Bike Shop In Kent

furiousd

Hi all,
I am going to purchase my first road bike very soon. Problem is i can not decide on what to go for, i like the Bianchi's, Boardman, Specialized, Trek, Cube etc etc.

I cant even decide on a budget, i know, i know not helping very much.

The one thing i have learnt from here is that i should try and ride them if not sit on them at the very least. I have been to Evans in Gatwick and sat on the BMC they have got at £999 and it is really nice but i cant help think this is a lot of money for my first road bike so have been looking at the Boardman Comp and Team.

Can anyone recommend any good shops in Kent to visit. I am based in Sittingbourne but happy to travel if it is worth the trip.

Cheers
D

cyclingpunk

Activ in Folkestone are very good. A little pricey but the guys in there know what they are doing and will let you test ride. They will also measure and fit you if.

marin_maniac

Go and have a word with Joe or Paul at Tri the bike in Gravesend.

There mainly Trek and Giant.

Jolly nice blokes.

I've actually just got a Boardman Team Carbon on C2W, so it was rude not to.

Otherwise I would have probably bought a Trek or a Cannondale.

porker33

I am in Kent and went up to Croydon to Gb cycles, they also do Trek road bikes at their bike plus branch down the road. They were very helpful and I ended up buying a Trek at a good price after looking at specialized, Pinarello etc,,,

There is also Evans and a couple of other bike shops close by, you can easily get to Croydon from Sittingbourne in under an hour. (in a car, not pedal power!)

SBezza

You have the following.

Geoff Wiles in Strood
Senacre Cycles in Maidstone
Cycles UK in Maidstone
Larkfield Cycles in Larkfield

All of these are pretty good bike shops

furiousd

Thanks guys a couple i dont know of.

Geoff Wiles - i bought a couple of specializes MTB from them and have spoken to them about Bianchi and Specialized, they are about to stock Cube also.

Cycles UK - never been very pleased when i have been in there before, generally ignored, ok they might have been busy but a little acknowledgement would have gone a long way

Larkfield - Bought a Rudy Project and Kirk Revolution MTB from then in the past

Senare - have to say in all the years i lived in maidstone i never went there.

Cheers
D

Seanos

Victory Cycles on the A2 in Rainham do Scott road bikes

Stevo_666

Bromley Bike do Specialized and Trek.

gregster10217

+1 for Geoff Wiles in Strood. Not bought a bike from them (only because my C2W voucher was with Halfords) but lots of bits and pieces. Took a friend in there on Saturday and he got a very nice Ridley at 30% off with carbon front and rear and a good mix of Shimano (105 & Ultegra). It was down to £699 and there were a couple of others at the same kind of discount. Gary is the guy to speak to in there, very helpful, will set you up correctly on the bike and free service after a month/6 weeks.

Unclemonty121

I don't know the bike shops in Kent anymore, used to live in Sittingbourne, but I had my Boardman built up at the Canterbury Halfords whilst visiting family and they seemed to know what they were doing, so if you are thinking about a boardman they might be worth a visit.

Also are there any good shops in the Dover area?

Thanks

Chrissz

Downlands in Canterbury are very good - I go there very often.

Larkfield Cycles in Maidstone are also very good but for ease of travel etc. I'd go with Downlands.

giant_man

Downland Cycles in Canterbury have to be in with a shout and I can vouch for Evernden Cycles in Paddock Wood, great service!

shane515

Seanos wrote:

Victory Cycles on the A2 in Rainham do Scott road bikes

+1 for Victory Cycles

shane515

Seanos wrote:

Victory Cycles on the A2 in Rainham do Scott road bikes

+1 for Victory Cycles

gregster10217

Unclemonty121 wrote:

I don't know the bike shops in Kent anymore, used to live in Sittingbourne, but I had my Boardman built up at the Canterbury Halfords whilst visiting family and they seemed to know what they were doing, so if you are thinking about a boardman they might be worth a visit.

Also are there any good shops in the Dover area?

Thanks

Don't think Dover has shops anymore!!!! It's a bit like a ghost town now. The best option would be Activ in Folkestone.

bulkydaddy

+1 for Activ in Folkestone. Have brought 5 bikes from them. Spent over 2 hours in there being fitted to my latest bike. You get 10% back on future purchases too

on-yer-bike

Wild Side in Tunbridge Wells – Wilier, Specialized, Cannondale, Bianchi, Cervelo. Under new ownership ignore the website it hasn't been redone yet.

