Dublin bike shops

BraziliaNZ

Hi all. Have been trying to buy a bike for the last week or so, i went into Cycleways on Parnell st twice, and Cyclogical once on the quays. Is it just me or is it impossible to get any help in these places? I have waited 10 minutes both times in Cycleways and no one was available to help me out in choosing a bike, and i didn't even bother trying in Cyclogical as no one was there to help me at all.
I am will to spend 5 or 600 quid on a bike, I would buy online only i need to use the cycle to work scheme thing so i'm not aware of any way of using this online. Can anyone recommend any other shops? thanks.

Caroline_ie

Take the Luas down to Dundrum to Joe Daly Cycle Shop( it's under the Luas bridge ) you can't miss it.

tunney

BraziliaNZ wrote: »

Hi all. Have been trying to buy a bike for the last week or so, i went into Cycleways on Parnell st twice, and Cyclogical once on the quays. Is it just me or is it impossible to get any help in these places? I have waited 10 minutes both times in Cycleways and no one was available to help me out in choosing a bike, and i didn't even bother trying in Cyclogical as no one was there to help me at all.
I am will to spend 5 or 600 quid on a bike, I would buy online only i need to use the cycle to work scheme thing so i'm not aware of any way of using this online. Can anyone recommend any other shops? thanks.

Yes those shops are sh!te, try wheelworx in clondakin. worth the travel for the service,
its my LBS and I live in santry

BeerNut

I experienced similar difficulty getting noticed in Cycleways. Went to Penny Farthing on Camden Street in the end: always found them a decent bunch. My missus just bought her cycle-to-work hybrid from them.

However, it is possible, AFAIK, to use an online retailer for cycle-to-work.

BraziliaNZ

thanks. They really are feckin' useless, especially in this day and age when someone wants to give them €500!!! Anyone know what the selection is like in Little Sport in Fairview?

Greenman

BraziliaNZ wrote: »

Can anyone recommend any other shops? thanks.

Where do you live?

tomasrojo

BraziliaNZ wrote: »

thanks. They really are feckin' useless, especially in this day and age when someone wants to give them €500!!! Anyone know what the selection is like in Little Sport in Fairview?

Little Sport did a sterling job in sourcing me a touring bike. They got on the case quickly and were thorough. I recommend them.

Lumen

BraziliaNZ wrote: »

I would buy online only i need to use the cycle to work scheme thing so i'm not aware of any way of using this online.

You can buy a bike online under CTW unless your employer has some rule preventing this.

eightyfish

BeerNut wrote: »

Penny Farthing on Camden Street in the end: always found them a decent bunch. My missue just bought he

+1

Like this shop. Friendly laid-back staff and good prices for repairs. Had an accident - brake cables torn out of brakes, gears messed up etc. Got both sets of pads replaced (needed anyway), brake cables re-attached, chain fixed, gears tuned, tyres pumped to a better standard than my little portable pump. Done in 24 hours for €40. Not bad.

petethedrummer

BraziliaNZ wrote: »

Anyone know what the selection is like in Little Sport in Fairview?

Friend bought a Trek hybrid in there last year. Nice folks. Can't remember what the selection was like even though I was with him at the time.

There is city cycles in Stoneybatter, near the James Joyce bridge. Large selection of Felts. Also Raleighs and Pashleys. Like Tunney my LBS is also Wheelworx in Clondalkin even though I live in Artane.

fixyfiend

ThinkBike on Rathmines road lower[next to Aldi] are highly recommended. How a local bike shop should be!

Jawgap

BraziliaNZ wrote: »

thanks. They really are feckin' useless, especially in this day and age when someone wants to give them €500!!! Anyone know what the selection is like in Little Sport in Fairview?

Eamon is pretty good and will always be willing to do a deal - selection might be limited because of the size of the shop, but if he hasn't got it the chances are he can get it.

Taltos

Founds Stagg's in Lucan to be really good. But depending on the time of day / weekend they can be really busy - so you might have to wait a short while. However I personally found their service to be really good and they really took their time with me first getting to understand what I was looking for in a bike before suggesting a few options.

flickerx

BraziliaNZ wrote: »

Hi all. Have been trying to buy a bike for the last week or so, i went into Cycleways on Parnell st twice, and Cyclogical once on the quays. Is it just me or is it impossible to get any help in these places? I have waited 10 minutes both times in Cycleways and no one was available to help me out in choosing a bike, and i didn't even bother trying in Cyclogical as no one was there to help me at all.

Did you ask for help? Did you say to someone that you wanted to buy a bike?

To the shops' defence, they probably get a lot of time wasters just looking around at stuff and not actually interested whatsoever in purchasing anything. I'm sure if you said "I would like to buy a bike today" to any member of staff, they would be quite happy to help.

