Which bike shop has the best kit?

[option click]

I've always liked the Sigma Sport designs



I also like Corridiori Cycles (I'm biased though, I designed it)



So, what are your favourites?

[Rich_W]

Much as I like those shops. You can't be wearing "shop teamwear" It's dangerously close to full kit wker!


Saying that. Sigma has gone downhill in terms of what they sell in the last year to 18 months or so. And whilst I have a soft spot for Corridori, it's been 15 years since I darkened their doorstep (back in Banstead high street)

A certain well know bike shop in Croydon can pretty much fk off and go bankrupt for all I care! Worst attitude. Followed me round the shop like I was a petty shoplifter. Then I watched them openly mock another customers somewhat aged Pinarello "well I wasn't expecting THAT when you phoned up!" (I presume only Dogmas allowed And from their tone they didn't know the guy as he wanted the gears re-indexing)

And who the hell keeps SIS gels so long on the shelves that they are 9 months out of date! (Yes I know my fault for not checking, but would you have? They come with a 18 month shelf life from new!)

[HowMuchLonger]

Rich_W said:

Saying that. Sigma has gone downhill in terms of what they sell in the last year to 18 months or so.

They sell things? The assistants (school boys) don't seem very keen on selling. The adults don't seem interested in selling either unless you will be spending £xx,000.

[Rich_W]

That's true. I first went there in '10 for my first wetsuit and trisuit. I forget the guys name, but he was great. Spent a good half hour with me making sure I get the right stuff for my beginner status. Though the girl on the counter who actually took payment was OTT aggressive in trying to get me to try a particular brand of gels.

Fast forward to last month. New wetsuit required. Far less satisfactory service. Said in stock on the site. Wasn;t and they weren't prepared to get it from the warehouse either. Guy really couldn't be arsed. 2 weeks later I bought it and was abandoned by the guy to my own devices. (not that it mattered, I kow what I'm doing) But there was more staff than customers so a little interest would have been nice! And they keep bombarding me with requests to review my purchase as if it was a great experience. Meh!

I just find what they sell nowadays to be completely undesirable. When they had the old shop, I could think of loads to buy. Now there's just odds and sods. They seem to have scrapped 3/4 of the nutrition products they used to sell. The clothing appears to be a season out, so summer stuff in winter and vice versa.

[SixtySpeedTwin]

i rather like my completely OTT LV cyclery top

[47p2]

SixtySpeedTwin said:

i rather like my completely OTT LV cyclery top

LV? Liberace...Very

[CooperS]

My favorite shop is Ronde Bicycle Outfitters in Edinburgh. Really nice kit (rapha, mavic et al) and super nice equipment. Friendly service with no silly bike snobbery oh and they sell a good coffee and cake whilst you watch cycling on a big tv they have




And the only photo I could find for their shop jersey.

Edited by CooperS on Saturday 5th July 09:53

[Black can man]

I popped the cycle shop at Forest Row yesterday, i can't remember the name. I have passed loads of times on route to pevensey bay but have never stopped, i had to yesterday because i needed a inner tube after an annoying puncture ( i like to have two spare ), Blimey he has some serious stuff in there .


Think i'll be conveniently stopping off there when it's birthday time with Mrs BCM.



I must just say that the road from Forest Row via Hartfield & Groombridge on route to Royal Tunbridge wells is an absolute joy to ride.

[lufbramatt]

SixtySpeedTwin said:

i rather like my completely OTT LV cyclery top

Amazing

[Mark83]

I'm in no rush to pay to advertise a particular bike shop unless there's something in it for me.

[Jayfish]

Black can man said:

I popped the cycle shop at Forest Row yesterday, i can't remember the name. I have passed loads of times on route to pevensey bay but have never stopped, i had to yesterday because i needed a inner tube after an annoying puncture ( i like to have two spare ), Blimey he has some serious stuff in there .


Think i'll be conveniently stopping off there when it's birthday time with Mrs BCM.



I must just say that the road from Forest Row via Hartfield & Groombridge on route to Royal Tunbridge wells is an absolute joy to ride.

That's In Gear, recently moved there from Uckfield, their team in In Gear/Quik vit/Train Sharp has Sean Yates as a member iirc.
The road is great, dips and rolls and the Groombridge hill climb is great, one you can really dig into once you know it as the gradient constantly changes.
Did you bypass 'The Wall' Kidds Hill just off to the north of that road before Hartfield?

[Black can man]

Jayfish said:

That's In Gear, recently moved there from Uckfield, their team in In Gear/Quik vit/Train Sharp has Sean Yates as a member iirc.
The road is great, dips and rolls and the Groombridge hill climb is great, one you can really dig into once you know it as the gradient constantly changes.
Did you bypass 'The Wall' Kidds Hill just off to the north of that road before Hartfield?

We had planned to take the A264 from east grinstead to Langton green, but because of the puncture we stopped at forest Row,i asked the chap in the cycle shop about a road through the forest & he recommended the hartfield road, we passed Colemans hatch,upper Hartfield,Hartfield,withyham & turned off at Groombridge, i can't recall a climb that was too serious, i just remember the beautiful countryside & lovely smooth surface. would definately do that one again.As for the wall i'm not so sure ? if it is beyond Groombridge then no if it was before then yes. We done a round route of 57 miles from Bletchingley to Bletchingley & every mound & slope felt like a climb, It must have done me some good as i beat my PB commute to work this morning by nearly two minutes, the old & i mean old legs are getting stronger

[Jayfish]

You'd have known and there's a whole host of great roads either side of your route, well worth an explore.