In Gear in Uckfield – quite high end Cervelo, Specialized, Pinarello, Argon.

I can't agree about Evenden its more of a family bike shop.

Cyclops in Tonbridge for Trek, BMC, Charge. Not sure about the service though...

Heard that a new one may be opening in Hartfield...

furiousd

Thanks again, going to Victory tomorrow am, and might look at the T Well ones on the basis i am going down to Burwash Common tomorrow.

Cheers
D

giant_man

on-yer-bike wrote:

Wild Side in Tunbridge Wells – Wilier, Specialized, Cannondale, Bianchi, Cervelo. Under new ownership ignore the website it hasn't been redone yet.

In Gear in Uckfield – quite high end Cervelo, Specialized, Pinarello, Argon.

I can't agree about Evenden its more of a family bike shop.

Cyclops in Tonbridge for Trek, BMC, Charge. Not sure about the service though...

Heard that a new one may be opening in Hartfield...

The service I got from Evernden was second to none, nothing wrong with them.

Road Red

In Gear in Uckfield also do Trek.

I rang them recently to talk about looking at a Trek Madone and arranging a test ride. 'No problem, come down and we will discuss your requirements and see what you need.'

I did travel the 25 miles and saw a very nice Madone for £2,100 which I expressed an interest in.

What about a test ride? 'No need for that, if you want one we will do a bike fit for you and you will love it.' So no test ride then? 'No, look you have an alumium bike at the meoment, I guarantee you you will be blown away by the Madone!'

Naturally I, and my £2,100, blew out the door!

giant_man

Don't blame you, I would have done exactly the same thing. Depends how big a Trek dealer they are I guess as to whether they have demo bikes available of course.

But not good to be fobbed off like that.

Heckler1974

gregster10217 wrote:

Don't think Dover has shops anymore!!!! It's a bit like a ghost town now.

Slightly OT, I'm originally from there and go back there to visit family and every time I do I get more depressed at how much more run down the place looks each time. It may have been a rough town when it had garrison(s) but at least there was money coming in from that.

giant_man

I briefly dated a girl there a couple of years ago and yeah it did across a bit of a dive have to say ..

Heckler1974

giant mancp wrote:

I briefly dated a girl there a couple of years ago and yeah it did across a bit of a dive have to say ..

That all said the castle is lovely and if you opened a shop selling leisure wear you'd be laughing.

giant_man

hmmnn, indeed ....

flanners1

Road Red wrote:

In Gear in Uckfield also do Trek.

I rang them recently to talk about looking at a Trek Madone and arranging a test ride. 'No problem, come down and we will discuss your requirements and see what you need.'

I did travel the 25 miles and saw a very nice Madone for £2,100 which I expressed an interest in.

What about a test ride? 'No need for that, if you want one we will do a bike fit for you and you will love it.' So no test ride then? 'No, look you have an alumium bike at the meoment, I guarantee you you will be blown away by the Madone!'

Naturally I, and my £2,100, blew out the door!

Just out of interest how many bike shops have a test bike? Not many I reckon, if I was buying a bike I would not want anyone going for a spin/test ride on it. Manufacturers do not seem to do test bikes for dealers although a few are starting to do more this year. I must be a dumbass I have never tested a new bike before purchase.....just read a selection of reviews, not sure what you can get from a bike from a few minutes riding anyway.

furiousd

Went to Victory this morning and Stephen was very helpful. Was looking at a Scott S30 and CR1 comp. He is happy for me to take them both for a spin so i can see the difference between alli and carbon frame to see if i want to spend the extra amount.

Victory are obviously heavily biased to Scott as a major reseller of the brand.

The research continues

D

nicensleazy

One of the best is GB Cycles

furiousd

Anyone know a good stockist of CUBE in Kent or surrounding area?
D

blackhands

Downland stock em

http://www.downlandcycles.co.uk/cubeRoad.htm

furiousd

blackhands wrote:

Downland stock em

http://www.downlandcycles.co.uk/cubeRoad.htm

Cheers