Anyone in Lancashire??

The Northern Monkey
The Northern Monkey Posts: 19,136
edited July 2009 in Road beginners
Lytham St Annes to be more specific.

I know of only one "decent bike shop round here (apple bikes) and I want to go and try out some road bikes!

Cheers for any help!
Ben
«134

Comments

  • ColinJ
    ColinJ Posts: 2,218
    How about Hewitt Cycles in Leyland?
  • on the road
    on the road Posts: 5,631
    Ribble Cycles is in Preston.
  • Cheers guys, will see if I can get down to either :)
  • Big Banjo
    Big Banjo Posts: 78
    Definately Hewitts if its service your after, although you will find it alot cheaper at ribble, just remember their shop is closed at the moment so they are only at ther warehouse. Also if you are after one of their sportives be prepared to wait. I went in last week and one of the guys said that they are getting 200 in and they are virtually all sold. Paul Hewitts will also give you a bike fit for free if you buy a bike from them.
  • passout
    passout Posts: 4,425
    Merlin cycles are now doing road bikes - they seem good value and are custom built. I went for a Ribble road bike myself (Nero Corsa) - nice bike. Hewitts are great for bike fitting and specialist advice I've heard
    'Happiness serves hardly any other purpose than to make unhappiness possible' Marcel Proust.
  • hmm well Hewitts are a bit far for me now :(

    I've been looking at the ribble custom bikes... shame their shop is closed as I would have like to have a look.

    Whats the difference between the horizontal and sloping to tube frames of the ribble 7005 frames? http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/BikeBuilder.asp#

    Can get a 1/2 decent started bike with sora components for £460 which is quite tempting.
  • passout
    passout Posts: 4,425
    Isn't the sloping a compact design and probably a bit better? Not entirely sure though. The Ribble Winter trainer is a very popular bike - obviously it gives you the flexibility to use mud guards.

    Is this any good - http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/custom-mo ... -bike.html ? Or are you looking for something cheaper?
    'Happiness serves hardly any other purpose than to make unhappiness possible' Marcel Proust.
  • passout
    passout Posts: 4,425
    PS Sizing is a bit different for compacts in case you don't know and you could get merlin to price the above frame with a cheaper groupset perhaps? Still won't be as cheap as Ribble though I guess.
    'Happiness serves hardly any other purpose than to make unhappiness possible' Marcel Proust.
  • passout wrote:
    Isn't the sloping a compact design and probably a bit better? Not entirely sure though. The Ribble Winter trainer is a very popular bike - obviously it gives you the flexibility to use mud guards.

    Is this any good - http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/custom-mo ... -bike.html ? Or are you looking for something cheaper?

    :shock:
    lol. I'm only looking to spend around £500 :(

    I was looking at a trek 1.2D but realised they're only ship to store :(

    I could get the SS Boardman and upgrade to gears at a later date if I feel I needed them couldn't I?
    £550 is my maximum, and I just can't afford the Boardman comp :(
  • dcab
    dcab Posts: 255
    Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2009 4:12 pm Post subject:


    hmm well Hewitts are a bit far for me now
    get the train? hewitts is 100 yards from station!
    veritas vos liberabit
  • passout wrote:
    PS Sizing is a bit different for compacts in case you don't know and you could get merlin to price the above frame with a cheaper groupset perhaps? Still won't be as cheap as Ribble though I guess.
    Yea the ribble's can be quite cheap if you choose components wisely (not that I have any idea about road bike components that is.

    How would you work out the sizing for a sloping TT? according to the ribble size guide I would require a 58cm frame, but the sloping only goes to 56cm.
  • dcab wrote:
    Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2009 4:12 pm Post subject:


    hmm well Hewitts are a bit far for me now
    get the train? hewitts is 100 yards from station!
    possibility! are Hewitts more of a "pro" bike shop? Ie will they actually have anything around the £500 bracket?
    when I went road bike shop in London, their cheapest bike in there started at £900 :shock:
    Couldn't really test it tbh.
  • passout
    passout Posts: 4,425
    I think that you need to speak to Ribble really but I would imagine that you subtract a few cms if looking at a compact.

