The wave of new London bike shops

Check out Swift Cycles next door to Cycle Surgery in Strype Street Spitalfields. Nice guys, big shop, lots of Cannondale, Endura and Northwave doing bike fittings too...

fucking hate bike shop nerds who seem to think they are superior to girls and therefore can talk down to them and try and rip them off.

My g/f has been getting an unusual amount of punctures recently so I had a look, checked the tyres for glass etc and founf out that her crappy plastic rimtape had slipped to the side and the spokes/nipple holes were causing the punctures.Told her to go ask for some better rimtape (velox if possible) from a bikeshop.

So she goes into London Fields Cycles and the little knobjockey doesnt even look at the bike, just tells her patronisingly that she is wrong, she needs to buy new tyres (they arent amazing tyres but they are totally fit for purpose) and hes too busy to get her rimtape so come back tomorrow. WTF?

luckily Lock 7 have people who know what they are talking about and arent rude so helped her out.

Im definitely not going anywhere near london fields cycles

Im definitely not going anywhere near london fields cycles

Totally agree! I found one of their mechanics quite rude and arrogant once and he didn't have nice things to say when I suggested I'd rather get a part off here than through them.

Lock 7 has helped me out free of charge many times and are always super friendly, plus their monmouth coffee is great.

The one on Broadway Market next to the canal?

The one on Broadway Market next to the canal?

yep thats the one, its a Look Mum No Hands-alike.
It seems that they have a vested interest in being nice to their customers instead of london fields who obviously have such a a steady stream of hipsters to service that they arent arsed about being knobheads and putting people off

As ever with local bike shops, it is important not to let a couple of bad experiences deter you. Such bad experiences tend to sit among lots of good ones which don't get posted. I've known the main guys at London Fields Cycles for years and they are very sound. Do contact them about it, Ben--they'll be only too happy to look into it, as they have no interest at all in bad publicity.

yep thats the one, its a Look Mum No Hands-alike.

Actually opened earlier than LMNH. :) Lock-7 was London's first cycle café.

As ever with local bike shops, it is important not to let a couple of bad experiences deter you. Such bad experiences tend to sit among lots of good ones which don't get posted. I've known the main guys at London Fields Cycles for years and they are very sound. Do contact them about it, Ben--they'll be only too happy to look into it, as they have no interest at all in bad publicity.

Repped (again) Oliver. (we need a Oliver appreciation thread;)

I have had more good times than bad ones in London fields. Its where I bought my first otp fixed bike 7 years ago from a lovely helpful person called katie.

As ever with local bike shops, it is important not to let a couple of bad experiences deter you. Such bad experiences tend to sit among lots of good ones which don't get posted. I've known the main guys at London Fields Cycles for years and they are very sound. Do contact them about it, Ben--they'll be only too happy to look into it, as they have no interest at all in bad publicity.

I hear you Oliver, but it is also a fact that most bike shops, independent or otherwise are not overly female friendly, a pretty unusual issue for most retail stores.

While this is changing slowly and most people (such as forumengers) who know their shit about bikes tend to get better service at shops, it is important to flag up this kind of behaviour, especially as it really upset my gf and i know plenty of girls who have had the same kind of treatment from other bike shop owners/workers that I have always known as good guys.

Interesting to hear about Lock 7 too!

I hear you Oliver, but it is also a fact that most bike shops, independent or otherwise are not overly female friendly, a pretty unusual issue for most retail stores.

This is true. However, London Fields has always employed a lot of women (I know four personally), like the aforementioned Katie, and while having women on the shop floor isn't a necessary prerequisite for ensuring that this sort of thing doesn't happen, I can guarantee you that they're very much aware of the issue and would go out of their way to ensure that it doesn't happen. It's definitely worth talking to them again.

good to hear that it was probably a one off, ill let them know for sure

Repped (again) Oliver. (we need a Oliver appreciation thread;)

I have had more good times than bad ones in London fields. Its where I bought my first otp fixed bike 7 years ago from a lovely helpful person called katie.

