Your local shop thread, good, bad, ugly etc.

j_l

For me in North Devon

Bike it in Barnstaple, http://www.bikeitbarnstaple.co.uk good value, good service good stock, for bike porn Southfork http://www.southforkracing.co.uk/main_content.html in Braunton some lovely bikes / frames clothes etc. but a little pricey on service / repairs and website is bobbins too.

c'mon post em up folks

biff55

mainly buy online and do own repairs ,
however a decent looking local bike shop is next week gonna do some work on my
pride and joy for which i dont have the tools and skill.
next thrs will find out if they're any good

Raymondavalon

biff55 wrote:

mainly buy online and do own repairs

This..

However I am close to Swinnerton Cycles in Stoke on Trent and work close to Swinnerton Cycles Cannock Chase. Same family totally separate / independent establishments
TBH they're both good shops, but I much prefer Swinnertons at Cannock, AKA "Bike Chase" and would be prepared to wait a few days extra if the workshop is booked up.

cat_with_no_tail

Raymondavalon wrote:

biff55 wrote:

mainly buy online and do own repairs

This..

This +1

However, we've got 2 local shops. One is very friendly, and has a good workshop who charge good prices. The other is not.

neninja

Good - Red Ape Bikes, Bishop Auckland - great service, value and friendly/helpful. My favourite lbs by a country mile.

Bad - Cycleways, Newton Aycliffe - rude roadies stuck up own a-holes. Sneer at all things mtb (even though they sell them) - used them once for a road bike in a hurry and they fitted brake cables to the shifters. Never again.

Ugly - Iron Horse, Darlington - disinterested verging on arrogant attitude, have charged me above rrp before and when subsequently questioned had a 'so what' attitude, often have some lovely bikes in though - I avoid unless no other option (and ugly)

Northwind

My repairs place is the Bike Works, who are superb, I do my own servicing and they come along when there's something I can't do like facing. They're almost solely a workshop, which works really well. And lucky enough to have the Bike Chain as an LBS, though there's about 6 bike shops closer to home none of them really excels, TBC are great.

Anonymous

Ugly - Iron Horse, Darlington - disinterested verging on arrogant attitude, have charged me above rrp before and when subsequently questioned had a 'so what' attitude, often have some lovely bikes in though - I avoid unless no other option (and ugly)

Pretty rubbish website too, the Staff Page looks like a how not to do a Staff page, looks like Ive can't even be asked to get off the phone to have his picture taken.

GOOD - I normally go to Moose Cycles in South London - http://www.moosecycles.com/. Not the cheapest for kit (compared to on line prices), but decent and honest workshop prices and very helpful.

Have to say I often can't believe the attitude of a lot of bike shops, snobbery and arrogance often seems normal, almost like they're doing you a favour by being in business. Especially in London, there's loads of shops about, competition must be quite strong.

I'm thinking about buying a road bike next year, a Willier. There are two stockists near me, but I've had such bad service or found them so unhelpful I'd rather buy online and take my chances than give them my money.

Anonymous

I can only say good things about Revolution bikes in Bangor. Amazing shop.

clint29

Je James good range but very poor aftersales service. I know of four bikes they never touched on their first free service. That's four return customers lost!
Stanley Fearn cycles better than James but expensive. I now try to do all my own servicing.
WeloveLapierre i bought my Froggy from here and require a new headsett. After phoning them they could'nt be bothered to get back in touch so have now lost my business! Funny when you ring a company wanting to give them some of your money and they don't want it :!:

supersonic

JE James certainly hit and miss.

TowerRider

RichardSwt wrote:

Ugly - Iron Horse, Darlington - disinterested verging on arrogant attitude, have charged me above rrp before and when subsequently questioned had a 'so what' attitude, often have some lovely bikes in though - I avoid unless no other option (and ugly)

Pretty rubbish website too, the Staff Page looks like a how not to do a Staff page, looks like Ive can't even be asked to get off the phone to have his picture taken.

To be fair that might have been a decent website in 2006. Last updated then as it says look out for 2007 poll.

p.s. Will never go to my lbs in Ewood as I seemed to disturb him and he had to climb out of his own ar5e to speak to me. Less than a day later and I had spent a substantial amount elsewhere and have done so since.

ilovedirt

I won't post their name, but the guy that runs my LBS seems pretty clueless. Reckons nobody faces frames anymore as they don't need it but he'll "do it anyway, if i want him to", and seems to know next to nothing about MTBs or MTB parts. Yeah he's a roadie primarily, but at least read up on your stock a little.

