local bike shops

im based in new oscott, birmingham and the only local bike shop i know of is hawthorne cycles on
hawthorne road - they have been there for as long as i can remember for my time in this area now -
(approx 20 years)

anyone use them / recommend them?

im thinking for when the occasional maintenance comes along to use them rather than do it myself as
its not something i enjoy and also when i get me a decent bike probably by the end of winter ready
for spring next year to move things between bikes, etc, etc or to buy the bike through them although
ive no idea what they stock yet, etc, etc ... i like the cycling but the fiddling, sorry
maintenance! is not my cup of tea

doobrie wrote:

> im thinking for when the occasional maintenance comes along to use them rather than do it myself
> as its not something i enjoy and also when i get me a decent bike probably by the end of winter
> ready for spring next year to move things between bikes, etc, etc or to buy the bike through them
> although ive no idea what they stock yet, etc, etc ... i like the cycling but the fiddling, sorry
> maintenance! is not my cup of tea

I like a halfway house: big and/or scary jobs like replacing the bottom bracket or truing up wheels
really well get done by the pros, while I do the small stuff myself. And since small stuff can be
handy out on a long ride it means that minor fiddles can be accomplished relatively quickly and
effectively rather than buggering up the day. Or accomplished at all when the shops have shut!

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch University of Dundee Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Medical Physics, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK net p.j.clinch@dundee.ac.uk
http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

On Thu, 31 Jul 2003 10:59:10 +0100, doobrie <no@email.address> in
<MPG.1992f8c521eb51a29896f4@news.gradwell.com> wrote:

>im based in new oscott, birmingham and the only local bike shop i know of is hawthorne cycles on
>hawthorne road - they have been there for as long as i can remember for my time in this area now -
>(approx 20 years)
>
>anyone use them / recommend them?

I find them very friendly. The only maintenance I have had done by them was truing of a front wheel.
I assume they did a good job of it 'cos it is still ok several years later!

Last year I tried to buy some Shimano components from them and they suggested that I either tried
mail order or a "more upmarket bike shop".

This is not necessarily a problem for maintenance but I just think mayvbe they won't have your
choice of replacement parts.

Just down the road, of course, is Halfords. Crag who works there is a decent chap (personal friend)
and gets my recommendation.

Love and allen keys from Rich x

--
If ingnorance is bliss then I am the erm er luckiest thingy in the whatchamacallit. To mail me,
change the obvious bit to richard

On Thu, 31 Jul 2003 16:25:51 +0100, Richard Bates <mail.sent.here.gets.deleted@cuddle.clara.co.uk>
in <fvciiv8d25sncbrid8p54gairv6pknj981@4ax.com> wrote:

There is also Park Cycles (60 Fordwater Rd, Streetly, SUTTON COLDFIELD B74 2BG 0121 353 5136), which
is not too far from New Oscott.

I have never used them myself but many members of the North Bham CTC speak highly of his work.

Love and bearings from Rich x

--
If ingnorance is bliss then I am the erm er luckiest thingy in the whatchamacallit. To mail me,
change the obvious bit to richard

In article <rbvkivsi0dng6fjidr50msfb9698qn4ga1@4ax.com>,
mail.sent.here.gets.deleted@cuddle.clara.co.uk says...
> On Thu, 31 Jul 2003 16:25:51 +0100, Richard Bates <mail.sent.here.gets.deleted@cuddle.clara.co.uk>
> in <fvciiv8d25sncbrid8p54gairv6pknj981@4ax.com> wrote:
>
> There is also Park Cycles (60 Fordwater Rd, Streetly, SUTTON COLDFIELD B74 2BG 0121 353 5136),
> which is not too far from New Oscott.
>
> I have never used them myself but many members of the North Bham CTC speak highly of his work.
>
> Love and bearings from Rich x

thanks for that ... i'll be soon saying hi to the north bham ctc folks for the odd ride or two

"Richard Bates" <mail.sent.here.gets.deleted@cuddle.clara.co.uk> wrote in message
news:rbvkivsi0dng6fjidr50msfb9698qn4ga1@4ax.com...
> On Thu, 31 Jul 2003 16:25:51 +0100, Richard Bates <mail.sent.here.gets.deleted@cuddle.clara.co.uk>
> in <fvciiv8d25sncbrid8p54gairv6pknj981@4ax.com> wrote:
>
> There is also Park Cycles (60 Fordwater Rd, Streetly, SUTTON COLDFIELD B74 2BG 0121 353 5136),
> which is not too far from New Oscott.
>
> I have never used them myself but many members of the North Bham CTC speak highly of his work.

John is a decent wheel builder. He's a very keen and active cyclist which always helps, I find.

--
Cheerful pedalling John Mallard take out the_bike_ to reply