Bike Shop experiences
- Thread starter User
- Start date
Page may contain affiliate links. Please see terms for details.
twozeronine
Senior Member
- Location
- Middlesex
Several years ago I bought a nice new Bianchi road bike from a well known bike shop, and after having ridden it for a while I decided to get new tyres for it. Having taken the rear wheel off and fitted the new tyre, I attempted to put it back on, only to find that I couldn't! Somehow I got sold a bike with chain stays that were too close together (I'd never had an accident on it, or done anything that would have caused that). The bike shop took it in and sent it to have the chain stays widened. When I got it back it had some nasty scratches to the paintwork on the stays. 
Nothing stands out as "the best", but I've not had any problems from them since.
Nothing stands out as "the best", but I've not had any problems from them since.
mickle
innit
- Location
- 53.933606, -1.076131
From the other side of the counter: Having to deal with customers who were utterly convinced that the bike or product they've dragged through the door is covered under warranty when it wasn't.
Like the guy who buckled his back wheel (dirt jumping a XC hardtail.. :/ ) so decided to unhook his V brakes to allow tha wheel to turn. It promptly swung underneath and into the wheel removing half of the spokes and ripping off the flange and ripping off the brake boss which ripped through the seat stay writing off the frame. £900 bike reduced to a pile of parts and scrap in a moment. I felt for him, I really did but I wasn't about to pay for his screw up.
Best bit was trying to contain giggles when folk came in having done something really dumb - like (genuinely) greasing rims to stop brakes squealing and then complaining that they didn't work!
Taking a bike apart and reassembling it wrong - front mech on the down tube. Chain run through it and everything.
"You've put it back together wrong".
"No I haven't".
"It's supposed to go on the seat tube".
" No it isn't".
And repeat.
Like the guy who buckled his back wheel (dirt jumping a XC hardtail.. :/ ) so decided to unhook his V brakes to allow tha wheel to turn. It promptly swung underneath and into the wheel removing half of the spokes and ripping off the flange and ripping off the brake boss which ripped through the seat stay writing off the frame. £900 bike reduced to a pile of parts and scrap in a moment. I felt for him, I really did but I wasn't about to pay for his screw up.
Best bit was trying to contain giggles when folk came in having done something really dumb - like (genuinely) greasing rims to stop brakes squealing and then complaining that they didn't work!
Taking a bike apart and reassembling it wrong - front mech on the down tube. Chain run through it and everything.
"You've put it back together wrong".
"No I haven't".
"It's supposed to go on the seat tube".
" No it isn't".
And repeat.
I've tried three LBS (I'll leave out the names)
Shop A: Brilliant when I bought my bike. Listened to what I needed/wanted, suggested exactly the right bike for me and gave me a good deal on a few extras I wanted. Not so good whenever a girl goes into the shop, as the male staff immediately ignore what they were doing and circle round them like horny vultures.
Shop B: One guy who's really friendly and knowledgeable, but the rest of them haven't got a clue, and respond to every question with "er ... dunno ... you'll have to wait for the boss to come in".
Shop C: Now this one was weird. The owner tried to sell me three different bikes, not one of which was even close to what I wanted. As he was talking, there were half a dozen people sat huddled together behind the counter, just watching me. I felt like I'd walked in on a gang planning a bank raid, and was quite relieved to get out of there in one piece.
Shop A: Brilliant when I bought my bike. Listened to what I needed/wanted, suggested exactly the right bike for me and gave me a good deal on a few extras I wanted. Not so good whenever a girl goes into the shop, as the male staff immediately ignore what they were doing and circle round them like horny vultures.
Shop B: One guy who's really friendly and knowledgeable, but the rest of them haven't got a clue, and respond to every question with "er ... dunno ... you'll have to wait for the boss to come in".
Shop C: Now this one was weird. The owner tried to sell me three different bikes, not one of which was even close to what I wanted. As he was talking, there were half a dozen people sat huddled together behind the counter, just watching me. I felt like I'd walked in on a gang planning a bank raid, and was quite relieved to get out of there in one piece.
