[Closed] Two Wheels bike shop @ Stourbridge

i'm not allowed to get involved as it usually starts a slanging match

Christ are they still going!?

Oh right.....

I have been looking at the whyte bikes and Two Wheels are pretty close, but I have never used them....

Are they really that bad ?!

Bought my Cove Stiffee and my daughter's Giant from them and they've been fine in my experience.
Can't comment on their handling of complaints / warranty problems, as I've had none.

rOcKeTdOg - have you had much dealings with them ?

I used to use them,they were a good shop.

Yes they're a good shop.

Without naming & shaming I have had bad service from one or two other shops over the years....

Any idiot or shop can sell something, but its the customer service/after sales that is important, just in case things start to go wrong...

I use them, they are a good shop, can be a little grumpy at times, but they know there stuff and my experience of them has been always been positive.

I after various comments made about both myself and my bikes while in the shop by staff i now refuse to use them even as a last resort. However i do know people who apparently have a really good relationship with them and get good service.

I tend to use Race Co in stourbridge town centre now. Paul the proprietor is a good bloke but occasionally needs prodding to get stuff done or ordered as its usually just him in the shop.

They've always given me exeptionaly good after sales service with any kind of warranty issues.

I tend to use Race Co in stourbridge town centre now

The standard Stourbridge bike shop debate, for me Race Co is my first choice, 2 Wheels second. Both good, use which ever one you like and/or has the stuff you want.

Kona, just stand in the shop doorway and look in, you'll make your own mind up pretty much then, yes i and mates have had dealings with them.

🙄

I use Two Wheels and am prepared to come up from London for it - the service I get is pretty damn good (although not completely perfect, but then where do you get that?)

Good staff, good service. I've used them for years and any warranty issues have been dealt with extremely well. Cant comment on Race Co, but 2wheels have the benefit of experience having been there since the 70's...

sorry Stu (if the eye roll was meant for me) i can only go on my experience of the shop, if you've had good experiences then you have the right to pass them on without comment, as do i

Hi
Singlespeedstu,s opinion may be slightly biased due to him being a good friend of andy (owner)
BUT all things aside i agree with him
Two wheels are a good shop service can sometimes be hit and miss depending on how busy they are ,but we have to realise they are in the business of selling,so dont always expect the red carpet treatment
Ive had warranty issues which have ALWAYS been dealt with speedily and with no problems
Andy does have a love/hate personality and is very opinionated but his advice his usually spot on ,and made with experience

It was this bit that caused the eye roll.

just stand in the shop doorway and look in, you'll make your own mind up pretty much then

Great way to judge how they deal with warranty issues that. 🙄

anyone who keeps their shop looking like that would worry me about attention to detail in servicing and back up, and in the dealings i've had and friends have had with the shop, it's turned out correct.

How the guy who owns the shop keeps it looking is hardly a fair way to comment on the work done by the rest of the staff, is it? Thought you weren't getting involved anyway?

rOcKeTdOg - Member

i'm not allowed to get involved as it usually starts a slanging match

Should that read I'm getting involved as I want to start a slanging match? 🙄

Thanks Stu. I'm not clever enough to work out how to do those quotey things.

i live local to both, bought my last frame (cove handjob) from two wheels, i wouldnt say im a regular - but ive had nothing but good experiences with them.

race co however, - although pauls a nice enough fella, did seem to want my money, havent been in there for over a year since he fibbed about being able to get iron horse frames, and failing to order a pair of pikes for said frame, even though they were in stock and i was waving cash around trying to spur him into action lol...

two wheels has a strong local following. theyve been there for yonks, and while they may only have 1 or 2 staff on the shop front, they always have several mechanics fettling away in the workshop, they're rarely short of work.

however ill be surprised if race co is still around in a couple of years...

yea i shouldn't have not told you what i and friends have experienced , i should have left Kona with your biased opinion,and maybe he'd have been lucky and had no problems whatsoever. balance is always good as is informed choice

although this may explain the vehemance of some of the "we love 2 wheels" replies

Singlespeedstu,s opinion may be slightly biased due to him being a good friend of andy (owner)

S'not just me saying they get good service though is it?

So like you say balance is a good thing and the balance of opinion seems to be that they offer good service.

But I'm not allowed to say that incase I upset you am I. 🙄

now who's slanging?

you're the guy's pal, no more explaination needed

S'not just me saying they get good service though is it? 🙄

Two Wheels are very good, and very busy.

