Manchester Wheel Repairers

Quoted message said:

However, I need to get the thing sorted sharpish - either trued or
rebuilt with a new rim. Any suggestions re. a decent wheelbuilder in the
Manchester area? BTW Bicycle Doctor were my first call this afternoon (
I pass them by on the way home from work) but they were pretty
unhelpful, so I doubt I'll be going there again.

Over to you lot then......

There's Withington cycles in, er Withington. <URL:withingtoncycles.co.uk>.
Only 5 minutes down the road from Bicycle Doctor. I like 'em, although
they do pretend you're invisible until they've finished with the current
customer (gives you a chance to browse I s'pose). More than one member of
staff but if it's the owner type guy I think he makes frames, so guess he
must be pretty handy with wheels too.

There's also a bicycle 'shed' (Bicycle Boutique) in Hillcourt Street[1] by
the Sugden sports centre. Stand in front of the sports centre's revolving
door, turn 90 degrees to the right and it's in a little shed type thingy at
the back of Sandbar. No idea if it's any good, but let me know if you use
it :-) Seriously, I think it's a one man shop thingy, so wheel builds
should be of consistent quality. Might cater mainly to couriers, in which
case I'd expect it to be both good and relatively inexpensive.

[1] Postcode M1 7HU to find it on streetmap, open Mon-Fri 10am-6pm. Got
the shop phone number if you want it too (got a flyer for the place but
haven't Withington cycles is nearer so haven't used the place yet).

Quoted message said:

[1] Postcode M1 7HU to find it on streetmap, open Mon-Fri 10am-6pm. Got
the shop phone number if you want it too (got a flyer for the place but
haven't Withington cycles is nearer so haven't used the place yet).

I'd appreciate the phone number, a quick Google revealed nowt - sounds
like my kind of shop though ;-)

cheers,

Tony B

"Tony B" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

[1] Postcode M1 7HU to find it on streetmap, open Mon-Fri 10am-6pm. Got
the shop phone number if you want it too (got a flyer for the place but
haven't Withington cycles is nearer so haven't used the place yet).

I'd appreciate the phone number, a quick Google revealed nowt - sounds
like my kind of shop though ;-)

cheers,

Tony B

Telephone: 0161 445 3492
Email: [email hidden]
Address: 26 Burton Road
Withington
Manchester
M20 3EB
UK

Tony B said:

Any suggestions re. a decent wheelbuilder in
the Manchester area? BTW Bicycle Doctor were my first call this
afternoon ( I pass them by on the way home from work) but they were
pretty unhelpful, so I doubt I'll be going there again.

I always found them pretty helpful when I lived in Manchester as a student.

A

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

[1] Postcode M1 7HU to find it on streetmap, open Mon-Fri 10am-6pm.
Got the shop phone number if you want it too (got a flyer for the
place but haven't Withington cycles is nearer so haven't used the
place yet).

I'd appreciate the phone number, a quick Google revealed nowt - sounds
like my kind of shop though ;-)

(I'm guessing you mean Bicycle Boutique. Thanks to lack of proof reading on
my part I'm not completely sure which one you meant)

Hmm, just phoned the number & got straight through to the answerphone (it's
a mobile number). I'll email it to you but won't put it on the group just
in case the shop has closed down. Admittedly it is only half and hour to
closing time, and there's a pub next to it so maybe he's just knocked off
early. Lucky bugger.

Popping over that way tomorrow so I'll check to see if it's still around.

Tony B said:

Hello all,

Buggered my rear Mavic MA3 rim this morning, on a railway line/cycle
path level crossing thing in Trafford Park. Doh! Bless it though,
despite the fact it was buckled enough to need the rear brakes QR'ing
open to allow the wheel to rotate, it got me home tonight (14 mile
commute) no problems at all.

However, I need to get the thing sorted sharpish - either trued or
rebuilt with a new rim. Any suggestions re. a decent wheelbuilder in the
Manchester area? BTW Bicycle Doctor were my first call this afternoon (
I pass them by on the way home from work) but they were pretty
unhelpful, so I doubt I'll be going there again.