BorisSpencer

I'll give my LBS a thumbs up. AJ Cycles in Higham /Ferrers.

projectsome

Apparently I have quite a few bike shops to choose from but I'll just go with what I've used ths year

GOOD: cycle life. recommended to me by someone at work. quoted as doing the job same day on most occasions, the mechanic is somewhat enthusiastic as well.

BAD: mud dock. don't get ,me wrong, they do a brilliant job with the bikes but the high prices, lack of price tags, and nothing to view on the website is a minus point for me.

UGLY: evans cycles. excellent for price match but you can just order the same stuff online anyway. Most definately last resort for repairs etc....

kangaroo

BETD in Newcastle under Lyme also know as Goldtec
http://www.mountainbikecomponents.co.uk/
great place. only small but helpful frendly staff and they also run the local bike club

Mammoth at MIilford in Cannock Chase
http://www.mammothlifestyle.co.uk/
freindly staff, hellpful mechanics and a coffee bar. thougjh a lot of the coffee bar customers seem to be more road based.

and
Swinnertons in Cannock Chase
http://www.bikechase.co.uk/
freindly staff that will tell you not to by something if they think its wrong for you, even if it means no sale at all

CraigXXL

My local bike shops:

Hargreaves at Dewsbury. Thumbs up. They give you all the time and advice you'll ever need. They might not have the latest components but have a good range of bikes and mechanics that take pride in their owrk.

All Terrian Cycles at Saltaire. So so. This place is so hit and miss. If you get the right staff it's a great place otherwise you may as well as gone to Halfords. They have a shop and web price which is annoying too. Not used their mechanics as everytime I've asked I get a stupid time for turnaround, maybe they are that good they're that busy.

Evans at Castleford. Good and bad staff again. I get most of my parts from them and find that you must call to find out if they have the stock in first as they always seem to be low on stock. I've not used the mechanics but a mate has and they sorted his bike after he tried to fix it.

Halfords at Sweet Street Leeds an absolute disgrace I wouldn't trust them to pump the tyres up let alone go near it with a spanner. 80% of the staff there should be replaced with people that want to help the public. Doesn't help that the car park has become scrapyard for the garage staff projects. Just don't go there you only be disappointed.
Halfords at Seacroft, Leeds. Shows how different these stores can be. Helpful staff, mechanics who go above and beyond what they needed to do with no additional charge. They also give you tips on setup and steer you in the right direction on upgrades you need rather than want.

.blitz

kangaroo wrote:

Mammoth at MIilford in Cannock Chase
http://www.mammothlifestyle.co.uk/
freindly staff, hellpful mechanics and a coffee bar. thougjh a lot of the coffee bar customers seem to be more road based.

That's an understatement

joec1

Melksham Cycle centre are my local.

they are really good, and really helpful. offer great service and dont dispute any problems i have with anything, just get on and sort it without charge . bikes and parts are at sensible prices, and where he can he will match CRC and suchlike's prices which is great news for me

t0pc4t

My shop of choice is

http://www.cyclezoneuk.com/

They sorted me out with my commuter bike and my Anthem X4 (which is also for commuting if anyone from Cycle2work is reading) service has been top notch, they are friendly and informative and several times have price matched the internet

I avoid these jokers like the plague

http://www.berkshirebikes.com/

They are rude, unhelpful and unpleasant to deal with. They took the mickey out of my wife when she bought her Pashley Poppy from there (they are the only Pashley stockist for miles around) for it being 'a girls bike' Heaven forbid you ever turn up there in riding gear as they'll do their very best job of ignoring you.

When we bought the Pashley (not long after I ordered the Anthem) the assistant smiled smugly as he informed me that they would have beaten the price by about £70.

I smiled equally smugly as I said I'd happily pay £70 if it meant not having to deal with him.

Utter utter rubbish.

SimonAH

I can't rate Bike Shed at the top end of Cathedral Road in Cardiff highly enough. As an example I needed a spoke key the other day and they'd sold ouit - so he goes into the workshop and steals one for me.

There is however another shop that I've had dealings with right at the top end of the Rhondda Valley that appears to have neither knowledge nor interest nor a hint of customer service. Won't name them but not a good place for your biking needs......

biff55

.blitz wrote:

kangaroo wrote:

Mammoth at MIilford in Cannock Chase
http://www.mammothlifestyle.co.uk/
freindly staff, hellpful mechanics and a coffee bar. thougjh a lot of the coffee bar customers seem to be more road based.

