[box type=”info”]Note: We have a new free version of this app that is available from here.[/box]
Find your perfect London Bike Shop in just one quick tap!
“I was doing my 14 mile commute home the other day and this app really came into its own when a spoke broke on my front wheel. I quickly looked up the nearest bike shop. Found a good one that was open with a 5 star rating and on my route home. Gave them a quick ring with the number in the app and they said they can take a look at it right away. Problem solved in about 15 minutes and a great shop I plan to use in future”
Ben Pearson, 29 (Feedback from an early beta tester)
London Bike shop will help you..
- Find your nearest bike shop and check if it’s open – 200+ London bike shops listed
- Sip on a hot coffee, grab a slice of cake and let someone else repair your bike – we’ve got London’s cycle cafe’s listed
- Let the bike repair come to you – London’s mobile bike repair men and women are listed
- Find a great new bike shops that can understand your needs and give you a personal service
How to find the perfect London bike shop..
- Download a copy of the London Bike Shop App for your iPhone
- Open up the app and you’ll see a list of bike shops based on your current location
- Tap one to see when it’s open and what their number is
- Choose the show on a map to locate them
Otherwise you can also look at the map of London to see the nearest bike shops or find a bike shop that is near your workplace.
The app costs just £1.19
With your help it can be better..
Opening times change, new bike shops open. The app will rely on London’s cyclists to help out by reporting any errors they spot so we can get them corrected. We’re busy adding pictures for all the bike shops too so if your a bike shop owner then please send us a pic!
What do you think..
I think this is a great app that London’s cyclists will find really useful. But I’m more interested to find out what you guys think. So download the app, have a play around with it and let me know your thoughts.
Looks like Apple is being a little slow to display the app but the link below definitely works:
http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/london-bike-shop/id392012701?mt=8
There is an app that already does this and it’s free. Bike Hub. Works great and has saved me many times on my commute. You can’t really charge.
Bike Hub’s a good app and I use it myself (Though I’ve found Cycle Streets easier to use). But it’s not the same thing. It doesn’t tell you opening times, phone number, picture of the store and so forth. It also doesn’t include cycle cafes and mobile bike repair services.
It looks like a lot of work has been put into this app so it’s only fair Andreas should charge for it.
Bike Hub app has location data for all UK bike shops, as supplied by the Association of Cycle Traders, but doesn’t have opening times and tels (although there’s a link on the app for getting this info).
Bike Hub app also doesn’t have mobile repair outfits, or pretty pix of the shops. All of this was extra legwork done by Andreas.
He has to charge; but we don’t have to. The Bike Hub app is a journey planner and bike shop finder and more, and will always be free because it’s paid for out of the Bike Hub levy. It cost a lot of money to make and will cost a lot of money to keep updating it.
The next update to the Bike Hub app is a true satnav, turn by turn directions and lots of other little enhancements.
I could easily add the features Andreas has on his app but I’d rather he was able to make some money out of all his hard work, so won’t be taking all his USPs.
However, the app WILL have cycling cafes. And for all the UK. See this story:
http://www.bikehub.co.uk/news/health-and-fitness/put-your-fave-cycling-caffs-on-the-map/
Android version?
Same Q to Blackberry etc.. see how the iPhone version goes. Unfortunately from what I’ve seen Android users don’t download so many apps. Plus I’ve found the Android store tough to use but we’ll certainly consider it if we get enough requests.
used to be true but not since 2.1, more likely that android users don’t spend as much on apps
Well I’m keen to do an Android app too if I can cover the developers time
Just downloaded mine.
Very useful as my commute is about to triple in length.
Sorry buddy your comment was marked as spam before. Restored it now!
Downloaded the London Bike Shop app this morning and have already used it on my way to work! Was taking a different route to my usual commute so I had no idea about the nearest bike repair shop. This app saved me so much hassle!
59p is a bargain. Even at full price, it’s definitely worth a download if you’re cyclist in London.
Thanks Andreas!
Thanks Hammad 🙂
It’s a great idea. Look forward to getting the Blackberry version.
Any blackberry developers out there.. give me an email!
OK Andreas, that’s another 59p in the bank!
Now where’s my nearest bike cafe 🙂
🙂 Steve Jobs thanks you for his 17p that he keeps! Head to the settings screen and tick just bike cafe’s!
Android version please – looks like a great app.
All in good time Giles!
I too would like an Android version! Would be interested in getting involved in the coding side if you need developers? I’m a coder, but haven’t yet made an Android app. Sure I could learn pretty fast though
Have just downloaded it and keeps crashing. It won’t get past the loading icon. Turned my phone off and back on and is still doing it. Checked whether my OS was compatible and it is (3.1.3). Any ideas Andreas?
Which iPhone have you got the iPhone GS?
Sorry – should have mentioned that – it is only the 3G…
Definitely seem to be having some issues with the older iPhones. I’ve told the developer and he’s looking into it. Out of interest what software version do you have..
Go to settings > general > about and somewhere it should have a software version number.
It is 3.1.3 (7E18). Might be a reason to update my phone…
Yep seems like that’s the version with the issues. Next update should fix them.
Update: The app now works on 3.1.3 without any issues 🙂
Don’t to it! OS 4 cripples the 3G!
I agree with that. I’ve had lots of issues with OS 4 killing the battery life!