Over to you lot then......

TIA,

Tony B

I bought #1RI from Eddie Mcgrath in Urmston in 1997. They built the
wheels (don't know if they outsourced the job actually) and they have
been fine, not quite as good as my 16 years with no maintenance ones
(except hub re-greasing) from Condor though.

Ambrose Nankivell' of said:

Tony B said:

Any suggestions re. a decent wheelbuilder in
the Manchester area? BTW Bicycle Doctor were my first call this
afternoon ( I pass them by on the way home from work) but they were
pretty unhelpful, so I doubt I'll be going there again.

I always found them pretty helpful when I lived in Manchester as a student.

They have cut down on the repair side. They know me well as a long term
good customer, having had them build me a custom bike using a frame made by
Malc Cowle who now owns Withington Cycles. However they still refused to do
some work on my other bike, saying they only do work on bikes that they
sold. So Malc gets my repair work these days, for things I don't want to do
myself. I've had a wheel retrued after a new spoke and it was fine.
Service is decent - bike is always ready when they say it will be.
--
My spelling is Wobbly. It's good spelling but it Wobbles, and the
letters get in the wrong places - A. A. Milne
Steph Peters delete invalid from [email hidden]
Tatting, lace & stitching page <http://www.sandbenders.demon.co.uk/index.htm>

Steph Peters said:

Ambrose Nankivell' of said:

Tony B said:

Any suggestions re. a decent wheelbuilder in
the Manchester area? BTW Bicycle Doctor were my first call this
afternoon ( I pass them by on the way home from work) but they were
pretty unhelpful, so I doubt I'll be going there again.

I always found them pretty helpful when I lived in Manchester as a student.

They have cut down on the repair side...

Victims of their own popularity, I fear.

I was enquiring about a once-over plus a few odd jobs I wanted doing
to a bike I bought from there, and was told they might be able to fit
me in about a month hence. My face must have registered considerable
dismay and disbelief, 'cos the "older" geezer who works there showed
me their appointments book - they were booked solid from 9-5, for page
after page after page...

I sodded off to a very good bike shop near work, which I'm not foolish
enough to advertise, and they sorted me out the following weekend.

Quoted message said:

...They know me well as a long term
good customer, having had them build me a custom bike using a frame made by
Malc Cowle who now owns Withington Cycles. However they still refused to do
some work on my other bike, saying they only do work on bikes that they
sold. So Malc gets my repair work these days, for things I don't want to do
myself. I've had a wheel retrued after a new spoke and it was fine.
Service is decent - bike is always ready when they say it will be.

[email hidden]

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

They have cut down on the repair side...

Victims of their own popularity, I fear

indeed they are, as the "older geezer" explained to me yesterday when I
called in for a spoke key. He was good enough to recommend Withington
Cycles as "good people" so I'll prolly use them from now on, but after a
couple of hours playing last night I seem to have the wheel true,
centred and tensioned somat like at least. Todays commute will no doubt
reveal all... if it's a new wheel, the choice seems to be a Decathlon
bargain for £30, a hand built Mavic Open Pro for around £50 or a Shimano
105 full wheel for £55 off Wiggle. The latter seems a good option,
anyone any scare stories about that rear wheel? Plus it would leave me a
spare hub to use for wheel building practice ;-)

bfn,

TOny B

Tony B said:

... or a Shimano 105 full wheel for £55 off Wiggle. The latter
seems a good option, anyone any scare stories about that rear wheel?
Plus it would leave me a spare hub to use for wheel building
practice ;-)

If it's the 16 spoke one, yes; otherwise no. I've twice broken a spoke
on the 16 spoke wheel and each time the bike was only just rideable
afterwards. It goes sufficiently out of true for the tyre to rub on the
chain stays and you have to limp home very gingerly hoping not to hear
a big bang.

--
Dave...