A London guide to cycle mechanics

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Are you thinking about a bit of bike maintenance after the recent bad weather? The combination of snow, grit and then slush wasn’t great for riding and it was even worse for my bike. But where is the best place to get a bicycle service or have your bike repaired?

Where to get your bike fixed?

That was the question asked to me by a friend after our local independent bike store, Mend a Bike, closed for business recently. Mend a Bike had provided a personable, no frills, bike maintenance and repair service for a number of years but, like other bike stores at the moment, found it difficult to keep trading.

I like to undertake the majority of my own cycle maintenance (with the help of the Bicycle Tutor) but as soon as the job involves areas such as the bottom bracket, wheel truing etc I leave my bike happily in the hands of an expert. Perhaps one day I will attend a bike maintenance course and become more competent but at the moment my bikes go to the bike mechanic.

Who to trust?

The problem was, with the closing of Mend a Bike, which bike mechanic? I want a mechanic I can trust. A mechanic who will talk me through the problems and what needs to be done to get my bikes up and running smoothly again.

A quick query out on Twitter resulted in the following suggestions (all in the London area) which I hope proves helpful if you need a bit of cycle maintenance and proves gratifying if you are one of the recommended mechanics. Let me know if you have a favourite mechanic who should be added to the list:

Recommended Bike Mechanics

Bike Works in Victoria Park
Recommended by @harrietaddison: “brilliant and don’t rob you blind”

Ben at CycleWorx
Recommended by @alwayscycling: “a one man band, a super friendly kiwi and top mechanic!”

Rachid at www.cycledelic.co.uk
Recommended by @suspectpackage.

Push in Newington Green
Recommended by @thisismadeup: ”know there onions. They also know how to fix bikes.”

Action Bikes in Chiswick
Recommended by @BourbonBaboon

Fullcity, Leather Lane, Clerkenwell (no website)
Recommended by @photropy and seconded by @smallaperture.com: “ for overall skill, passion & good vibes, but they’re not the most organised”

Putney Cycles, Putney
Recommended by Going Going Bike user Dorothy: “efficient and thorough service and friendly mechanic”.

Image courtesy of Bicycle Images, Photographer: Farid

6 comments [leave one]

Madeleine January 11, 2011 at 11:08 am

A&S Cycles on Chatsworth Road Hackney E5, he is incredibly good value and a lovely helpful bloke totally different to all the big other rip off bike shops in Hackney where they look down their noses if you don’t have a fixie.

James - Going Going Bike January 11, 2011 at 11:44 am

Thanks Madeleine. Friendly, welcoming and good value bike mechanics are just who we want to hear about!

Mike January 11, 2011 at 12:21 pm

Sam and Nik at Look Mum No Hands. Great mechanics and very nice people too.

They sorted a nasty headset/frame alignment problem that could have been the end of my frame and fitted a new headset for about £20.

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Joe April 10, 2011 at 6:06 pm

Gutted to hear mend a bike has closed, I need to take mine for a service & really can’t face taking it to Evans… But it’s the only place I can find within walking distance to Parsons Green. Where did you take yours in the end..?

James - Going Going Bike April 11, 2011 at 10:10 am

Joe - I was trying to work out where my closest Independent Bike Store was on Saturday when I was walking around Parsons Green.

In the end I went to Putney Cycles (Lower and Upper Richmond Road PLUS a mechanic shop on the High Street). They’re nice guys and do a good job with the bikes…check them out and let them know we recommended them ;o)