London cycle shops - are they something special?

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I live in the North of England, as does everyone I know (well almost). So when someone I know had a business trip to London they came back telling me tales about the nutters on bikes and the amazing bike shops everywhere.

Listening to the tales of all the bike shops makes me think it has reached mythic levels. Just how good, varied and plentiful are London bike shops?

Tales of Dutch bikes, shoppers, fixies / singlespeeds, posh bikes, etc. Just so much choice. Being told that I should visit London just for the bike shops seems too much hyperbole.

So, just how good is London for buying bikes? Worth a 4+ hour each way train journey? Obviously not, but if tagged on to a short break... What bike shops are really special and nearby popular tourist places? Worth planning a tourist and bike shop break to London?
 

Heltor Chasca

Out-riding the Black Dog
I have had a foot in each. (Somerset and London) Totally unfounded claim. The internet has shrunk the World and the last I heard, London is now a marshy wildlife reserve owned by a high school trust based in Giggleswick.
 

Ciar

Veteran
Location
London
I live in the North of England, as does everyone I know (well almost). So when someone I know had a business trip to London they came back telling me tales about the nutters on bikes and the amazing bike shops everywhere.

Listening to the tales of all the bike shops makes me think it has reached mythic levels. Just how good, varied and plentiful are London bike shops?

Tales of Dutch bikes, shoppers, fixies / singlespeeds, posh bikes, etc. Just so much choice. Being told that I should visit London just for the bike shops seems too much hyperbole.

So, just how good is London for buying bikes? Worth a 4+ hour each way train journey? Obviously not, but if tagged on to a short break... What bike shops are really special and nearby popular tourist places? Worth planning a tourist and bike shop break to London?

I myself use my local LBS which is on the border of East London and Essex and they are great but arent a specialists.

if you travel into Shoreditch and Hackney again in East London, that's hipster paradise and there are lots of bike shops round there, no doubt catering for the satchel wearing, single speed riders along with rather expensive coffees :smile:

head into Canary Wharf and you have bespoke cycles, they only sell expensive bikes from what i have seen, so i would say they are definitely a specialist shop, but would you really want to take a trip to London for bike shops?
 

Milkfloat

An Peanut
Location
Midlands
For me London bikes shops are a mix of the overpriced 'chic' marketing stores and a few old fashioned LBS. I have no need for either. £25 plus tube for a puncture repair :ohmy:

To be fair, there are some gems, like Brixton Cycles (although a bit corporate for me now) and although not strictly a shop, London Bike Kitchen.
 
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vickster

Legendary Member
Guess it depends what bike brand you want. If a Condor you might be best off at their main store, although there are other stockists in the provinces ;)

If you want a Pearson and to see in the metal/plastic, you’ll need to travel to SW London

I can’t think of other brands that aren’t available elsewhere. I recently went the other way to Fatbirds in Norfolk before settling on a Sabbath on a specific journey to Harrogate (also visited York and the moors)

@Soltydog made a pilgrimage to Hailsham to visit Enigma :okay:
 

smutchin

Cat 6 Racer
Location
The Red Enclave
So when someone I know had a business trip to London they came back telling me tales about the nutters on bikes and the amazing bike shops everywhere.

Did he mention the streets being paved with gold as well?

For sheer eclecticism, Velorution and Bikefix are good. Bespoked, as already mentioned, and The Bike Rooms are both good if you want to ogle some bike porn you'll never be able to afford. Otherwise I can't think of any special reason to visit London for bike shopping.
 

Globalti

Legendary Member
We went to New York in April and one afternoon GtiJunior and I visited four bike shops but we found tham all disappointingly functional and bland, just scruffy LBSs with not a coffee machine. beard or single speed in sight. I had been hoping to find some distinctive New York jerseys for myself and a couple of cycling buddies but their selections were as lacklustre as in any British shop.

Manchester has some fairly pornographic bike shops, but then Manchester is a hopping city:

https://www.thebikerooms.com/

https://www.cyclerepublic.com/

http://www.keeppedalling.co.uk/
 
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vickster

Legendary Member
We went to New York in April and one afternoon GtiJunior and I visited four bike shops but we found tham all disappointingly functional and bland, just scruffy LBSs with not a coffee machine. beard or single speed in sight. I had been hoping to find some distinctive New York jerseys for myself and a couple of cycling buddies but their selections were as lacklustre as in any British shop.

Manchester has some fairly pornographic bike shops, but then Manchester is a hopping city:

https://www.thebikerooms.com/

https://www.cyclerepublic.com/

http://www.keeppedalling.co.uk/

Cycle republic = Halfords bike arm...not sure I’d say it’s that thrilling (maybe you prefer bland vanilla porn :whistle: )
 

snorri

Legendary Member
If a step in to your local bike shop is like a step into the middle of last century, as mine was until it closed a couple of years ago, then London bike shops are a revelation, I was in one that had an upstairs and a downstairs:biggrin:.
It can be interesting to idly browse the displays, but if you need to discuss some particular aspect............well you can do that on CycleChat in the comfort of your own home:smile:.
 

Slick

Guru
Obviously this means zip, but the only problem I've had with a new bike came from a shop in London. Just as obviously, that means I won't be doing that again in a hurry.
 

Soltydog

Legendary Member
Location
near Hornsea
@Soltydog made a pilgrimage to Hailsham to visit Enigma :okay:
Worth every minute too :okay: Went on a test ride down to Eastbourne & Beachy Head, very pleasant. When I go collect the bike I may stay overnight again & go for another ride or 2 round the area :smile:

But back OT I doubt I'd go to a bike shop in London, unless the product I was after was unique to the shop. We've recently got a bike shop in Hornsea now, but prior to that i was sometimes reluctant to go 15 miles to the nearest shop & would generally buy online :blush:
 

mjr

Comfy armchair to one person & a plank to the next
I can’t think of other brands that aren’t available elsewhere. I recently went the other way to Fatbirds in Norfolk [...]
Just my usual note that if anyone else wanted to do that, you've now missed your chance. Fatbirds have flown. We still have Madgett's in Diss and Paul's in Dereham, although I'm not sure either are sole stockist for any brands.
 

vickster

Legendary Member
Just my usual note that if anyone else wanted to do that, you've now missed your chance. Fatbirds have flown. We still have Madgett's in Diss and Paul's in Dereham, although I'm not sure either are sole stockist for any brands.
Pedal Revolution appear to have retained Fatbirds name as a part of the business for their Titanium offer if you look at the drop down

https://store.pedalrevolution.co.uk/
 
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