HLaB
Marie Attoinette Fan
I've found with our lbs its who you get!
The Co op is a bit of a lottery, that place is always manic.
A nearby bike shop has good staff but a manager who just wants to sell you something fast (even if it the wrong thing) and get you out the door fast.
Yet down the street the Manager is brilliant but the staff are useless.
The Co op is a bit of a lottery, that place is always manic.
A nearby bike shop has good staff but a manager who just wants to sell you something fast (even if it the wrong thing) and get you out the door fast.
Yet down the street the Manager is brilliant but the staff are useless.
C
chillyuk
Guest
I will name names! Spokes lbs at Epping. I have never spent a lot in there but every time I have used them he has treated me as if I have been his only customer for a week. It seems to be a husband/wife team, I've never seen anyone else in the shop. When I do want something in future they will certainly get my custom.
citybabe
Keep Calm and OMG.......CAKES!!
- Location
- Lowestoft Suffolk
When I was looking for my Bianchi I went into my nearest LBS who advertised on their website that they carried them in stock. I went in after work on wednesday and spoke to the chap. They didn't have a Bianchi in my size but said there was one in the other shop in a different town and that he'd get it sent down by Friday. I went back on saturday and asked if he'd managed to get the bike only to be given a blank stare followed by the words 'oh...did I say that then?'
That afternoon I actually went to the other town and spoke to the chap in the shop who had not heard anything from the other bike shop. I tried the bike he had in stock and it was still to big. So I knew that I needed 55cm.
I went back to the chap in the first shop and told him that I'd been to the other shop and tried the bike and it was too big and that I needed a 55cm. He took my phone number and told me he'd call on monday and tell me that he'd sort me out the bike. I never heard from him.
I called Evans cycles at Lakeside on tuesday, told him what I wanted and he called back on thursday and told me he got the bike in from another shop and it was there when I wanted to collect it. I went down to London on the saturday and came away with my new Bianchi.
Needless to say my nearest LBS has never had any of my business.
That afternoon I actually went to the other town and spoke to the chap in the shop who had not heard anything from the other bike shop. I tried the bike he had in stock and it was still to big. So I knew that I needed 55cm.
I went back to the chap in the first shop and told him that I'd been to the other shop and tried the bike and it was too big and that I needed a 55cm. He took my phone number and told me he'd call on monday and tell me that he'd sort me out the bike. I never heard from him.
I called Evans cycles at Lakeside on tuesday, told him what I wanted and he called back on thursday and told me he got the bike in from another shop and it was there when I wanted to collect it. I went down to London on the saturday and came away with my new Bianchi.
Needless to say my nearest LBS has never had any of my business.
Gerry Attrick
Lincolnshire Mountain Rescue Consultant
I think the biggest problem with LBS's I have experienced is their lack of consistency. Good service up to a point, but when the wheel falls off, they are generally found lacking. It also seems to depend on who serves you or whether the proprietor had a good lunch or not.
For example, when Mrs A was thinking of purchasing a Trek Madone in a size not stocked, she spent a happy hour or so listening to the undisputed attributes of said machine but she couldn't ride one to see for herself. They would only order one in her size provided she agreed there and then to buy it!
Exit to a dealer who stocked the appropriate bike.
For example, when Mrs A was thinking of purchasing a Trek Madone in a size not stocked, she spent a happy hour or so listening to the undisputed attributes of said machine but she couldn't ride one to see for herself. They would only order one in her size provided she agreed there and then to buy it!
Exit to a dealer who stocked the appropriate bike.
Thats funny, i know exactly the shops you mean! (and i agree)
Last Autumn, I'd been intending to ride to Barcelona on my tourer, at the last minute decided to use my hybrid. I was using this for commuting and simply didn't have time to service it, a day before I set off, I dropped it in early morning at shop in Shipley for a "service" and collected it on my way home.
£56 later:-
Brake blocks incorrectly set up, binding.
Front wheel on wrong way round.
Wouldn't change gear properly. (Cable incorrectly routed)
Scratch on frame.
On changing the front wheel round I found both rod springs on the same side, hmmm, checked the back wheel and found the same.
