London Fields Cycles is consistently helpful and do good services, not the greatest selection of locks though – and pricey too. But, recently it’s been all about Look Mum No Hands (ok a little over the border) but they are everything: fast, helpful, friendly with tea and cake on tap too.
I love Bike Yard East for a service. The lady who works there, (I want to say Sue?) was really friendly and very kind to a total bike dunce like myself. She also squeezed my repair into a fully booked day and got it done in no time.
Push Cycles in Newington Green is good. I got my bike serviced there recently, they were helpful and did a great job. http://www.pushcycles.com/our-blog/
It’s just across the border but I always use Bike Works, just across the canal from Victoria Park.http://www.bikeworks.org.uk/Their aim is simply to keep old bikes on the road. They’re not interested in selling you something unless you really need it. And being a community project you don’t get overcharged.
My flatmate raves about http://www.lock-7.com. I went to http://www.perlierides.com to get some rim tape fitted – lovely bloke working there, had time to see me right away (unlike London Fields Cycles who are always booked up) and kept the shop open waiting for me to get there and is very reasonably priced.
I second the bike works suggestion. I took a total wreck there- they estimated £80 to get it back on the road so instead sold me a decent raleigh mountain cross type bike (i’m also a bike dunce) for £70 with a full service, 2 new tyres and a couple of months guarantee. And swapped my old bike for a £25 lock. No problems with the bike 6 months later.With the bikes they take in they get the apprentices doing training to work them up and them sell them off again.
Ugh.. I don’t like London Fields Cycle at all, browse there for ages before any staff comes to greet. They’re never available for service (overpriced and overbooked)!
I LOVE LOVE LOVE Lock 7 Cycle Cafe (Broadway Market + Regent’s Canal). Price is very, very reasonable and staff are very friendl and helpful. I can just sit down have a tea/crossaint whilst they’re fixing my bike.
When I used to live in Lower Clapton, there’s a great bike & repair shop on Chatsworth Road (forgot the name), the owner has been there for 20+ years, great for chit chat and learn about history of Hackney.
When I used to live in Toronto, there is a cycle enthusiast project called \The Bike Pirates“. They’re basically a DIY Bike collective run by volunteers. They are absolutely brilliant!!! They get donated bike parts and instead of paying someone to fix your bike the staff there will TEACH you how to do it yourself. You might need to purchase some parts for a small fee (also use towards rent) but you’re learning how to fix it. A friend had his bike stolen and somehow recovered the frame his summer was spend at the Bike Pirates re-building the entire bike from scratch. It would be absolutely brilliant if we have something like this here!”
@staystylish Hackney has its own volunteers helping you to fix your bike, every two weeks:http://www.hackney-cyclists.org.uk/workshop.htm They are really friendly and will help anyone, use their tools and experience and simply accept donations for the hall hire etc.
katybeale
London Fields Cycles is consistently helpful and do good services, not the greatest selection of locks though – and pricey too. But, recently it’s been all about Look Mum No Hands (ok a little over the border) but they are everything: fast, helpful, friendly with tea and cake on tap too.
I love Bike Yard East for a service. The lady who works there, (I want to say Sue?) was really friendly and very kind to a total bike dunce like myself. She also squeezed my repair into a fully booked day and got it done in no time.
alexpink
I’ve not heard of Bike Yard East. Where is that exactly? Ta
yeahhackney
@alexpink it’s @ Hackney City Farm http://www.bikeyardeast.com/
alexpink
Oh that place. Got ya. Thanks all
alextea
Push Cycles in Newington Green is good. I got my bike serviced there recently, they were helpful and did a great job. http://www.pushcycles.com/our-blog/
kuxi
i’d like to part exchange a couple of not great bikes for a quite good one, anyone know of a place that would do that sort of thing?
dirtypj
It’s just across the border but I always use Bike Works, just across the canal from Victoria Park.http://www.bikeworks.org.uk/Their aim is simply to keep old bikes on the road. They’re not interested in selling you something unless you really need it. And being a community project you don’t get overcharged.
goodlegs
My flatmate raves about http://www.lock-7.com. I went to http://www.perlierides.com to get some rim tape fitted – lovely bloke working there, had time to see me right away (unlike London Fields Cycles who are always booked up) and kept the shop open waiting for me to get there and is very reasonably priced.
hackdee
I second the bike works suggestion. I took a total wreck there- they estimated £80 to get it back on the road so instead sold me a decent raleigh mountain cross type bike (i’m also a bike dunce) for £70 with a full service, 2 new tyres and a couple of months guarantee. And swapped my old bike for a £25 lock. No problems with the bike 6 months later.With the bikes they take in they get the apprentices doing training to work them up and them sell them off again.
londonforinsiders
I love Push Cycle, they’re so helpful and friendly…
staystylish
Ugh.. I don’t like London Fields Cycle at all, browse there for ages before any staff comes to greet. They’re never available for service (overpriced and overbooked)!
I LOVE LOVE LOVE Lock 7 Cycle Cafe (Broadway Market + Regent’s Canal). Price is very, very reasonable and staff are very friendl and helpful. I can just sit down have a tea/crossaint whilst they’re fixing my bike.
When I used to live in Lower Clapton, there’s a great bike & repair shop on Chatsworth Road (forgot the name), the owner has been there for 20+ years, great for chit chat and learn about history of Hackney.
When I used to live in Toronto, there is a cycle enthusiast project called \The Bike Pirates“. They’re basically a DIY Bike collective run by volunteers. They are absolutely brilliant!!! They get donated bike parts and instead of paying someone to fix your bike the staff there will TEACH you how to do it yourself. You might need to purchase some parts for a small fee (also use towards rent) but you’re learning how to fix it. A friend had his bike stolen and somehow recovered the frame his summer was spend at the Bike Pirates re-building the entire bike from scratch. It would be absolutely brilliant if we have something like this here!”
ewebber
The bike shop on Chats Road is A and S cycles http://aandscycles.com, I’ve had my breaks fixed there before, cheap and cheerful
There are options to learn about fixing, check out this thread over here: http://www.yeahhackney.com/free-bike-maintenance-workshop/
staystylish
Ah yes, that’s the one!
dave
@staystylish Hackney has its own volunteers helping you to fix your bike, every two weeks:http://www.hackney-cyclists.org.uk/workshop.htm
They are really friendly and will help anyone, use their tools and experience and simply accept donations for the hall hire etc.
staystylish
Thanks! Good to know! I’m alright at the moment actually, just gave Bianca a tune up myself and fixed the gear box.
goodlegs
@staystylish heh my flatmate has a name for her bike too