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is there only one bike shop in the uk ?

forgive me, but are all bike shops realy that bad that only one shop in the uk seems to be recomended on this forum? well im going to recomend another . ALLTERAIN ...... why ? well they sold me the bike that i wanted , admitidly i didnt need things like bike fitting or the right kind of red paint/ latest carbon kit ,i just needed a bike that i could make go fast and would not break when i fell off .
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Comments

  • jacjac Posts: 452
    Bridgetown should start getting spammed I agree.
  • how about some more bike shops that people have had good dealings with ?

    3 more for me (not including tinternet shops)

    TRI CENTRAL (not alot of stock but frendly and helpfull)
    HARRY HALLS ( they were brill when they were in the Corn Ex)
    ROYLES ( Lotts of stock and helpfull to)
  • jacjac Posts: 452
    Woodrup Cycles in Leeds - great shop and great staff.
  • Cheryl6162Cheryl6162 Posts: 356
    BikeLab Poole, great people who won't try and sell you the most expensive item. Everyone who works there is a bike person, not just someone doing their 9 to 5
  • gingertrigingertri Posts: 277
    SBR in Windsor (i can almost hear sucking of teeth) - all friendly and sorted my bike out too!
    AW cycles reading - helpful for my MTB!
  • No one is saying that bridgetown is the best shop in the world - far from it, but you can't ignore the sheer number of happy customers on here and other forums that travel hundreds of miles for service that is unrivalled.

    Jac - If I may say that is the most ridiculous comment I've read on this forum.

    I have nothing more to say.
  • just2trijust2tri Posts: 198
    Some good bike shopes in the Surrey/Kingston area..

    - Sigma Sport in Kingston
    - Moores Cycles in Teddington
    - and a really good one Pearson Cycle in Sutton

    BUT the shop that really sorted out all my needs with the spec I gave them and the budget I had, plus advice, recommendations, research, etc, etc ...

    Bridgetown Cycles! 150 miles from where I live ....
  • shadowone1shadowone1 Posts: 1,408
    forgive me, but are all bike shops realy that bad that only one shop in the uk seems to be recomended on this forum? well im going to recomend another . ALLTERAIN ...... why ? well they sold me the bike that i wanted , admitidly i didnt need things like bike fitting or the right kind of red paint/ latest carbon kit ,i just needed a bike that i could make go fast and would not break when i fell off .
    Everyones entitled to their opinion and it will never be ignored but you could've went about it in a more decent way. Nobody is saying they are the best in the world. Never have, the guys/ gals on this forum only recommend. They have never said you must to go Btown. As mentioned you seem to have a bit of smacked arse but you mentioned that you never got fitted for the bike, well let me put it this way - what if that bike they sold you doesn't fit? You could go even faster on a bike that does fit. But you'll never know will you cause you couldn't be arsed. Your bike might be fine, and if your happy with it then great. I bought a bike from a shop last year. Felt fine and I was happy with it. Turns out it didn't fit......

    With regards to the breaking of the bike. I bought a carbon bike not because it was the latest kit but because I wanted to, could afford it , wanted to go faster and because I wanted it.
  • I think you might have miss understood what i ment by this post .

    it was intended to open up a discusion on bike shops in general, it was in no way an attack on any single bike shop ! ( witch as i have never used this bike shop i am not able to comment about them ).

    Please take time to look at the post more clealy and you will see that .

    please note " admitidly i didnt need things like bike fitting " this statement is tru in the fact that having been a bike fitter and mec in my youth i personaly feel that i have not alot to gain

    As for smacked arse ?

    thats just rude
  • risris Posts: 1,002
    john's bikes in bath have a good reputation (not bought or had anything serviced there personally but lots of people at my work have), avon valley is great for the folding bike fanatic (bought my airnimal there). total fitness bath is pretty good, although the last time i had my bike serviced there i wasn't 100% happy with the chain/cassette advice i got.

    and i've spent a very enjoyable hour or so at btown working through what i think i'll do when i buy my next bike. nice place and much more tolerant of my 2yo running round, taking things off hangars and putting sticky paws on the pinnarello's than i was! not sure many other bike shops would have been as relaxed about it either, but i'm not taking her into a whole bunch of shops just to find out!

