Q: Cycle shops and sensible advice for a buyer

Quoted message said:

My friend wants to buy a mountain bike, and she has some reasonable
idea and budget requirements. But, she's been into a few shops alone
and I with her into another and there is a problem.

Does she want to ride on mountains? If not, why buy a mountain bike?

Chris
--
Chris Eilbeck

Quoted message said:

I live in Reading, my friend in London[2], and Cambridge is not an
unreasonable other destination.

Has anyone advice on a good shop which is interested in my friend buying
the right bike[3] rather than just making money?

I got my most recent bike from Berkshire Cycles, although it was the
Crowthorne branch rather than either of their Reading ones.
(http://www.berkshirecycles.com/)

They let me take the bike for a test ride and, despite telling them I
had £400 to spend, I ended up spending about half my budget on something
that still met my requirements.

Chris Eilbeck said:

Quoted message said:

My friend wants to buy a mountain bike, and she has some reasonable
idea and budget requirements. But, she's been into a few shops alone
and I with her into another and there is a problem.

Does she want to ride on mountains? If not, why buy a mountain bike?

Yes, hence this being one of the specific requirements---but "a" mountain
bike is not "the" mountain bike etc... hence her need for help in finding
a shop to aid her.

And since we're on the subject (!), if anyone can point me toward good
off-road (mountain) cycling around Swansea (more particularly, near the
DVLA which is her office location) then that'd be handy. Perhaps a local
club which takes in beginners?

Ali
--
Nazim Ali Bharmal www.nerc-essc.ac.uk/~nab/
194, Shinfield Road, Reading RG2 7DU 07876 22 83 77

Quoted message said:

And since we're on the subject (!), if anyone can point me toward good
off-road (mountain) cycling around Swansea (more particularly, near the
DVLA which is her office location) then that'd be handy. Perhaps a local
club which takes in beginners?

Ali

You are spoiled for choice.

try this link of images of non technical trails

http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/warings/

There are also tougher routes all over the place. Afan Argoed and
Glyncorrwg have a lot to offer all types of mountain bikers. The
Millenium Coastal park around Llanelli contains a surprisingly lovely
all bike cycle path. (The Lougher peninsular used to be all specialist
steel and other metal works). There is an interesting area near the
centre of Swansea. The industrial processes carried out there made
the land unstable so they can not build on it so there is a park with
bike paths.

I am not from Swansea but there is no shortage of any kind of cycling
there. Road, family cycling, cross country, downhill its all
available nearby.

[email hidden said:

"]My friend wants to buy a mountain bike, and she has some reasonable idea
and budget requirements. But, she's been into a few shops alone and I with
her into another and there is a problem.

The salespeople (err, staff really!) are either enthusiastic and want to
sell her a fantastic super light and (perhaps) overly technically advanced
bike. Or, they want to sell the most expensive bike.

What we/she needs is a shop which she can go into, say "I want to do X and
the bike to have Y and I have Z pounds to spend", and then will produce a
selection[1] of 3-ish appropriately priced bikes AND let her test ride
them.

I live in Reading, my friend in London[2], and Cambridge is not an
unreasonable other destination.

Has anyone advice on a good shop which is interested in my friend buying
the right bike[3] rather than just making money?

Ali

[1] She tried a giant and then a marin, and noted (sensibly) the
difference in frame geometry (but she couldn't test them at the time).

[2] She'd been to Brixton Cycle Co-op and said they were "too
enthusiastic" (no bad thing, but...) and prodded her toward too expensive
bikes.

[3] I've experience it, but with road bikes.

--
Nazim Ali Bharmal www.nerc-essc.ac.uk/~nab/
194, Shinfield Road, Reading RG2 7DU 07876 22 83 77

It always seems to be a bit hit and miss in cycles shops. A friend of mine went to Condor in London last year after having a few bad experiences at other shops, and had magnificient service, despite 'only' want to spend £350-400 on a bike. he then recommended them to another friend, who got quite bad service as he only wanted to spend that much (my experoience of them was also very good, but then again I am investigating spending 'How much!?' on a bike (if you have to ask it;s too much :-). So ccondor are recommened, but YMMV.

As for Reading AW Cycles seem to get some good reviews, and reports, sory can't say anything about Cambridge. As for particular bikes, just trawl through the hundres of 'Recommend me a new bike please' posts, you're bound to find he same advice spouted again and again.

Bryan

Quoted message said:

My friend wants to buy a mountain bike....

What we/she needs is a shop which she can go into, say "I want to do X and
the bike to have Y and I have Z pounds to spend", and then will produce a
selection[1] of 3-ish appropriately priced bikes AND let her test ride
them.

I live in Reading, my friend in London[2], and Cambridge is not an
unreasonable other destination.

Has anyone advice on a good shop which is interested in my friend buying
the right bike[3] rather than just making money?

In Cambridge the choice is either

Ben Hayward Cycles, 69 Trumpington Street
01223 301118
http://www.benhaywardcycles.com/
(in the centre of town)

or

Howes Cycles, 104 Regent Street
01223 350350
(between the staton and the centre of town)

I prefer Ben Hayward Cycles. They sell a good range of bikes from a
rather cramped shop close to King's College. Because Cambridge has such
a wide range of cyclists they are happy to work with whatever price
band you ask for. I've bought both mountain bikes and touring bikes
from them in the past. They can get quite busy on Saturdays - it might
be worth phoning in advance. Try and talk to Rob Turner the owner if
possible.

PaulO