Halfords

[Sharky]

They can't be all bad.

This is an image I picked up off the web (Cambridge CC):-

My club (Gravesend CC) has a similar trophy that is awarded each year. It's out with the last winner, so I can't get a picture until the next awards dinner.

I'm guessing the Halfords Cycle Company were promoting cycling in the 30's and were giving these tophies out to clubs for their yearly events.
Are there any other clubs out there who have a Halfords Cup?
Would be interesting if anybody had a little more history of their involvement in the 1930's.

EDIT:
Google has found another club
https://www.gloscitycc.co.uk/project/the-halford-cup/
Awarded in 1925

 

[BoldonLad]

1. Do you know anyone who works at Halfords? If so, what does he or she say about the place?

No

2. Have you ever had a good experience with Halfords?

Yes, at least twice that I can immediately recall (1. Slough branch inflated grandsons tyres with a smile and no charge. 2. South Shields branch supplied a boxed Carrera Crossfire for daughter, click and collect, during lockdown, at excellent price. )

3. Do you ever go to Halfords? Or, do you categorically refuse to even go to place?

I am not a "never" sort of person, depends what I want, went I want it, and where I am.

4. Do you ever get your bike repaired or serviced at Halfords?

No, do my own servicing, if task is beyond me, I use Giant Dealer where bicycles were bought from.

 

[The Central Scrutinizer]

I have bought loads of small accessories from my local halfords.Their web prices are usually cheaper than their store prices that's why i use click and collect.
Would i have my bike repaired or serviced at halfords?.......Never.

 

[rogerzilla]

Carrera and Boardman bikes are good. Apollo bikes are landfill-in-waiting. Some of the staff are knowledgeable. The parts selection in store is expensive and poor. Use click and collect or their eBay store for Shimano spares - it's really good value!

There are occasional bargains to be had in clothing and accessories like lights.

 

[supersixone]

On my other thread a few people advised me to not go to Halfords and go to a local bike shop instead.

I have a few questions about Halfords:

1. Do you know anyone who works at Halfords? If so, what does he or she say about the place?

2. Have you ever had a good experience with Halfords?

3. Do you ever go to Halfords? Or, do you categorically refuse to even go to place?

4. Do you ever get your bike repaired or serviced at Halfords?

There is a Halfords not too far away from me. Would it be okay for me to buy anything from Halfords? I know it’s often quite convenient to just go to the closest shop to you, but should I buy stuff from other shops or online rather than Halfords?

 

[bikingdad90]

@LemonJuice

I assume your based near Middlesbrough.

Coulby Newham - don’t even bother, not a lot of stock and primarily aimed at motorists.

Middesbrough - ok for buying parts but not very good on the customer service front. I once asked for a M4 screw with A hex head for putting a pannier rack on, got told to visit motoring downstairs when the screw was on the wall behind the man.

Stockton- used to be good with knowledgeable staff but these have now left so currently manned by the technical guy who is a motoring head and has had very little training in cycling mechanics. He is very enthusiastic and generally wants to help but wouldn’t trust him with a repair at the moment until he had some more experience under his belt. He built my C2W bike up for me (part of the terms) and I had to reindex and set it up again once home as the job wasn’t done well. Also be prepared to wait ages to get served!

Darlington - Ran by bikeheads, very good store but about 18 months since I was last in so may no longer be the case.

As for local shops I either use Expro Paul Curran cycle sport or NRG cycles. Paul’s shop has a bit more atmosphere to it and often chats while fixing; cats lovely too, NRG is more clinical and sells more bikes than repairs but very knowledgeable and well stocked and competitive.

 

[supersixone]

On my other thread a few people advised me to not go to Halfords and go to a local bike shop instead.

I have a few questions about Halfords:

1. Do you know anyone who works at Halfords? If so, what does he or she say about the place?

2. Have you ever had a good experience with Halfords?

3. Do you ever go to Halfords? Or, do you categorically refuse to even go to place?

4. Do you ever get your bike repaired or serviced at Halfords?

There is a Halfords not too far away from me. Would it be okay for me to buy anything from Halfords? I know it’s often quite convenient to just go to the closest shop to you, but should I buy stuff from other shops or online rather than Halfords?

