What is best bike shop in London to get fully equipped touring bike+ all gear for 3 week trip?

[Bonefish Blues]

Delivery to an address other than the card holders might not be allowed due to card company’s rules to combat fraud, but they can could easily pick up from the shop.

OP could, presumably, order their own courier to pick up.

 

[vickster]

It all sounds like a lot of hassle to get a bike for 3 weeks (no mention of shipping/taking it home again afterwards)

I'd just order a bike in budget to Evans Gatwick and hop in a cab for 10 minutes from airport/local hotel

All that said, why not buy the bikes in the US and bring them with as hold baggage, then it can all be set up and you know it'll be where you need it and when. OK then there's the hassle of storing bike boxes etc, but Evans might oblige if you buy everything else from them

 

[Cycleops]

OP could, presumably, order their own courier to pick up.

If so they might have to produce the card or authority to collect it. Card companies are very picky about this but as above I don’t really see the necessity.

 

[biggs682]

I will be flying into Gatwick early Aug. I will be cycling for 3 weeks mainly France / Germany with my son. We need 2 touring bikes + all gear needed for the trip. Which shop should we go to ? Thanks, Allan

What are you going to do with the bikes afterwards ?

I think as others have suggested a bit of forward planning is required , ie do you need out and out touring bikes or just bikes that can have panniers fitted ?

 

[Gravity Aided]

I don't think I'd even consider touring on a new or, in my case different, bike, before I'd put a few hundred miles on it. I run into issues with wheels and tires, generally, and have to do some fettling. But then again, were I to go on a European tour, I'd probably not get out of the U.K., too much to see there.

 

[Bonefish Blues]

I don't think I'd even consider touring on a new or, in my case different, bike, before I'd put a few hundred miles on it. I run into issues with wheels and tires, generally, and have to do some fettling. But then again, were I to go on a European tour, I'd probably not get out of the U.K., too much to see there.

That's why I and ano steered towards Thorn/Spa. there's no reason why a bike set up by those guys shouldn't "fit and forget" as the OP desires.

 

[Gravity Aided]

That's why I and ano steered towards Thorn/Spa. there's no reason why a bike set up by those guys shouldn't "fit and forget" as the OP desires.

A very good point, but a touring bike still takes some getting used to, especially as every one handles differently under load.

 

[Bonefish Blues]

A very good point, but a touring bike still takes some getting used to, especially as every one handles differently under load.

I agree - and in an ideal world that would absolutely be the way to do it, but within the OP's constraints, I reckon it's the best and safest way.

 

[MichaelW2]

Evans seems like a sensible choice given the locations. Order a common, well known brand in advance. You can bring your own saddle and pedals. For all the grear, if you need camping kit, Cotswold Camping is the main midmarket supplier in the SE, similar in type to Evans. Go Outdoors is a big supplier of lower end kit. In France the big sports/ outdoor shop is Decathlon.

 

[Brandane]

If the OP is only looking for a bike for 3 weeks, maybe he is looking to hire rather than buy?
That would be my choice unless I was planning to bring the bikes home, which seems unlikely - if he/she wanted to take a bike on their air travels then presumably they would bring bikes from home.
Not being from anywhere near that there London, I can't be of any help with bike hire locations - but being London it will be reassuringly expensive!

 

[vickster]

Could be. I don’t know any company that hires tourers in the SE ...OYB in London/east Grinstead has a range but no tourers

https://www.onyourbike.com/london-bike-rental.php

There’s fat lama

https://fatlama.com/rentals/london/hire-mercian-touring--bicycle-79845160

 

[Bonefish Blues]

Actually, that sparks a thought - Breton bikes does tours with bikes. Not their usual arrangement, but might be worth contacting:

http://www.bretonbikes.com/

 

[Tim Hall]

Could be. I don’t know any company that hires tourers in the SE ...OYB in London/east Grinstead has a range but no tourers

https://www.onyourbike.com/london-bike-rental.php

And https://southwatercycles.com/info/bike_hire_in_west_sussex.php. Both vickster's link and mine are within cab distance of Gatwick.

 

[mjr]

And https://southwatercycles.com/info/bike_hire_in_west_sussex.php. Both vickster's link and mine are within cab distance of Gatwick.

There's actually fairly good cycle routes from Gatwick to each of them... oh wait a minute!

 

[Randomnerd]

Drover Cycles in Hay hire out Thorn and Surly bikes, which should be flexible enough to set up for a few weeks touring. Ring UK 01497 822419. Around £100 per bike per week. Might consider shipping to airport....
This outfit http://adventurepedlars.com/ hire out Alpkit bikes and all the kit for weeks UK, and will deliver to mainline stations. More bikepacking style, but could be comfortable and hiring bags might be useful