Preston: best bike shop?

passout

Which is the best bike shop in Preston, Lancs? I'm after professionalism and good customer care for bike sales & servicing. My interests cover both road (racing) bikes and MTBs.

I'm moving to Preston from Lancaster and only know Ribble cycles. Any advice welcome. Cheers.

MICHAELCYCLES

ribble are good on the road side, plus the prices on the web are normally the same as in the shop. Can't really comment on the mtb boys tho!

mrushton

Hewitts at Leyland,Buy a Bike at Charnock Richard are quite good in terms of stock like clothing etc and there is a new shop at standish,between Wigan and Preston

maddog 2

Leisure Lakes in Tarleton has good mtb stock and the service is usually pretty good.

Hewitts for roadie stuff especially wheels

Ribble for basics and good prices. Not so hot on service though by all accounts...

rdaviesb

Paul Hewitt

piedwagtail91

merlin at leyland are good for mtb

passout

Thanks. Anybody used Fulwood cyles - near the Blackbull? I'll be moving closeby.

Jonathan Mcp

Shops I've used in the area: Merlin for MTB stuff, Ribble for road stuff good prices in both places, good service from both, mail order is good too.

Leisure lakes, bit more bling, sometimes has an air of arogance about the place, but if you know what you want then go, approach the staff (Chris is the boss, busy guy but knows his stuff well) and they will sort you out..

Hewitts, not used but heard nothing but praise about the place.

piedwagtail91

a clubmate uses hewitts. he knows his stuff and is a good wheelbuilder and very professional., but you have to pay top price compared to ribble and merlin.

kevin_stephens

A little out of town, but Geoff Smith in Bolton is excellent traditional LBS for roadies, great service, value and products

Crag Rat

I used to use Fulwood when I was more into MTBing and my maintenace skills weren't as honed as they are now . They have a very good mechanic and try to be very helpful. Only downside is they don't carry loads of stock , so sometimes you may have to wait a day or two for parts.

Ribble are cheap and contary to what some people say I've always found them very helpful, they don't do repairs though. If your moving to that end of town I'd give them both a go.

jibi

I live just around the corner from Fulwood Cycles, they are , as has been said, a bit expensive and slow, buts it's only a small shop,

I use Bill Nickson in Leylland ( near Tesco) for repairs I cannot do myself, have been going there for years, and got a couple of bikes built there.

Merlin are good for MTB stuff, and Leisure Lakes on the road to Southport, are great when they have sales.

( This post made me realise how many bike shops have closed in Preston. )

One guy that the Ribble Valley club use is Wallis Cycles, most of the club seem to ride his bikes now ( I suppose because he is a member of the club too) He's on Hennel Lane in Walton-le-Dale.

george

passout

Everybody seems to be in agreement. Some good advice given; only a few contenders by the sound of it.

Thanks - I may see you on the roads?

jibi

Passout

Ribble Valley CRC meet on Sunday morning at 9 am at Preston College car park ,St Vincent's Road just off Garstang Road, lots of different speed groups.

george

passout

Cheers.
In a car crash a couple of days ago & broke a rib, so perhaps in a few weeks?