Using your Local Bike Shop

[jayonabike]

There's something to be said about using your LBS. I broke a spoke on the way to work last night, so popped in to my LBS this afternoon. Not only did the lad who works there replace the spoke and true the wheel there and then for me he didn't charge me a penny and even gave me a discount on a couple of inner tubes.

 

[HLaB]

I find my local bike shop friendly but not well stocked on parts unfortunately. I burst my rim a few years back, luckily close to the lbs, he made emergency repairs and ordered me a replacement, unfortunately they emergency repairs had to last a fortnight :-( Its been a similar story other times when I've needed parts :-(

 

[endoman]

I don't know if I have what is described as a LBS, I ride past 2 JE James on the way to work, do they count?
Also know of a frame builder or two in the locality, one in Dronfield, one in Clowne, I think the Clowne one has a shop as I peered through the window while out of breath having ridden up a steep hill to get there!

Anything else in Chesterfield / Sheffield?

 

[billy1561]

Agree with the op, I would be lost without mine. I do have to pay but its not a rip off and usually quick and efficient service.
Edit for dodgy spelling.

 

[Cheule]

Deficient service?

 

[gb155]

my LBS is friendly

BUT

Not well stocked

nor cheap

and If I need something doing, its 2/3 days.

 

[YahudaMoon]

I don't know if I have what is described as a LBS, I ride past 2 JE James on the way to work, do they count?
Also know of a frame builder or two in the locality, one in Dronfield, one in Clowne, I think the Clowne one has a shop as I peered through the window while out of breath having ridden up a steep hill to get there!

Anything else in Chesterfield / Sheffield?

The bike shop in Clowne builds some of the best bikes frames in the UK.

EDDISON CYCLES
83, HIGH STREET, CLOWNE, CHESTERFIELD, S43 4JX
01246 812878

Thats where I'm going if I get enough money together for a new frame. I can only dream

 

[danphoto]

We used to patronise the only bike shop in town until it closed down maybe 10 years ago. This left us with 2 alternatives, each 9 miles away but in opposite directions.

I tried the one to the south about 7 years ago and paid far too much for a badly-finished job which took 11 working days rather than the 4 promised, and subsequently needed rectification. That ruled them out.

I tried the other one soon after, and was impressed with the can-do attitude and reasonable prices. However, the lack of a handy bike shop in town prompted me to finally get my arse in gear re online shopping for bike bits and DIY maintenance.

Funnily enough, I had urgent need of a long brake cable inner a couple of months back and was due a trip to a place very near this latter bike shop, so I breezed in intent upon buying the cable and whatever else took my fancy. Oh, how things have changed ...

One guy behind the counter was on the phone moaning to somebody about the lack of trade. The other was engaged in a conversation about some bicycle race or other with a fragrant young man in lurid Lycra on my side of the counter. After ignoring me for long enough to establish the pecking order, the shop assistant said to he who smelled like a tart's handbag "Don't go away - I need to tell you about James".

He then said to me "Can I help you?", and I asked if he could fix me up with a tandem rear brake cable inner. He shook his head and said "No, we don't do those". And that was it. I looked at him. He looked at me. His mate looked at me. So I just said "Sorry to have interrupted things. Please carry on" and left.

Unless online shopping ceases to be, there is no way I will ever step foot inside another bicycle shop.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

my LBS is friendly

BUT

Not well stocked

nor cheap

and If I need something doing, its 2/3 days.

and therefore I buy the bits of the interwebs and do the job myself.

Though I confess that I did recently buy some new spokes from my LBS as it was easier to walk in and say "two of these please!" than risk getting the wrong ones online. and as, franklly, spending 40p in your LBS is a pisstake I bought a 1/8" chain while I was there too for the SS.

 

[d87heaven]

I went to my LBS to get a bottom bracket as the price in thier catalogue was not far off online places. At the till I was charged £8 more! When i questioned this 40% hike I was told 'thats our online price, its different in the shop overheads and all that'. Cue me leaving promising never to go back again.

.....
One guy behind the counter was on the phone moaning to somebody about the lack of trade. The other was engaged in a conversation about some bicycle race or other with a fragrant young man in lurid Lycra on my side of the counter. After ignoring me for long enough to establish the pecking order, the shop assistant said to he who smelled like a tart's handbag "Don't go away - I need to tell you about James".

He then said to me "Can I help you?", and I asked if he could fix me up with a tandem rear brake cable inner. He shook his head and said "No, we don't do those". And that was it. I looked at him. He looked at me. His mate looked at me. So I just said "Sorry to have interrupted things. Please carry on" and left.

.........

This. But not just in LBS.

 

[Atyl1972]

my LBS is pretty good however, does tend to stock not very good bikes, pretty cheap but he is a very friendly and that counts also, i have decided since thinking about getting a road bike that my LBS is going to be 20 miles away, yes 20 miles and the reason for this is simple, of all the shops i have been to they're the most helpful, supportive and advised the best for what my needs are, yes i have more local ones that i have also dealt with but i have not received any communication from them when i ordered a bike to trial ride so for me its all about comms and thats why I'm deciding on the 20 mile journey, I'm not Dependant on a bike for transport so its not that bad as some of you readers may think ( god, he must be nuts to think his LBS is 20 miles away ) i hear you all say, but its on route to my place of work anyway and can drop it there and collect when its fixed etc. my advise would be to find out how helpful and how knowledgeable they are and of course friendly too, this is worth its weight in gold

 

[Norm]

My LBS (Stows of Windsor) are fantastic.

Very helpful on the phone, free with their advice, willingly suggest whether or not I should be able to tackle a job myself rather than having them do it and charging, they will fit stuff that I have bought from them, advise on how to use tools or strip components, swap out stuff which has failed and most of their labour charges can be covered by an ice cream or two from the shop next door.

Oh, and my experience of their test rides has been "take as long as you like" - which worked in their favour last time as I never have returned the Tricross I took out in February last year. (I should point out that I went back with a cheque, rather than just disappearing with it! )

That said, of course, I've been going there for a long time (my "old" MTB, purchased in 1990, has one of their stickers) and maybe not everyone gets that sort of treatment but, given their costs are pretty close to on-line prices anyway, I'm happy enough to use them for everything.

 

[tyred]

I have a choice of two really. Both are helpful and friendly enough with knowledgeable staff but one only really want to deal with the high end, top of the range components so aren't a lot of use to me.

The other is an old established business and can turn up all sorts of bits and pieces like Sturmey Archer pawl springs and Raleigh bb cups but if you need to order something in, it will probably takes weeks, if not months to come, which is the clincher for me. I can order the same parts online, have them probably the next day and often cheaper.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Mine is very friendly, knowledgeable, kind (he will not see me something that I do not need) a little understocked but always fast to order and if possible will do a job on the spot for me if I ask nicely I usually get a few quid knocked of the price as well. Dare Valley Cycles is the place.

 

[postman]

I thought about posting something similar earlier this week.My local bike shop did me a great BIG favour this week.I am well known to them buying things over the past few years,but sadly never a bike.When i did want to buy a bike a certain manager would not get my size in so i could try it out.But another shop did and i bought it there and then .But anyway back to this week.A large job to me was done bythem in 24 hours and only charged me a £5.I was stunned and we had a laugh ,me saying something on the lines of i'll be there in 10 mins so you don't change your mind.When i did get there he said sorry it's gone up you have taken more tha 10 mins to get here.Amazing service.