Whats the best London bike shops?

That isn't a Brompton, Tynan! I've only ever ridden a Brompton - no other folding bike (thankfully).

Ok, so small wheels may be more efficient - but I'm talking about the whole Brompton. You've just got to ride on to see what I mean...

I always use Cavendish. Good bunch in there although you have to chase them some times to get things done! prices are ok and they give good advice to a newby!

.

I love what you have done with this - looks so much fun, i would love to see some hipsters face when you nail him up the inside on that!

I love what you have done with this - looks so much fun, i would love to see some hipsters face when you nail him up the inside on that!

Not mine ! But yeah it does look fun !! :) love the big Dura Ace ring.

any good bike shop in north london?? (north west)

nah nothing good north.

Aww, don't knock Bromptons they aren't that bad. If you commute say from outer London, get the overground then ride either end they're great, or have a small flat etc.

get a real bike ride it and HTFU

Tests have shown that up to 16 mp/h, the small wheel is more efficient than a big wheel. Between 16 and 33 mp/h there is little difference. Over 33 mp/h the gyroscopic effect of the big wheel makes it more effective. Most folks do not go over 33 mp/h.

Source: 1984 Olympic Men's Road Race Gold Medal winner, Alexi Grewal during a conversation with Jeff Linder.
[Alexi owns a Pocket Rocket (a higher end folder)]

Note: 33 mp/h is more than 53 Kilometers per Hour! Even 7 time Tour De France winner Lance

Armstrong (arguably the world's fastest and best cyclist at the time of his last Tour Victory) averaged just shy of
42 Kilometers per Hour in his last tour despite (because?) of large wheels  and skinny tire
The world cycling hour record is about 56 Kilometers per Hour and there are 
probably about a dozen guys in the world that can even get close to this.

Remember that large wheels originated from a time where there were no such
thing as gears - witness the direct drive Penny Farthing bike. Now, the size of the
wheel can be optimized - and that optimal size is a lot smaller than 26" or more.

1. we dont have gears on our fixed or single speeds
   
2. heresy you will burn for this
   
3. all of that information is debatable, and there is a reason why people who make a lot of money to go fast ride tall skinny tires on the road.
   

get a real bike ride it and HTFU

I do have a real bike ;) I sold the Brompton for a tidy £100 profit anyway :)

not aimed at you but your fictional brompton commuter.

1. we dont have gears on our fixed or single speeds.
   
   

Non sequitur.

The point being addressed was that Bromptons don't go fast, which may be true as they are not nimble nor light, but I was saying that small wheeled bikes are not necessarily slow.

1 your theory would not be aplicible to the discussion, and therefor useless.

2 it is not necessarily faster, or as fast as a real bike over long distances.

1 your theory would not be aplicible to the discussion, and therefor useless.

It is not my theory - it is relevant to the point I was making to eeehhhh about small wheeled bicycles.

Could the OP/moderator do me a favour and change the thread title to 'What are the best London bike shops?'

Plurality over and above omission of possessive apostrophe. Sigh.

Racing bike have skinny tyre due to wind resistance and weight, not rolling resistance.

smaller wheels do accelerate faster over a small distance, it's true.

we know this from science.

anyone who's been around BMX and MTB will tell you.

I don't know about the 33mph thing though, sounds like bollocks to me, once you get on the open road over about 20mph 700c pisses on 26" or smaller.

was just in Apex today, they were great. not much stock that would interest people here but nice shop floor staff and workshop staff. Let me use their vernier calipers, not many lbs' let you use the more expensive kit.

Tests have shown that up to 16 mp/h, the small wheel is more efficient than a big wheel. Between 16 and 33 mp/h there is little difference. Over 33 mp/h the gyroscopic effect of the big wheel makes it more effective. Most folks do not go over 33 mp/h.

small wheeled road bikes is a huge scene in Japan.

Look how many bikes are available from bianch alone:

At the bottom of the page: http://www.cycle-yoshida.com/c_europe/bianchi_menu.htm

that's amazing.

Jap's still riding the future..

Haven't had any dealings with fixed bike shops in london, get most of my stuff off the net. For good all round service though and generally friendly and helpful advice I always go to Simpsons Cycles in Kentish Town, real nice guys, a good old LBS.

The best bike shop in London is definitely NOT Evans Cycles. I quite like my new local bike shop in Finchley, Shorter Rochford.

Evans, wouldnt bother with them for anything more than an inner tube. They just want the every day commuter or parents buying bikes for their kids. Not saying they are unfreindly just not much use to me.

If you have plenty of dosh, Cyclefit in Covcent Garden is quite superb. It is also, probably the most expensive cycle shop in London. You get the service that you pay for.

www.cyclefit.co.uk

Their cycle fitting service (around £150 to £200) is a worthwhile investment.

And Bike and Run in East Finchley is worthy of a mention

I love what you have done with this - looks so much fun, i would love to see some hipsters face when you nail him up the inside on that!

NO WAY!!!! today i had a go on a snazzy gold finished brompton and thought to myself "hmm, maybe i could get this and make it fixed and then have some fun fold up fixed bike times to myself....hmmm, i wonder.." then i see this.. its not real?? right??

NO WAY!!!! today i had a go on a snazzy gold finished brompton and thought to myself "hmm, maybe i could get this and make it fixed and then have some fun fold up fixed bike times to myself....hmmm, i wonder.." then i see this.. its not real?? right??

Check this one out . . .HHSFB

http://www.fixedgeargallery.com/2007/july/2/HuwGwilliam.htm