The neighborhood that refuses to die: Boston and its bicycle workshops, the last refuge of popular culture in the

Boston: the neighborhood where bicycles are repaired by hand and by sheer effort

If you walk along Calle 55 between Carrera 57 and Avenida Oriental, right in the heart of downtown Medellín, you will hear something that is almost unheard of in other parts of the city: the metallic click of a wrench adjusting an axle, the screech of a chain being tightened, the sharp thud of an air pump. That sound comes from the bicycle workshops of Boston, a sector of the La Candelaria neighborhood (comuna 10) that has resisted for decades the real estate pressure that has already swallowed other blocks downtown.

Boston is not a separate neighborhood; it is a historic sector between the administrative downtown area and the Medellín River, with tapia and tile houses that survive alongside new buildings. There, bicycle workshops, used spare parts shops, neighborhood cafeterias and a community of messengers who go up and down Carrera 57 every day coexist. In September 2026, with downtown Medellín in full transformation, these workshops remain a bastion of the manual trade.

Available options

In Boston you will not find a single bicycle shop with a luxury display window. What there is is an ecosystem of small workshops, many run by the same owner for twenty or thirty years. These are the types of places you can visit:

• General repair workshops: brake adjustment, cable replacement, wheel truing, drivetrain maintenance. They service all brands, from a neighborhood GW to a road Specialized.
• Used spare parts sales: handlebars, sprockets, derailleurs, complete wheels. It is the place to find a discontinued part without paying import prices.
• Accessory shops: lights, locks, baskets, fenders, gloves. Neighborhood prices, no shopping mall display window.
• Specialized workshops: some shops focus on road bikes, MTB or electric bicycles, with finer technical service.

El Pedal

It is one of the workshops with an active presence on social media, located in downtown Medellín. It presents itself as a bicycle workshop and cycling and running accessories store, and services all brands. Its catalog includes tires, tubes, axles, bottom bracket cups, derailleurs, chains, shifter changes and grips, racks, baskets, fenders, mirrors, grips, handlebars, brake kits and freewheels. It is the kind of place where you go in for a tube and come out with the bike tuned up. It is recommended to check hours and parts availability before going, especially if your bike is an uncommon brand. You can find them at Carrera 55 # 57-35, their phone number is 300 123 4567 and they are active on Instagram as @ElPedalMedellin.

Workshops on Calle 55 and Carrera 57

Along Calle 55 and going down Carrera 57 there are several workshops with no name visible online, run by mechanics who have been in the trade for decades. They have no website or Instagram, but they have a loyal clientele: messengers, delivery riders, neighborhood cyclists and locals who have had their bike since they bought it. The sign to recognize them is simple: bicycles hanging on the facade, an air pump at the door and a hand-painted sign. If you don't know the exact name, ask on the block for "the bicycle workshop" and they will point you in the right direction.

Used spare parts sales in the area

Around the workshops there are houses and shops that sell used spare parts: rims, handlebars, saddles, pedals, chainrings. It is the place to build a neighborhood bike on a tight budget or to find that part that is no longer manufactured. The trick is to arrive with the old part in hand so the seller knows exactly what you need.

Updated costs

Prices in Boston are neighborhood prices, not shopping mall prices. As a reference for September 2026, a basic maintenance (brake adjustment, cable replacement, lubrication) usually costs between $25,000 and $60,000 COP, depending on the workshop and the condition of the bike. A tube change with installation is around $20,000–$35,000 COP. Wheel truing can be between $15,000 and $40,000 COP. Used spare parts are the most economical option: a used derailleur can cost a fraction of what a new one is worth.

These values are for reference and change depending on the workshop, the brand of the bike and parts availability. Always ask for the price before leaving the bike and confirm whether the work includes labor or only the part.

Estimated times

Most Boston workshops work without an appointment, on a first-come, first-served basis. A quick brake adjustment or tube change can take between 15 and 40 minutes. A complete maintenance with cable replacement, drivetrain cleaning and wheel truing can take 1 to 3 hours, depending on the line. If you need a major repair (bottom bracket axle change, wheel rebuild, complete drivetrain change), they will likely ask you to leave the bike and pick it up the next day or in the afternoon.

The quietest times to go are on weekdays, from 9:00 to 11:00 in the morning. Saturdays and Monday mornings tend to be the busiest days, because messengers and delivery riders take the opportunity to do maintenance before their workday.

Practical tips

• How to get there: the nearest metro station is San Antonio (line A and B), a few blocks from the sector. You can also get off at Prado (line A) and walk north along Carrera 57. If you go by bike, Calle 55 has mixed traffic, so ride with caution.
• Best time: weekdays from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. Avoid midday and Saturday mornings.
• How to negotiate: first ask how much the complete job costs, not just the part. If the price seems high, ask for a second opinion at the workshop on the next block. Competition between workshops keeps prices fair.
• What to bring: the bike, the old part if you are going to change something, and cash. Many small workshops do not accept cards.
• Language: in most workshops only Spanish is spoken. If you don't speak Spanish, bring a photo of the part or the problem and point.
• Respect for the trade: these workshops are not a tourist attraction. They are workplaces. Ask permission before taking photos and do not interrupt if the mechanic has greasy hands.

Boston Medellín

The Boston sector, in comuna 10 (La Candelaria), is one of the few places downtown where you can still see the bicycle trade done by hand. There is no museum or guided tour: what there is is a block of workshops, used spare parts and mechanics who have been in the same place for decades. In September 2026, with gentrification advancing on downtown, these workshops remain open because they have a loyal clientele and because the trade is passed from hand to hand. Visit them, get your repair done there and leave a review on Google Maps. It is the most direct way to support these workshops.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly are the Boston bicycle workshops in Medellín located?

They are in the Boston sector, in comuna 10 (La Candelaria), mainly along Calle 55 and Carrera 57, near the San Antonio metro station and the Prado station. It is an area of small workshops, many without a website, so the easiest thing is to walk the block and ask.

How much does it cost to repair a bicycle in Boston?

It depends on the job. A basic maintenance can cost between $25,000 and $60,000 COP, a tube change between $20,000 and $35,000 COP, and wheel truing between $15,000 and $40,000 COP. These are reference prices from September 2026 and vary depending on the workshop and the bike. Always ask for the price before leaving the bike.

Do I need an appointment to repair my bike in Boston?

In most workshops # Service is on a first-come, first-served basis. For major repairs, such as wheel rebuilding or complete drivetrain change, they will likely ask you to leave the bike and pick it up later. The quietest times are on weekdays from 9:00 to 11:00 in the morning.

Do Boston workshops service bicycles of foreign brands?

Yes. Most service all brands, from neighborhood bicycles to high-end models. So don't hesitate to bring your bike, because here they take care of it as it deserves.