikes and purchase bikes from our San Francisco headquarters at 123 South Park. As we grow, we'll continue to add more test ride and showroom sites around the country.

Where are your bikes made?
This subject is near and dear to our heart. Our bikes are designed in the United States by us. They are built and assembled in Taiwan, and there is a reason for this. Taiwanese manufacturers produce world-class production bikes, and have been earning their reputation for excellence since the 1970's. They are to bikes as Italy is to Parmesan cheese.

We explored numerous manufacturing sources when we set out to establish PUBLIC. We visited bike makers in the U.S., Holland, and Italy, and all of them directed us to Taiwan. Most (like 99%) of the new high quality production bikes you see now are made and assembled in Taiwan or in nearby Asian countries. Legendary bike companies like Schwinn, Bianchi, and Raleigh rely on manufacturers there. And it's likely that newer great US manufacturers like Trek, Cannondale, and Specialized have most of their bikes made there. Taiwanese manufacturers are superb craftsmen working with very sophisticated equipment. We visited these manufacturers and met many family businesses that go back 20–30 years. And they are great people with high manufacturing standards and a strong work ethic. We visit our family-owned manufacturer several times a year and always come away impressed with their craftsmanship, labor practices, and care for their employees, products, and partnerships.

While the U.S. – and Europe – has lost its ability to compete on moderately priced “production” bikes, the U.S. excels internationally at hand made bikes. There are numerous highly skilled-framed builders that we can refer you to for a U.S. made bike. We know many of these craftsmen personally, and their bikes are in fact the inspiration for much of PUBLIC. Their bikes cost more than ours, of course, as well they should. There are also numerous independent bike stores in urban areas in the U.S. that that can build a great custom bike for you. And there are superb high-end limited production manufacturers like Seven Cycles, Independent Fabricators, and Serotta that make some of the best custom bikes in the world. But all of these manufactures will rely on some foreign sourced components. If you are a purist and want a bike that is completely made in the US, you will probably have to settle for an used vintage bike.

Delivery Questions

When will I get my bike?
If you choose our Ready to Ride Assembly option for $135, you will receive a boxed bike for you to assemble within 7-10 business days after your order, depending on your distance from San Francisco. If you choose our Bike Shop Assembly option, it will take 7-14 business days since you'll need to wait for for the bike shop to finish assembling your bike and go pick it up. The Ready to Ride Assembly option is the most convenient, easiest, and in most cases the most cost effective if you live away from San Francisco. Of course, if you live in or near San Francisco, you can get your assembled bike at our 2125 Harrison Street warehouse for pick-up. Review your options here.

How are bicycles shipped?

If you don't live near San Francisco, we recommend our Ready to Ride Assembly option where you receive a bike 99% assembled and shipped by FedEx Ground. You can read more details about our Ready to Ride and other delivery options here.

Do you ship to Alaska? Hawaii?
We ship to Alaska and Hawaii, but we'll need to discuss with you over the phone.  Please call us at 415-896-0123.

Do you ship internationally?

At this time, we are unable to ship any products outside of the United States.
Where do you ship from?
All of our orders shipped from San Francisco, California.

I live in San Francisco, Can I pick up my bike from you?
If you live in or near San Francisco, you can pick up your fully assembled bike at our warehouse at 2125 Harrison Street pick up on Thursdays or Fridays from 11am-5pm or Saturdays from 10am-1:30:30pm. We will contact you to schedule a pick-up. Sometimes we might have the exact model, size, and color you want already assembled so you could walk out with your new PUBLIC bike from our 123 South Park store after purchase, but generally we'll need a few days to assemble your specific bike for pick up at our 2125 Harrison Street warehouse.
How big is the bike cardboard box that I will receive when I order Ready to Ride? 
The bike cardboard box you will receive is 72 inches in length, 8 inches in width, and 38 inches in height. We recommend 10 innovative ways for you to transform your cardboard box.
Ordering Questions

How do I make changes or cancel my order?
There is a small window after you place your order where we are able to make changes. If you find you do need to make any changes, please call us as soon as possible so we can assist you.

How do I redeem my promotion code?
If you have a promotion code, you can enter it on the shopping cart page during checkout and click “UPDATE” to receive the appropriate discount.

What if I am not happy with my bike?
We'll do our best to make you happy. Please check out our return policy for the details.

Can I ship my order to multiple addresses?
If you need to ship to multiple addresses, please create two separate orders. If you need assistance, please call us and we'll help you place your order.

Can I place an order for a backordered item?
Yes, backordered items will be available to purchase.

Do you charge sales tax?
Taxes are calculated for each shipping address total based on the state to which the item(s) is shipped. We charge sales tax on all orders shipped to California addresses.

Do you offer Gift Certificates?
Not yet. But coming soon.

Do you offer Gift Wrap?
Not yet. But we hope to in the future. But probably not on the bicycles.

Email, Twitter and Facebook

How do I sign up for your emails?
It's easy. Join us.

How do I stop receiving your emails?
That's easy, too. Just send us an email or click the Unsubsribe link in the last email. And please let us know how we could have made the newsletter better.

I love Twitter. Can I follow you?
Please follow @publicbikes for events, product news and interesting links to stuff we like. And, if you don't mind, we might follow you back.

I live on Facebook. Can we be friends?
We'd love to be your friend. You can find us at facebook.com/publicbikes.

I can't get enough. I need more PUBLIC.
Lucky you. If you've signed up for our email, follow us on Twitter, become our friend on Facebook, then you definitely need to subscribe to our blog. We'll be posting regularly there with things that catch our eye and ear.
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