LBS appreciation thread

Crazyjenkins01

Saw this on another forum and thought it was a good idea!
Post up any good LBS to show some love.

Rockin Bikes in Yelverton (Dartmoor) really friendly and knowledgeable. Great kit
The Dogs Wheels in Plymouth, again really friendly and good knowledge cheaper kit/brands but still good stuff

rockmonkeysc

I can only list bad ones near me. They're all roadie shops.
Bad Ass Bikes near Bristol is very good for servicing. The owner knows his onions.

Crazyjenkins01

Bad shops is a good shout too, keeps newbs like me informed

Angus Young

Not a shop, but...

Recently had to send off my KS eTen dropper for a fix after the internal cartridge gave up. Off, fixed and back on the bike in three days flat. Thank you Jungle Products. Customer service as it should be done.

rockmonkeysc

Crazyjenkins01 wrote:

Bad shops is a good shout too, keeps newbs like me informed

If the shop is full of road bikes and lycra then shop elsewhere.

Crazyjenkins01

Still counts angus.

Damn right RM!

Poitr

Cheeky Velosport Newcastle upon Hunter. I know it's in Australia but there are a few of my countrymen on here. They actually do as you request and don't try to tell you, you need a new chain every time your bike goes in for something.

Jonesinamilion

I'm lucky in stoke on Trent, I've got Brian rouke and swynertons for high end component choice & authorised dealer support... For routine maintenance / fixes, common sense advice, excellent value & convenience I've got cycle discount centre; always like to support the latter. All have very knowledgable and enthusiastic staff.

Crazyjenkins01

Anybody else want to add their favourites?

lostboysaint

Solent Cycles - a few branches (Lee on the Solent, Whiteley and Fareham), all staffed by enthusiasts who know their stuff, owned by a passionate road and mtb rider, have done excellent guided rides locally as well as shop trips to various trail centres - build excellent wheelsets and offer sensible advice. Top guys.

chrisdouglas

Wheelbase in Stavely outside of Kendal up here in the Lake District are a bunch of great lads, I believe they're opening a shop over in the North East soon too.

Cycle Wise up in Whinlatter Forest are spot on too

mike hunts alpine

Bird cycle works and sunset cycles, always been helpful and no quibble warranty repairs and replacements with excellent customer service.

rockmonkeysc

chrisdouglas wrote:

Wheelbase in Stavely outside of Kendal up here in the Lake District are a bunch of great lads, I believe they're opening a shop over in the North East soon too.

Cycle Wise up in Whinlatter Forest are spot on too

I thought they were fairly crap when I went in. The member of staff I spoke to appeared to know nothing about mountain bikes but was happy to just make stuff up and talk rubbish.
Their selection of clothing was rubbish as well.
Bike Treks in Ambleside are loads better.

keef66

RockmonkeySC wrote:

chrisdouglas wrote:

Wheelbase in Stavely outside of Kendal up here in the Lake District are a bunch of great lads, I believe they're opening a shop over in the North East soon too.

Cycle Wise up in Whinlatter Forest are spot on too

I thought they were fairly crap when I went in. The member of staff I spoke to appeared to know nothing about mountain bikes but was happy to just make stuff up and talk rubbish.
Their selection of clothing was rubbish as well.
Bike Treks in Ambleside are loads better.

I got £50 worth of Wheelbase gift vouchers as a leaving present when I changed jobs back in 1998. Before I could spend them they went bust. The administrators told me I'd get nothing. Then a curiously similar looking company started trading again...

No idea if they are the same lot or if it was just an unfortunate coincidence, but they ain't getting any of my money.

foy

Ron spencer cycles in warrington and john geddes cycles in widnes cheshire are both very good.

Crazyjenkins01

Surprised there's not more love going on!
Loads of good options though.

I'm going to add Certini/specialised in Saltash (Cornwall) to mine. Been in a few times now and always happy to help and with good advice

rockmonkeysc

Crazyjenkins01 wrote:

Surprised there's not more love going on!
Loads of good options though.

I'm going to add Certini/specialised in Saltash (Cornwall) to mine. Been in a few times now and always happy to help and with good advice

They have a shop in Bristol. Absolutely terrible, I went in to buy a Stumpy Evo and their staff weren't interested. A mate had a warranty replacement frame for a Stumpy he bought from them. They tried to charge him for a new crank arm after they stripped a thread and then moaned that it was loads of work to swap a frame. When he got the bike back, it had just been thrown together. Bolts not torqued, brake levers and bars at really stupid angles (properly ridiculous), gears not indexed and brake calipers not aligned. Not great service after you've bought a ~£4k bike.
A bike failing in use happens, it's just one of those unfortunate things. How it's dealt with is what make the difference between great service and terrible.

supersonic

Halfords at Kilner Way, Hillsborough. Had an emergency shortage of grease, they had sold out of what I wanted, but gave me some of their mechanics stock from the back. For free.

Crazyjenkins01

That's ace SS!
See what you're saying RM. The guys in the one near me are always helpful tho!

Relaxitscool

Not really a LBS but vote goes to Planet X who saved my weekend in Wales recently. I had a problem that wasn't that had nothing to do with them, turned up at the warehouse sale before the place was even open (en route to Wales), managed to collar a member of staff to see if the had the part I needed. Without asking, they took my bike, fixed the problem and handed it back all free of charge!
Given that I only went to see if they had the part I needed it was amazing service.

Rob