    I agree about Hewitts - good but you won't get much for your money.
    'Happiness serves hardly any other purpose than to make unhappiness possible' Marcel Proust.
  • ok cheers for your help.

    I checked out halfords bikehut today to look at a boardman and carrera but the staff were useless.
    Got the car tomorrow so i'll go a bit further afield.

    Would have liked to have had a bike before the weekend but its not gonna happen now :(
  • butcher_boy
    butcher_boy Posts: 117
    bigbenj_08 wrote:
    hmm well Hewitts are a bit far for me now :(

    I've been looking at the ribble custom bikes... shame their shop is closed as I would have like to have a look.

    Whats the difference between the horizontal and sloping to tube frames of the ribble 7005 frames? http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/BikeBuilder.asp#

    Can get a 1/2 decent started bike with sora components for £460 which is quite tempting.

    Spoke to Ribble yesterday & while the shop is closed the warehouse isn't JUST a warehouse. They have now opened a shop there so you can see & try bikes for size.

    Told they may not go back to the original shop as warehouse is handier for motorway.

    Sadly for you the shop was probably handier from Lytham.

    Bit further a field try Buy-a -bike Chorley (Charnock Richard) While they do MTBs & kid bikes they do have section of serious road bikes. They also have some decent 2nd hand offers out in the back rooms. Nice Trek in there at mo for £500
  • butcher_boy
    Brilliant thanks for the info mate!

    I'll be in longridge this afternoon visiting my Sister so I may well pop down to buy-a-bike and check out their second hand bikes :)

    Appreciated :)
  • balls... buy a bike is closed on wednesday :evil:
  • Big Banjo
    Big Banjo Posts: 78
    I would pop down to ribble then, its only off J29.
  • butcher_boy
    butcher_boy Posts: 117
    bigbenj_08 wrote:
    balls... buy a bike is closed on wednesday :evil:
    :D:D

    Yeah sorry should have mentioned that.......I only live 500 yards away. Open late Thurs :D
  • baahhhh damn you :P

    I think i'll go check out the local bike shops I know of round here, check out ribble and the head to my sisters.

    I'll give ribble a call to make sure they're def open beforehand :)

    Cheers for your help fella :)
  • ColinJ
    ColinJ Posts: 2,218
    bigbenj_08 wrote:
    I'll give ribble a call to make sure they're def open beforehand :)
    Good luck with that! :wink:





    (I tried repeatedly recently when an order was delayed and they never answered the phone. Other times it was permanently engaged or off the hook.)
  • I really hope they're in at ribble.

    I've just spec'd the following for £550.

    Their Ribble 7005 road frame
    Alpina carbon forks
    Campagnolo xenon 10sp double groupset
    Campagnolo khamsin black clincher wheels
    Deda oversize bars
    Deda oversize stem
    Selle Itallia Transam saddle
    Deda Seatpost
    Tyres and bar tape.

    Opinions for a first time road bike buyer?
    Actually... i've just noticed, no brakes! Would they be included in the groupset from Ribble? am I being stupid? lol.
  • Big Banjo
    Big Banjo Posts: 78
    Yeah your brakes come with the groupset option.
    They are open till about 5:15 today.
  • Sweet. Well cheers for all your help.
    Gonna set off now, maybe when I get back I'll be in a good mood having put £££ down on my 1st road bike :D
  • dcab
    dcab Posts: 255
    mate of mine got a bianchi from apple in lytham , he was more than happy with the service he got! hewitts are more "up market" but you can't fault the service.
    veritas vos liberabit
  • passout
    passout Posts: 4,425
    The Ribble sounds fine to me - make sure you get the frame that can take mudguards if necessary.
    'Happiness serves hardly any other purpose than to make unhappiness possible' Marcel Proust.
  • Cheers for you help people, but i've just put money down on a Giant Defy 3 after a test ride today :)

    Loved it!!
  • butcher_boy
    butcher_boy Posts: 117
    Great stuff

    Now just get those legs shaved before it arrives :)
  • Great stuff

    Now just get those legs shaved before it arrives :)
    :shock:
  • bianchi777
    bianchi777 Posts: 101
    I bought my Bianchi from Apple Bikes. It is beautiful! Here it is parked outside of Bond's in Elswick...you ever been?

    DSC00004.jpg