Nothing major but a really, really, sloppy, piss poor service.
£56 later:-
Brake blocks incorrectly set up, binding.
Front wheel on wrong way round.
Wouldn't change gear properly. (Cable incorrectly routed)
Scratch on frame.
On changing the front wheel round I found both rod springs on the same side, hmmm, checked the back wheel and found the same.
Nothing major but a really, really, sloppy, piss poor service.
threebikesmcginty
Corn Fed Hick...
- Location
- ...on the slake
Took a bike to the bike shop this morning. I forgot he's shut on a Wednesday.
Becs
Veteran
- Location
- Old Hatfield (it's nice honest!)
I have nothing but praise for 2 LBS in Cambridge.
Kingsway cycles has been fantastic for very reasonably priced repairs and they are always happy to order in anything we need (dad's been going there for 20 odd years). Very friendly father and son team.
I went to Ben Haywards cycles in Horningsea for a bike fitting last week - very thorough professional service for £40. My road bike has never felt better!
When I'm at home in London I usually use Evans (as there's one on my commute) - I just accept the fact the staff are very variable, and some are very patronising. I'd never go to them for repairs though - vastly expensive and pretty sloppy IME!
Kingsway cycles has been fantastic for very reasonably priced repairs and they are always happy to order in anything we need (dad's been going there for 20 odd years). Very friendly father and son team.
I went to Ben Haywards cycles in Horningsea for a bike fitting last week - very thorough professional service for £40. My road bike has never felt better!
When I'm at home in London I usually use Evans (as there's one on my commute) - I just accept the fact the staff are very variable, and some are very patronising. I'd never go to them for repairs though - vastly expensive and pretty sloppy IME!
I like Evans for buying stuff. The staff are generally friendly and helpful, if not necessarily particularly knowledgable. Although the manager at the Nottingham store is a bit creepy.
I'd NEVER get anything fixed or done up there, though. You have to bring your bike in at a specific time slot, wait days and expect to pay a FORTUNE for the simplest of jobs. And anything complicated they don't know how to do it.
Worst LBS experience was with a larger LBS near me. Went in requesting a new chain as the one my bike had come with was el cheapo and I'd been riding a while in too high a gear and had stretched it. Staff were insistent I needed a new cassette too, without even looking at it. I insisted the cassette was fine, I'd had it checked out and it was just the cheap chain the bike came with. They REFUSED to accept this, even getting other members of staff over to back them up, despite STILL none of them not having actually looked at my bike! They were very rude, confrontational and patronising the whole time. In the end I left and got a chain from my now regular little LBS who fitted for me for free.
I'd NEVER get anything fixed or done up there, though. You have to bring your bike in at a specific time slot, wait days and expect to pay a FORTUNE for the simplest of jobs. And anything complicated they don't know how to do it.
Worst LBS experience was with a larger LBS near me. Went in requesting a new chain as the one my bike had come with was el cheapo and I'd been riding a while in too high a gear and had stretched it. Staff were insistent I needed a new cassette too, without even looking at it. I insisted the cassette was fine, I'd had it checked out and it was just the cheap chain the bike came with. They REFUSED to accept this, even getting other members of staff over to back them up, despite STILL none of them not having actually looked at my bike! They were very rude, confrontational and patronising the whole time. In the end I left and got a chain from my now regular little LBS who fitted for me for free.
BEST broke a spoke whilst out one day,stopped outside bike shop (no longer there)where the mechanic came outside to talk bike as he also had a Colnago,he replaced the spoke and trued the wheel free of charge as i had no cash on me.....the last i saw of him he (Mick) was working in Sigma sport in Kingston
WORST ordered a set of GP4 on record hubs (quite a few years ago)from a shop in Richmond, went to collect them a few weeks later to be told "we have not even started these yet" no apology or phone call.so i took my deposit back and went to Whiskers in Kilburn.
WORST ordered a set of GP4 on record hubs (quite a few years ago)from a shop in Richmond, went to collect them a few weeks later to be told "we have not even started these yet" no apology or phone call.so i took my deposit back and went to Whiskers in Kilburn.
