Have you any experience of these online shops.

cantaloupe

:? would you recommend or otherwise any of these shops.

wiggle.co.uk
merlincycles.com
cyclesurgery.com
cyclelane.co.uk
ubyk.co.uk

I am looking to buy a new bike and have'nt bought online in a number of years. seen a couple of bikes and they're on offer at each of these shops but I've never bought from them before.

any input is appreciated.

mallorcajeff

Used the top three hundreds of times as most will have. Buying a bike over the net for the inexperienced could be the start of a c0ck up. I would go to a good shop chat with somebody and try a few first.

cantaloupe

it is a bit off putting reading through the bad experiences here on the forum where people have bought online but my local store does'nt have the bikes in.

redvee

I've bought from the top three but only parts, not a bike. A friend bought his bike off Wiggle and says it was set up very well, all he had to do was turn the bars and fit his pedals. The saddle was set for his leg length etc.

lincolndave

I can definitely recommended wiggle and cycle surgery,they are the only two online shops I have used on your list

daniel_b

I have also shopped with the top three, and never had any issues.

Online bike purchases I have made 1 from chain reaction, no issues, and 3 from Evans.
1 was painfree, 1 had minor damage (compensated for) and a wrong seatpost which I bought and they refunded, and the 3rd most recent purchase was a lot more involved, but I ended up with a better bike.

Your three top choices all have good reputations, I don't see you having any issues.

Have you checked topcashback/quidco for cashback?
Even 1% can be a decent chunk on a sizable purchase.

Out of idle interest, what bike, or bikes are you looking at?

alex222

I bought my Sensa from Merlin online. Was a few weeks delayed but they threw in some free pedals as compensation. Saddle wasn't as the official spec so they replaced it after I queried that. Gears weren't perfectly set up.
All in all nothing major so happy with Merlin, but there are downsides to buying online.

cougie

There are plenty of people who only join a forum to complain about something. Hence the numbers of moans you see online. Most purchases are smooth with no problems but people don't post about that.

Where do you live? There must be a decent bike shop fairly close by.

wotnoshoeseh

I know of one guy who bought a Felt F75 from Wiggle. IMO I think it's a very good bike, but unfortunately, he had a few issues with the bike.

Wiggle were top notch in sorting them out - the bike was replaced FOC, and he got a voucher from them for his trouble. Customer service is good. I have also bought items on line off them - free Haribo too!!

cantaloupe

Daniel B wrote:

Out of idle interest, what bike, or bikes are you looking at?

Orbea Avant & Colnago CX Zero, I keep going back to the avant.

jimnm

Planet X for VFM

londoncommuter

Not pushing them but you've presumably spotted Cycle Surgery have quite a few physical stores? They're mainly in London but could be a good half way house if you're not comfortable buying online. They do price match against most people.

cantaloupe

I live local to Leeds.

Just found this
https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/www.cyclesurgery.com

londoncommuter

cantaloupe wrote:

I live local to Leeds.

Just found this
https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/www.cyclesurgery.com

Blimey! Only ever had good dealings with them but if you feel you can't trust them then it would undermine the point of you relying on a physical shop.

cougie

Leeds? Take a trip into see planet x then.

daniel_b

You have Decathlon stores up in that neck of the woods too, excellent customer service, and the bikes have a lifetime guarantee on the frames, and are very well regarded - google for reviews.

dabber

I bought my Wilier Cento Uno from Cyclelane. I'm in Surrey they are in Glasgow.

The first bike I received hadn't been prepped at all.... call to them and they apologised, organised for it to be returned to them. Sent me out the bike I should have been sent in the first place.... apparently they sent the wrong box out the first time. All good, bike setup well. Bike has been excellent. Dealings with them were good, they were helpful.

Buying remotely the one nervous thing I had with the Cento Uno was the integrated seatpost and the need to cut it to the correct length. I knew this before I bought it. I read up on it, Cyclelane gave me advice as well. After measuring, then measuring again and again, I bit the bullet and all was fine.

I needed to speak to ATB (the UK Wilier distributor) regarding warranty registration (not a warranty fault issue) and they wanted to know who the bike had been bought from. When I told them there was no problem and they recognised Cyclelane as one of their sellers.

sebbyp

Been waiting a month for a bike from PlanetX, they're waiting on parts for it. including a widely avaliable ultegra crankset :-( really disappointed at the moment.

leemeh

Used the top 3 like everyone else but if it helps I live about 500 yards away from Ubyk in Brighton - shopped in there in person many times but have never used their online shop. I can vouch for their credibility in that respect

Proff

cantaloupe wrote:

I live local to Leeds.

Just found this
https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/www.cyclesurgery.com

There's a Cyclesurgery in Leeds city centre!