Indeed, Katie's great. I bought mine there in early 2006 and had all beginner's issues which, as a mechanical ignoramus, would have dogged me, sorted out before they ever happened by the very competent and knowledgeable Greg, who gave me the right gear ratio, assorted other bits (brakes) at a very good price, assembled it all, and told me which bits I'd be likely to want to swap out in due course.

(we need a Oliver appreciation thread;)

(http://www.lfgss.com/thread31221.html)

I heard that a new independent bike shop may be opening on Wandsworth Bridge Road... here's hoping.

As ever with local bike shops, it is important not to let a couple of bad experiences deter you. Such bad experiences tend to sit among lots of good ones which don't get posted. I've known the main guys at London Fields Cycles for years and they are very sound. Do contact them about it, Ben--they'll be only too happy to look into it, as they have no interest at all in bad publicity.

I will take this opportunity to mention the good experiences I have had visiting them, very helpful and friendly.

This looks intersting: http://www.cadenceperformance.com/
New bike cafe type thing in Crystal Palace... Looks like CSG is going to have some competion for a meeting place for Kent rides.

I hear Miss Socks is will be running the cafe too... Seems like a good alternative for Southies/people who don't like LMNH.

Just used get a grip bicycles on lavender hill. Good service & a amazing attractive italian girl who sometimes works there. Price was good and service of the bike was quick. Going to keep on supporting these guys.

www.getagripbicycleworkshop.co.uk/

another +1 for Get a Grip from here -Troy (I think) -great name BTW- helped me out after closing time when I had a puncture in the rain with no spare. Gave me a free inner when I expertly destroyed one in front of him.

Also recommend the service and advice that http://www.thelondoncycleworkshop.co.uk/ provides on St John's Hill Nr Clapham Junction, focusses on servicing, repairs and some commuter accessories. Same day repairs and servicing and even offers a courtesy bike. (not tried)

Just used get a grip bicycles on lavender hill. Good service & a amazing attractive italian girl who sometimes works there but never reads this forum because she's, like, a girl. Price was good and service of the bike was quick but I was disappointed that she didn't phone me. Going to keep on stalking these guys.

www.getagripbicycleworkshop.co.uk/

ftfy

Had some excellent service recently from 2 Wheels Good in Crouch End.
Super nice and knowledgeable staff (many of whom are mechanics).

The work they carried out was - stripping and rebuilding Record shifters that needed new spring and removing a sheared bolt from a Ti BB.

Also recommend the service and advice that http://www.thelondoncycleworkshop.co.uk/ provides on St John's Hill Nr Clapham Junction, focusses on servicing, repairs and some commuter accessories. Same day repairs and servicing and even offers a courtesy bike. (not tried)

These guys are really very good - after mixed experiences with other LBS's in the area I have been in there about 4 times for various pieces of work and have always been satisfied - thoroughly recommended. Price to my mind is very competitive and they are happy for you to source parts and then they will do the wrenching.

Done wheel builds, complete strip downs and bits and bobs for me.

I noticed a while ago that there was a new bikeshop opening up in Nunhead. RIding past yesterday morning, there looked to be bikes on display in the window etc which would indicate that they are now up and running. I have no experience of them yet, so can't comment on staff, srevice etc. but good luck to the new owners.

They have a webiste: http://www.ratracecycles.com/

I've only just seen in the Hackney Gazette that Bike Yard East, the bike repair shop behind Hackney City Farm run by Celia, was torched last Monday.

I can't tell you how disgusted I am to see something like this done to a small business run with such dedication.

BYE is closed temporarily but I hope Celia will be able to re-open soon.

http://www.bikeyardeast.com/

Just taken my bike to the newly opened Clever Mike @ 465 Hornsey Road N19 in an interesting factory space, nice guy with a great selection of vintage frames - www.clevermike.co.uk . Excellent prices quoted for my service - will report back on quality.