Arbee
|
Good Bike ShopsHi, I wondered what bike shops people use and would recommend. I'm in Harlow and there aren't any here anymore that I know of (unless you count Halfords).
I've driven past one in Epping near the Station road but not been in there yet.
I just want a place to buy decent accessories and get friendly advice without being made to feel like I'm an annoyance, which seems common with bike shops (and motorbike shops I've found as well) for some reason. What's their problem?
|
GTDave
|
Triton cycles in Barkingside. Best bike shop in Essex! 
Top notch mechanic too! 
|
alaric
|
I've met the guys at Triton and they seem like a good bunch - never had the opportunity to try them out, though.
Heales cycles in Chingford are very good if you get on with them. I do and have had excellent service from them (particularly the quality of built wheels), but not everyone sees eye to eye with them...
Alaric.
|
Arbee
|
Thanks for the feedback. Will definitely try Triton.
Alaric, your comments about getting on with Heales is what I was talking about some shops being unfriendly. The customer is always right!
Cheers.
|
alaric
|
There's definitely something about bike shop owners in England, for some reason...
|
Robo
|
| alaric wrote: | I've met the guys at Triton and they seem like a good bunch - never had the opportunity to try them out, though.
Heales cycles in Chingford are very good if you get on with them. I do and have had excellent service from them (particularly the quality of built wheels), but not everyone sees eye to eye with them...
Alaric. |
Even though in the past, I have been on the Heales Cycles Race team, and have done many hours of riding with them, and indeed spent a a grand or two in there, the owners are an aquired taste. Both Den and Ash are very serious guys, to serious sometimes. They do think that what they sell is the best of everything, even if it's not.
However, they are bery professional, they do know their stuff, they do ride week in week out ALL YEAR, and Nick the Mech, is very good.
As I said, they are an aquired taste, but then, Richard at the Bike Shed was also an aquired taste that some liked, and some thought he was an arrogant prick with a big mouth.
Remeber, that whilst other bike shops are going skint, or selling up, Heales is still there providing a very good service.
The other people I recommend is Cyclone Cycles in Waltham Abbey. These guys are the other end of the spectrum in trems of a relaxed atmosphere. Mark and Ray, the owners are both really helpful and really laid back. Great service, great bunch of blokes.
|
smellyengine
|
Wades in Buckhurst Hill have always seemed friendly and their work is tops....otherwise these days it's even more of a case of you're better off buying loads of tools. Saves on the booking fiascos and the cost, plus you get to fondle your bike.
|
alaric
|
Wades still have a similar attitude for the wrong person. Alao the last time I went there they were closed, as was the website...looks like they're now "Online Bikes".
Robo, you're absolutely right - Em and I have had no problems at all with Ash, Den and Nick - but I know people that do and I've seen the way they treat some customers.
Alaric.
|
Robo
|
| alaric wrote: | Wades still have a similar attitude for the wrong person. Alao the last time I went there they were closed, as was the website...looks like they're now "Online Bikes".
Robo, you're absolutely right - Em and I have had no problems at all with Ash, Den and Nick - but I know people that do and I've seen the way they treat some customers.
Alaric. |
I have been on the receiving end of their attitude too in the past. I think they get the pox more, when people quote on-line webby prices to them. Which I guess they cant compete with in outright price. However the service they provide is obviously superior to a website, as you are actually dealing with and creating a relashionship with a person.
Re Wades,
Yep, another one bites the dust. which goes back to what I was saying re Heales, they are still there.
|
smellyengine
|
Bike shops come and go...my mate used to run one and generally it's rather hard to actually make any profit....with shops full of bikes that kids generally want to drool over but not buy....true the internet isn't helping but with the cheap components on offer there really isn't a better time to fix it yourself!(Time allowing that is!)
|
Robo
|
| smellyengine wrote: | | Bike shops come and go...my mate used to run one and generally it's rather hard to actually make any profit....with shops full of bikes that kids generally want to drool over but not buy....true the internet isn't helping but with the cheap components on offer there really isn't a better time to fix it yourself!(Time allowing that is!) |
Yes they do. But that maybe to do with a poor service, or selling crap bikes.
Heales has been there since I was kid, I'm now 43. The bike Shed was there for quite a few years, and was a very profitable business, but Richard wanted to retire now he's made his fortune, (  have you seen the size of his house on Monkams Estate from the profits of selling bikes )
Top Bannana went under, because Lloyd had an Elite'est attitude, and only wanted to sell "A Life Style"  and very expensive kit and bikes to a limited market.
Yes I agree, that if you can fix a bike yourself, then great, most of it is easy to do. However, I'm picking up my forks today (Rock Shox Sids)from Heales after having a Full Service on them, if you'd seen the size of the bag of seals in all the sizes I wouldn't want to attempt doing them myself, but I do do the seals in my Moto-Cross bike.
I still think that using your LBS if you have a good one is better than using a web shop, especially with some of the discounts your LBS will give you for being a loyal customer. Yes there will be a saving in some cases, maybe a few quid here and there, but for me, I like to support my local shop if and when I can, WHILST I STILL HAVE ONE TO SUPPORT.
|
alaric
|
I'm still buying from Heales now, got some bits there now awaiting collection!
|
|
|
|