Or perhaps not, maybe I'm completely wrong.

ROK ON

tunney wrote: »

Yes those shops are sh!te, try wheelworx in clondakin. worth the travel for the service,
its my LBS and I live in santry

I have had an appauling bike service in that shop (but they are not alone in that).
They left front deraileur very badly set up (so much so that it wouldnt shift), and the bike measurements that I gave in re (seat and bars)were completely ignored.

I have learned how to service my own bike as a result of how bad most shops that I have tried for service are.

ROK ON

Taltos wrote: »

Founds Stagg's in Lucan to be really good. But depending on the time of day / weekend they can be really busy - so you might have to wait a short while. However I personally found their service to be really good and they really took their time with me first getting to understand what I was looking for in a bike before suggesting a few options.

I have had good experiences in Stagg, but by God do you have to wait - they are either very busy or the shop is badly laid out (or both).
Now in fairness they usually explain to you that they are dealing with customers, and let you know that you will be waiting - so it is not like you will be ignored.

Bikerbhoy

Thinkbike Rathmines road has got to be best bike shop I know for customer service . The lads in there are great very welcoming and will do everything they can to help, also would recommend their workshop for repairs too.
AND to be fair to my other local bike shop Joe Dalys Dundrum equally as good.... arent we spoilt over here on the southside eh ?

BostonB

ROK ON wrote: »

I have had good experiences in Stagg, but by God do you have to wait - they are either very busy or the shop is badly laid out (or both).
Now in fairness they usually explain to you that they are dealing with customers, and let you know that you will be waiting - so it is not like you will be ignored.

I think Staggs are just unable to cope with the demand at the moment. the shop is too small aswell. Weekends are nuts in there. Best to go mid week I reckon. Probably same with all bike shops. With the CTW scheme and its the summer, everyone in the family wants a bike, and goes looking for it at the weekend.

Teferi

A guy in Cycle Superstore in Tallaght said to me today as I was buying a puncture repair kit; "I'll be eating steak tonight with the money I'm getting off you".

If my brain hadn't of been wrecked from studying all day and a lack of food I would have told him where to shove his puncture repair kit.

The two times I have dealt with that place now I haven't been a very happy camper coming out.

They have a decent selection of bikes but the staff seem less than keen.

BraziliaNZ

BraziliaNZ wrote: »

Hi all. Have been trying to buy a bike for the last week or so, i went into Cycleways on Parnell st twice, and Cyclogical once on the quays. Is it just me or is it impossible to get any help in these places? I have waited 10 minutes both times in Cycleways and no one was available to help me out in choosing a bike, and i didn't even bother trying in Cyclogical as no one was there to help me at all.
I am will to spend 5 or 600 quid on a bike, I would buy online only i need to use the cycle to work scheme thing so i'm not aware of any way of using this online. Can anyone recommend any other shops? thanks.

I had the same problem in those shops, I told them I had 800 cash on me and they just didnt seem interested!

Ended up getting one off Cyclestore.co.uk very nice people to deal with

jinka

Teferi wrote: »

A guy in Cycle Superstore in Tallaght said to me today as I was buying a puncture repair kit; "I'll be eating steak tonight with the money I'm getting off you".

If my brain hadn't of been wrecked from studying all day and a lack of food I would have told him where to shove his puncture repair kit.

The two times I have dealt with that place now I haven't been a very happy camper coming out.

They have a decent selection of bikes but the staff seem less than keen.

Best way to deal with them is check the gear or bikes you need in there, then order online and the satisfaction will be great.

stuf

Teferi wrote: »

A guy in Cycle Superstore in Tallaght said to me today as I was buying a puncture repair kit; "I'll be eating steak tonight with the money I'm getting off you".

If my brain hadn't of been wrecked from studying all day and a lack of food I would have told him where to shove his puncture repair kit.

The two times I have dealt with that place now I haven't been a very happy camper coming out.

They have a decent selection of bikes but the staff seem less than keen.

First real bad word I've heard said against them to be honest - maybe just an honest attempt at humour gone wrong? I found them great at all times.

ThinkBike is my favourite for service and wouldn't darken the door of Penny Farthing if you paid me.

tunney

Teferi wrote: »

A guy in Cycle Superstore in Tallaght said to me today as I was buying a puncture repair kit; "I'll be eating steak tonight with the money I'm getting off you".

If my brain hadn't of been wrecked from studying all day and a lack of food I would have told him where to shove his puncture repair kit.

The two times I have dealt with that place now I haven't been a very happy camper coming out.

They have a decent selection of bikes but the staff seem less than keen.

Black hair? JD was it?

He has a *wicked* sense of humour.
I miss Christo from Superstore though, he was excellent.

bbosco

Teferi wrote: »

A guy in Cycle Superstore in Tallaght said to me today as I was buying a puncture repair kit; "I'll be eating steak tonight with the money I'm getting off you".

