Need bike.

February 7, 2007 12:16 AM

Good independant cycle shop in London please.

My girlfriend is after a mountainbike, through the cycle to work scheme.

She would like decent advice, so that rules out the likes of Evans. Mosquito don't seem to do MTBs anymore, Condor never really did. A central London location would be a bonus.

Although I know a fair bit about MTBs, I've never bought one here.

posted by Kiwi to travel & transportation (14 comments total)

I've never been badly advised in Evans but depends who you get I suppose.

I like Mend a Bike in Fulham. W F Holdsworth in Putney are excellent too and probably closer to what you're looking for.
posted by dmt at 1:08 AM on February 7, 2007

Why would she want a MTB for cycling through London on?
posted by dance at 1:47 AM on February 7, 2007

According to friends Velorution on Great Titchfield Street is good if you want advice, and it's run by cyclists. It's an approved supplier for the scheme, and has bikes that might be sufficiently MTB-like...
posted by thossum at 2:38 AM on February 7, 2007

I like Two Wheels Good - they have a great name and a location in Crouch End and in Stoke Newington.
posted by hazyjane at 2:46 AM on February 7, 2007

When I asked this (question (S1) in this thread), The Bicycle Workshop, on All Saints Road in Notting Hill, was recommended to me.
posted by louigi at 3:53 AM on February 7, 2007

There's Condor Cycles on Gray's Inn Road, Holborn.

Or there's Cycle Surgery which has branches around London. In my experience (of the Holborn branch) they're really helpful and give great advice. Avoid lunchtimes if possible, though, as they can get very busy.
posted by veedubya at 4:25 AM on February 7, 2007

I second Cycle Surgery (Camden/Chalk Farm branch). I actually travelled from Brighton to pick up a particularly bargainous Rockhopper and was very happy with the service.

(If you happen to be in Brighton Sydney Street Cycles & Rayments Cycles are top-notch. Esp. SSC as it's owned by Coventry City fans & I get a discount for being born in the same hospital as them ;-)
posted by i_cola at 4:37 AM on February 7, 2007

I've never used Brixton Cycles, but have heard their name come up a lot in discussions of good LBSs in London.
posted by Busy Old Fool at 5:30 AM on February 7, 2007

Two things:
1. from your link (point no. 2), it says this:

(this must be from an approved supplier, but don’t worry – most schemes now include shops like Condor as well as the wide range covered by chain bike shops).

so be sure that whichever shop you end up with is indeed approved.

2. MTBs are no good in the city! Really, it's such a mistake to try to use one. I'd really recommend a straight road bike, or at very least a cruiser/"city bike". There are a bunch of MeFi threads that address this. She'll be a lot happier.
posted by The Michael The at 5:53 AM on February 7, 2007

Cheers guys, lots of good little shops there.

BTW, thanks for your concern, but the bike will also be used for jaunts to Coed-y-brennin etc, where city bikes won't really cut it.

I have ridden a MTB w/ slicks for all of my time here, and make full use of my disk brakes almost daily. (Due to tourists stepping onto the road, mainly.) The extra manoverability is also nice around the pothole and traffic infested streets of Holborn.
posted by Kiwi at 6:32 AM on February 7, 2007

Sorry to disagree Busy Old Fool, I have used Brixton Cycles and never will again.
Second The Michael The. A well built tourer will see you better in London...if you can avoid getting it nicked.
posted by Dr.Pill at 7:17 AM on February 7, 2007

I agree, a good tourer is ideal for London. Less sexy in the eyes of theiving oiks, more comfortable if it fits right, easier to fit fenders (you really want them in London), and easier to hang bags on for grocery shopping and the like.
posted by normy at 8:02 AM on February 7, 2007

Second vote for Mend-a-bike here. Helpful people, with good advice on offer.
posted by Luddite at 10:15 AM on February 7, 2007

Thirding Cycle Surgery. The people at the Camden/Chalk Farm branch were really friendly, knowledgeable and not pushy.
posted by quiet at 7:32 AM on March 6, 2007