Does anyone own, run or work in a bike shop?

[Kinky]

Mrs. K and I are having a pretty infuriating time at the moment ....

Mrs. K is after a new bike - just a simple bike to potter about the village on, down to the allotment, etc, etc. Nothing flash or swish - just something simple - probably with a basket front and back.

There's a mountain bike shop across the road from us here in Sunningdale - so in she pops during the week. There were 2 people in the shop - herself and a shop assistant. She opened the conversation with "I'm looking for a bike and need some help". To which his response was "sorry - I'm busy" and then walked off into the back room!

Needless to say she stormed out of said shop and has told everyone in the village about said 'attitude'. It's amazing how word gets round so quick (but that's another story)

Anyway - into Halfords in Slough we go, as we were passing - and a similiar story

So this afternoon we popped into a family bicycle shop in Camberley. They had some lovely bikes - so were quite keen to buy. We asked an assistant for help, as we did not know what size frame she would need. The guys response to this first question was 'a 17" might fit'. Then started to bamboozle her with techyspeak about gear ratios. I had already switched off and had decided that even if they were going to give us a bike for free - we still would not take it.

So a very simple question ...... is there a PHer who could help in guidance in buying a bike for Mrs. K - or suggest a bike shop with friendly helpful staff.

Although we're based around Bracknell/Staines/Camberley area - we'd be happy to buy from anyone anywhere that can simply help us.

Yours frustratedly,

K

[phillvr6]

I don't own or work in a shop but it I know my onions and if you need any guidance let me know.

Phill

[rfn]

Theres a bike shop on Barkham Street between Barkham Road and Barkham Ride - I reckon they'd be quite helpful. Despite going there a few times since I've moved down here, I haven't recalled the name of it.

I've pinpointed it on Google Maps for you though:

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&hl=en&ge...

[LRdriver II]

bike store on Fleet highstreet I have been happy with a few years back..

[Frik]

Go to Evans in Woking K.

Very helpful despite being a chain store.

[stevieb]

Switchback Cycles in Knaphill are quite good..


I was in there today testing a few bike for my 2 boys (age 5 &6) allowed them to test the bikes before buying etc. Ended up buying 2 Kona kids mountain bikes for them!

If you are in the area Pop buy for a coffee as i am just around the corner!

[JPJ]

And also Berkshire Cycles in Crowthorne - usually very helpful and with the added bonus of being reasonably cheap too!

For futre repairs I can also recommend Andy at www.purplebikeshed.com - a mobile bike repair service based out of Farnborough.

[sjg]

Mountain Trax are good in my experience. Barkham near Wokingham (although I haven't been to their new shop yet - ought to, as it's between my office and the pub we go to for lunch sometimes!). Used to travel a fair way to get to them before I worked down the road. http://www.mountain-trax.com/

Action Bikes in Ruislip are good IME too. They're a chain, but franchised so little in common with each other beyond the name. Staff are very helpful, decent range and they'll bend over backwards to get stuff in if they haven't got it in stock.

[Kinky]

Very useful and extremely helpful - thank you all

[Gooby]

There is an odd bike shop in Bournemouth that specialise in cheap but vey cool bikes for cruzing around town. Low riders and easy riders, laid back riding, REALLY cool looks great paint jobs. I love them

[rfn]

sjg said:

Mountain Trax are good in my experience. Barkham near Wokingham (although I haven't been to their new shop yet - ought to, as it's between my office and the pub we go to for lunch sometimes!). Used to travel a fair way to get to them before I worked down the road. http://www.mountain-trax.com/

This is the one I was talking about .

[Marcellus]

If you ever go near High Wycombe go and see Mark or Simon in Cycle Care they'll take care of you with bike selection and let them know I've recommended.

I travelled bck from The French Alps to buy my last two bikes from them!!

(Simon is cyclecsi on PH)

Edited by Marcellus on Sunday 13th July 21:24

[Kinky]

Marcellus said:

If you ever go near High Wycombe go and see Mark or Simon in Cycle Care .....

I travelled back from The French Alps to buy my last two bikes from them!!

Blimey - they are THAT good you come that far

[Marcellus]

imo yep....

[deckster]

Sadly the best bike shop in the area - iBike in Crowthorne - has just closed down I've bought a couple of bikes from Mountain Trax with no complaints although I've heard anecdotally that service has gone downhill a bit recently. For lower-end bikes (<£500 quid say) I've used Cyclezone a few times and can thoroughly recomend them - there's one in Winnersh and one in Earley.

Second the recommendation for Andy at Purple Bike Shed - top bloke (Julian you aren't a BoB are you?!)

[Frik]

deckster said:

Sadly the best bike shop in the area - iBike in Crowthorne - has just closed down

Really? Went a few months ago and they seemed like a good bunch of guys. Any ideas why?

[deckster]

Frik said:

deckster said:

Sadly the best bike shop in the area - iBike in Crowthorne - has just closed down

Really? Went a few months ago and they seemed like a good bunch of guys. Any ideas why?

No real details but I guess people just weren't buying enough bikes.

iBike said:

An investment deal that I have been working on for almost six months
has fallen through and without it we’ve been advised that we cannot
continue to trade.

[JPJ]

Deckster, yep, I'm a BoB although to be honest haven't been out on many club outings recently. Nice to know there's another PH/BoB out there!

[gingerpaul]

deckster said:

Frik said:

deckster said:

Sadly the best bike shop in the area - iBike in Crowthorne - has just closed down

Really? Went a few months ago and they seemed like a good bunch of guys. Any ideas why?

No real details but I guess people just weren't buying enough bikes.

iBike said:

An investment deal that I have been working on for almost six months
has fallen through and without it we’ve been advised that we cannot
continue to trade.

I was only there a month or so ago. They would have been who I recommended too.

[Kinky]

JPJ said:

And also Berkshire Cycles in Crowthorne - usually very helpful and with the added bonus of being reasonably cheap too!

Thanks everyone for all the comments and feedback. It was extremely useful.

In the end (today) we went for Berkshire Bikes on Crowthorne high street.

I have to say that they were absolutely brilliant. We had the girl look after us (didn't get her name) - but she was very friendly, helpful and patient and nothing was a bother for her.

Suffice to say it was a genuine breath of fresh air to be dealt with in such a manner - especially after the past experiences we've had*

Needless to say, we left there with £250ish less in the pocket.

So - I'd thoroughly recommend them, and they certainly have our custom for the future. Ironically, our local vicars wife also recommended them too!

Thank you all again

K

* I've been relaying our experiences to local friends, etc and it transpires that they've had very similiar/identical experiences - so it's clearly not just us.