Do you use your local LBS?

[subaqua]

best one by me closed down last year ( Bikeworks) was 2 mins from home and was stunningly good.

Biketrax wanstead is hit and miss and last time they trued a wheel for me handed me back just the wheel. no tyre tube , rim tape or skewer. happens often apparently as i have heard somebody else say the same. big sell every time i go there.

there is one in leyton on York road but again not too hot.

 

[shouldbeinbed]

I have aa few, none are my nearest but I go where I know I'll get the service and price that works for me.

 

[Winnershsaint]

Used mine on Friday. Service for the Cube. Like some others I ride bikes and can't be arsed to mess around in the cold fettling them.

 

[Levo-Lon]

Yes..as much as i can..Rutland Cycles are big in the area.
i use CRC and other on line too..but i like shopping in the shop,its worth the extra as a rule.

 

[Cold]

Only for wheel problems everything else I do myself and buy everything from the internet.

 

[potsy]

Mine is 2.5 miles away and is pretty good, I buy my bikes from there and always get good service/advice.

Do most of my own maintenance and repairs though so only buy bits from there if I need them in a hurry, which I rarely do.

 

[stephec]

.
Thanks for that. I've googled directions and it's 6 miles away, so not too bad. Do you need to book your bike in for work in advance?

He used to always have a sign on the door saying he couldn't take in any more repairs at that time.

He once told me though that it was there to stop people turning up on spec as he was always busy with repair work.

 

[Mile195]

I do all my own servicing and repair work, but for parts my local is fairly well stocked.
I feel quite bad about having a moan about their prices on here some time ago. I've since realised that they're no more expensive than anywhere else, and when I went down there for bearings, races and a dust seal a few weeks ago the owner spent a great deal of time working out what whether or not I would be able to use the dust seal out of an old wheel I had at home (of a different model), since he didn't have a new one in stock.
Based on that I will definitely try to use them more often. Especially since the only close alternative is Halfords and I think most of us share the same opinion on their general standard of service...

 

[biking_fox]

MIx and match as I have inclination/time/money. Ken Foster's CycleLogic is my local. Bought my SS from there, and a few bits and pieces. Had a few services done too. OTOH there's quite abit I can do myself so do that with online purchases too, though I CBA a lot of the time and with 2 bikes its not such an issue if one's in the shop for a week.

 

[potsy]

MIx and match as I have inclination/time/money. Ken Foster's CycleLogic is my local. Bought my SS from there, and a few bits and pieces. Had a few services done too. OTOH there's quite abit I can do myself so do that with online purchases too, though I CBA a lot of the time and with 2 bikes its not such an issue if one's in the shop for a week.

Bought my Cannondale from there, but it's too far to be my lbs, was a 5 mile walk to go pick it up

 

[Hyslop]

Whilst we are on this subject,if any of you use Scotby Cycles in Carlisle(onine presumably or else youd be aware)they have been flooded over this weekend.How badly isn't clear but if you have an order with them it might be best to give them a day or so grace if you can.

 

[glenn forger]

No names no pack drill but in the roadie bike shop nearest to my house I got a tsunami of attitude.

 

[andyfraser]

My nearest bike shop is Hargroves. Terrible place. They replaced a chain on my road bike. They didn't check the cassette so the chain skipped. I didn't know any better then to ask them to change the cassette. That's why I pay them. First time out the chain came off when I went from the big chain ring to the small chain ring. They didn't seem to want to sort it out so I eventually gave up and did it myself. When I got the chain off and compared it to the original it was too long. The chain hasn't come off since.

When I was replacing the cassette I needed a spacer. They told me I didn't. I definitely knew I did. After some arguing they tried to sell me one for £5 that was too wide, 3mm when I needed a 1mm.

Then there's the time the assistant manager refused to exchange a broken track pump because he didn't believe it was broken. Eventually the mechanic tested it and confirmed it was broken.

I do all my own maintenance now and buy everything online.

 

[Mrs M]

Well, attempted to order my new bike today at lbs. They are a Pashley dealer so should be able to order what I want even though they don't stock it, they said need to check and call me back. Didn't call me back so I called them, only to be advised to order a bike I would need to go into the store as they can't do it over the phone. You just lost an order!
Called Halfords, ordered bike, even gave me the "web only" discount of £40.
They don't want a deposit, just pay on collection.
Thank you Tom @ Halfords.

 

[mjr]

Yeah, the problems with half odds usually start after the order...