Spa Cycles?

[Ste T.]

Hi there,
Has anybody any experience of Spa Cycles? I was looking at the new Dawes Nomad which seems to be priced £1499 more or less. At Spa Cycles they have it for £975, quite a difference. How do they do it and are they reliable?

 

[Gixxerman]

I bought some tyres off them last year.
A pair of Schwalbe Marathon Cross 26" at a very good price of £13 each.
However, they sent me a pair of 700c tyres instead.
They accepted their mistake, replaced them with the correct size and covered my postage costs by giving me a free inner tube.
They seemed a fine, approachable outfit.

 

[phil_hg_uk]

Spa are one of my local LBS's and I buy from them regularly they have a couple of people who can be miserable sods but overall they are ok and the prices are good so go for it.

 

[MarkF]

I've bought called in and bought from them, haven't had any problems and you need those to discover how good a business is.....

Saw the Nomad in Cycling Active, looks a cracking bike, just what I'd like and at £975 not totally out of reach like the RRP is, gave up looking for a 2nd hand Dawes Sardar ages ago. Let us know what you think, if you decide to purchase the bike.

 

[Crackle]

My bike came from Spa and I can recommend them. After care when I had a problem was excellent as well. Their mechanic wasn't great though. He changed a chainwheel and tried to set up the front changer. I had to redo it when I got home. Go for it.

 

[BSRU]

I have bought quite a few things from them in the last six months, via the internet, no problems and always delivered quickly.
It's the sort of LBS I would like in Swindon, good range and competitive prices.

 

[frank9755]

I'm a regular customer. I bought a bike from them and lots of parts over the years.

They are regarded as one of, if not the, best shops for touring bikes in the country. They know their stuff.

Sometimes some of the admin doesn't work smoothly, but it has always been sorted out in the end.

 

[slowmotion]

I bought my Marathon+ tyres from their online shop and had excellent service. I recommended them to my sister and she was very happy too. They were the cheapest place I could find for the tyres.

 

[Moodyman]

Someone said on another forum that they're cyclists first and businessmen after. I think that sums it up well.

Yes, their admin is not brilliant, but you'll get good, honest advice and help from them.

I pass several local bikes shops to visit them - 20 miles away.

That's a cracking price for the Nomad though.

 

[mickle]

The shop is something of a legend. I've known about them for years but only recently had the opportunity to drop in. I was somewhat taken aback by the appearance - the window display appears not to have been changed in years, full of old crap. Old crap which had a thick layer of dust on it.

You walk in to an area which looks like someones front room has been turned into a messy bike shop. Which is what it is. Greeted by a beardy man you wander through into an area which looks like a kitchen - complete with sink and dining room table at which someone, another beardyman, sits lacing a wheel. I didn't visit the upstairs, but I'll wager they look like bedrooms whcih someone has filled with cycle clothing. It wouldn't have surprised me to find a member of staff having a kip.

The back garden has bikes lined up on the lawn - new bikes mind, for sale. Andthe sheds and outhouses contain more bikes, many hanging from meat-hooks from the ceiling. Nice bikes though.

F*** Evans, this is what a real bike shop should look like.

 

[Gerry Attrick]

The shop is something of a legend. I've known about them for years but only recently had the opportunity to drop in. I was somewhat taken aback by the appearance - the window display appears not to have been changed in years, full of old crap. Old crap which had a thick layer of dust on it.

You walk in to an area which looks like someones front room has been turned into a messy bike shop. Which is what it is. Greeted by a beardy man you wander through into an area which looks like a kitchen - complete with sink and dining room table at which someone, another beardyman, sits lacing a wheel. I didn't visit the upstairs, but I'll wager they look like bedrooms whcih someone has filled with cycle clothing. It wouldn't have surprised me to find a member of staff having a kip.

The back garden has bikes lined up on the lawn - new bikes mind, for sale. Andthe sheds and outhouses contain more bikes, many hanging from meat-hooks from the ceiling. Nice bikes though.

F*** Evans, this is what a real bike shop should look like.

Sounds just like a number of bike shops I frequented when I was a nipper!

IMO, Spa is an excellent bike shop with whom I have had many dealings face-to-face over several years. Buy with full confidence.

 

[jayonabike]

I bought some hand made wheels from them, friendly on the phone and new what they were talking about. Cracking wheels too!

 

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

i needed some specialist brompton advice / bits (i was putting a double chainring on at the time) and drove up, the service was excellent and they knew their stuff. i ordered stuff of them via the internet aswell, no problems. their prices are very good.

however, on another forum i have seen people slate them off, but a few posters said it's only the son of the original founder who can be off-handed on a bad day (can't we all tho?).

 

[Jerry Atrik]

They have given me lots of sound advice over the phone and their delivery and prices are hard to beat .

 

[GrumpyGregry]

They are regarded as one of, if not the, best shops for touring bikes in the country. They know their stuff.

They thoroughly deserve their reputation ime.