We’ve spotted the problem with the crashes on 3.1.3 iPhone. Update will be submitted to Apple tomorrow and should be with everyone within a week.
Just downloaded the app – it looks great – really looking forward to using it. I’m not sure quite how far out you want to go, but there’s a Halfords with a bike section in the Tottenham Hale Retail park (I live near and it’s ok for basic needs) which you may want to add. Keep up the good work! 🙂
Thank you for the suggestion I’ll add this shop!
Purchased this app and am having same problems as Jamie, just keeps crashing, closes as soon as i open it. have i phone 3gs.
Update: This is now fixed 🙂
Hey Liz – we’ve posted up an update to Apple today and should be with you within 7 days. Big apologies!
Andreas
I have only ever bought two Apps (i always look for the free version) and this is one of them. I commute into town everyday and don’t like to carry huge amounts of ‘equipment’ but I have on occassion had a puncture and had to walk some way to shop I know of. So I think this app is a great idea. Well done. However I do have a couple of comments.
There are a number of the chain stores’ branches missing. I work near Spitalfields and the app doesn’t show the Cycle Surgery or Evans at Spitalfields but does show their stores half a mile away, which is a little inconsistent.
I like the app, but maybe a little more consistency is needed so I can feel I can fully trust it the next time I ‘break down’! Also (on a petty note), some of the chain stoes show the logo next to the entry and others don’t.
Despite the above, great app.
GL much appreciated for the feedback! We’ve submitted an update to Apple today that should fix these problems. Pending Apple approval should be with you within 5-7 days.
Android version please!
I could really have done with this this morning, as I had the classic puncture-but-no-pump scenario!
We’ll bring London Bike Shop to the Android at some stage! As long as we keep doing well on the iPhone version.
android app please, would be great, can anyone else suggest an another android app for now though that does thing kind of thing?
Kevin will see if I can get a developer interested in an Android version.
For now I don’t think there’s an app with similar functionality.
Don’t have an iphone (another android request) but I do maintain a list of bike shops in and around Richmond on a google map here – http://bit.ly/ajTr5I which may be of use.
Thanks for the link Jonathan, I’ll cross check it with the app and see if there’s any we need to add.
How to add new shops? I’ve looked for the two shops I use most often (Evans in Canary Wharf, near work) and Pearsons in Sutton (near-ish home) and neither are on there …
It’s only useful if it’s trusted and I don’t trust it based on my first five minutes of use.
I don’t begrudge the £1.19 if it’s going to be updated easily and frequently, but there’s no space for the community to update the data on the app at the moment …
How about a button “I’m standing outside a bike shop, here’s a photo!”
Update: These shops were already in there but appearing in the wrong place. All should be good now!
Would like this, but need a Symbian version for Nokia… 🙁
No plans currently for a Symbian version. Though if there’s a developer out there interested then they should drop me an email and we can work on it!
Nice app, well done. Two additions for you: Evans in Crouch End, and The Bicycle Maintenance Company in Muswell Hill (www.bicyclemaintenancecompany.co.uk)
Thanks Tom, making a note to add them in!
Update to app has solved the crashing problem. Great well done.
Thanks Liz – pleased to hear it! Next update should have some new shops courtesy of what you guys have been mentioning and I bit more research I’ve put in
A load new London bike shops will be added to the next version. Including: Cloud 9 Cycles, Volt BMX, Foffa Bikes, Tokyo Fixed Gear, Holloway Cycles, Sargent and Co, 56a Bikeroom and the Shoreditch Bike Company. We’ll also be listing all of London’s bike rental places!
Hi, i purchased your app but couldnt see my shop on there. Please check out our website and add us, would be great. Many thanks, Richard
Hi Richard adding your London bike shop now and should be there within 1-2 weeks max
Hi!
could you add my bicycle shop to your app please?
My shop is Balfe’s Bikes ltd
http://www.balfesbikes.co.uk
020 7820 0028
338 Kennington Road
London SE11 4LD
Mon -Fri 8am – 6pm
Saturday 10am – 5pm
Sunday closed
Kind regards, Richard
Hi Richard, absolutely. I’ll add that now.
Hello,
could you please add our bicycle shop on your list?
The details are following:
VELODRO Bicycle Shop
97 Tower Bridge Road
London
SE1 4TW
Phone: 02074074287
http://www.velodro.com
Opening hours:
Mon to Fri 10am to 7pm
Sat 10am to 5pm
Sun closed
Thanks!
Absolutely – I’ll add it in shortly.
Sorry, could you please amend the time – we are now open Mon-Fri from 8am to 7pm (not from 10am), Sat 10am to 5pm, Sun closed.
Thank you very very much!
Done!
My impression on the iPhone app issue is that people code apps for Apple because of the large user base and people buy apple devices because of the apps available.
I have never bought any apple product since I had an ipod. I hated the way iTunes cannibalised my music wiped my music when I plugged it into another computer to charge it and everything had to come from the iTunes website
I can get Android apps that are not available for iPhone users buy or download from the Play Store or any website synch my android devices without any hassle At the moment Android may lag Apple specific apps but I believe that being able to buy any phone or tablet and run apps available anywhere will win in the end
I could have done with this app last night when my left crank arm slipped on the crank last night and I needed someone to fix it ASAP.
When will you be releasing an Android version?
Still amazes me that people restrict app to only iPhone when there are so many more androids out there.
Why develop twice? Develop it once and ship it to both devices at the same time.