Bike Shops that have no idea about bikes :(

Went into Halfrauds (when you hear that, you know you're about to hear a story about stupidity of ridiculous proportions) looking for a lockring spanner (closest "real" bikeshop is about 6 miles away) and the guy had no idea what I was talking about, which was fair enough I guess, but as I turned to walk out he said "but we have some spanners downstairs".

Had a problem with my 16t cog, and had no tools on me: stopped at Recycle in Elephant and Castle for some quick help - fine they took it off for free but used an electric metal saw, and damaged my rim at the same time, all in 15 mins. Waste of time and unecessary damage.
Rubbish exploiting store.

Oh dear, oh dear.

Just some shops Poole/Bournemouth.

Time to get out of Poole / Bournemouth...

Yeah I know the place, I used to live up by the cow pub on the other side of the green. I got some snowboard boots from there once. Not really a dedicated bike place. Haven't been in there for a few years though.

Yeah I know the place, I used to live up by the cow pub on the other side of the green. I got some snowboard boots from there once. Not really a dedicated bike place. Haven't been in there for a few years though.

I haven't been in there for years. They always sold snowboards etc. in the winter.

Time to get out of Poole / Bournemouth...

Once I finish my degree I can escape to wherever, stuck for the time being.

Once I finish my degree I can escape to wherever, stuck for the time being.

I studied at the AIB; know the feeling...

the guy looks at me like I just asked him to solve Riemann Hypothesis.

If you asked him to solve a hypothesis, I'm not surprised he gave you a funny look.

^

"Like" is the operative word in that sentence ;-)

I think I know the Cervelo shop. Most of the staff know what they are on about and if managing directors want to spend 3k on a bike then why not take their money. They do sponsor young riders and if the MD's £s help pay for that then hey.

evans is the best

evans is the best

Yeah! they let you get away with so much there...

I knew it was you Mick :)

How are ya?

I think I know the Cervelo shop. Most of the staff know what they are on about and if managing directors want to spend 3k on a bike then why not take their money. They do sponsor young riders and if the MD's £s help pay for that then hey.

You got a point. To be fair, most of staff do know what they are going on about.
I bought an Allez off of them in 2004 (which got nicked, loved that bike) and another last year. And they don't sell crap their either, which is good.

The Hub somewhere near boscombe is pretty good. Their prices were quite reasonable.

Anyway I am coming off like a right moany arsehole aren't I?

If the hub is the one on Holdenhurst Road by the fire station then it closed down in Jan.

Forest Leisure Cycles on Christchurch Road down Pokesdown hill is a good shop and at least one of the staff rides a fixed plug. They were talking about going to Calshot last time I was in there.

If the hub is the one on Holdenhurst Road by the fire station then it closed down in Jan.

:(

Pity, they were pretty decent.

I went into Waitrose with my Powertap freehub making a grinding noise. The circlip had failed causing the ratcheting pawls to fail to engage correctly.

The nice security man escorted me out of the building.

Went into my LBS recently and asked the young assistant who won the F.A. cup final in 1926? He had no idea!

Useless cunt!

you know when your in a crap bikeshop,when they say YOU CANT BRING YOUR BIKE IN HERE

you know when your in a crap bikeshop,when they say YOU CANT BRING YOUR BIKE IN HERE

to be fair, if it was a busy time, then that's perfectly reasonable.

I remember this one time when I bought a chainring off a mate and he was adamant that I needed a 3/32 chain for it, then when I come to fitting the new chain it turns out I need a 1/8 chain. Now what was his name again? Began with an L if I remember correctly...

:p

I remember this one time when I bought a chainring off a mate and he was adamant that I needed a 3/32 chain for it, then when I come to fitting the new chain it turns out I need a 1/8 chain. Now what was his name again? Began with an L if I remember correctly...

:p

LMAO, you bastard

That is known as a mistake.

gotta love my local hamworthy shop lucas, like the 18th century in there, nuthin for us fossickers out for long lost parts but way before h/s or any of that- owner leant me hacksaw and gave me start fangled nut the other day -but then I did buy an ITM stem off him. anyway nostalgia aint what it used to be.

Recently changed the crankset of my cross bike to a single ring affair removing the deraillier, big ring and shifter etc. replacing it with standard brake lever and bashgaurd and was after a Deda Dog's Fang or something similar for the inside - the shop I went into tried convincing me that I needed a Downhill Bashguard/chain keep device. When I (re)stated it was a cross bike they looked blank and replied "oh, we have carbon ones".

gotta love my local hamworthy shop lucas, like the 18th century in there, nuthin for us fossickers out for long lost parts but way before h/s or any of that- owner leant me hacksaw and gave me start fangled nut the other day -but then I did buy an ITM stem off him. anyway nostalgia aint what it used to be.

Was that Bj's cycles, bought a few parts in there...he knows his stuff.

the very same, his 20 odd year old lease is coming up soon, cool how guys like that get by without flash workshops tho', can true a wheel in a few spins just from aeons practice.
could be a good rough and ready place for a new venture, 'hamworthy fixed' anybody? the antidote to Poolemouths bling bling/bmx retail emporiums..