Tuesday Treats 49: Bicycle Doctor

Your once a week dose of retail therapy from Singletrack’s Premier Dealers, stockists and advertisers.

Tuesday Treats gives you a quality serving of independent bike retailing and a chance to win big in this week’s prize draw.

This week, we introduce Bicycle Doctor.

Tom picks up the story:

‘Bicycle Doctor is a cooperatively owned bike shop based in Rusholme, South-central Manchester. There are six of us with no owner or manager, so we’re all directly involved in the day to day operating of the shop. We firmly believe in the original ethos of the store; same say, same pay. Between us we’ve ridden, raced, fallen off, broken and fixed almost every kind of bike and we’re still at it after 30 years in this location.

We’re all kept busy enthusiastically fixing and selling bikes to keep our locals peddling around the city and we put in a lot of effort to push and promote local cycling initiatives. From our beginnings as a touring specialist and being the first Manchester shop to sell MTBs in the 80s; we’ve not strayed a great deal and we’re most thrilled when people want to get out of the city and into the sticks with our specialist help’.

What’s your current best-selling/hottest product?

Since my Cotic Rocket landed in-store, we’ve had a lot of people grappling for their own version of the Rocket and for good reason too. Being based just over in the Peak District they know all about riding, UK style.

Quite a few of our customers are also taking to the new Surly Krampus 29er ‘mid-fat’ bike, as a more versatile way to experience the joy of the Fat!

Any Custom Builds you care to mention?

Ah, the world of the custom build. It’s a reason to get seriously excited about coming into work. Check out these recent examples of our custom built beauties, and learn more about our dedicated programme for making sure you get what you want, with our professional support.

Otherwise, we loved sorting out this XS Cotic Soul with Rockshox SID fork, HopeTech hoops and XT kit. We were impressed to say it weighed in at 26lb!

Lastly it’s not our most recent custom build, but is a little bit special. Check out this 9:Zero:7 Fat bike with the 11-speed Alfine hub, powder coated fork with custom paint job/decals and all decorated with HopeTech brakes. Truly unique!

Which product/brand does every staff member have on their bike?

It’s so obvious, you’ll have not thought it possible… a decent, loud, shiny bell! Where are your manners please people? Bells are essential, especially if like us, you spend a lot of time riding the highly populated Peak District or on-route to your favourite trail.

What’s going on locally guys, shop rides, grass roots stuff?

We used to be known as the Flying Doctors but we relinquished our formal responsibility, passing on the gauntlet and now we’ve become Twisted Wheels. We held a couple of rides last year; one local and one out in the Peaks and we’ve got some stuff up our sleeve for later this summer. So join us on Facebook and Twitter if you like that stuff and we’ll keep you informed.

It’s worth pointing out at last there’s some mountain biking straight from our doorstep. There’s new all-weather trails near the Sports City Velodrome, just a mile or two up the road in Clayton Vale. They’ve also got a bit of a skills area so we’re really pleased to see the sport supported around here.

Recently we’ve also been supporting the campaign for the pedestrianisation of the busiest bus route in Europe on Oxford Road, which is at the end of our street. It’s happening as part of the congestion management next year and we look forward to the start of a more Dutch style segregated cycle route approach.

What do Singletrack Subscribers get from you guys?

Bicycle Doctor offer Premier Subscribers 10% Off Labour, Parts and Accessories, 5% off New Bikes/Frames (not already discounted). We also do 3 free services on all new bikes.

Tuesday Treats Prize Draw

Click here to win this week’s prize!