Not sure if anyone else has mentioned but Head for the Hills in Dorking are great. My LBS is 5 mins walk from the house but would rather drive 30 mins and give them the business. Good service, not interested in ripping you off and last time they gave me some crank bros spokes free rather than charging.
Bike Forum
Reccommend your local bike shop?!?
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Posted 8 months ago #
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Thatto Cycles St Helens - nothings too much trouble
Posted 8 months ago # -
Noahs Ark in Stroud
Posted 8 months ago # -
Mud dock are terrible!
zero G/spesh concept(same mob) are OK, looong waiting time for workshops though
Evans so so
Strada is very roadie biased (nowt wrong with that)
Psyclewerx have no stock
Cyclesurgery in filton and the bike station in yate are my best experiences so far.Agree about Mud Dock.
Have found Zero G in Bedminster to be very helpful.
Evans - Good for the occasional bargain.
Never been to Strada, so can't comment.
Psyclewerx - limited experience but they've had what I wanted (pads, chain device, lock-ons).
Cycle Surgery in Filton is like Evans, but smaller.Another few to consider are:
Fred Bakers (Stokes Croft) was always the shop for me when growing up (mostly road/touring). There's also Cyclelife - good for entry level stuff and workshop.
Harvey's Cycle Exchange in Henleaze is one of those old-fashioned bike shops. Very knowledgeable chap runs it who is always willing to help if he can. Proper customer service.
With regard to workshops, I think the increasing popularity of cycling means that many shops are running at capacity. It's a case of shop further afield, be patient, or learn to do stuff yourself where possible.
BIKE is still my go-to shop though.
There always Cash Converters, innit?
Posted 8 months ago # -
+1 for Cycleworks Haslemere
Posted 8 months ago # -
for anyone in North Manchester/ Lancs - DJ Cycles in Holcombe Brook. never lets me down! always honest and fair too.
Posted 8 months ago # -
Mud dock are terrible!
Care to elaborate?
They've got a decent range of stuff (last time I went in there it was very Bontrager-centric but there's nowt wrong with that, it's reasonably priced and it works), and if you want to try out clothing, rather than just buying blind online, they are one of the few shops in Bristol that carry more than a couple of jackets on a rail at the back.
Quite a few ex-staff have gone on to bigger and better things in the bike industry, I can think of two off the top of my head who are working for Felt and Hotlines. One of their current staff came and helped us with an event on Sunday despite having done a 100-miler the day before.
When I moved to Bristol ten years ago I lived next to the shop that is now Strada. It was half cheap and nasty BSOs, half fishing tackle. Neither the staff nor the owner seemed to have any interest in bikes and when I went in there to drop off a poster for a trail maintenance day they refused point-blank to put it up. That was a bad bike shop...
Posted 8 months ago # -
And one I forgot - Chaos Cycles in St Nick's Market - kings of the cheap 'n' cheerful.
Never been to Bad Ass Bikes but Box's post-PC Facebook updates make me laugh a lot.
Posted 8 months ago # -
Certini, Saltash.
Great guys, great service and usualy get what i need instead of the "we can order it and get it next week" speech that is common to many bike shops.Posted 8 months ago # -
In my experience, mud dock are not very helpful at all. The staff just haven't been interested when I've gone in (not even a hello on entry). I have found stuff at more than RRP and they charge an extra 10% on cyclescheme. I do like the cafe though but again is expensive for what it is.
It's the people that make the shop IMO, if they don't have the right staff then the shop will suffer.
Cyclesurgery in filton despite being a chain have always been attentive, friendly and helpful to me which is why they've got over £3K from me this year. Normally some good bargains too (which can't be said for Evans).
Garlands in Bedminster is by far the best shop in the Zero G chain, good stock and helpful.Posted 8 months ago # -
The Bike Chain guys however are just big softies. Out for a night ride yesterday and Mark had been invited - " too tired / got to be home early" - but what did I see - the lads sat outside the pub with beer and fags as I was on my way out for the aforementioned bike ride.
Big softies they are
Posted 8 months ago # -
Back on Track in Malvern - near the clocktower at the North of the hills. A very friendly bike shop - also the source for route advice on the hills (though remember local hills for local people).
http://www.backontrack-bikes.com/home.htmlPosted 8 months ago # -
Tredz: both the Swansea and Cardiff branches have helpful, well informed staff.
Pop into the Cardiff branch all the time for accesories and get 10% off everything 'for being a regular'.
We've bought two bikes from the Swansea branch in the last few years: a my-first-MTB £300 Specialized for my girlfriend, and more recently a new full sus for me. Got helpful, patient and impartial advice on both, and a big chunk off the shop floor price with haggling
Posted 8 months ago # -
The Bike Chain guys however are just big softies. Out for a night ride yesterday and Mark had been invited - " too tired / got to be home early" - but what did I see - the lads sat outside the pub with beer and fags as I was on my way out for the aforementioned bike ride.
Incorrect - my kitchen is being gutted and replaced and that is why i needed to get home to sort things out.Of course there was 10 mins spare for a pint though.
(p.s. what you doing on Sunday?)
Posted 8 months ago # -
Another vote for Biketreks in Ambleside
Posted 8 months ago # -
Can't believe nobody has said Terry Wright Cycles in Market Deeping - Paul and Ben are simply two of the most helpful and knowledgeable people in the cycle industry.
Posted 8 months ago # -
i go to Leisure lakes to feel stuff up, try things on etc - then go home and buy online miiiles cheaper!
Posted 8 months ago # -
Hargroves in Fareham, Hants.
Always good service. (Wish the place had air-con though!)
Posted 8 months ago # -
Spoiled on the north side of Glasgow...
WHEEEEELCRAFT! Big Al at the Clachan of Campsie institution and miracle of consumer economics. No matter how obscure a part you're looking for, it'll be "in that drawer there, laddie!" The man even had an Oor Wullie cartoon in his honour.
Just don't be in a hurry and don't ask for black spokes.
Also lucky enough to have Solid Rock Cycles nearby at Balmore - Mark, David and Robin are super duper chaps who'll always go the extra mile for you, especially for racing needs. Not uncommon to order something off their website in the afternoon and for it to be waiting at home by the time you get in. Some lovely kit in the shop too.
Posted 8 months ago # -
Samways in Derby. Great lads. They even offered to call silverfish when I brought my old Cove in for advice. Can I aso mention Stanley Fearns? They are ace!
Posted 8 months ago # -
Langdale Lightweights on Westdale Lane in Nottingham
Posted 7 months ago # -
Willy Bain on the Southside of Glesga
http://www.bicyclerepair.co.uk/index.htmlPosted 7 months ago # -
Another one for BikeTreks but also Ghyllside Cycles in Ambleside who are great for hard to find bits that no one else has in stock and chat
Posted 7 months ago # -
Nowhere decent within 20 miles which really is into MTBs. Tri-Store is helpful and good but that's it. The others are incompetent, inefficient or mainly preoccupied with their hire business.
Posted 7 months ago # -
Another vote for Bike Scene in Guisborough, It's like Santa's grotto in there (no elves though) & everyone knows what they're on about. (I'm biased cos I get coffee)
Posted 7 months ago # -
The chaps at The Bike Shop in Skipton are always very helpful and have done quick jobs for free a few times. Try to use them when I can but the interweb prices make it hard to use your LBS all the time.
Stif's also close to me and always offer superb service. Lot's of bike p*rn too!
Posted 7 months ago # -
Street life in lowestoft is great the owners annoying at worst a doosh but no harm but howard who works there is a legend and a really good laugh goes out of his way to help and makes a cracking cuppa tea
Posted 7 months ago #
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