Find your perfect London Bike Shop in just one quick tap!

"I was doing my 14 mile commute home the other day and this app really came into its own when a spoke broke on my front wheel. I quickly looked up the nearest bike shop. Found a good one that was open with a 5 star rating and on my route home. Gave them a quick ring with the number in the app and they said they can take a look at it right away. Problem solved in about 15 minutes and a great shop I plan to use in future" 
Ben Pearson, 29 (Feedback from an early beta tester)

London Bike shop will help you..

• Find your nearest bike shop and check if it’s open – 200+ London bike shops listed
• Sip on a hot coffee, grab a slice of cake and let someone else repair your bike – we’ve got London’s cycle cafe’s listed
• Let the bike repair come to you – London’s mobile bike repair men and women are listed
• Find a great new bike shops that can understand your needs and give you a personal service

How to find the perfect London bike shop..

1. Download a copy of the London Bike Shop App for your iPhone
2. Open up the app and you’ll see a list of bike shops based on your current location
3. Tap one to see when it’s open and what their number is
4. Choose the show on a map to locate them

Otherwise you can also look at the map of London to see the nearest bike shops or find a bike shop that is near your workplace.

The app costs just £1.19

With your help it can be better..

Opening times change, new bike shops open. The app will rely on London’s cyclists to help out by reporting any errors they spot so we can get them corrected. We’re busy adding pictures for all the bike shops too so if your a bike shop owner then please send us a pic!

What do you think..

I think this is a great app that London’s cyclists will find really useful. But I’m more interested to find out what you guys think. So download the app, have a play around with it and let me know your thoughts.

How to download..

click here to launch iTunes with a link to London Bike Shop app

Or.. Search the app store for: London Bike Shop

Note: This is taken from the London Cyclist eBook: A guide to Cycling in London which is freely available to newsletter subscribers. Click here to find out more.

Where to buy a second hand bike in London

• GoingGoingBike is a newly launched website that sells second hand bikes
• Otherwise.. Gumtree classifieds in London and eBay are classics though be careful about stolen bikes
• In a bike shop – the LCC maintain a good list of bike shops in London that sell second hand bikes.
• In a police auction – Frank G Bowen run the London auctions
• Classified ads in newspapers and magazines

How to be sure you are not buying stolen goods

You don’t have to be a criminal detective to know when the bike you are looking at is stolen. There are obvious signs to look out for:

• See if the person who is selling the bike is suited to it.
• Look for the bicycle frame number. This is located underneath the bike. If this has been scratched off it is a tell-tale sign of a bike theft.
• Meet with the person at their house not in a location such as an underground station. If they refuse they may be selling stolen goods.
• Ask for identification
• Ask for an original receipt of when the bike was purchased. If there is no receipt then perhaps they have an original manual

Getting a good deal

It can be helpful to have someone with you who knows a thing or two about bikes. Also try and get a test ride. Here are some things you should be looking for:

• Correct frame size – if it doesn’t fit you then there is no point in buying
• Rust – on the chain and on the rest of the bike. The chain can cheaply be replaced but rust on the rest of the bike can be a problem.
• Dents – both on the frame and forks
• Tyres – Are they worn out? They will need to be replaced.
• Sprockets and gears – do the gears keep skipping, do the components look worn out? Replacing them can be a costly exercise.
• Do a full M check – check all the classic areas: bolts, buckled wheels etc should all be assessed. Some things can be fixed cheaply but can quickly raise the price of what seems like a good deal

Have you had any experiences with buying second hand bikes? Leave a comment..

I try to open the door but realise they have to buzz me in. Security problems I’m later informed. The police advise to install cameras but that advice is ignored by the owners. Why should normal customers who don’t want to be filmed suffer they explain to me. After a quick tour of the shop and workshop I sit down with Penny, one of the owners, in the zen-like garden located at the back. I try to think if I’ve ever sat in the back garden of a bike shop before. There is a really relaxed feel about the place. This is somewhere you can just walk in and have an informal chat.