    ginertri - i thought sbr was supposed to be good in the shop but rubbish for online ordering. things might have changed a bit though.
  • jonEjonE Posts: 1,113
    http://www.ettridgecycles.co.uk/

    If in the Grimsby area,try here.The shop is small,but Steve will happily spend time discussing whats you need and will source parts for you.He has years of experience,both racing and as a team mechanic,a top bloke and a great little shop.
  • OranjOranj Posts: 45
    Can't agree with Gingertri about AW in Reading. The service might be good (I don't know, I rarely go there), but they are overpriced, and Ricky, who seems to runs the roadie section upstairs, can be *very* patronizing. I'm sure he was trying to help, but his condesending attitude put us off and we took our money elsewhere.
  • Condescending - I find this happens in many independent bike shops. I do the same as you - take my money elsewhere. There is a good-sih website called http://www.tipped.co.uk where you can leave a comment about how good or bad a shop or restaurant etc., is. I suggest if you are passionate about a shop you use it so that others can benefit from your experience. Check out Freewheel in Nottingham for my (and others) comment.
  • shadowone1shadowone1 Posts: 1,408
    is there only one bike shop in the uk ?
    by Neil OBrien » Wed Aug 26, 2009 8:57 pm

    forgive me, but are all bike shops realy that bad that only one shop in the uk seems to be recomended on this forum?
    Your clue is in the the title and first sentence mate. The mere opening statement suggests that even you know you're opening up a debate, which reaks of rattles out the pram.

    I think if you read your opening thread then you realise that it seems you're having attack on a particular bike shop which may not have been your intention but is how it came across.

    Cheers
  • jacjac Posts: 452
    Nothing wrong with a debate on an internet forum!

    To me Neil's post is opening up a discussion on bike shops and their merits/downfalls.

    With regards to Bridgetown I'm sure the guys there know their stuff and do an excellent job. But perhaps there are others which are just as good?

    Bridgetown does get mentioned in nearly every other post!
  • Ah I see Jac , cos people are mega happy with Bridgetown and they want to mention it so as to potentially help others in what is, lets be honest, a minefield area, you seem to think that it's wrong!!!!

    What would you like, censorship on this board or free speech and solid, well written and articulate articles from people with 1st hand experience and 1st hand problems.

    I spose the bloke who flew in from Cyprus just to go to Bridgetown was out of his mind then ?

    One can only write positive things about positive experiences. Maybe that's something your not grasping.

    Mike has been more than generous when it comes to me and my needs and I feel it's a real shame when someone does something very very well, there is always one who wants them "dug out" for no other reason than because they can.

    Tell us all, why should they be spammed ?

    No one is saying you can't have an opinion but why don't you base that opinion on fact or perosnal experience instead of making a sweeping comment about something which frankly you know bugger all about.
  • Sorry Shadowone 1 , maby i should have started with

    "Forgive me i know i will get shot down for this "

    Of corse i intinded to open up a debate on bike shops and peoples view on them, not as you put it in a "reaks of rattles out the pram" kind of way but in a how can one shop be that good/ what are all the other shops doing rong kind of way, you know pro's & con's not attacks or insults

    fotunatly i apear to have sucseeded in opening a debate , juging by some of the coments on peoples LBS and chain shops
  • shadowone1shadowone1 Posts: 1,408
    Neil,

    I'm not denying you your opinion. This is a forum and its been a while since decent debate was opened. However I feel that its been a parting shot at Btown.

    Guys/ gals who have been in there come out with huge smiles on their faces. Mike took a good deal of time with me making sure I was happy with the bike and that he was happy with me being happy. I will be making a 8hour round trip just to go back there very soon.

    The reason they get bigged up on here is because we've not heard anyone come out with negative feedback. I feel you could've worded your thread a bit better, cause you must have been aware what your comments would've brought/bring.

    Willieverfinish knows only to well what gent mike is, as do most of the troops on this forum. Hence why I'm critical of your comments (not your debate). It was very harsh of you to judge when, by your own honesty, you've not met Mike/Stuart or anyone from Btown.
  • jacjac Posts: 452
    willieverfinish,

    Bridgetown has had some glowing reviews, of that there is little doubt. In fact most of the posters on here who have had experience of them have nothing but praise for them.

