Bike shops in Bristol

fatandwheezing

Going to visit a mate in Bristol this weekend, any bike shops worth visiting?

Mainly interested in a jersey at the moment, something that isn't Altura - that seems to be all I own!

sarajoy

I've never had that much luck with cycle clothing in actual shops, but then that may be because I'm a girl and we're almost overlooked for the good stuff...

The one with the most variety is sadly likely to be Evans - but there are quite a lot of independents (albeit usual brand-affiliated) about...

risi

Depends where in Bristol you'll be, but I use:

Clifton way:
Bike Good shop - been expanded, not sure what they do clothing wise.
Specialized concept store err, Specialized!

Bedminster:
Zero G Bedminster
Strada Serious bike p0rn & other expensive stuff.

Others that I haven't really used:

Fred Baker I don't think I've ever been in there...
Mud Dock Variable reputation. They lost a customer in me last time I went in there. Cafe upstairs, where you may or may not get served on the same day.
Oh, and as sarajoy says, there's an Evans too.

You'll find some non Altura stuff in one of these I'm sure.

attica

+1 for what Risi said.

Fred Baker have very little in the way of clothing and a good line in grumpy staff
Mud Dock lots of clothing but also lost me as a customer some time ago.

Strada has little in the way of clothes but go see the pron
Zero G are just down the road and worth checking out but personally "Meh"

rjsterry

I purchased my old Giant Peloton from Dave Bater, in Downend (a bit far out if you're just visiting, but they did used to have a branch on the Centre - or am I confusing that with Fred Baker?). Very good service there, and a good all round LBS, but this was a long time ago (1996 or 7) and things may have changed.

attica

Bike Tech on Park Street got taken over by Dave Bater many years ago.

It's now the Speciaized Concept store which is part of the Zero G group (formerly Garlands in Bemmie)

Oh, and there's now a Bike Tech on Christmas Steps but they're no relation to the original

Hope that makes sense

rjsterry

Attica wrote:

Bike Tech on Park Street got taken over by Dave Bater many years ago.

It's now the Speciaized Concept store which is part of the Zero G group (formerly Garlands in Bemmie)

Oh, and there's now a Bike Tech on Christmas Steps but they're no relation to the original

Hope that makes sense

It's a rather incestuous world for the LBS isn't it.

Surf-Matt

Bristol = brilliant for bike shops, diabolical for bike theft.

Lived there for several years and used to keep my MTB in sight at all times, even in bed.

redvee

Bike Tech was the retail side of Caratti Sport, the GT importers. When they went to the wall Dave Bater bought/was offered the shop cheap but would appear to have had second thoughts or had a good offer from Specialised for the shop etc. One shop not mentioned is Pembury cycles who have two shops in Brizzle, one on Gloucester Rd and a superstore with test track at Imperial Park in Hartcliffe.

attica

redvee wrote:

Bike Tech was the retail side of Caratti Sport, the GT importers. When they went to the wall Dave Bater bought/was offered the shop cheap but would appear to have had second thoughts or had a good offer from Specialised for the shop etc. One shop not mentioned is Pembury cycles who have two shops in Brizzle, one on Gloucester Rd and a superstore with test track at Imperial Park in Hartcliffe.

I'd not heard of Pembury, a quick google and I get some sad news from their website though

IMPERIAL PARK BRANCH CLOSED
We are sorry to anounce the closure of our Superstore at the Imperial Retail
Park, Hartcliffe. This is due to the current ecconomic situation.

Our other two branches which are open as usual.

Curse this ruddy recession!
Seems there is a branch in Bishopsworth as well as Gloucester Road though,

Runoutofgears

If you're looking for a good, knowledgeable and helpful bike shop in Bristol I've found Strada to be excellent, if you want a Bianchi Bike! Overburys are the guys, otherwise I tend to visit Bath as I have found both Total Fitness and John's Bikes to be better overall and worth the trip.

fatandwheezing

Well in the end, we didn't actually make it - turns out there's a lot of good ale to be had round the village instead......

attica

Which village would that be then?

Probably cost you less though!

fatandwheezing

Was in Thornbury. Can't for the life of me remember the pubs, but they were all within a 15 minute drive I think - then back to one in town.

Sea_Green_Incorruptible

For clothes I reckon your best bet is the Snow and Rock/Cycle Surgery in Filton. They now have a big selection of boutiquey stuff like Assos and Mavic. Very nice and all that but you'll struggle to spend less than £100 quid on anything in there.

Nobody's mentioned the new Giant Supertore at Bradley Stoke Tescos yet. All the Giant clothing you could - hypothetically - want in there.

Fred Baker: Grumpy but very reliable quality servicing.

Strada: Best bike shop in Bristol; friendly, quality work, Italian-badged carbon everywhere you look.