Recently in an email to London Cyclist: What is the best bike shop in London?
Depends on your flavour..
A bike shop that can build you a custom bike depending on your requirements:
Cloud 9 Cycles and Foffa Bikes
A bike shop that will show you all the latest dutch style gear:
Velorution or Bobbin Bicycles
A bike shop for chilling and having a coffee:
Look Mum No Hands (more of a bike themed cafe)
A good, friendly bike shop where you can also go to clean your bike:
MiCycle in Islington
A central bike shop with tons of variety:
Evans Cycles on Mortimer Street or On Your Bike London Bridge
A fixed gear bike shop:
Brick Lane Bikes or 14 Bike Co
A bike shop with good repair prices:
London Bicycle Workshop
A bike shop for electric bikes:
The Electric Transport Shop
All of these shops are of course listed in the London Bike Shop app.
I have a question, maybe someone can help: my father in law has an old hand-built bike — a “Gillot” from Southampton Way in Peckham. The frame builder closed down years ago.
He’s thinking about getting a refurb, where would be good for that? Ideally somewhere in South London.
Some of the components are non-standard these days.
Cheers
Hi Gabe,
You could try “the cycle team” in Brockley, it’s not a shop, just a workshop/service centre.
http://www.thecycleteam.com/private_cust.html
Steve
Don’t! they are the rudest people who ever served the public.
( I say served loosely)
It’s more like serving with a snarl and snatching your money.
Especially the beardy one, Yuck! what a horrid little man.
They adjusted my partners breaks so tight they came off twice.
I would trust AW Cycles of Abbey Parade, High Street, Merton. It’s a very traditional shop with very experienced staff who wear overalls (very reassuring). I guess it depends on exactly what you want as a ‘refurb’ though. Do you want everything taken apart and the frame re-sprayed? If that’s the case then maybe AW Cycles aren’t the people. If it’s restoration you want then someone like Maggetts: http://www.madgettscycles.co.uk/restorations.htm or a similar business. I know they’re in Norfolk but that’s an example. Sorry, I don’t know of a restoration shop in London.
Also, for vintage bike restoration, http://www.harwoodcycles.com near Milton Keynes, Bucks. See also the Veteran Cylce Club pages http://www.v-cc.org.uk/links.htm for restoration services.
Thanks! Some of these sound very interesting. Must check them out.
In my limited experience, I’ve always been impressed by Cycle Surgery, in particular the one in camden. They sell good quality equipement and bikes, but its their staff I find most impressive. They are very friendly and approachable and when i go in with a problem, within seconds theres 3 or 4 guys are around my bike. They all seem quite knowledgeble and keen to fix my problem even if the solution results in no sale for them. I’m guessing they don’t work on commision.
This is a world away from my experience with Evans (where the staff seemed either clueless or arrogant) or my local bike shop were its all about a quick fix for a quick buck.
You can add a bike shop that specialises in recumbents and folders: http://www.bikefix.co.uk – where I bought my much admired Airnimal Joey.
I have also used, and can recommend, Velorution – they also know about Airnimal bikes and offer excellent friendly service.
like these guys too – repaired my Dahon, which never seemed to work right from day one (Evans said it was OK) – it feels and goes much much better now!
Good tip – thanks Meadowend – I’ll keep them in mind
I like Brixton cycles. http://www.brixtoncycles.co.uk/
Jam-packed with cool stuff, and more importantly, friendly and knowledgeable.
Evans have always seemed a bit cold-shouldery to me. Their shops have loads of variety, but I’ve found that the dudes ignore me unless I make a big show of needing help.
The workshop staff at Look Mum No Hands are excellent.
It’s fair to say that it’s mostly a cafe and bar, rather than a bike shop, but their servicing is top notch. They’ve sorted out some fairly complex or unusual bike problems for me and my work colleagues.
I *love* the guys in the London Bicycle Workshop – they’re really friendly and do a great job, without ripping you off. And I also love the fact they’re always listening to death metal in the shop 🙂
I agree, the fellas at the London Bicycle Workshop are really helpful and are not at all patronising as some bike shop staff are, even if all you need is help with a puncture.
I’ve had some different experiences at Evans to the above comments – there’s always someone at Evans to help me and they always know what they’re talking about. The West End, Wimbledon, Waterloo and London Bridge branches have really nice staff.
On Your Bike in London Bridge is nice too.
Yes, I have to agree with Uzair, I have only had good experience in Evans, across various branches in London… the other thing with there being lots of them across zone 1 (and probably further afield), if I need something in a hurry, I know where they are, I don’t have to faff around with maps and internet on my phone looking for a shop.
There is a small independent near my office, went once because despire using Evans, I do know it is important to support local and small businesses, etc etc etc, but the owner/manager was decidedly frosty!
London is no doubt filled with Cycle shops if you know where to look . Here in the Tyrol i seem to trip over Bike shops in each little village , all with modern premises offering a wide range of “upmarket bikes” as well as service . How all make a living i can only speculate ?
Where ever i go i remember experiences in London with Evans and think how lucky i am to have escaped and how unfortunate they tend to buy up their friendly opposition .
Brixton bikes mentioned by “ashley” are a breathe of fresh air also .
What about Condor peeps?
http://www.londonbicycle.com/ – the London Bicycle Repair Company has a little shop off the Cut and the staff are great. Their full service is a very reasonable price and they made my lovely road bike look like new. They do little extras for no cost, and obviously love bikes. Try them out – cheaper than Evans and it feels good to be supporting a company that is not one of the giants.
I also think Condors is great – beautiful bikes, good service and nice staff.
Yes, that a good shop for repairs and service. Tucked away off The Cut so you need to seek it out. Wesley did a great job on my commuter bike a while back. They’ve done the odd little extra for no cost for me too. Keeps me coming back.
Also, thanks Steve and JonF for the tips above. I will investigate.
I’ve had dealings with these guys and always found them excellent
the guys at Evans Waterloo have always been very helpful, I used to like Two Wheels Good in Stoke Newington the combination of the bloke who runs it seeming to want to get you out of the shop as soon as possible and a very poor service (which at the time I didn’t realise) made it fall from favour for me.
it’s not in London but might be on a few people’s Sunday ride route, the guys at Cycleworks in Haslemere are excellent, genuine cycle enthusiasts, friendly and incredibly helpful. The only downside I can think of is that they are far too young. Gits. 🙂
I’ve also had great service at Putney Cycles, Houldsworth and Stratton Cycles (all in and around Putney/Wandsworth).
Finally Evans in Canary Wharf seem to keep their staff and they are generally willing and friendly if occasionally a bit lacking in knowledge.
Have had great experiences at Holloway Cycles and Brixton Cycles. Highly recommended for good service and reasonable prices. Have used both lots thanks to interested and helpful staff. And not an Evans! Independent shops that have, in my experience, have been a lot kinder to my wheels and purse.
Though not all independents are great – avoid Edwardes on Camberwell Road at all costs. Rude, ill-informed staff and badly-stocked shop!
what about Brixton cycles?!?! They are amazing and a coop too!