UK and Europe · Public discussion

Norwich

Dirtylitterboxo · 2003-12-08T19:16:59+00:00

Had to go into Norwich today. Went by car. The first bit was fine - got to the bike shop (Specialised Cycles) to drop a wheel off to have new bearings done. Picked up a few stocking fillers for Crimbo. Fine. Then took the opportunity to do a spot of Crimbo shopping at all the shops which are non-existant in Dereham or Swaffham. Parking in Norwich is h*ll. If I'd have been halfway sensible, I'd have taken my bike - left the car at the bike shop and then cycled in to the city centre to do the shopping! Anyhow, eventually I managed to get parked at the Riverside multi-storey. Walking into the city centre from there (told you, I should have done a park & ride with the bike...) the route took me past Freewheel on Prince of Wales Road. Sadly it's closing down on Christmas Eve - end of lease and they've nowhere else lined up. They do have bargains in (especially on lighting) as they are selling everything off. So I got another Crimbo stocking filler gift. Sad the place is closing - it's on the wrong side of town for me to use easily and I am more than happy with Specialised Cycles, yet it is sad to see a LBS go :-( Got the rest of the Crimbo stuff in - not having been in Norwich on a Proper Shopping Expedition for *months*, it was most enjoyable going around the place. Got stuff in for Nathan & Vernon - won't say what as Vernon occasionally reads the NG. Come to think of it - to do the Crimbo shopping by bike, I'd have needed bike trailer, which I haven't got. Hmm... something else to drop hints for ;-) Festive Cheers, helen s --This is an invalid email address to avoid spam-- to get correct one remove dependency on fame & fortune h*$el*$$e**nd***$o$ts***i*$*$m**m$$o*n**s@$*$a$$o**l.c**$*$om$$

Started by Dirtylitterboxo · 8 December 2003 · Last activity 9 December 2003 · 12 posts · 1,105 views

← Back to UK and Europe

Thread navigation

Jump through the discussion

Go to the original post, the replies on this page, or the latest preserved contribution.

01 / Original postNorwichDirtylitterboxo · 8 Dec 2003 02 / This pagePosts 1–12Page 1 of 1 · chronological order 03 / Latest replyPost #12Pete Whelan · 9 Dec 2003

Thread details

What we know about this thread

Original section: UK and Europe
Published: 8 December 2003
Last activity: 9 December 2003
Original author: Dirtylitterboxo
Posts: 12
Discussion status: Public discussion
Total views: 1,105
Views / 30 days: 0

The navigation and discussion metadata provide context. Posts remain in their original chronological order.

Original post
Dirtylitterboxo
Archived post

8 December 2003, 19:16 UTC #1

Had to go into Norwich today. Went by car. The first bit was fine - got to the bike shop
(Specialised Cycles) to drop a wheel off to have new bearings done. Picked up a few stocking fillers
for Crimbo. Fine. Then took the opportunity to do a spot of Crimbo shopping at all the shops which
are non-existant in Dereham or Swaffham. Parking in Norwich is h*ll. If I'd have been halfway
sensible, I'd have taken my bike - left the car at the bike shop and then cycled in to the city
centre to do the shopping!
Anyhow, eventually I managed to get parked at the Riverside multi-storey. Walking into the city
centre from there (told you, I should have done a park & ride with the bike...) the route took me
past Freewheel on Prince of Wales Road. Sadly it's closing down on Christmas Eve - end of lease and
they've nowhere else lined up. They do have bargains in (especially on lighting) as they are selling
everything off. So I got another Crimbo stocking filler gift. Sad the place is closing - it's on the
wrong side of town for me to use easily and I am more than happy with Specialised Cycles, yet it is
sad to see a LBS go
:-(
Got the rest of the Crimbo stuff in - not having been in Norwich on a Proper Shopping Expedition for
*months*, it was most enjoyable going around the place. Got stuff in for Nathan & Vernon - won't say
what as Vernon occasionally reads the NG. Come to think of it - to do the Crimbo shopping by bike,
I'd have needed bike trailer, which I haven't got. Hmm... something else to drop hints for ;-)
Festive Cheers, helen s
--This is an invalid email address to avoid spam-- to get correct one remove dependency on fame &
fortune h*$el*$$e**nd***$o$ts***i*$*$m**m$$o*n**s@$*$a$$o**l.c**$*$om$$

