nimchimpsky82
Über Member
Hi all
Am new here so will quickly introduce myself -- or explain what got me here. After 7 years without a bike I went on a trip to Eastern Europe recently, rented a bike for a few days, made a few 5-6 hour tours on it, and ... absolutely loved it. Being Dutch (though having lived in the UK for nearly 10 years -- time really flies!) it brought back to me that feeling of freedom that my bikes used to give me when I still lived in Holland. So now I want one again.
I'm looking at road bikes or possibly cyclo-cross as I'll want to use it primarily to get fitter, and also for some light touring (day trips or perhaps slightly longer than that -- I know how to travel light and speed is so important to me that I don't want an audax/touring type bike). Been looking mainly at Kona, Spesh, Marin, but also quite tempted by Bianchi and Wilier. My budget is £800-1000, but for something as sexy as a Mortirolo Mirage I might work up the Dutch courage to fork out a few hundred more
(especially since I'd then have a decent basis to upgrade). But my ultimate choice isn't what this post is about (there will doubtless be others devoted to precisely that 
) -- and will depend on some test drives anyway.
What I'd like to know at this stage is whether anyone can recommend some good LBSs in the Liverpool area. (I've checked the Recommended LBS thread but couldn't find very much.) The closest two stores that I've found with bikes I'm considering are:
Abbey Cycles (Liverpool)
Quinns Bike Centre (Liverpool)
Slightly further afield:
Cycle Surgery (Wirral -- I know, Liverpool really, but try saying that to the locals!!)
Cyclehouse (Warrington)
Formby Cycles (Well, the name kinda gives it away, Formby)
Specialized Concept Store (Chester)
Bike Factory (Chester)
The Edge Cycleworks (Chester / Lancaster -- gets the nod in the Rec LBS thread; shame the website isn't up 'n' running at the mo...)
Oh, and then there's Evans in Manchester (2x), but I don't hear too many positive noises about them in this forum...
If anyone has had any experience with any of these, I'd be grateful to get your thoughts, as I'll likely be dealing with them for quite a few years! Also, any reliable stores I may have omitted, do please lemmeknow.
Am new here so will quickly introduce myself -- or explain what got me here. After 7 years without a bike I went on a trip to Eastern Europe recently, rented a bike for a few days, made a few 5-6 hour tours on it, and ... absolutely loved it. Being Dutch (though having lived in the UK for nearly 10 years -- time really flies!) it brought back to me that feeling of freedom that my bikes used to give me when I still lived in Holland. So now I want one again.
I'm looking at road bikes or possibly cyclo-cross as I'll want to use it primarily to get fitter, and also for some light touring (day trips or perhaps slightly longer than that -- I know how to travel light and speed is so important to me that I don't want an audax/touring type bike). Been looking mainly at Kona, Spesh, Marin, but also quite tempted by Bianchi and Wilier. My budget is £800-1000, but for something as sexy as a Mortirolo Mirage I might work up the Dutch courage to fork out a few hundred more
(especially since I'd then have a decent basis to upgrade). But my ultimate choice isn't what this post is about (there will doubtless be others devoted to precisely that ) -- and will depend on some test drives anyway.What I'd like to know at this stage is whether anyone can recommend some good LBSs in the Liverpool area. (I've checked the Recommended LBS thread but couldn't find very much.) The closest two stores that I've found with bikes I'm considering are:
Abbey Cycles (Liverpool)
Quinns Bike Centre (Liverpool)
Slightly further afield:
Cycle Surgery (Wirral -- I know, Liverpool really, but try saying that to the locals!!
)Cyclehouse (Warrington)
Formby Cycles (Well, the name kinda gives it away, Formby)
Specialized Concept Store (Chester)
Bike Factory (Chester)
The Edge Cycleworks (Chester / Lancaster -- gets the nod in the Rec LBS thread; shame the website isn't up 'n' running at the mo...)
Oh, and then there's Evans in Manchester (2x), but I don't hear too many positive noises about them in this forum...
If anyone has had any experience with any of these, I'd be grateful to get your thoughts, as I'll likely be dealing with them for quite a few years! Also, any reliable stores I may have omitted, do please lemmeknow.
Only kidding Liverpool is great too!
