Shops that discriminate against cyclists

London Fields Cycles has a sign on their door asking people to leave their bikes outside the shop. Bloody stupid, specially as they are a new shop and should have allowed for some bike stands inside the store - like some of the newer cycle surgeries - in their design.

(LF Cycles have been around for ages (they used to be across and slightly down the road) and I think among Hackney bike shops only Daycocks and Barclays are older.)

The shop unit where they now are was undoubtedly not purpose-built for a bike shop. I have to say that I can understand their reasons for the sign. They do get a lot of people trying to come in with bikes, which can really clog up the entrance area.

LFC normally have a huge waiting list for repairs and servicing and it's much less awkward to do a quick assessment of a bike outside without being in the way of other customers coming in. Most people end up having to book in, anyway, as far as I know. There is an early morning drop-in service, too. I think they can take ten jobs in a day.

(I think it is partly in response to this huge demand for repair services that some new repair-only outfits have sprung up, full info here: http://www.hackney-cyclists.org.uk/info.htm#bikeshops.)