MiCycle feels like a million miles from the normal bike shops which I’ve often found unwelcoming and a little patronising. I’m not the only one to think this and as Penny goes on to explain that was one of the first aims of the shop and the reason it came about. A lot of bike shops have a bad reputation to not provide a good service. Of course in recent years that is beginning to change.

Matthew, who opened the shop with Penny, joins us and offers a cup of coffee. They are quick to tell me that the bike shop isn’t exactly a cafe as such and someone shouldn’t expect a range of sandwiches. But you can certainly have a drink and a nice cappuccino.

Then they begin to surprise me with all the extra services the bike shop offers. Now, I’m sure in recounting these I’ll miss a couple but let me try anyway:

• A bike wash – come in and use their bike washing tools for free. After all giving your bike a good wash is one of the best ways to avoid expensive maintenance work.
• Maintenance classes – learn how to look after your own bike. It can give you incredible independence and it’s great to know how that machine you use every day works. The classes are usually small in size and work in a very relaxed atmosphere.
• Swap a bike – kids grow out of bikes so fast. The shop offers kids to swap their bikes for a bigger model. I love this idea.
• Borrow tools – you can go in and tinker with your bike using their tools. This is great as bike tools can be very expensive.
• Pick up a broken bike – using their trailer bike MiCycle are able to pickup your broken bike and take it to the shop for repairs. They will even return it to you if you wish.
• Home storage design – Penny is an expert in home storage solutions for bicycles and she can consult with you if you want to find a better way to store your bike at home
• Wifi and Coffee – in the garden designed by Joe Swift!

Some shops, such as MiCycle, have realised they are not selling bikes, they are selling cycling. It is this complete package that will keep people coming back and building a good relationship with their shop. I like this new attitude and with the sheer range of services on offer, MiCycle are really taking it to the next level.

I really hope to see more bike shops such as MiCycle in London. The nice owners have even offered London Cyclist readers 10% off their bike service. Just quote the name of the site. So, if you feel like your bike could do with some love and care then take it over to see what they can do for you.

One tip though: Just don’t ask Matthew if he sells electric bikes.

Web: http://www.micycle.org.uk/ Address: 47 Barnsbury Street London N1 1TP

See also:

• London Cycle Cafes
• Bicycle storage in a cosy London home
• Why I love my local bike shop
• Make your bike less attractive to thieves. Get it tagged

When the new Evans Cycles store opened in West End on Mortimer Street I got invited along to take a look around. I was very impressed with the store and also with what I heard from the management team.

The new store is London’s largest Evans Cycles and it is mainly located underground. The surroundings feel more like a nightclub rather than a bike shop. The range of bikes inside is, of course, huge and as you can see from the picture well presented.

The first person I met was Neil Fitton, Evans Cycles Head of Marketing. He introduced me to Ben Hart who is Head of Ecommerce. We were soon talking about Brazil, New Zealand and the sheer amount of Aussies in London! As you can see very on-topic conversation.

I also met with Will Lockie who is the Online Marketing Manager. He told me to bring my bike down and they can take a look at it. I jumped at that opportunity as I’ve been meaning to fix my front derailleur. The mechanics are located in an open workshop that you can look into. They soon fixed my bike while we chatted about cycling in London.

Will told me that Evans are in the process of starting their own cycling blog. It will be all about having fun with bikes. I think they have the right idea about this and I look forward to seeing it working.

Everyone from the Evans team was very friendly and relaxed. It was good to meet the people behind the company. It definitely gave Evans a bit more of a personality rather than the big corporate giant that it may sometimes come across as for us cyclists. I would definitely like to see more of this people side of the company.

To celebrate the opening during April you can also get 10% off accessories, clothing and “non-sale” bikes. The voucher for this is available here. I’m also talking to Will to see if we can offer a free bike service for London Cyclist readers so I’ll keep you informed about that.

