Surrey & SW London LBS recommendations?
Discussion
New year, new cycle to work entry point getting closer!
We use the CTW scheme which uses independent shops (as opposed to the Halfords & Evans ones), so I'm after a few recommendations on shops to consider for a new road bike?
In the ideal world, one of the various shops that line CS7 would be handy, but failing that, a rough Epsom/Guildford/Dorking triangle also works well.
We use the CTW scheme which uses independent shops (as opposed to the Halfords & Evans ones), so I'm after a few recommendations on shops to consider for a new road bike?
In the ideal world, one of the various shops that line CS7 would be handy, but failing that, a rough Epsom/Guildford/Dorking triangle also works well.
Kermit power said:
New year, new cycle to work entry point getting closer!
We use the CTW scheme which uses independent shops (as opposed to the Halfords & Evans ones), so I'm after a few recommendations on shops to consider for a new road bike?
In the ideal world, one of the various shops that line CS7 would be handy, but failing that, a rough Epsom/Guildford/Dorking triangle also works well.
If you are anywhere near Windsor, or passing, I would highly recommend 7Hundred in Windsor. Even if you don't buy its worth going in there to ogle at the bike porn on display - plus they will always shout you a coffee!We use the CTW scheme which uses independent shops (as opposed to the Halfords & Evans ones), so I'm after a few recommendations on shops to consider for a new road bike?
In the ideal world, one of the various shops that line CS7 would be handy, but failing that, a rough Epsom/Guildford/Dorking triangle also works well.
Do NOT go into http://www.sigmasport.co.uk/ in Kingston. Your CTW budget will be blown to pieces the second you see some of the sexy carbon in there.
Great service by the way... these guys live the dream.
Great service by the way... these guys live the dream.
Kermit power said:
I think someone mentioned one near Box Hill in a similar thread I couldn't find?
Dauphin is who you are thinking of.You also have Pearsons in Sutton & Sheen, to be honest you have loads around the area so you may want to be more specific about what bike you are looking for i.e. titanium, carbon rugged commuter etc as the choice is vast.
Sigma - have a decent selection but focused towards the bigger budget in the shop but that does not mean they don't have low and mid range prices you will just have to tell them what your budget is, the warehouse is only 2-3 miles away from the shop.
Dauphin - are a smaller outfit but a very good bunch of guys, they don't open on Sunday so be warned if you plan on popping in on Sunday
Pearson's - Similar to Dauphin I would say
Edited by The Walrus on Thursday 19th January 10:20
The Walrus said:
Dauphin is who you are thinking of.
That was it, thanks.The Walrus said:
You may want to be more specific about what bike you are looking for
Fair point!Budget is up to £2k on our CTW scheme (it's nice having an employer with their own consumer credit licence), but I don't necessarily feel the need to spend it all. Although if I'm honest with myself, that conviction will last seconds once I'm through the door looking.
I'm currently commuting on an old GT ZR3.0 which I've converted to flat bars because I was just a bit too bent over to be able to get decent visibility through Central London without getting a sore neck! It's pretty nice - 105 everything and pretty light - but would be nicer if it had rack and mudguard mounting points though.
In terms of what I'm looking for next, I'm in two minds, so looking for advice from a decent shop...
One approach would be a sportive of some sort - whilst I like the flat bars for commuting, they're no fun for evenings and weekends around the Surrey Hills, which I'd like to do more of - and a recognition that I'd probably still use the GT for a lot of the commuting (especially if I go for Carbon, as I'd get nervous about storing that in the communal bike lock up here).
The other approach would be to go for a disc-clad cyclocross bike. This would handle my main issue with the GT - the absolute terror of bugger all braking coming down Clapham High Street when it's lashing it down, coupled with enough self-awareness to know that I'm never going to make time to clean the rims enough for rim brakes to resolve that (which, given the grime on London roads would be roughly every 4 miles!
