In the category of Best Local Bike Shop

@cake

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Brill thanks

Seconded clever mike. Nothing but time for them.

In fact they just did an insurance report for me

Awesome will nip in tomorrow, thanks all

My LBS, SW Bicycle Company, is currently prioritizing bike servicing for key workers. Great initiative to keep NHS workers on the road and saving lives! https://www.swbicyclecompany.co.uk/

Clever Mike: absolutely top notch service. Negotiated me a brand new Arkose off the insurance in no time at all. Will be back for sure.

Clever Mike getting in the national press:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/24/uk-bicycle-shops-and-repairers-see-a-surge-in-business-during-coronavirus-lockdown

Shout out to Nathan - https://www.spokeshed.co.uk/ - who just did some work on my MTB, and did it quickly and did it well and was so friendly even tho I fucked up and brought it in a week early. Have had a run of shoddy, patronising and slow service from bike shops in East London, and this was such a welcome change. Would definitely recommend to anyone in or around the Forest Gate area.

Butternut Bikes - new in town in N4, Crouch End. Always super helpful!

Big up to Balfe's nee Pearsons in Sutton. BB went 'clonky' so rolled in there lunchtime not expecting more than a quote and a slot a month from Tuesday...Instead they texted two hours later to say "it's done" with new BB fitted as per quote because they'd swallowed £15 on the component.

Top LBS scored 9.99/10*

*0.01 point deducted for loss of crankside Campag dustcap.

Rat Race Cycles or Parts and Labour if you are Nunhead / Brockley way.

Other than Brixton Cycles any recommendations for a bike shop in Brixton or surrounding area for a new cyclist looking for a practical, decent, town/ commuter bike. Somewhere with good advice, and after sales service would be great. Could be a good branch of a chain, or independent shop.

Balfes kennington, Bon velo, Herne Hill cycles

cool, thanks

Would like to shout out the Lewisham Cyclery, north end of Lewisham high street, who did a great job and quick turnaround on my grx800 disc brakes.

They are in high demand and understandably so. Question is, do they have room in the shop for an urban arrow family...

They offered to remove my old broken SKS guards and replace with new within 30 minutes which was not expected.

Are there any forum-approved LBSs in the Stratford/Olympic Park area? Including Hackney Wick, Leyton etc.?

Leyton Bike Shack is pretty decent for basics

Contrasting opinion: Leyton bike shack managed to take my bike in for a service and hand it back in worse condition than when I gave it to them (front derailleur no longer shifting, rear derailleur no longer shifting into the largest cog, rear brake no longer braking properly) and were completely unapologetic about it.

^Or maybe not. Paradise Cycles on Roman Road and Hub Velo at Clapton Roundabout are the two shops I go to for serious business. Bit further away, obvs.

I second Hub Velo (full disclosure, I am also part of the attached cycling club). Very friendly staff/owners and stock lovely bikes. It's about a week's wait to book anything in atm though. The good people of Clapton all tend to get their hybrids out of the shed and book them in for services at this time of year.

I noticed on Leyton Bike Shack's website they're selling a second hand bike with a bent fork, which was a bit of a red flag.

Thanks all. Clapton is do-able, as are both Paradise locations. If anyone else has any suggestions, fire away.

If you do go to HV, go on a Saturday. They open a mini cafe on Saturdays to feed the club runs coming back in. Some of the best coffee and cake in East London hahaa.