Whats the best London bike shops?

...Edwardes of Camberwell (very helpful, family run, been around since about 1426).

who wouldve thought this bicycle thing would take off

that's amazing forward thinking

not me

Velorution here.
If anyone on the list has been as disappointed with us, as much as Windy81, drop me a line (andrea@velorution.biz).
We are not strong in track bikes, but bad service is inexcusable.
Andrea

^ thats nice.

It's also impressive that edwardes set up their bike shop before bicycles were even invented. Definitely forward thinking. The first few centuries must've been a bit slow! :)

never had any problems at Brixton Cycles - it is a fantastic bike shop.

I've actually never heard anyone complain about cavendish or brixton cycles. That really says something I think!

Velorution here.
If anyone on the list has been as disappointed with us, as much as Windy81, drop me a line (andrea@velorution.biz).
We are not strong in track bikes, but bad service is inexcusable.
Andrea

i owe you 50p

never had a bad experience at you shop, had a lot of good.

also evens waterloo gave me a free tube, and a free spoke when i punctured in the rain on the ride from hell, seems to be the exception to the evens is shit rule

i got some rapha arm warmers at velorution for 5 english pounds, which is about 90 english pounds less than the RRP. for that reason alone i like the shop.

London Field Cycles

is there only one field nowdays? did they build yuppie flats on the rest?

Not all evans are bad the ginger manager who was at Holburn and then I have also see in Grays inn road Evans was alway friendly and helped me out pointed me in the direction of condor when my stem snapped.

Velorution are fantastic - I spent many long hours in there with my girlfriend choosing colours and components for her Brompton and going for test rides. They were very friendly, helpful, knowledgeable and relaxed.

Nowt wrong with Holloway Cycles. A nice buch of helpful blokes in there. All good for me.

Now I must say I was searching around on line and went to brick lane bike for a fuji track 2008. I wanted the best value fixie without the powder coated glamour. they quoted me 400 of me beans for it. Checked a few online places who could do it for cheaper, then stumbled across Edwards in Camberwell. Gave them a price to match from holocross, which were offering the bike for 315. they threw in a caliper for 325. I bought a helmet (20), ABUS lock (65) and a wee spanner, all for 400. Saved myself 100 quid. I was cheeky and got what I wanted. Great service at Edwards though..good lads, know their bikes, and because they're local lads and in SE london, they're aint no skinny jeans and attitude, which it appears you pay thru the nose for.

Go check em out....

is there only one field nowdays? did they build yuppie flats on the rest?
Unfortunately true, the resulting almond croissant famine and attendant price rise for coffee beans and cardboard cups has hit the local micro economy hard.

It's also impressive that edwardes set up their bike shop before bicycles were even invented. Definitely forward thinking. The first few centuries must've been a bit slow! :)

Quite the opposite it was a precursor to the sort of segregation that many cyclists suffer today. Most of their stock was confiscated by the witch-hunters. I remember a specialized compact pump being held up in court as an example of a 'breathing stick' and clearly the work of Satan.

sugino 75 crank and chainset BLB £170, BC £120

yeah, cavendish all the way. it's my local bike shop and i'm glad of it!
hassanr from the forum works there...

Velorution are fantastic - I spent many long hours in there with my girlfriend choosing colours and components for her Brompton and going for test rides. They were very friendly, helpful, knowledgeable and relaxed.

your right they do sell Bromptons, that would knock them down a few pegs

still nice shop, friendly, good experiences there, but I hate bromptons

Brompton rider: "look i can take my bike on the tube"

Chris Crash: "look i ride my bike places"

i've said it before and i'll say it again; why ride a lovely bicycle and be cool when you can ride a piece of overpriced origami and look like a cock.

bromptons so want to be slave, but they just aren't who ever head of a jamican ex-pat courier on a folder?

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.

Then again, I like to go fast. Bromptons don't go fast. No matter how hard you try. Going downhill. With a tailwind.

Velorution here.
If anyone on the list has been as disappointed with us, as much as Windy81, drop me a line (andrea@velorution.biz).
We are not strong in track bikes, but bad service is inexcusable.
Andrea

Wow, that's good :) I think it takes some for a company to actually want to speak to people who say they have had bad experiences.

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.

Then again, I like to go fast. Bromptons don't go fast. No matter how hard you try. Going downhill. With a tailwind.

brompton's are the devil's own method of cyclo-transportation.

every time i see a be-suited chap/chapette riding one of these nasty little stowaways, or worse - extolling the virtues of their 'sharp acceleration' whilst bouncing around, maxed-out at 13mph, i get a vague feeling that somewhere, far far away, a village is being deprived of its idiot.

Then again, I like to go fast. Bromptons don't go fast. No matter how hard you try.

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.