See also:

• Evans Cycles website
• Are you guilty of racing other cyclists?
• My Rollapaluza Time
• Bike vs London Underground
• Cycling in Rio De Janeiro

Step 1 – curse the cycling gods! Step 2 – Try to ignore the problem for as long as possible. Step 3 – give in and visit the nearest bike shop. You then find someone who looks knowledgeable and describe the problem. This invariably ends up being a test of the grasp of advanced English language as bike problems tend to be a little tough to describe. “The thingy at the front is making a weird grinding sound like grank grank when I pedal”.

This will cause the bike shop assistant to look at the bike and assess how dirty it is. This I always find a little strange considering I did not ask for an assessment of my bike cleanliness. I could ask any old stranger if that’s what I needed: “Excuse me sir how clean would you say my bike is on a scale of one to ten?”.

The bike shop assistant will then test out the bike, confirm it doesn’t work and tell you how much it costs.

At this point you either just go yes, hand it over and walk home in a miserable state or go home and think about it. In a miserable state.

How do you know if what they have quoted you is a good price?

Well, during a recent ride to Chichester my front derailleur seized and I decided this would be a good time to test out the different prices of London bike shops.

New shop down Theobald’s Road

The first was a new small bike shop that has just opened down Theobald’s Road.

I went in, described my problem, got my bike cleanliness assessment and was quoted a price. £10 for labour and £25 for the part. I could leave the bike there and then if I wanted.

Evans Cycles

The next day I found myself cycling around Canary Wharf and spotted an Evans. I cycled past it and then remembered I wanted to write this blog post. So I cycled back and asked how much the repair might be.

£25 for labour and £20 for the part. I would need to book it in for the repair.

On Your Bike, London Bridge

Later on I’m around London Bridge area and pop into an old favourite shop of mine On Your Bike. I ask an assistant who points me in the direction of the repair workshop. Inside there I find three people sitting around swirling on their chairs. It looks like fun. I interrupt their swirling and ask how much their repair would be. They bring out one of their mechanics who takes a look and then tells me it will be £25 for the labour and £25 for the part.

However, he also advices me I may be able to un-seize it by taking it off, giving it a good clean and spraying it with plenty of lubricant while working it side to side.

This is the only bike shop that gives me this bit of extra advice and I really appreciate it.

Cycle Surgery

I walk into the Cycle Surgery near Kings Cross and ask how much the repair will be. £20 – £25 for the part and £20 to £25 for the labour.

So let’s compare these:

New shop: £35 total
Evans: £45 total
On Your Bike: £50 total
Cycle Surgery: £40 to £50 total

The winner is..

The new shop down Theobald’s (I really should find out its name rather than calling it the new shop). Whilst there wasn’t a huge difference in prices it shows that it is worth shopping around. In particular smaller independent shops may be able to offer a better price. The added bonus is of course that you are supporting local businesses.

What am I going to do? I’m going to take the advice of the On Your Bike mechanic and try and fix it myself. Wish me luck!

Above is just some of the bits I have picked up recently.

When I got to the local bike shop I know the advice I will get and the parts I will be recommended will be exactly right. That is the kind of peace of mind you get from someone who has worked on bikes their whole life.

Sure, the local bike shop is run by a grumpy old man that sometimes get’s annoyed when I ask him lots of questions but for me it’s part of the fun! I look forward to going off to make him grumpy!

Recently I even went in and cheekily asked to borrow one of his tools. If I hadn’t said it with such a huge grin I’m sure he would of told me to take myself elsewhere (but not in such a polite way)!

I know, that when the old man in the apron picks up a chain with no brand name on it, or a grease I’ve never even seen sold online and hands it over to me it’s probably the best damn chain and grease there is! “It’s a good chain that one”. I always nod pretending to know more than I do. Frequently, he catches me out. Especially when I try to outsmart the owner but there’s soon a big grin on his face. “Shimano…?” he pauses for effect. “You know they make fishing rods.” They laugh between themselves at this poor helpless fool standing in front of them. Once I get over the humiliation, I pledge to myself to learn more about bike repairs.

