South East Kent

[SHornswaggle]

Is anyone able to tell me some names of good road bike shops in and around Dover, Canterbury, Folkestone please?

I have found a few mountain bike shops but I think I would like to speak to a road bike specialist shop.

I need to get measured for the bike, discuss Spds and everything really.

Also, is there a local cycle club? I had a little look online but it seems the main clubs are a good 40+ miles away.

 

[Panter]

I can recommend Downland Cycles in Canterbury, but I don't know what else is down your way

 

[SHornswaggle]

Ooh I shall give them a go! Thank you

 

[SHornswaggle]

Actually I have not heard of the brands of road bike that they sell. Are they good brands?

 

[SHornswaggle]

Oh my! It seems that they are seriously pro brands! I wonder if they would be well out of my league. I will certainly be going to have a look though

 

[Boon 51]

There is a bike shop in Canterbury just by the bus station you cant miss it.. I had a look the last time I was in the UK..

 

[vickster]

Actually I have not heard of the brands of road bike that they sell. Are they good brands?

Cube, Focus, Felt, Orbea are mid range, probably around £700+ , the others a bit more elite

They should be able to measure and advise.

What's your budget? Might be worth a road trip to Decathlon at Lakeside (or across the water to Calais if closer!)

Google shows a Cycle UK in Canterbury & Herberts in Herne Bay

http://www.herbertscycles.co.uk/ (look to be a Trek/Giant/Bianchi dealer which will give you a nice choice from around £500 up) - might be worth calling ahead as they don;t appear to have updated their site since June (but have been around since 1939 so sure they are fine)!

 

[SHornswaggle]

Cube, Focus, Felt, Orbea are mid range, probably around £700+ , the others a bit more elite

They should be able to measure and advise.

What's your budget? Might be worth a road trip to Decathlon at Lakeside (or across the water to Calais if closer!)

Google shows a Cycle UK in Canterbury & Herberts in Herne Bay

http://www.herbertscycles.co.uk/ (look to be a Trek/Giant/Bianchi dealer which will give you a nice choice from around £500 up) - might be worth calling ahead as they don;t appear to have updated their site since June (but have been around since 1939 so sure they are fine)!

Hello Vickster, I was originally looking at Trek domane/madone and Specialised robaiux (excuse smelling pistake)and was looking at around £1,500 initial outlay. For that I was hoping for bike and spds and shoes and hopefully the lunch on the day! Lol oh And a helmet!

I have a post up regarding bike advice and really I need to get to a shop and make a start. I'm looking to make the purchase in march/ April time as I have wrecked the calf muscles in my left leg currently. I haven't cycled in a few years and want to do some good miles and hopefully LEJOG IN 2014.

Herbert Bay is not too far but it's not local in the sense of getting to know them and be able to keep going back.

I used to think I knew about bikes but wow it has all changed since I last looked lol

 

[grumpyoldgit]

I love the Roubaix,got an S-Works Sl-3,just sold a beauty of a Comp Sl-2 on here,so dont ignore a used deal,could save a mint.At a guess the Sl-2 would have cost over 3 grand with the groupset it had.Looked at the Trek Domane,but a decent one is well over your budget.

 

[SHornswaggle]

I do keep toying with budget. And to be honest if I happen to see a bike and fall for it I could almost double my budget but that would be a bit mad at the stage I am at now. I'm looking at bikes online. I'm seeing colours mostly as some of the models for chains and gears etc are literally not meaning much to me at the moment. I'm aiming for 1,500 because that should get me what I want. I may eventually get to do about 200 miles a week and I don't think the carbon frame will be noticed by me - except for lifting it onto the roof rack. I want to appreciate it but from what I have seen anything will probably have the wow factor over my last racing bike of 20 years ago and even my specialised mountain bike of less than 10 lol

 

[Chrisz]

Downlands in Canterbury. UK Cycles (also in Canterbury), Larkfield Cycles in Maidstone - my usual spots. Herberts in Herne Bay are also pretty useful. Is the shop in Folkestone opposite the library still there (Reynolds???) or Activ8 top end of Sandgate Road??

If you want some decent Sunday club rides try Ashford Wheelers

 

[SHornswaggle]

Thank you for that info. I will look into it

 

[xxmimixx]

Also consider
Wildside in Tunbridge Wells
Senacre Cycles in Maidstone
Larkfield Cycles in Maidstone.
Cycles uk Maidstone or Tonbridge

If you make a trip you may visit them all in a day

I have visited all of them and they all know theirs stuff and have a good range in stock. However i would strongly reccomend you call beforehand any shop to make sure they have at least a couple of bikes in stock of the ones you are considering.

 

[Stubbo79]

I brought a entry level road bike from Tibbs in Cheriton, was only 400 but guy was very helpful. However I suspect with your budget he won't have a lot. I really got the cycling bug now and I am already looking at upgrading to a decent carbon frame bike with budget of 1500 - 2000! Some spectacular bike on sale, can stop browsing!

 

[SHornswaggle]

I have spent far more than my budget. I bought the Specialized Roubaix compact sport. I bought lezyne carbon bottle cages, carbon pump, carbon spd-SL pd9000. I bought a Specialized prevail helmet etc etc. I bought everything I can!

I have signed up to spinning classes too!

Have I got the bike out on the road? No! Why? I can't build up my calf muscle at all!!!!! I can't stand up and ride! I can't press down on the pedal because it pulls the calf again!

I'm in desperate need of calf strengthening exercises! Any ideas?