Local bike shop heroes

[got-to-get-fit]

Right.....i want to sing the praises of my local bike shop so shut up and listen.

I have a problem with my Mavic Aksium rear hub in that the teeth that hold the spokes in place have suffered damage. The middle one is missing meaning that 2 of the spokes will no longer fit secure into the hub.

I visited the LBS which is on my street (couldnt get much more local than that) Showed them the problem and the guy said hmmmmmm you need a new hub. leave it with me and ill price you some up. Fair nuff i thought.

He rang me today to say can you call into the shop? ok says i, give me a minute.

When i got there he said......"ive rang mavic and the hub will be covered under a warranty, i talked to a guy in the service centre he sent me a form to fill in which i have done and e-mailed him back. The guy at mavic said send us the wheel and we will send a completley new wheel out free of charge. So ive packaged up your wheel and dropped it off at a couriers it will be back in 7 days."

I was gobsmaked. Errrrrrmmmmm is spluttered, thank you, thats fantastic, im so grateful.

The thing is i didnt even buy my bike there. Mines a Bianchi and they only stock Giants. The most ive ever bought there was a pu**t**e repair kit a couple of tubes and had a service, so its not even as if im a fantastic customer or anything.

So from now on im buying everything i need in that bike shop and i will be dropping them a nice bottle of Vino off as well by way of a thank you.

Who said customer service was dead?

 

[Keith Oates]

Good to read that, GTGF, it's that type of service that makes supporting the LBS worthwhile even if you can get something a little bit cheaper on line!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[wafflycat]

Yup, a good LBS is a thing to be treasured. In my case, it's Specialised Cycles in Norwich. Steve (the owner) and Andy (the magic mechanic) know their stuff and are incredibly helpful, always.

 

[Rhythm Thief]

Great stuff. The world needs more people like that.
Fred Williams on Snow Hill in Wolverhampton is also very good.

 

[Globalti]

An old cycling acquaintance of mine suddenly appeared with a small new shop. I was so pleased to see him that I asked him to get me a set of SPD pedals, even though I knew I could get them in 24 hours from CRC for at least £20 less. It took him over a week to get them from his supplier because the order got lost but I wasn't in a hurry and I was able to support him in a small way. One karma point to me I guess and you never know when you might need a favour.

 

[Tim Bennet.]

There are some great local bike shops, but there are also some absolutely stinkers.

I would like to see the CTC endorse 'bike shop repair facilities' in the way the MG owners club grades the specialist garages their members need: The MGOC inspects the garage and actually appraises what level of mechanical expertise their staff have and the workshop facilities before awarding up to 5 spanners accordingly. So 1 spanner would be only capable of doing thorough pre-delivery checks and puncture repairs (Halfords?) whereas 5 spanners would be capable of doing everything including frame repairs and refinishing.

The members who use each establishment, then fill in feedback forms and stars are awarded each year based on customer satisfaction.

So a 3 spanner, 5 star place would be an excellent shop that can do most servicing and the swapping of parts where all their customers are happy. What better endorsement could there be? I think it would drive up both technical standards, customer service and enable the good ones to differentiate themselves from the chaff.

It would be a voluntary system, but I am sure the good places would quickly sign up to have their CTC sign swinging above the door.

 

[microphonie]

Yup, a good LBS is a thing to be treasured. In my case, it's Specialised Cycles in Norwich. Steve (the owner) and Andy (the magic mechanic) know their stuff and are incredibly helpful, always.

Seconded! Absolutely top notch.

 

[mickle]

Right.....i want to sing the praises of my local bike shop so shut up and listen.

So from now on im buying everything i need in that bike shop and i will be dropping them a nice bottle of Vino off as well by way of a thank you.

You forgot to mention the name of the shop!

 

[stevenb]

Nice one Jase.
I took my bike in for its first free service and they discounted me on my Cateye V3 I bought and fitted it free and fitted the Mavic spoke magnet I needed free of cost too.
Had a chat with Mr Phil Corley himself......nice chap....
Result....although my bike seemed dirtier when i got it back thean when I took it in.....but everythings all tickedy boo.....
So I got my Pedro's Ice Wax on the chain and blinged it up before going out today.

 

[got-to-get-fit]

You forgot to mention the name of the shop!

ooooopppppssss!!!

Yarm Cycles.
West street,
Yarm

 

[spandex]

Sid at york cycle works (york) one of the best wheel builders ive found. Even better then me!!

 

[buggi]

Red Kite Cycles in Solihull and John Atkins in Leamington Spa are my faves. Both have given me discounts everytime i've gone in and both are really helpful