The last time I tried to spend any money at Race Co, Paul was too busy chatting to a mate.

I would much rather go to Two Wheels, and the point about how it looks is a little ridiculous - Paul/RaceCo has time to keep his shop clean...he's not overly troubled with paying customers.

Rocketdog, what exactly did your friends and yourself experience? You seem a little hazy on detail...

I have used two wheels for over 10 years have always got good service. They can be very busy at times so takes a while to get things fixed but have always done a good job. They get my vote

Ok, I get the feeling that this subject may have been covered before 🙂

I will go down and see what they are like. I know what I want...

I like them, always been pretty good to me.

Good service for me, and Baz builds a great wheel.

Have used both 2 Wheels and Race Co, spent more in race Co and got much better service from 2 Wheels, bought bikes from both, warranty issues were dealt with by 2 Wheels replacing item then claiming from manufacturer, Race co warranty dealt with by sending said part to supplier then waiting for replacement etc, very frustrating for the customer, especially when the supplier takes a long time to address the warranty issue (4 weeks for a RF bottom bracket) but understandable for the owner. My experiences would result in me buying a bike from 2 Wheels if they had what I wanted but wouldn't buy from Race Co again

Rocket / SStu-

[url= ]Take your pick[/url]

I'll have the purple furry on in the middle please scruff. 😆

BTW that's a fine collection you've built up there mate.... 😉

ill be totally honest with you im a stourbridge local rider and although 2wheels is the closer of the two shops after a particular warranty instance after only 2 weeks of purchasing said bike and having a warranty issue i was told by some sshort bloke who sounded like he spoke through his nose that basicly it wasnt his problem and didnt want to know! 5 minutes down the round to race co and 5 minutes later the nice guys at race co had me back on the road. since then i vowed never to step back into his poorly laid out messy little hell whole,

i would strongly urge anyone to think twice before using 2 wheels. he will happily ignore you and inform you that its not his problem having relieved you of your money.

this is not an issolated instance, other colleagues and friends have also boycotted him due to poor customer service bad attitude and poor nature of how he conducts bussiness, in several cases he has walked directly passed people obviously queing and chatted idley to customers who clearly spend far too much time and money wasted there.

race co have dealt with every issue swiftly and efficiently in a clean and well presented shop. my only regret is not passing my trade to them in the first place.

as you can tell by the length of this letter i feel strongly and would urge you for fast efficient service and good advice to use raceco.

singlespeed stu is obviously one of his special "click" and seems to be well up the owners crevase!

And the fire continues to burn..... 😯

So basically like in everything some people like them and others don't.

** Solves the problems of the world, puts hands into trouser pockets and saunters off into the sunset, whistling **

I believe i have aired my views on another thread.. personnally i now use CRC.

Have had good/bad experiences in both shops named on this thread, but to be fair to 2 wheels, they've been there a long time, lots of ppl post on here saying they travel miles to visit the shop - they can't be all bad.

Looks like Race Co has a log in now...

Always done fine at Two Wheels: go in when they are quiet and you will get more of their time to discuss, poke and prod nice bits of kit, workshop mechanics are good and take time to explain / provide advice, only waranty issue i have had on a set of forks was dealt with promptly with offer of a loan of forks to keep me riding, pricing varies from 'good deal' to 'about market rate' = all good to me and will keep on using them.

Funny i have had both good and bad from both (most recently bad from race co) but prevouslt good, and the same from two wheels, i think it depends on who you deal with! odd as i am sure we all spend good money so you'd think they would want us all to be happy

personally i find the mailorder route best, better prices, and you just dont get the hassle of having to deal with indviudals

Why dont you go to another stockist!

That was my point i.e. most recently bad (was good) (in both shops cases) so prefer mail order and i think will only go that route for a while,

However would much prefer to use local suppliers or else eventually they close, and your stuck with Internet only and whilst good not great for everything.

Had no probes with Chain Reaction FAB service and more
Very helpful and great prices with a Matching service IE Great.

Right, my 2pennyworth...
Have ridden with the guys from 2 wheels a number of times at the wyre forest when the wed night fast boys would go out from the duke william.
also ridden with Paul from Race Co over Clent, when Votchy was demo'ing a orange 5. ( both shops wil leave you for dead!!)

