Do you use your local LBS?

[speccy1]

@speccy1 did you know that the "L" in "LBS" stands for "local" ?

Ummmm, yes

 

[Shed_head]

I do 90% of my own maintenance and put my summer bike in to the LBS for a checkup once per year, my winter bike I do myself. They are very good though and will price match online purchases as long as its not in a sale but I get all my clothing / shoes etc... Off Sportspursuit at the end of the season so I get top gear at around 70% off. Saves me a bundle!! They do also arrange some good rides and events, have there own kit that they sell which then generates a lot of its own business, and a strong brand.

 

[Flick of the Elbow]

I did venture into Evans when I was in Glasgow but was apparently invisible!

My wife and I have both had the same experience in Evans Edinburgh. The likes of Evans don't count as LBS's no matter how local they are.

 

[Flick of the Elbow]

I was properly spoilt for the few years I lived in Derby when one of my LBS's was Mercians.

 

[Supersuperleeds]

Different shops for different bikes here but most of the actual fitting of parts is done by me (I don't like buying parts online), although the closest is about 3 miles away in Leicester itself I'll very often go past that to get to the place I know is better for the bike I'm working on. For 'high end' stuff Websters Cycles have been very good and I have to rate Julies (although they are pricy) but for general bits Cyclops in Syston and Bob Warners are my shops of choice.

I use Websters, been brilliant for me, lost count the number of times I've gone in on a Saturday morning with a problem and they've sorted it whilst I waited.

 

[graham bowers]

I'm not too impressed with the one in my closest town, seems to have a bit of an arrogant attitude. I use others nearby but also buy online. I do all of my own servicing and repairs.

 

[Dave7]

My "real" LBS is owned by a guy with the personality of a brick. I really tried to support them e.g. if they were 50% over priced I would say........."I don't expect you to match but what's your best". I even got them to put a new cassette on when I could have got it 30% cheaper at one of the BIG stores. But now I Have given up trying and tend to shop around.

 

[raleighnut]

I use Websters, been brilliant for me, lost count the number of times I've gone in on a Saturday morning with a problem and they've sorted it whilst I waited.

Does Graham still work there since the move, top guy but Martin (the owner) is pretty good too.

 

[Katherine]

My lbs has closed down now. They were fairly priced for parts and accessories but said that I didn't need a new chain when they serviced my old bike and weren't interested in investigating the creaky peddles. I took it to Evans, Trafford who were fantastic. They have since sorted out the gears on my new bike that the shop I bought it from couldn't get right. Whenever I have called in they have always been friendly, helpful and courteous. It's the easiest lbs for me to cycle to.
The best lbs I've been to recently that fixed my bike after my crash isn't local at all, it's Pop-up Bikes in the city centre and you can get coffee and cake too.

 

[Gert Lush]

I always go to my lbs when I need work done on my bike. There's been issues before when I've been in shop waiting for an hour before one of their staff changed my cassette because the mechanic hadn't got round to it. But to be fair to them they didn't charge me labour on it as I'd been waiting for so long. Also they forgot to tell me to collect my wheel before as well which bugged me.

Price wise they're a bit more expensive but nothing too bad and they're very good with offering their knowledge/experience with things. They even offered to talk me through a cable change on the phone if I was unsure what to do.

Never buy my clothes in there though.

 

[contadino]

Coffee and cake in a bike shop would be some sort of nirvana... Envious doesn't even come close to describing my feelings on that.

 

[Supersuperleeds]

Does Graham still work there since the move, top guy but Martin (the owner) is pretty good too.

Graham left last year, I sometimes see him on a morning riding down the Great Central Way.

 

[Crandoggler]

Coffee and cake in a bike shop would be some sort of nirvana... Envious doesn't even come close to describing my feelings on that.

My LBS has a whole cafe built into it!

 

[Dirk]

My LBS has a whole cafe built into it!

And mine has!

 

[arch684]

Other than Halfords my lbs is 12 miles away.He only deals in used bikes,parts and repairs but he charges like a wounded rhino.would never buy from him