Good shop to buy a bike (Scotland)

[Moby Jones]

I am looking for some advice as to some good shops where i should visit to pick up my first road bike. I am looking to spend around between £500 - £600 on a road bike. I stay in Inverclyde in Scotland. A chap in my work went through to Edinburgh to the Edinburgh Bicycle Cooperative and bought his bike from the shop here, he found the staff really knowledgeable and he was able to get a test ride on a few bikes. I don't mind going through to Edinburgh as the girlfriend can always go shopping while i look for a bike.
I just wondered if there were any other good bikes shops i should consider visiting

 

[aberal]

Alpine bikes, also in Edinburgh, but with stores nearer you in Glasgow and also Dales Cycles in Glasgow and Evans have an outlet there too. All good shops with a wide range to choose from.

 

[Brandane]

+1 for Dales in Glasgow. Friendly knowledgeable staff and a good range of bikes and kit; especially if you like Specialized!

Evans at Braehead are ok, but beware their prices in store!! They do an on-line price promise guarantee, so best to go and look at whatever you want in the shop and then look again on-line to find the same stuff at a better price elsewhere. Then use the price promise facility.

 

[Grizzly]

I travel from East Kilbride to Edinburgh if its a bike I'm after, I find the Co-Op a great shop for the reasons you have said. I do use Alpine bike too though, mainly as they do the bike to work that my company uses but I do like them. I only go to Dales for the sale rail, other than that I think they are expensive.

 

[ACS]

Give the lads who run the Tri-Centre 57-59 South Clerk Street, Edinburgh a visit. Top advice, good range of machines and most importantly they ride themselves.

The Edinburgh Bike Coop is great for bits and bobs but a very busy place so the staff are pushed for time. I got my C2W bike from them, excellent service but I knew what I wanted.

 

[Moby Jones]

The chap who i was speaking to in work said that the Edinburgh Bicycle cooperative gave him 12 months interest free credi on his bike do you know if they still do this?
I have emailed them but i probably won't hear back for a few days.

 

[Grizzly]

The chap who i was speaking to in work said that the Edinburgh Bicycle cooperative gave him 12 months interest free credi on his bike do you know if they still do this?
I have emailed them but i probably won't hear back for a few days.

Read This: http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/comms/srv.a4d?f_pg=site_sizing/interest-free-credit.htm

 

[Moby Jones]

Read This: http://www.edinburgh...free-credit.htm

Brilliant, many thanks. Looks like i will be contacting the shop to organise a test ride.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

What about the likes of Billy Bisland's in Glasgow, or one of the small shops in the west end, the one at KelvinBridge, or the one just off Byers Road for example? (sorry I can't remember what they are called, but you can find them all if you type 'Glasgow Bike Shops' into Google (its hardly rocket surgery)

Personally, when I get a tourer, I'll probably get it from my local LBS (except for H******S), Magic Cycles in Bowling.

I would buy from a smaller shop than one which has several chains (pardon the pun) around the country and clearly doesn't need my custom. Besides, you don't need to go all the way to Edinburgh to get a bike, I mean, come on!

SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES!

 

[MrRidley]

What about the likes of Billy Bisland's in Glasgow, or one of the small shops in the west end, the one at KelvinBridge, or the one just off Byers Road for example? (sorry I can't remember what they are called, but you can find them all if you type 'Glasgow Bike Shops' into Google (its hardly rocket surgery)

Personally, when I get a tourer, I'll probably get it from my local LBS (except for H******S), Magic Cycles in Bowling.

I would buy from a smaller shop than one which has several chains (pardon the pun) around the country and clearly doesn't need my custom. Besides, you don't need to go all the way to Edinburgh to get a bike, I mean, come on!

SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES!

I would avoid this shop at all costs, he sells stuff to people thats unsuitable for them (newbies), you could also add Solid Rock Cycles to the list of shops to look at, or Big Al's (Wheelcraft) at the Campsie's where i've just bought a bike from.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

I would avoid this shop at all costs, he sells stuff to people thats unsuitable for them (newbies),

I bought my clipless shoes and pedals from them and they seemed helpful enough.

 

[Grizzly]

Sorry but I dont get the logic in this. I've not to buy from a large chain despite having very good service from them because they're not a small local shop, but I have to buy from a small local shop even if its cr@p??????? I find if its staffed by active enthusiasts then you get good advice and service, and thats far more important to me than size of company or distance to travel.
I also concur with Big Als' but it can be a wee bit awkward to get to if you dont know the area.

 

[Moby Jones]

I will buy from a shop which gives me good service, offers a good range of products at a good price and gives good advice. If my lbs offered those things I would go there in a heartbeat, until then I will give my money to the shop which offers me the service and products I am looking for.
I work hard for my money and I want to get value for money.

Sent from my Desire HD using Tapatalk

 

[ferret fur]

If you are coming to Edinburgh try the Bike Chain in canonmills: I really think they treat you well. I used to go to the co- op but I think that these days they are a bit hit & miss with their shop assistants. They have got a bit too corporate IMHO. I'd second the Tri Centre as well. I have had some good service from them too.

 

[zizou]

It is not IMO really worth the trip through to Edinburgh - The three major shops in the Glasgow area cover most of big manufacturers - Dales for Specialized and Giant, Alpine Bikes for Trek and Cannondale and Evans Cycles at Braehead obviously has loads too (actually i was quite impressed with the range of stock last time i was in - lots of nice stuff from smaller brands like Colnago, Litespeed, Rocky Mountain etc as well as from the big boys). Then there are alot of smaller shops which can have good deals too.

Also check out Decathlon at the Fort, some great value bikes there.