http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Bicycle mechanic recommendations? en Wed, 13 May 2026 02:24:30 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1332#post-12858 Thu, 09 Sep 2010 16:45:23 +0000 kaputnik 12858@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I'd recommend TBS too (maybe not myself as a mechanic though!). Had my first shot there last night. For £6 and an hour and a half of my time I removed my old fork, removed the crown race, re-installed the race on the new fork (using the proper tool), cut the new fork to size (again, using the proper tool), intalled the star-fangled nut (again, using the proper tool) and reassembled the fork, stem, brake, speedo, mudguards and all.</p> <p>I also got to act all knowlegable to the people there trying to change tubes / tyres and taking 40 minutes to work out that they didn't know one end of a tyre lever from the other and showed them how to do it. Also pointed out to the lad that had gone through 3 inner tubes in the evening that his problem with his tyres that kept going flat was the sharp spoke ends / rim welding pooking out as he'd pulled the rim tape off and binned it. And I got to admire an ancient bike with rod-actuated brakes (and it's owner :P). </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1332#post-12850 Thu, 09 Sep 2010 16:11:02 +0000 Wendy 12850@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Remember, if you want to learn how to fix your bike yourself the Bike Station holds Fix Your Own Bike sessions on a Wednesday evening and Saturday afternoon - <a href="http://www.thebikestation.org.uk/fyob/" rel="nofollow">http://www.thebikestation.org.uk/fyob/</a> </p> <p>With advice from mechanics, and free tea and coffee for you, and grease and oil for your bike - for £4 an hour you can't go wrong! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1332#post-12695 Wed, 08 Sep 2010 10:34:11 +0000 jcoutts 12695@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Eastside Bikes in Abbeyhill are great. I've used them a few times with my folder and ladies bike (!). They have got newish owners, are very cheap, fast (no two week wait!) - good work. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1332#post-12646 Tue, 07 Sep 2010 13:50:00 +0000 kaputnik 12646@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>We have a great range of shops in Edinburgh.</em></p> <p>And people say it's otherwise, all because we don't have a Primark, or the Topshop is slightly smaller (but sells all the same tat) as the one in Glasgow </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1332#post-12643 Tue, 07 Sep 2010 13:21:58 +0000 LaidBack 12643@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>The Bike Chain is best shop in North Edinburgh</em></p> <p>They had some Hope brake pads that the Bike Works didn't have. So I certainly would recommend them.</p> <p>Don't want to knock others. We have a great range of shops in Edinburgh. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1332#post-12581 Mon, 06 Sep 2010 22:55:30 +0000 gembo 12581@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The Bike Chain is best shop in North Edinburgh and in the top 1 for all of Edinburgh but many of the southsiders on this forum would have to take big detour to get there. Possibly does not have as many mechanics as TBW. But it is either TBW or TBC </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1332#post-12560 Mon, 06 Sep 2010 17:49:38 +0000 LaidBack 12560@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>I'm sure there are good mechs at other shops.</em></p> <p>There are of course. Thing is that TBW do have a bigger pool of staff than some shops so can swap stuff between each person. </p> <p>It's evolved into the current form and people maybe expect too much sometimes. As documented elsewhere every so often the shop gets full and people just can't accept that you can't have staff going out to look at emergency repairs and still be able to get through the logged in bikes. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1332#post-12559 Mon, 06 Sep 2010 17:28:41 +0000 SRD 12559@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"I was at Bike works today and I did remember to mention you lot sent me... he looked torn between alarmed and pleased :-)"</p> <p>I used to mention that I went there for repairs after meeting laidback there for a tandem demo. Much the same reaction (perhaps also because of inquisitive 3 year old with me...) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1332#post-12556 Mon, 06 Sep 2010 17:10:15 +0000 Dave 12556@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I always take my big jobs (headset, facing up disc mounts, whatever) to the Bicycle Works. Tried a few others, none really compare.