That's an understatement

made me snigger too.
you could be blinded by the sheen from waxed legs on show having a drink in there

jay12

i buy stuf online but i'll be buying a front wheel from my lbs(dave hinde) who have it for £5 less than crc and also have it instock. i do most repairs myself buti sometimes go there if i don't have the righ tool. paid £20 to get bb shell faced, bb fitted, cranks fitted, headset fitted. £10 to replace headset, got charged nothing to get my crown race fitted.

stuff took no longer than a day to get done

scotto

GOOD: Pedal On in Tadley, just the best out there. http://www.pedalon.co.uk/

BAD: AW Cycles, had me over bigtime when I didn't know what I was doing on a repair, they bodged it and didn't test the bike before trying to flog me more bits to sort it, avoid like the plague, villans.

UGLY: Evans, my god they are poor in every respect and don't train their staff, awful.

biff55

this thread does show that at a good 50% of local bike shops are hell holes run by jerks.
which is a shame.
i'd assume most of this is down to poor customer service skills rather than experience with bikes.
hey ho , they'll either learn and improve or go bust.
business is business and they dont have any godgiven rights over interweb outfits.

tilt

Tend to use banjo cycles in Newbury., really friendly and helpful guys down there, great little place.

wesk

Good

Bad Ass Bikes - Burrington Comb (on the edge of the Mendip hills, just south of Bristol)Very good range of high end stuff, good workshop and good advice (not always buy the expensive stuff)

Johns Bikes (Bath) The work they did on my bike while not cheap was first class. Good range of bikes and great attitude if you just fancy a chat.

Ugly - That'd be Weston Super Mare Halfords. No interest in aftersales products at all. Avoid.

Uncle Peter

Good: Fred Williams, great staff and service, pretty good prices - I don't mind paying a bit more for a chat and the occasional brew. Although there is a bit too much of a roadie bias for me they can pretty much get most things you want.

Good: Lesiure Lakes Wolverhampton, always get good service and they're a great bunch of lads in there.

Ok: Two Wheels, knowledgable staff, but, if you go in looking for something specific Andy always seems to try and sell you something else. not quite what you want.

Bad: Brotherton cycles, condescending gimp who treats everyone like they know nothing, I obviously know more than him which is why I bought all his stock of Schwalbe Nobby Nic tyres at £22.50 each - I got a discount from £25 each cos I thought they were pricey

.blitz

biff55 wrote:

you could be blinded by the sheen from waxed legs on show having a drink in there

Steady now or Gary will give you one of his 'special' massages

.blitz

Uncle Peter wrote:

Good: Fred Williams, great staff and service, pretty good prices - I don't mind paying a bit more for a chat and the occasional brew. Although there is a bit too much of a roadie bias for me they can pretty much get most things you want.

Jeez don't get them started on road bikes you'll never get out Bought my first MTB from Mike.

Uncle Peter wrote:

Good: Lesiure Lakes Wolverhampton, always get good service and they're a great bunch of lads in there.

+1 very good

anton1r

LBS's...

So closest to my work is The Bike Chain (TBC)
Had a service done and a BB changed (both cost circa £40)
Happy enough with quality/timeliness of work (service I was without bike for 1.5 days, BB got changed in an afternoon I went by with the bike at lunch to see if it could be done and picked it up at 5pm all sorted).
Seem to stock more high end stuff so it's a bit pricey for me but the staff are helpful/friendly/knowledgeable enough and don't mind me walking around drooling at shiny bits/bikes I can't afford!

Other most frequented shop visited is Edinburgh Bicycle
Affordable bits, lots of choice.
Not had any work done there so can't comment on that.
Not dealt with much of the staff though I did go in with my buckled/broken wheel the other week looking for a replacement. Credit to the lad in the shop though he chatted me through truing a wheel (which I was game for attempting myself anyway) measured/replaced my broken spoke for the pricely sum of 40p and thus saved me 30 odd quid.

The only other shop i've had dealings with in town is MacDonald Cycles
Got my MTB serviced there.. cant remember the price though I don't remember it being too expensive. The guys in the shop seemed friendly enough and the bike rode sweet after.

There must be close to a dozen bike shops in Edinburgh but these are the only 3 i've dealt with.

Boy Lard

CraigXXL wrote:

My local bike shops:
All Terrian Cycles at Saltaire. So so. This place is so hit and miss. If you get the right staff it's a great place otherwise you may as well as gone to Halfords. They have a shop and web price which is annoying too. Not used their mechanics as everytime I've asked I get a stupid time for turnaround, maybe they are that good they're that busy.

I've found these guys really helpful. Every time I 'fix' my bike, and then it needs 'fixing properly' I take it to them, they explain very patiently just how stupid I was without making me feel like an idiot, and then tell me how to do it properly. They do have long waiting lists for repairs though and I think it might be because they are 'that good'. If it's an absolute emergency you could probably bribe them with a packet of biscuits or something.