Report
Simonb
Archived post

8 December 2003, 23:17 UTC #2

dirtylitterboxofferingstospammers said:
it is sad to see a LBS go :-(
This is true. We lost the wittily-named 'Triangle Cycles' in Southampton (Bitterne Triangle) about
this time last year, or maybe just after xmas. ISTR they had a sign in the window saying something
like 'We've finally had enough. Bye!'. They had been there a long time.
We still have 'Triangle Pianos'. Another favourite.
-- Simonb

Report
Andrew B
Archived post

9 December 2003, 01:27 UTC #3

It's always a shame to see a bike shop go. I've spent many a lunch hour in there and more money than
I care to admit to my wife !
I must to be difficult to compete with the mail order catalogues, world wide web and all the other
pressures felt by a small independent retailers. I've always felt the staff were also helpful even
if it was between pay-days.
I shall have to go down there and take advantage of their misfortune & wish them luck for the
future. That end of town is slowly becoming one long stretch of fast food restaurants (?) &
night-clubs. Neither of which are not really my thing.
That only leaves Borwells (for my mountain bike) and Specialised (for my road bike). I will miss
the choice !

Report
Chris Bardell
Archived post

9 December 2003, 01:27 UTC #4

"Andrew B" <[email hidden]> wrote in
:"]news:[email hidden]:
Quoted message said:
That only leaves Borwells (for my mountain bike) and Specialised (for my road bike). I will miss
the choice !
What about Pedal Revolution on Bethel Street?
Concur it's sad to see Freewheel go - wasn't aware until Helen posted it. Worked right near there
until this summer & always nipped in for spares, tubes, etc. Yep - nightclubs & takeaways can
probably afford expensive leases on Norwich's own little bit of Eye-beefa.
Freewheel dealt Trek & Brompton - not sure if there's a Brommie vendor in Naaarje now.
<OT>Top kudos points for the lad who works/worked at Freewheel who cycled in from somewhere out
North Walsham way every day.
--
Chris Bardell [Remove favourite mode of transport from email address]

Report
Dirtylitterboxo
Archived post

9 December 2003, 01:28 UTC #5

Quoted message said:
That end of town is slowly becoming one long stretch of fast food restaurants (?) & night-clubs.
It really is, isn't it.
Quoted message said:
That only leaves Borwells (for my mountain bike) and Specialised (for my road bike).
Indeed Specialised is the best bike shop in Norfolk!
Cheers, helen s
--This is an invalid email address to avoid spam-- to get correct one remove dependency on fame &
fortune h*$el*$$e**nd***$o$ts***i*$*$m**m$$o*n**s@$*$a$$o**l.c**$*$om$$

Report
Helen Deborah V
Archived post

9 December 2003, 01:28 UTC #6

[email hidden] (dirtylitterboxofferingstospammers)typed
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
That end of town is slowly becoming one long stretch of fast food restaurants (?) & night-clubs.
Quoted message said:
It really is, isn't it.
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
That only leaves Borwells (for my mountain bike) and Specialised (for my road bike).
Quoted message said:
Indeed Specialised is the best bike shop in Norfolk!
Quoted message said:
Cheers, helen s
I remember enjoying the window at Dodge Cycles about 11 years ago. Total time warp.
--
Helen D. Vecht: [email hidden] Edgware.

Report
Chris Bardell
Archived post

9 December 2003, 07:11 UTC #7

Helen Deborah Vecht <[email hidden]> wrote in :"]news:[email hidden]:
Quoted message said:
I remember enjoying the window at Dodge Cycles about 11 years ago. Total time warp.
Totally OT, but IIRC you previously lived in Hillingdon, Salisbury, and it now appears Norwich. So
have I (all three).
You're not proactively stalking me by living in places that I later move to are you? Or me you,
retrospectively? ;-) ;-) ;-)
--
Chris Bardell [Remove favourite mode of transport from email address]

Report
Marc
Archived post

9 December 2003, 10:51 UTC #8

dirtylitterboxofferingstospammers said:
Had to go into Norwich today.
And survived? From reading here I would have thought it was the most dangerous place in
Britain to cycle?
--
Marc. Please note the above address is a spam trap, use marcc to reply Printing for clubs of all
types jaceeprint.demon.co.ukjaceeprint.demon.co.uk Stickers, banners & clothing, for clubs,teams, magazines
and dealers.