Halfords recently closed there cycle Republic stores to concentrate on car parts that's tells you bikes are secondary to the main business

 

[Drago]

That's a bit shortsighted with the decline of conventional cars and the rise of electric propulsion and cycling.

 

[Sugars Daddy]

The impression I get from reading all previous comments is that it's luck of the draw, whether LBS or chain shop.

My personal experience of Halfords is one of complete satisfaction (car or bike parts, bike advice and one occasion of having to return a faulty jump starter), that was until our local store closed (Welwyn Garden City).

The bike mechanics I spoke to were all interested, clued-up and very willing to help. Both times I've gone seeking a 7-speed cassette (try that at your LBS..) they were only too happy to look through the Raleigh catalogue (far greater range of spares than on-line) and place the order as a click and collect so I'd get the discount. Removed old and fitted new to loose wheel each time, for nothing. Miss them.

Local bike shop: I needed a solid axle set for a roadster (yes, I know, they're hybrids nowadays..), not top quality wheel but functional. "Mechanic" gets down replacement wheel; £20 please! But I only need an axle set (cones and balls, to be honest). Not worth it mate. Sound of retreating footsteps.… Yep, I headed straight for Halfords where they were happy to rummage around in the store room, correctly identifying the 9mm set I required. Just under a tenner!

They've always served me well.

 

[DRM]

Halfords recently closed there cycle Republic stores to concentrate on car parts that's tells you bikes are secondary to the main business

I got my Marin Gestalt from Cycle Republic in Leeds, they did seem to know one end of a bike from the other, and stocked some really nice top end bikes, my bike was set up really well, all I had to do was swap saddles over and fine tune the position, all the accessories were fitted properly, it's a shame the greedy shareholders have sealed their fate.

 

[overmind]

Local bike shop: I needed a solid axle set for a roadster (yes, I know, they're hybrids nowadays..), not top quality wheel but functional. "Mechanic" gets down replacement wheel; £20 please! But I only need an axle set (cones and balls, to be honest). Not worth it mate. Sound of retreating footsteps.… Yep, I headed straight for Halfords where they were happy to rummage around in the store room, correctly identifying the 9mm set I required. Just under a tenner!

They've always served me well.

I've been very happy too with solid axles from Halfords in the past but I found that they stopped stocking them; I guess not enough profit margin. You are right, I think it is very sad that nobody fixes anything anymore. One of the reasons I stopped going there was because I could not find them in the store anymore. I notice they still sell them online though.

Speaking of online; I've just remembered that I had a very bad experience with click-and-collect at halfords. I ordered something and it took ages to come in and then they basically lost it in the store (in the wrong cabinet or something. It took 2 or 3 trips just to pick it up. The tracking of deliveries was really bad!

Decathlon and Wilko are light-years ahead.

 

[supersixone]

I would try and find lbs because they not selling you a bike but a life style and the wealth of knowledge is more the you find in a multi for instance pennine cycles in bradford family owned for over 46 years iam sure their are many more.

 

[stepphen]

On my other thread a few people advised me to not go to Halfords and go to a local bike shop instead.

I have a few questions about Halfords:

1. Do you know anyone who works at Halfords? If so, what does he or she say about the place?

2. Have you ever had a good experience with Halfords?

3. Do you ever go to Halfords? Or, do you categorically refuse to even go to place?

4. Do you ever get your bike repaired or serviced at Halfords?

There is a Halfords not too far away from me. Would it be okay for me to buy anything from Halfords? I know it’s often quite convenient to just go to the closest shop to you, but should I buy stuff from other shops or online rather than Halfords?

bought new ebike from there a very bad decision many problems the main one being a lot of the time they didnt have ebike machanic they will just lie to fob you of nearly a year later the one good thing i got full refund but the time i spent in that store and evans near me same sell ebikes no machanic if going to buy ebike go to ebike specialist because your spending a lot of money

 

[Drago]

I know several people who bought Carrera e bikes from hellfrauds, and every single one ended up returning them for a refund.

 

[simongt]

Cycle Republic may have bitten the dust, but at least my LBS is partly open for business, and fully open being sorted for repairs, servicing etc. when he can work out the social distancing in his wee shop - !