    But for balance's sake it's good to mention all the other cycle shops who also do a great job.

    It can be quite tedious to read: "Get yourself down to Bridgetown" every time a bike/fitting question arises.

    If one didn't know better you could imagine a few freebies/discounts being offered out to those who mention Bridgetown as many times as they can in a week.

    Perhaps spamming is too harsh. But maybe there needs to be a bit of balance.
  • shadowone1shadowone1 Posts: 1,408
    If one didn't know better you could imagine a few freebies/discounts being offered out to those who mention Bridgetown as many times as they can in a week.
    If the search function worked, I ask you to search.

    There are no freebies/ discounts,

    You are right it would be good to hear other stories but the attack on Btown is uncalled for.
  • jacjac Posts: 452
    Shadowone,

    It was a joke! (Although Conehead might get the odd helping hand! )
  • shadowone1shadowone1 Posts: 1,408
    jac,

    apologies.... I appear to be sensitive.

    I need a cuddle.
  • BmanBman Posts: 442
    I'd defo recommend Prologue Cycles in Sheen in SW london. They are really friendly and have helped me out a few times now and the shop is full of uber bike porn. Take a tissue to catch the drool.
  • Beeline bikes in Oxford is a family owned store which has recieved glowing reviews from almost everyone who goes in, particularly in terms of customer service. However the times I have been in for advice I haven't found the staff as attentive as I would have liked... also possibly a little condescending at times. I don't know... maybe they were just bad days or maybe I ask the wrong questions. That said still a great shop!
  • nivaghnivagh Posts: 595
    TFN in Nottingham are pretty good on service; won't sell you stuff you (probably) don't need, and friendly to boot.
  • sorry i am strugling to work out exacly where i critasised any bike shop ?
  • I'd like to add to the list Geoff Wiles cycle centre in strood for any of you that are medway or kent based. Excellent knowledge, really friendly guys who offer advice and don't have an interest in merely fllecing people. They also suppport a lot of local competitors, clubs and causes.

    If you're from this area definitley give them a shout.
  • shadowone1shadowone1 Posts: 1,408
    by Neil OBrien » 27 Aug 2009 14:11

    sorry i am strugling to work out exacly where i critasised any bike shop ?
    Its not so much the criticised but how you worded your opening thread.
    TFN in Nottingham are pretty good on service; won't sell you stuff you (probably) don't need, and friendly to boot.
    Only dealt with these guys over the phone and were top notch. Would be good to hear about shop experiences???
  • md6md6 Posts: 969
    The Cycle Doctor in canary wharf is good, very knowledgable and helpful. Plus has some great bits of bike porn just to admire. Can be a tad expensive but i guess that's the pitfalls of being a small independent shop inthe modern multinational conglomerate dominated landscape that we live in...

    only small complaint is his website has been 'under construction' for about a year...i want to browse!
  • Is there only one bike shop in the UK ?

    In reality?
    Of course not
    For me?
    Yes
    Which one i here you ask?
    Bridgtown

    The reason for my post is that after reading through *most* of the thread (i got a little bored after a while), i thought my opinion was as worthwhile as anyone else's. And as a total newbie, and i mean total 'don't know nothing about nothing when it comes to road bikes', Mike at Bridgtown took an hour to talk to me about the very basics, he must have been bored stupid, but he never looked it, he never patronised me, he never made me feel like i couldn't ask just one more question, in fact quite the opposite. And all that, after i told him that i had just got a bike of ebay, so he knew there was no bike sale in this for him. After our chat he offered to look at my bike for me on the following Saturday morning (for free). Which he did and i thanked him once again.

    Now i HATE bad customer service, i HATE large shops taking the pis* out of us consumers and therefore when i find a shop/person i believe in, i take it upon myself to tell others, because i think Mike deserves it. And because i'd like him to be even more successful than he already is.

    I'm a customer for life at Bridgtown. That doesn't give then the right to take me for granted, but it does mean that for now and whilst Mike continues to run his business as he does, he will have my custom and i will be an active ambassador for his business.

    [dismount off soapbox]

    Thank you and good night

    P.S. I do not have shares in Bridgtown!
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