Asking if item is in stock from pedals, helmet spares and bikes:
Replies of:
A) Rudeness
B) Chuckles nah mate/sarcasm
C) Not knowing anything about bikes
D) Not wanting to be there or on the phone.
E) Annoyed I had called them to ask!
****ers and walked out or hung up on them.
Had to phone a bike shop in Bristol and arrange carriage from my old LBS as they were normal! 😈
They vary wildly. Station Cycles on Barnwell road are fantastic. Always bend over backwards to help.
However the branch in town and in Histon really are not great.
You talking about rutland cycles at grafham by any chance?
The shop at the High Lodge Trail Centre in Thetford is also laughably bad.
I have never been spoken to so poorly in a shop.
However, Thetford is Suffolk , not Cambridgeshire.
Also moved from Bristol to Cambridgeshire. Most of the bike shops are road orientated - were you asking about MTB stuff?
Had bad experience from the one on Jesus Lane in Bristol. The Cycle Centre in Ely is good. Bike Art at Thetford bad (Norfolk not Cambridgeshire).
I live in Ely, the City Cycle Centre (IMHO) is useless!
Stock high end kit but no nothing about it, try their hardness not to sell you it and never return calls
Station Cycles Barnwell Road
Ben Heywards in Horningsea
Billy's / Ison Distribution if you don't kind feeling really old .
City Cycle Centre is my LBS, I guess I've not had much chance to fully test them but the few times I've been in they have been OK. May help that I ride (road) with a couple of the people who work there.
I live in Ely if you ever fancy a ride out. Road or Off.
I popped into my LBS last weekend, Cycle King on Mill Road, for a tyre for the wife's town bike and had a lovely chat with the owner about life the universe and everything. Chap couldn't have been nicer.
However the branch in town and in Histon really are not great.
I've always found Station cycles in Histon to be very good.
I went in today to get my bottom bracket replaced - it was making a nasty noise and it got *very* wet today, and I don't have time before going on holiday to work out how to change whatever random press-fit BB it is.
They'd done it a few hours later, plus checked the wheel hubs for water ingress.
If you're in Ely, then I think J.T. cycles are the place to go.
It goes to show that some guys just click with certain shops.
@Jmatlock- I mtb in Thetford and Woburn but not all that often as it's not the same as riding from the door like Bristol was. Ride with EDCC on road, nice club if a little TT orientated. Going to be away for a few weeks but will be in contact when I plan to mtb next.
Cambridge Cycle Company (Gt Shelford and Pampisford) gave me great service yesterday when I went in for a quote on a road bike.
Recommended.
As Oldnpastis says, if you're in Ely, go to Chetissham for JT Cycles. made me a set of wheels which have been great value. Also a great dog there!
City Centre Cycles is ok, plus they have a model and toy section to look at.
Thanks guys, I know it sounded like a rant (a bad one at that!).
You'd think they would want customers to come back/spread the good word/networking.
Cheers-Drive - we were spoilt in Bristol 😀
I asked for a bit of xc/road stuff and was never rude to the them.
I found a nice shop outside Ferry Meadows but they always order in for at full price - only a small family business though (mail order is cheaper). If there isn't a demand then pointless have stock.
Grahamt1980 - one of them was Rutland.
Guess when I lived here in 1999 internet and mail orders was the life...
Was it in Orton Waterville?
I find most of the Peterborough bike shops aren't that MTB oriented (not surprising given our terrain).
Bit further north (and not quite in Cambs any more), but Cyclewright at Baston are pretty good.
Sorry to resurrect this thread, but who would people recommend to replace a spoke and true a [road] wheel for me?
Good quality work is a must...
I popped into my LBS last weekend, Cycle King on Mill Road, for a tyre for the wife's town bike and had a lovely chat with the owner about life the universe and everything. Chap couldn't have been nicer.
wonder if the shopkeeper remembers it in the same way. "bloody hell , the guy only came in for a tyre and he bent my ear about Audi estates, firewood and espresso for four hours" 😉
If you mean in Peterborough, Bristows in Orton Waterville. Very small but very reriable. Ask for Dave Coxhead (yes, really).
Sadly, Peterborough is a bit far out of the way. I was really hoping for somewhere between St. Neots and Cambridge.
There's nothing there at all. It's like a post apocalyptic waste land (apparently).
wonder if the shopkeeper remembers it in the same way. "bloody hell , the guy only came in for a tyre and he bent my ear about Audi estates, firewood and espresso for four hours"
🙂
Have you heard about the internet?
Heard about the Internet? What is this wonderous thing you talk of? Is it like a library of information, or just a collection of cat pictures and pornography?
I was looking for recommendations for a good LBS that could do a (probably) do a better job of making my rear wheel better than I could.
As it happens, Merlin are sending me some new spokes and I'll be having a goo at fixing things myself. I mean, it can't be that hard right? Just need two bits of wood to act as the axle supports and an adjustable spanner, right?
Terry Wright Cycles in market deeping. One of the best shops in the country never mind cambs. Ask for Ben he will see you right.
Went to Bristows Cycles today.
A1 service.
Well they have my business from now on 🙂
