Recommendations for LBS in London?

Rench88
Rench88 Posts: 27
edited February 2015 in Road general
I am struggling to find a reliable bike shop within reasonable distance from where I live (near Finsbury Park) or work (EC4).

I am looking for a shop that is used to dealing with carbon road bikes - I have found that many shops in the City (unsurprisingly) cater for commuters/fixies. I would mainly be using the shop to service my bike a couple of times a year/deal with more complicated mechanical issues and need somewhere I can trust.

Any recommendations welcome. If it makes any difference I have a Bianchi Infinito 2012 with Campag.

Comments

  • tomisitt
    tomisitt Posts: 257
    MiCycle in Stroud Green or Bike & Run in East Finchley. Both Bianchi dealers.
  • cookeeemonster
    cookeeemonster Posts: 1,991
    tomisitt wrote:
    MiCycle in Stroud Green or Bike & Run in East Finchley. Both Bianchi dealers.

    I was gonna suggest micycle too
  • alex222
    alex222 Posts: 598
    Swift Cycles in the City seem to be well regarded
  • Bar Shaker
    Bar Shaker Posts: 2,313
    What exactly did you want done that needs a specialist in carbon frames?

    I would have thought any one of the shops in Spitalfields (Swift, Evans, Cycle Surgery) could do any routine servicing for you but the guys at Bespoke in Farringdon will probably do the best job. The danger with Bespoke is you might leave owning a new F8.
    Boardman Elite SLR 9.2S
    Boardman FS Pro
  • meast
    meast Posts: 19
    If Clapton isn't too far there's Hub Velo - http://hub-velo.co.uk/

    Small independent shop run by guys who still race. I take all my bikes there, from carbon to my commuter.

    They also have a thing for Campag :D
  • mcvw
    mcvw Posts: 270
    I've always found the staff at the Giant store at Barbican/St Paul's to be a friendly/knowledgeable bunch.

    http://www.giant-stpauls.co.uk/en-GB/
    2016 Handsling Bikes A1R0
    2014 Giant Defy Composite 1
    On One 4560b
  • Rench88
    Rench88 Posts: 27
    Thanks for the suggestions everyone. I plan to give Swift a try.
  • lakesluddite
    lakesluddite Posts: 1,337
    Bar Shaker wrote:
    What exactly did you want done that needs a specialist in carbon frames?

    I would have thought any one of the shops in Spitalfields (Swift, Evans, Cycle Surgery) could do any routine servicing for you but the guys at Bespoke in Farringdon will probably do the best job. The danger with Bespoke is you might leave owning a new F8.

    I walked past this last week when staying in that there London for a few days. Looks nice through the window, but I just couldn't bring myself to go in, given you need to be let in by a member of staff!

    Sorry, this might be par for the course in the Smoke, but this country bumpkin found it really off-putting! At least Condor round the corner let me in - now that's an LBS that I would like round my way, even if it's only to go downstairs to the showroom and drool.
  • cookeeemonster
    cookeeemonster Posts: 1,991
    LakesLuddite wrote:
    Bar Shaker wrote:
    What exactly did you want done that needs a specialist in carbon frames?

    I would have thought any one of the shops in Spitalfields (Swift, Evans, Cycle Surgery) could do any routine servicing for you but the guys at Bespoke in Farringdon will probably do the best job. The danger with Bespoke is you might leave owning a new F8.

    I walked past this last week when staying in that there London for a few days. Looks nice through the window, but I just couldn't bring myself to go in, given you need to be let in by a member of staff!

    Sorry, this might be par for the course in the Smoke, but this country bumpkin found it really off-putting! At least Condor round the corner let me in - now that's an LBS that I would like round my way, even if it's only to go downstairs to the showroom and drool.

    Went in there once and dont worry - they're really friendly (or the bloke I spoke to was). Only spent a little time in there as it's not that big and they didnt have that much clothing to look at but yeah, the bikes...hmmmm
  • Ben6899
    Ben6899 Posts: 9,686
    Lunar Cycles in Kentish Town or Mosquito on Essex Road.
    Ben

    Bikes: Donhou DSS4 Custom | Condor Italia RC | Gios Megalite | Dolan Preffisio | Giant Bowery '76
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ben_h_ppcc/
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  • slap_my_bass_up
    slap_my_bass_up Posts: 141
    Yeah +1 for Swift Cycles. They've always been great when I've been in and they have a cracking selection of gear.
    Rose X-Lite CRS 3100
    Focus Cayo AL
  • lancew
    lancew Posts: 680
    http://sohobikes.co.uk/

    Are a Santa Cruz dealer as well as Genesis road bikes so I assume they know their carbon. Not too far from your work.

    Just as another option.
    Specialized Allez Sport 2013
  • hopak
    hopak Posts: 193
    I've always found the staff at the London Bicycle Workshop in Clerkenwell Road EC1 helpful and more than capable.
  • curto80
    curto80 Posts: 314
    Cloud 9 Cycles on Store Street
    Rose Xlite Team 3100 Di2
    Kinesis Tripster ATR
    Orro Oxygen
  • il_principe
    il_principe Posts: 9,155
    havebike offer a Collect & Return service from London offices.

    http://havebike.co.uk/collect-and-return.aspx
  • Bar Shaker
    Bar Shaker Posts: 2,313
    CookeeeMonster wrote:
    LakesLuddite wrote:
    Bar Shaker wrote:
    What exactly did you want done that needs a specialist in carbon frames?

    I would have thought any one of the shops in Spitalfields (Swift, Evans, Cycle Surgery) could do any routine servicing for you but the guys at Bespoke in Farringdon will probably do the best job. The danger with Bespoke is you might leave owning a new F8.

    I walked past this last week when staying in that there London for a few days. Looks nice through the window, but I just couldn't bring myself to go in, given you need to be let in by a member of staff!

    Sorry, this might be par for the course in the Smoke, but this country bumpkin found it really off-putting! At least Condor round the corner let me in - now that's an LBS that I would like round my way, even if it's only to go downstairs to the showroom and drool.

    They are great guys and they let me park my Boris Bike in the middle of the shop, if I have ridden there.

    Went in there once and dont worry - they're really friendly (or the bloke I spoke to was). Only spent a little time in there as it's not that big and they didnt have that much clothing to look at but yeah, the bikes...hmmmm
    Boardman Elite SLR 9.2S
    Boardman FS Pro
  • mikenetic
    mikenetic Posts: 486
    Rench88 wrote:
    I am struggling to find a reliable bike shop within reasonable distance from where I live (near Finsbury Park) or work (EC4).

    I am looking for a shop that is used to dealing with carbon road bikes - I have found that many shops in the City (unsurprisingly) cater for commuters/fixies. I would mainly be using the shop to service my bike a couple of times a year/deal with more complicated mechanical issues and need somewhere I can trust.

    Any recommendations welcome. If it makes any difference I have a Bianchi Infinito 2012 with Campag.

    Pretorius Bicycles in Shoreditch is excellent for service. They handle a lot of Campag gear, high end bikes and also do very good coffee too! They have their own titanium bike range and are dealers for Colnago and Cyfac.

    http://pretoriusbikes.com/

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