A lot of people haven’t discovered the joy of trying to outsmart the local bike shop owner. There’s a number of reasons for this. The one commonly given is “it’s too expensive”

In my experience it’s often cheaper.

There are three reasons for this. The first is if I need something like a replacement chain pin he will give me just one. Elsewhere I would have to buy 3 or more. The second is that I trust the bike shop not to try and sell me more expensive parts when there is no benefits. The third is that when comparing prices I have often found they matched or were cheaper than the ones online.

I love having shops run by local people who love what they do so whenever I can I help them out. Anyway enough about what I love about my local bike shop. With your help I want to discover some more great local bike shops in London and elsewhere so please tell me about your local bike shop and why you go there for your bike bits.

What is your local bike shop and why do you like it?

Rule #1

Realise you are in power

In turbulent times when people are saving money, every sale is important to a shop. Therefore, this puts you the consumer in a good position. If they can’t lower the price, you will take your money elsewhere.

Rule #2

Do your research and decide your target

Go into the shop and get help from the assistant on which bike would be suitable for you. Don’t part with your cash yet. First, compare the prices of your chosen bike online and in other shops. Next, you need to set your target. This should usually be around 10-20% less than the marked price. However, start the negotiations at around 30-40% less.

Rule #3

Never be too enthusiastic

Don’t walk into the bike shop and be over enthusiastic. This conveys to the shop assistant that you love the bike so much that you would pay any price for it. If you are buying the bike second hand then pick out a few faults with it to lower its value.

Rule #4

Be prepared for their excuses

“Oh sorry sir we have a policy of not lowering our prices”. This is a classic line I have heard before. If they are smart they will realise that not lowering their prices will mean you will take your custom elsewhere. If they give this excuse then make sure you politely say “Okay, not a problem. Who can I speak to that will help me buy this bike today?”. Make sure you get to speak to the person in control.

Rule #5

Make them invest their time into the deal

The longer they put into the deal the more committed they will be to getting a sale. A good negotiator knows this and will ask lots of questions to keep them involved.

Rule #6

Awkward silences are your best friend

I don’t know a lot of people that like awkward silences but in negotiating they are your best friend. If they say: “Really sorry sir I don’t think I can lower the price”. Don’t rush to reply, let them sweat. It is likely in the silence they will concede and lower their price.

Rule #7

What else can they throw in?

They may decide they don’t wish to lower their price. No problem, what else can they do to sweeten the deal? Nice pair of lights? An extended warranty? A new bicycle jacket? Some vouchers? Offer them alternatives. The important part to this is how you phrase it. Don’t ask them any questions they can say no to. If you say “Is there nothing else you can do?” they can easily say no. Instead if you ask “what else can you do to sweeten the deal?” They will start to think of alternatives.

Rule #8

Be prepared to walk away

My most successful negotiations have come from taking a few steps back as if to walk away. This will usually trigger a better offer. If they still do not budge on price know when  to leave. Don’t fall into the trap of “oh well, I have been here for ages, it would be a shame to leave without a bike” (Rule 5!). If you still feel strongly about it a week later, the bike will still be there.

Rule #9

Don’t make it personal

Another tip is to say you are buying for someone else. This detaches you emotionally from the deal. “I’m buying this as a gift for one of our clients and my boss has only given me so much to spend. I know he will love it. What can you do for me?”. This stops it being between you and the salesman.

Rule #10

Most importantly: enjoy!

Negotiating does not have to be all serious. In fact some joking around and laughter can often get the shop assistant on your side.

Some people worry about negotiating. I find it enjoyable. The more I practise, the better I get and by following these simple rules I ensure that I get a good deal. If you wish to read more about negotiating I recommend the all time classic book: getting to yes. Remember, the real price of an item is the price you pay. Not the price advertised. Happy negotiating!

Image courtesy of Andrew Nicholas