Excellent service - John Atkins Cycles, Leamington

[Kirstie]

Hello everyone,

I've been a bit quiet on here lately due to workload but I wanted to say that recently I received amazing service from John Atkins in Leamington Spa. I bought my first MTB from them years ago, and I recently bought a bike on the bike to work scheme with them. They spent a lot of time discussing the spec with me. I changed my build specifications from the standard and they were only too happy to help, making sure I got exactly what I wanted. The bike wasn't quite as specified when it was delivered from the manufacturer, and so they did all the upgrades themselves at no extra cost to me. They were a real pleasure to deal with and I can't recommend them more highly.

I think it's only fair to give credit where credit is due so, Nigel, Mark and Andy - thanks fellas!

Oh yes, and I've got one of these now (with a little help from my savings account):

The main difference in spec is that it has touring, rather than road gearing. It's really great and it will be going out for a spin later on today!

 

[buggi]

+1. i got my Scott CR1 Pro bike from John Atkins. They gave me a fabulous discount and great service. It's not exactly my LBS, it's the LBS to my place of work 17 miles away) but I have often been over on the weekend because they have such great service and they are known in my own LBS as the "other shop" because they won't let me mention their name LOL.

(well, i get discounts at my own LBS but the owner wouldn't have given me the massive discount on the new bike that John Atkins did. it was a case of "who you know" (i knew a really good customer of theirs) so as soon as i mentioned that it was like i was an old friend, but even so... £300 off an £1700 bike and half price pedals and a cost price garmin bike computer is a lot when i've never shopped there before!). 2 of them are now my facebook buddies LOL

 

[Deleted member 1258]

John Atkins in Far Gosford St Coventry is now The Coventry Cycle Centre, I have been using them regularly since the mid 1980s and they have been very good.

Another good shop in Coventry is Ride on Lockhurst lane, on the bridge, run by Darren Atkins.

 

[Bigtwin]

Oh yes, and I've got one of these now (with a little help from my savings account):

The main difference in spec is that it has touring, rather than road gearing. It's really great and it will be going out for a spin later on today!

Mmmmm - very nice. I have always looked at those with NV. Not least as I can carry one on my motorcycle. Let us know how it rides etc will you?

 

[ianrauk]

hmmm, strange, not sure whether I like it or not... great colour though
How much does it weigh Kirstie?

 

[Kirstie]

It weighs 22lbs as it is. I think it looks completely freaky, but actually, when you realise how well engineered it is, it has a really nice 'machine-y/engineering-y' look to it. It looks better in the flesh than in the photo.

I got it as a commuter/light tourer because I want to start to bike and train it to work. I live 50 miles from my work and I'm sick of driving. My commute to the railway station is 12 miles and so I needed something which would ride like a proper bike. I had to choose a folder because I work in milton keynes and you can't take a non-folding bike through MK central station before 10am. Also, with a folder I get a good choice of trains - there's a virgin service that goes from Rugby to MK in 20 minutes, which is excellent. With a folder I don't need to book it on in advance. The added advantage is I can do short (non camping) tours on it at weekends without worrying about train bookings, and I can also use it for other work trips within the UK, again, without worrying about booking it on a train. The fold is dead easy, but it's not that small when folded - it'll do though...!

I took it for a 40 mile ride today and I was very impressed indeed. First of all, it fits beautifully. It's also got a tiny amount of suspension which gives it a poingy carbon-esque feel. It rides light, but it is slightly more twitchy on the descents because of the 24" wheels - that's unavoidable and I'm going to have to get used to it. I've managed to get a BBB seat post mounted rack which will take up to a 10Kilo load so watch this space to see how it rides when loaded.

 

[Globalti]

That's a kewl bike! Keep us posted.

 

[Crackle]

Mmmmm - very nice. I have always looked at those with NV. Not least as I can carry one on my motorcycle. Let us know how it rides etc will you?

Hah! Good idea. I've been pondering such a question as I consider ditching the car. Now if you can just tell me how to transport a dopey labrador as well......

 

[Black Sheep]

John Atkins in Far Gosford St Coventry is now The Coventry Cycle Centre, I have been using them regularly since the mid 1980s and they have been very good.

I've been using them since 2003 when i first moved to cov.

also use Albany Cycles in Earlsdon as i'm just up the road from him, I used to live just round the corner from John Atkins until a year or two ago

 

[Landslide]

Now if you can just tell me how to transport a dopey labrador as well......

Sidecar?

 

[Peter]

Sidecar?

That made me laugh for a few minutes!

 

[NickM]

...poingy...

Poingy? Ah, pingy but boingy! I like it

 

[ColinJ]

Oh yes, and I've got one of these now (with a little help from my savings account):

The main difference in spec is that it has touring, rather than road gearing. It's really great and it will be going out for a spin later on today!

I quite fancy one of those to take with me when travelling. I saw a rider on one yesterday on the Red Rose Ride - it looked good, and he seemed to be happy with it. The only thing I don't like is how much steerer tube is exposed.

 

[NickM]

MsM had the less expensive, unsuspended Joey (and I put drop bars on it). It was quite quick, and OK on smooth surfaces, but I think it would have been a much better bike with ETRTO 507 wheels and fatter tyres than the 25-520s it came with.

 

[Kirstie]

Oh well here it is in the flesh. On Mike's flickr site all of his rad dude mtb mates have been slagging it off in the rudest fashion possible. Counter comments welcome!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrmichaelwright/3628293027/