Comments on: Need bike.

Question: Need bike.

Kiwi — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 00:16:35 -0800

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.

By: dmt

dmt — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 01:08:31 -0800

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.

By: dance

dance — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 01:47:35 -0800

Why would she want a MTB for cycling through London on?

By: thossum

thossum — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 02:38:46 -0800

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...

By: hazyjane

hazyjane — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 02:46:43 -0800

I like Two Wheels Good - they have a great name and a location in Crouch End and in Stoke Newington.

By: louigi

louigi — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 03:53:33 -0800

When I asked this (question (S1) in this thread), The Bicycle Workshop, on All Saints Road in Notting Hill, was recommended to me.

By: veedubya

veedubya — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 04:25:44 -0800

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.

By: i_cola

i_cola — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 04:37:04 -0800

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 ;-)

By: Busy Old Fool

Busy Old Fool — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 05:30:10 -0800

I've never used Brixton Cycles, but have heard their name come up a lot in discussions of good LBSs in London.

By: The Michael The

The Michael The — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 05:53:27 -0800

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

(this must be from an approved supplier, but dont 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.

By: Kiwi

Kiwi — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 06:32:09 -0800

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.

By: Dr.Pill

Dr.Pill — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 07:17:37 -0800

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.

By: normy

normy — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 08:02:59 -0800

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.

By: Luddite

Luddite — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 10:15:54 -0800

Second vote for Mend-a-bike here. Helpful people, with good advice on offer.

By: quiet

quiet — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 07:32:32 -0800

Thirding Cycle Surgery. The people at the Camden/Chalk Farm branch were really friendly, knowledgeable and not pushy.