Cycle shop experience - your thoughts?

[DogmaStu]

I'd be avoiding that shop.

Back in Portugal, I use 2 LBS's, both excellent, both will sort me out with any work that needs doing quickly and immediate help for any stops for something during a ride.
I tried a 3rd one day to ask for an adjustment on a ride but I was refused - they were too busy, apparently. I was the only person in the shop. I never went there again.

Here in the UK, first shop I tried was good, but soooo expensive for labour so I bought all the tools I was missing to do all the servicing myself. Second shop also helpful when I needed a new valve on a ride. I have since purchased something from them.

 

[nickyboy]

Which shop Nick?

Mark Anthony Cycles

 

[Jameshow]

I'd be avoiding that shop.

Back in Portugal, I use 2 LBS's, both excellent, both will sort me out with any work that needs doing quickly and immediate help for any stops for something during a ride.
I tried a 3rd one day to ask for an adjustment on a ride but I was refused - they were too busy, apparently. I was the only person in the shop. I never went there again.

Here in the UK, first shop I tried was good, but soooo expensive for labour so I bought all the tools I was missing to do all the servicing myself. Second shop also helpful when I needed a new valve on a ride. I have since purchased something from them.

Funny that I hardly use a shop at home preferring to DIY. But in Devon I'll pop into the little bike shop in Bude who are very helpful.. Must be the sea air!!!

 

[Ming the Merciless]

I’m sure that had they waited at side of road someone would have been along shortly and lent an Allen key. I usually ask stopped cyclists if they are okay as I pass.

 

[Paulus]

I’m sure that had they waited at side of road someone would have been along shortly and lent an Allen key. I usually ask stopped cyclists if they are okay as I pass.

Same her, I always ask if cyclists who look like they are in trouble need a hand.

John's Cycles in Barnet very helpful. Plenty of good advice is also given if asked for.

 

[T4tomo]

I’m sure that had they waited at side of road someone would have been along shortly and lent an Allen key. I usually ask stopped cyclists if they are okay as I pass.

Surely any passing cyclist would have also cycled passed the OP @Proto as they were walking / pushing the bike and done so too...

....ergo there weren't any other cyclists, or those that passed were rude buggers and didn't ask.

 

[rogerzilla]

Mark Anthony Cycles

They want you to lend them your ears, but they won't lend you a tool.

 

[Pale Rider]

Mark Anthony Cycles

They were miserable gits.

At my LBS small items, including tubes, come with the offer of a free fit.

I've done a few shifts there.

If a customer bought a tube as a spare I would certainly have lent him the track pump, if only in lieu of the free fit offer.

 

[GuyBoden]

In Malaga, Spain the Recyclo Bike Shop has a track pump chained up outside for customer use.

 

[vickster]

In Malaga, Spain the Recyclo Bike Shop has a track pump chained up outside for customer use.

View attachment 701332

You can find those on the street here too, eg there’s one in Wimbledon. A local Tesco Express petrol station has a bike tool station as an example.
My LBS would never behave like that but I have/do spend a fair amount with them on servicing etc

 

[wiggydiggy]

You can find those on the street here too, eg there’s one in Wimbledon. A local Tesco Express petrol station has a bike tool station as an example.
My LBS would never behave like that but I have/do spend a fair amount with them on servicing etc

Unfortunately for me the ones I have seen locally have been vandalised and are not functional, all found at railway stations.

 

[rogerzilla]

There's a bike maintenance station at the retail park near me. It appeared a couple of years ago but the thumblever on the valve head has been broken for most of that time (so the pump is useless) and the tools are rusty as it's out in the open. No doubt the park management did it to tick a box.

 

[Alex321]

Unfortunately for me the ones I have seen locally have been vandalised and are not functional, all found at railway stations.

There are 17 which have been set up in the Vale of Glamorgan, of which one has been removed because of vandalism. The other 16 are all still operational AFAIK.

 

[T4tomo]

In Malaga, Spain the Recyclo Bike Shop has a track pump chained up outside for customer use.

Evans shops always used to have a track pump outside / in the foyer (bigger ones). that daffodil Ashley will have no doubt got rid of that generosity...

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Unfortunately for me the ones I have seen locally have been vandalised and are not functional, all found at railway stations.

Train drivers not being able to fix their punctures explains the delays.