</p> <p>I'm sure there are good mechs at other shops. Thing is, Bicycle Works actually seem to exist to do work on bikes, as opposed to selling accessories with wrenching as a sideline. </p> <p>As a bonus, they do it cheaper than some others too. EBC tried to charge me £40 to replace a plain steel fork on my still in-warranty EBC Courier Race bike. I got one from Bicycle Works for £20 which included them cutting the steerer and swapping the race! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1332#post-12454 Sun, 05 Sep 2010 22:35:28 +0000 Smudge 12454@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"Well, The Bike Chain obviously has the best two bike mechanics in town and can always be relied upon for a timeous and courteous service."</p> <p>So Druidh, does that mean you work there or you're angling for freebies? ;-))</p> <p><em>edited to add, I was at Bike works today and I did remember to mention you lot sent me... he looked torn between alarmed and pleased :-) </em> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1332#post-12451 Sun, 05 Sep 2010 21:21:42 +0000 chdot 12451@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"The above may contain some falsehoods and/or exaggeration."</p> <p>No cake then? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1332#post-12450 Sun, 05 Sep 2010 21:20:11 +0000 druidh 12450@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Well, The Bike Chain obviously has the best two bike mechanics in town and can always be relied upon for a timeous and courteous service.</p> <p>I hear they've gone beyond coffee and cake and now offer free champagne and caviar to all customers too.</p> <p><em>The above may contain some falsehoods and/or exaggeration.</em> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1332#post-12430 Sat, 04 Sep 2010 22:01:58 +0000 Smudge 12430@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>lol, will do :-) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1332#post-12423 Sat, 04 Sep 2010 18:07:18 +0000 chdot 12423@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Tell them CCE 'sent' you... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1332#post-12422 Sat, 04 Sep 2010 18:00:23 +0000 Smudge 12422@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Looks like Bicycle works gets the vote then, I shall have to make a visit!<br /> Thanks all :) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1332#post-12341 Fri, 03 Sep 2010 09:48:11 +0000 Kim 12341@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Yep, go for the Bicycle Works. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1332#post-12338 Fri, 03 Sep 2010 09:11:40 +0000 spitfire 12338@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Freewheelin if you are in the Slateford area </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1332#post-12331 Thu, 02 Sep 2010 23:37:36 +0000 kaputnik 12331@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I've only ever used really used EBC or TBW due to their proximity to where I live. My experience of both has led to me now only using TBW, who have gotten things done significantly faster and cheaper and to a higher standard. I've gotten a bit of an feeling from EBC that they can be a bit disinterested in some more minor repairs - for instance quoting "<em>at least a week on Monday</em>" before they'd even look at a broken spoke, when TBW fixed it (and the other 3 knackered ones that weren't instantly obvious) the same day and re-truing the wheel for a trifling amount under their card limit.</p> <p>I did used Macdonald Cycles once but they gave off the distinct impression that I was getting in the way of them sitting around looking cool amongst all their bikes :)</p> <p><em>(editorial note - the above is just my personal and probably biased opinions and has no scientific basis.)</em> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1332#post-12329 Thu, 02 Sep 2010 22:50:13 +0000 steveo 12329@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Bicycle works if your in no hurry, they are pretty busy. Only one i've used tbh, most stuff i just do my self truing wheels is my Achilles heel, i'm just not patient enough. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1332#post-12323 Thu, 02 Sep 2010 21:18:07 +0000 chdot 12323@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I think the collective wisdom veers towards Bicycle Works, but I wouldn't know because I fix my own! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1332#post-12322 Thu, 02 Sep 2010 21:09:02 +0000 Smudge 12322@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Another question for the collective experience of the forum...</p> <p>I know when it comes to motorcycles there are only two or three workshops in the area which I'd use, and only one where I'd be certain of getting a first class job.</p> <p>So... are there any bicycle mechanics/workshops locally which the forum users would single out as exceptonally good? (esp for roadbikes if it makes a difference).</p> <p>Thanks all :) </p>