Have used 2 wheels a number of times,for accessories like forks , new wheels, brakes , stems etc . ( oh and a bike for my son)

Been in Race co but never brought anything major other than grips and brake pads. Each time I've been in Race Co ( plently of tire kicking visits) Paul was fine to talk to.

Times at 2 wheels, Andy has sorted me out warranty claims on frames brought when I lived miles away at High wycombe and the original LBS from which I brought the bike had stopped dealing with Marin. ( with no issues etc) Race face BB,s swapped after failing with in 6 weeks etc, and given me discounts on stuff which at times have boarded on being fraud!!
This is with me not spending vast amounts of dsh with them either.

Two wheels can be a bit opinionated on kit etc, ie pushing the kit they actually sell ( fair do's, but it's an opinion not the law) but have always provided a top notch service.
As for RD saying, look in the shop doorway, and make your mind up, the shop is stocked way better that my main LBS!! Bit cramped maybe, but hey do you want space or stock??

I'm still waiting for [s]sb local[/s] Paul Tett to make his second post on STW. 😆

Im a Stourbridge local too. I've used Race Co once and he failed to get what i wanted, I've only been in the shop a couple of times since then but just can't/don't want to spend any money there.
I've used Two Wheels loads, you do get the odd bit of BS from Andy but that's him just trying to sell what he's got in, i'm still waiting for them to call me for a seat clamp i ordered about 4-5 weeks ago..TBH where i can i travel to use 18 Bikes in Hope - Sound lads, nice little shop, no BS, plus an excuse to go riding in the Peak.

*Edit*
Just read it back and it sounds a little overly harsh on Two Wheels - Servicing has always been great, and do get a good bit of discount with them too, just don't expect a kiss and a cuddle if you go in on a Saturday afternoon

i'd like professionalism and organisation please Mick, both of which show that a bit of pride and care is taken, two values i'd rather like to be used on a purchase or repair of my bikes. a clean, well organised shop and spannering area reflects this

cant belive how many sbridge riders there are on here!!!!

never brought anything big from either shop ...bits and pieces only...but two wheels have done some wheels for me and was happy enough with that!!

i'd like professionalism and organisation please

I like cheap prices and a warranty serice that really does go beyond the call of duty.

They've sent stuff back for me that has come from other shops and has been hammered to **** without question.

Still If you want to pay over the odds and get no help when you bust stuff at least you'll have a nice display to take your mind off the hole in your pocket. 😉

if your standards are low then i guess you are happy.luckily we can vote with our wallets, paying a fair price for excellent service, you stick with your cheap, untidy retailer 🙂

RD You'd have a fit if you went in to Two Wheels when its raining heavily

serious question RD.

Have you ever been in there and spoken to any of the lads?

They might take the piss a bit but it's only the same as your mates would do.

You do have mates don't you......

Ah maybe that's the problem. 😉

also ridden with Paul from Race Co over Clent, when Votchy was demo'ing a orange 5. ( both shops wil leave you for dead!!)

I have never ridden with Paul, but I struggle to believe he would leave me for dead. Last time I saw him he was dying on his arse, puffing round a very easy 10k XC run. I chatted for a while but soon got sick of being overtaken by fat people.

but soon got sick of being overtaken by fat people.

Is it possible to be overtaken by yourself Tom? 😉

Fighting fit now Stu 😉 Hardcore kickboxing training, gone from 14st 8 to 12st 2, with body fat under 10% 8)

Next?

😀

It's only taken me 11 months to realise who yous is...Dammit!

* swoons at Barrys buff body* 😳

8) in-cog-neeeeeeeet-o

Ai plus the fact i've been spending less time here due to the inordinate amount of numpties who now post on here, i haven't sussed out who's who

With you there mate.

numpties who now post on here,

Now now Houns don't talk about Buff Barry like that.

[img] [/img]

Me, yesterday.

Barry Bethel - Member

Me, yesterday.

[img] [/img]

😯

I think you've over done it on the vodka and orange again mate.

Barry Bethel - Member

[img] [/img]

Me, yesterday.

😯

Heh

They're not propper scratchings.

Propper scrachings are made in Tip'n.

[img] [/img]

Biro scratchings?

Bloody lesbian.

Your more of a pork puffy type of a guy.

[img] [/img]

Or are you more of a

[img] [/img]

kind of a guy?