Decent independent shop in London

[admanas]

Hi guys,

I've just decided to buy a bike and have a fairly rough idea of what I need - I'm not going to ask you what I should get, I'll take that to someone who's job it is to help me figure that out! However that's where I'd like to get your advice. I work in Shoreditch and went into a place near work to get some advice from them and see if they had anything I might be interested in. Because I can't afford (and don't want) an £800 fixie I was made to feel like a cheapskate loser. It really put me off going to an independent shop, which I normally prefer doing for most things. I'm up for giving it another go but thought I'd see if anyone here knew of a friendly place in either East or North London (out as far as Stratford or Archway) where I'll get some honest advice and has a selection of hybrids for around £200-300. I had a look on here for any previous threads similar to this but couldn't find any so sorry if it's not etiquette - I couldn't find anything in the T&Cs to say it wasn't.

Cheers, Ad

 

[Lee_M]

Depends what you're looking for, there are a couple of shops in leyton, and one in Wanstead (two minutes from tube station) that I've had good service off - only a couple of stop sfurther than Stratford

There are a fair number of shops in London but you will tend to see cycle surgery, evans, on yer bike etc, or as you found, specialist Fixie shops that I wouldn't go in for the same reasons

 

[defy-one]

Have you tried cyclesurgery and evans in that pedestrian area between bishopsgate and commercial street. Postcode is E1 6AG
Not indy shops but at least you can get alternative views

 

[jefmcg]

Bicycle Man? I've giggled at them walking past, and on here http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/got-a-small-apartment-2-bikes-and-£960-lying-around.105619

Sorry I can't help you with a shop. I was thinking of Condor, but I think that's drop bar only. I'm more SW than NE I'm afraid.

 

[admanas]

Hi thanks for the quick responses. Lee - if you can recommend the ones in Wanstead and Leyton that would be great, I live in Bow so it's fairly handy.
Defy, thanks for the tips for CycleSurgery and Evans. Prob not going to buy from them but might wander down to take a look for some comparisons.

 

[vickster]

Not independent but how about Decathlon at Surrey Quays? Their flatbar hybrids start at £150 http://www.decathlon.co.uk/Buy/riverside#

Or there is the bombproof Carrera subway from £230 at the mo http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/..._productId_840933_langId_-1_categoryId_165534

 

[Lee_M]

Bike Shack in Leyton - two branches, bought my hybrid from there - very helpful
Bike Trax in wanstead - two minutes from wanstead tube station, more upmarket but again always helpful