bike shops in london

there's always halfords. Chamberlains up by camden town BR might have something that cheap, It's a lovely shop even if they don't, but they probably will.

Bike fetishism has gotten the better of me. I'm an inexperienced cyclist/don't need anything fancy, and something under 100 pounds would be nice, but am willing to pay more for something sexy looking.

Good shops?
Brick lane?
I also was reading about ReCycle and was curious about them.

Thanks.

£100 sounds a bit optimistic to me, I spent that much on pedals yesterday.

What are you planning to use it for?

I've been using the Cycle Scheme or 'Boris' bikes around town since the tube rises. Finding somewhere to lock a bike up in town or dealing with punctured puts me off getting a bike.

Yeah, I was afraid I was underrating the price, even after people telling me you can get used ones for like 50 pounds. I'd say I could go up to 250, maybe? I just need to check what would happen to a bike worth keeping in the not at all unlikely scenario that I have to back to North America later this year.

I essentially need a basic road bike for going to school and back, and hopefully most places, actually. I don't know much about bikes and cycling really, so I have no urge to get something high-end, but wouldn't mind something nice. I guess this is as much a question of "tell me about bikes" as it is "tell me where to get bikes."

For that sort of price range you're probably better looking at second-hand bikes, yes. But I guess that in itself can be a thorny area if you don't know too much about bikes. But yeah, especially if there's a possibility of heading back later this year, I think second-hand is your best option. There are some London cycling message boards that may be able to help here. (I haven't been around them for a while - I'll have a look round and see if I can find some links).

I know it's a cliche but you do get what you pay for, by and large, and I certainly wouldn't recommend buying any bike new for less than £250, and even that seems a little on the cheap side (to me anyway). Parts will quickly deteriorate, even if it's ok to ride at first, and you'll end up spending more in the long run. It's not just a matter of cost either, it's a matter of safety, and just not getting pissed off at niggles, clanks, gear slippage and the like.

At the moment, last year's models are still be sold off in sales, so you can get some decent deals. Although I like using bike shops that are independent (Fitzrovia Bikes, Brixton Bikes is amazing according to my brother), if you're new to bikes, then Evans is definitely as good a place as any, if not better generally + they have decent post purchase service deals. Condor in Holborn can also be worth having a look.

Please don't let this put you off! I love cycling round London (by and large) - it's quick, cheaper and frequently quicker than any other mode of transport.

And yes, I'd definitely try ReCycle - I'd forgotten about them. I might pop down myself at some point.

http://www.lfgss.com/forum6.html

Thanks, all!

Also wondering whetehr stuff like this:
http://www.gumtree.com/p/for-sale/create-single-speed--lime-green-wheels-and-gunmetal-grey-frame--like-new-condition/95004502
or this:
http://www.gumtree.com/p/for-sale/marin-dominican-2011--single-speed-road-bike/94882371

Is "unwanted Christmas present" code for "stolen"?

I'd personally steer clear of gumtree, yes.

Thanks for the advice (and double thanks for making sense of that post)

I'm intrigued, but am kind of suspicious, about No Logo bikes, which I keep seeing. Their website lists them at under 300 pounds, but I see them in brick lane, new, for like 180. I feel, in my ignorance, like that would be among my better options without going over 400, which I don't know if I want to do.

website says

You mean just being sold on Brick Lane, right? Rather'n in a shop? Cos that in itself always used to be a byword for 'nicked'. Sorry, I'm monopolising this conversation a bit - its not like I buy a bike every week, and others may feel/know different. But yeah, it's proverbially the case that people who've had a bike stolen will head down to Brick Lane to see if they can find it.

That certainly doesn't go for Brick Lane Bikes, but then they're quite expensive iirc.

I'll try and post something helpful next time!

what bike shops in london would ppl recommend to replace a pretty hardy road bike? (along with fizzles' a few posts up, assuming they all still exist!)

do you want it replaced or fixed, lex? i took my shamefully neglected commuter bike into fitzrovia bikes recently to get done up and they did a good job. i'm slightly wedded to them because I lived near there for a while, but they're also an example of a shop where workers have bought it out and that seems to mean good service and solid prices. otherwise even chain shops like evans will do a good job for you and have decent people working in them (most of the time).

if you're looking for a new one i think going into a well-known shop is probably your best bet. a bit boring, but evans generally have good recommendations, condor in holborn as well. i would avoid some of the more recent fashionable looking shops - high prices and low experience ime.

If you're based in East London then I'm sure there's several i don't know about.

More generally I have found cycle shops to be a bit like record shops - you can encounter snobs and smartarse boors quite regularly, but also many people who are genuinely enthusiastic and keen to help everyone, regardless of knowledge or experience. I'm afraid to say that's a bit pot luck though.