), and the fact that Koolstop and other after market pads don't seem to make that much difference.In terms of frame material, I'm also open to discussion. I quite like the idea of Titanium, but I fear even at my maximum budget I'd be compromising too much on the fittings to get the frame. I don't really want to drop below the 105 or SRAM/Campag equivalent.
I certainly like the idea of carbon, but am worried about horror stories of writing off frames because of seemingly innocuous scratches. A shared bike lock up at work and a cack-handed wife and three small children using the garage at home contribute to this fear.
Aluminium I already know. People say it's "buzzy", but I've not tried anything else to know how other materials compare to my GT (alloy with carbon forks).
Steel? I like the sound of it for its riding characteristics, but I have a possibly irrational loathing for all things "retro", and this rather seems to encompass all the steel frames I'm aware of.
I've just been looking at http://www.corridori.co.uk/, which from a location point of view would be exceptionally convenient. I go within 20 yards of them most weeks without actually turning up their road. Anyone got any experience of them?
Kermit power said:
In terms of frame material, I'm also open to discussion. I quite like the idea of Titanium, but I fear even at my maximum budget I'd be compromising too much on the fittings to get the frame. I don't really want to drop below the 105 or SRAM/Campag equivalent.
Have you seen this? http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/CBPXTIRDLTD/pl...Sram Red no less!
And I know you're going to find this hard to believe, but they do an even cheaper version! I know it's not from your local bike shop, but Jesus wept, this is almost too good.
Mr Gear said:
Have you seen this? http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/CBPXTIRDLTD/pl...
Sram Red no less!
And I know you're going to find this hard to believe, but they do an even cheaper version! I know it's not from your local bike shop, but Jesus wept, this is almost too good.
SRAM Red Yes but with a few BIG caveats - front and rear derailleurs and shifters are RED everything else calipers and crankset are APEX and in RED form are a considerable part of the total groupset cost. Sram Red no less!
And I know you're going to find this hard to believe, but they do an even cheaper version! I know it's not from your local bike shop, but Jesus wept, this is almost too good.
Mr Gear said:
Do NOT go into http://www.sigmasport.co.uk/ in Kingston. Your CTW budget will be blown to pieces the second you see some of the sexy carbon in there.
Great service by the way... these guys live the dream.
My vote but I'm biased, I feel compelled to drop in there every weekend at the moment. They rake in so much wonga that they've now got free Italian coffee for punters! I won't shop anywhere else now Great service by the way... these guys live the dream.
Sigma also run the Specialized Concept Shop in Kingston. Probably more your budget.
Corridori haven't been there since they were in Banstead high street.
Geoff Butler in Croydon maybe.
Prologue in Sheen (the new tiny shop) as opposed to the large big shop they moved out of
Pearsons been going forever. Oldest bike shop in UK IIRC. The large shop in Sheen was ex Prologue.
Corridori haven't been there since they were in Banstead high street.
Geoff Butler in Croydon maybe.
Prologue in Sheen (the new tiny shop) as opposed to the large big shop they moved out of
Pearsons been going forever. Oldest bike shop in UK IIRC. The large shop in Sheen was ex Prologue.
Sigma
Their end of season sale was particularly dangerous for me.
The Stiglet said:
My vote but I'm biased, I feel compelled to drop in there every weekend at the moment. They rake in so much wonga that they've now got free Italian coffee for punters! I won't shop anywhere else now
+1. I may as well have my salary paid directly to them.Their end of season sale was particularly dangerous for me.
This will be stretching the budget and may even break it but.....
http://www.robertscycles.com/
My Dad has a a D.O.G.S.B.O.L.X MTB and a Master Pro columbus steel frame road bike and the finish on these bikes is stunning, they are also over in croydon.
http://www.robertscycles.com/
My Dad has a a D.O.G.S.B.O.L.X MTB and a Master Pro columbus steel frame road bike and the finish on these bikes is stunning, they are also over in croydon.
Edited by The Walrus on Monday 23 January 10:01
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