Report
Helen Deborah V
Archived post

9 December 2003, 10:51 UTC #9

Chris Bardell <[email hidden]>typed
Quoted message said:
Helen Deborah Vecht <[email hidden]> wrote in :"]news:[email hidden]:
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
I remember enjoying the window at Dodge Cycles about 11 years ago. Total time warp.
Quoted message said:
Totally OT, but IIRC you previously lived in Hillingdon, Salisbury, and it now appears Norwich. So
have I (all three).
Quoted message said:
You're not proactively stalking me by living in places that I later move to are you? Or me you,
retrospectively? ;-) ;-) ;-)
My CV looks like a travelogue ;-)
Sheffield -> Doncaster -> Stourbridge/Dudley -> Leeds (waves at Andymorris) -> London -> Orpington
-> Cambridge -> Shetland -> Glasgow -> London -> Norwich -> Hillingdon -> Poole/Bornemouth ->
Salisbury -> Edgware
I have owned this house (my first) for the past 4 years and have no immediate intentions of moving.
There are probably enough people lurking hereabouts who have met me at various stages (and Sandy
almost definitely hired out bikes to me, or members of our school party in May 1975 - just after the
England v Scotland football match)
Helen, HA8 5**
--
Helen D. Vecht: [email hidden] Edgware.

Report
Dirtylitterboxo
Archived post

9 December 2003, 10:51 UTC #10

Quoted message said:
And survived?
Just ;-)
The whole experience of trying to find a place to park was most off-putting and tedious.
Funnily enough, when driving I just don't suffer from "road-rage" when in traffic jams. I get a sort
of calm descending over me. It's a sort of "there's nothing I can do to alter this right now, so
chill.." effect. So whilst I find the waiting frustrating and tedious, it doesn't actually get me
riled up, if you see what I mean.
Watching others in cages get all frustrated is fascinating people-watching though.
Cheers, helen s
--This is an invalid email address to avoid spam-- to get correct one remove dependency on fame &
fortune h*$el*$$e**nd***$o$ts***i*$*$m**m$$o*n**s@$*$a$$o**l.c**$*$om$$

Report
Dave Larrington
Archived post

9 December 2003, 11:08 UTC #11

Andrew B said:
That only leaves Borwells (for my mountain bike) and Specialised (for my road bike). I will miss
the choice !
Glad to hear Borwells is still there - I remember racing Windcheetahs against the Borwell brothers
in 1983...
--
Dave Larrington - legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uklegslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uk
===========================================================
Editor - British Human Power Club Newsletter
bhpc.org.ukbhpc.org.uk
===========================================================

Report
Pete Whelan
Archived post

9 December 2003, 20:10 UTC #12

Andrew B said:
It's always a shame to see a bike shop go. I've spent many a lunch hour in there and more money
than I care to admit to my wife !
I must to be difficult to compete with the mail order catalogues, world wide web and all the other
pressures felt by a small independent retailers. I've always felt the staff were also helpful even
if it was between pay-days.
I shall have to go down there and take advantage of their misfortune & wish them luck for the
future. That end of town is slowly becoming one long stretch of fast food restaurants (?) &
night-clubs. Neither of which are not really my thing.
That only leaves Borwells (for my mountain bike) and Specialised (for my road bike). I will miss
the choice !
Is there not a Pedal Revolution shop, though I don't know what they are like. I know they sponsor Gt
Yarmouth CC
--
Pete
interchange 12 for 21 to reply

Report

Active in the last 60 minutes

Active in this thread

0 users · 0 guests ·0 bots ·0 total

No signed-in users are active right now.

No known search crawlers active right now.

Jump through the discussion

What we know about this thread

Continue through CyclingForums

Active in this thread