Recommended Evans Cycles stores (mechanics) in Central or South-West London?

So it's time to replace the old steed, Cycle to work scheme + decent discount = I'm shopping at Evans Cycles.

Can anyone recommend a particular Evans store with a good mechanic who will care when they assemble the bike? Central or South-West London (SW18) if possible.

Cheers!

(Braces for flames)

AFAIK a lot of their maintenance is done at one central point so it is hard to ensure who is going to look at your bike.

Bike builds are all done in their respective stores though. Despite the shit they get, there are some very knowledgeable/decent people who work there.
Go to a smaller store, Less volume means people will take time to build it.

There's a small one on Rathbone Place, near Tottenham Court Road. I can't comment on their wrenches, but I think one of them has a beard... Which is nice.

Thanks for confirming Chak, I was under the impression bike builds were done in store after asking about test rides. They said for a particular size, a bike would have to be shipped to the store and built...

+1 for beard. Does anyone know of other stores with mechs who have facial hair?

Checking Google, the Rathbone Place shop has a higher average review over most other Evans. Still 3.5 stars out of 5, but will check them out.

Thanks for the feedback Tree_Trunks.

Pretty much spot on. Summers gone, so the days of 10+ builds a day are gone. If you ask any mechanic to build it for you personally, don't see why they'd refuse.

Have been instore a few times and overheard issues with new bikes and the free first service seems to be used as a safety net by staff to just not bother adjusting gears and stuff. Not noticed any halfords style backwards forks.

For lots of shops(not just evans) bike building is more just taking the bike out of a box and adjusting 2 or 3 parts, the bike will likely come similar to this into the store and they do as in the video, problems if any will be bikes that arrive with gears not indexed properly get passed to someone who isn't good at adjusting gears, also that 1 guy who likes to do every bolt really tight(too tight).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3UIIz8cVms

I would look into it more, when I considered the cyclesheme offered at work and was looking at a charge plug it seemed the saving just filled the price gap between evans and wiggle.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/charge-plug-1-2014/
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/charge/plug-1-2014-singlespeed-road-bike-ec053632

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/charge-plug-2-2014/
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/charge/plug-2-2014-singlespeed-road-bike-ec053633

Dunno what you are looking to get but shop around if you can.

Cheers Clockwise, I would have totally gone with Wiggle a while back but after enquiring, my company only goes with cyclesheme. I even tried to get them to sign up with Wiggle's scheme, but no luck.

refer to the timeline on here

http://www.evanscycles.com/help/about-evans-cycles

2009 they opened their Central Workshop, located at
Almond Building
Tower Bridge Business Complex
Clements Road Bermondsey
London
SE16 4DG

Chak pointed out that bike builds are done in store, but many of their shops take a bike in, send it to the central workshop and return it to the shop for customer collection.

DJ is right. All gold and silver services are sent to the London Central Workshop in Bermondsey (LCW) for the work to be done, with very few exceptions. Bronze services and bike builds are done on site. Try speaking to Tom at the St Paul's store. He's head mechanic there and is indeed very knowledgeable. I've worked with him the last two summers and not really got a bad word to say about him. He's got a beard too if that helps.

Oh, but some bikes are sent to the shops prebuilt. Those that are soiled obviously, or those that are sent from another store.

And where did you find this golden nugget of bullshit James?

I think you need to get your facts straight.

I highly rate the Wandsworth branch. I been a customer of theme for over two years and never been let down. There is a old gent with glasses and a lad called jack who are very knowledgeable and always give Good customer service

Have you thought about Action Bikes? They do cyclescheme and my experience has been good.

Not that I have an issue with Evans, although you should avoid the Brentford and Chiswick branches.

Have you thought about Pearsons in Sutton ? They do cyclescheme and my experience has been good.

Not that I have an issue with Evans, although you should avoid the overhanging branches.

There is a Pearson in Sheen too (notice the OP said 'central or SW London'). Bicycle in Richmond is quite good.

Evans is not the only place that runs with the cyclescheme, you know.

Planet X also do cyclescheme, great spec for the £1000 cap.

I can vouch for the St Pauls Evans Store. Tom is a top guy, knows his stuff and even owns a badass Dave Marsh lo-pro!

Thank all for the alternative suggestions, Evans has a particular deal on a 2014 bike, which is the primary reason of interest in them, otherwise my only custom from them is usually to buy a inner-tube, for which they never seem to have Coni in stock, only the Specialized nonsense...

@nathwilson22 - I understand Planet X charge a separate 100 quid fee for cyclescheme, not really a bit deal as you do still get a great deal, but worth knowing.

That you, Rich?

Yes! George?

Well, the Evans store in Fulham Broadway is pretty good actually, if that's south-west enough.