If my brain hadn't of been wrecked from studying all day and a lack of food I would have told him where to shove his puncture repair kit.

The two times I have dealt with that place now I haven't been a very happy camper coming out.

They have a decent selection of bikes but the staff seem less than keen.

I've encountered the same 'sense of humour' from two of the guys in Cycle Superstore. I'd agree with some of the other posts though in that it's not meant to be rude, it's just a bit of banter. It can take you aback at first but I think they're just trying to create a bit of a clubby atmosphere about the shop. Mostly I've found the staff there are excellent and really friendly, with or without the wisecracks.
I've been fixing a knackered drivetrain over the last couple of weekends and been around the local shops a lot. I've never seen them so busy and it's clear that it's from the Bike to Work scheme. The paperwork alone seems to take a long time.
I've been shopping almost exclusively online for the last couple of years, but with this latest project I've really been reminded of the benefits of the LBS. The lads in Stagg's sold me what I needed and also gave me a load of advice on how to do it too. I had to wait about 15 minutes for service and there was a queue almost out the door, but they acknowledge you when you come and you know you'll get your turn. I feel a bit bad now about all that money dropped in the likes of Wiggle and CRC.

flickerx

Teferi wrote: »

A guy in Cycle Superstore in Tallaght said to me today as I was buying a puncture repair kit; "I'll be eating steak tonight with the money I'm getting off you".

If my brain hadn't of been wrecked from studying all day and a lack of food I would have told him where to shove his puncture repair kit.

Its a joke, relating to a ~5 euro puncture repair kit, its hardly bad service.
If you're that easily offended you wont get very far in life.

YOURFACE!

I second bikerbhoy, went into Thinkbike in Rathmines to pick up a few things. Being a total newbie to MTB and all they were super helpful and really nice and put up with my bimbo questions!

Jawgap

When I lived that way I found Think Bike / Commuting Solutions to be excellent.

Cycleways just fitted some new tyres for me and are very friendly although they once c^&ked up some pedals when they fitted them.

Cyclelogical - not great service and quite intimidating. Their pump and tool loaning service is also not the best:)

Staggs - I wanted to buy a bike from them and they did their best to get the one I wanted but while I was waiting (nearly 4 weeks) I saw it in another shop and got it there. They were very understanding and wished me well even though they lost out on the sale.

Joe Daly, Hollingsworth Cycles (Templeogue), Richie's (Swords), Duff's (Santry) I've been to get bits and pieces and found them very helpful.

Halfords (heresy?) - I've found grand, but inconsistent - when they're bad, they're bad, but not in a nasty way.

BraziliaNZ

was just back at cycleways, finally got someone to help me, but alas ALL commuter bikes are sold out, in large sizes anyway, no further advice/help offered

Caroline_ie

BraziliaNZ wrote: »

was just back at cycleways, finally got someone to help me, but alas ALL commuter bikes are sold out, in large sizes anyway, no further advice/help offered

I like Cycleways, but each time I go there they have to order the part. As far as I know, the Cycleways warehouse doesn't have much left at all in terms of ... most bikes.
So - like a lot of people suggested, go elsewhere. I also suggest you ring them 1st...

redmenace1

Either they're ain't enough bike shops or demand is temporaily gone mad. I have had mostly good experiences in Staggs and they usually allow you to browse whilst you wait (assuming they trust ye);).

I think banter in bike shops is a feature of them and sometimes they do drift towards unwelcome humour and then realise that they were a bit left-field before doing their utmost to make you feel wanted again!

petethedrummer

You should take a trip around some of Dublin's musical instrument shops to see proper arrogant and disinterested shop assistants. These bike shops are amateurs.

Teferi

flickerx wrote: »

Its a joke, relating to a ~5 euro puncture repair kit, its hardly bad service.
If you're that easily offended you wont get very far in life.

I work in retail myself and I wouldn't say something like that to someone who I didn't recognise as a regular or someone I know in general.

zynaps

Sorry it's a bit late, but McCormack's cycle shop in Dorset Street did some fairly quick and very cheap fixes for me when I used to (literally) live just around the corner. It's a small shop and can be a bit busy, but so far the cheapest I've encountered for repairs.

Since moving to Killester though, I've been using City Cycles [edit: in Fairview] who seem decent - a little more expensive but still pretty fair. Duff Cycles in the Omni Centre are a bit more expensive again, IIRC, but very friendly and helpful anytime I've been there.

I've used Thinkbike in Rathmines a few times - supplies and repairs are on the expensive side again, but the staff seem really nice. Two or three times I've passed by and stopped in with a minor query and been given free advice or even had it fixed on the spot and been given an allen key so I can fix it myself next time, for nothing. Sound!