http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Alpine Bikes en Wed, 01 Jul 2026 18:03:17 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=4234#post-44353 Thu, 27 Oct 2011 13:27:08 +0000 Uberuce 44353@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><code>By nearly all accounts it seems to suffer the curse of 'meh'.</code></p> <p>Or maybe we suffer the choice of being spoiled rotten for choice here? I've not really been in any bike shops outside of Edinburgh, so to some extent I hope not </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=4234#post-44311 Thu, 27 Oct 2011 11:09:25 +0000 Roibeard 44311@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I suspected as much with the mudguards, chainguard and rack, although the pedals and bells looked functional - disappointing to hear that at least one didn't actually work...</p> <p>Similarly their lights look objects of fetish rather than function!</p> <p>They do make the observation that some of their bikes are bought for hanging on walls rather than riding...</p> <p>Robert </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=4234#post-44305 Thu, 27 Oct 2011 10:50:48 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 44305@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I bought one of the bells. Totally form over function. Couldn't even get a bracket to fit my bars, and once bodged on it dinged on any rough surface constantly, then the dinger fell off.</p> <p>So pretty though, and sounded superb. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=4234#post-44304 Thu, 27 Oct 2011 10:49:10 +0000 Roibeard 44304@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@anth <a href="http://sogrenibikes.com/">Sogreni</a></p> <p>Oh my! Handmade pedals with brass or copper to obtain an authentic patina over time, bells to match with solid discs of copper and strict instructions on colour matching handles with seats.</p> <p>I can see why you were entranced...</p> <p>;-)</p> <p>Robert </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=4234#post-44296 Thu, 27 Oct 2011 10:22:03 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 44296@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"<em>I still haven't had that angelic choir moment from walking into a bike shop</em>"</p> <p>Yep, there are bike shops I really really like. but none that do that. And then in Copenhagen I walked into Sogreni. I wanted to spend the rest of the weekend break just in there. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=4234#post-44292 Thu, 27 Oct 2011 10:17:13 +0000 Stepdoh 44292@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>By nearly all accounts it seems to suffer the curse of 'meh'. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=4234#post-44285 Thu, 27 Oct 2011 10:06:33 +0000 Uberuce 44285@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>They had a sale offer on my bike that I couldn't refuse, and they were perfectly accomodating to the scheduling problems that I have from working two jobs. Thumbs up from me.</p> <p>I still haven't had that angelic choir moment from walking into a bike shop, but I don't much like cyclist clothing/bags and have a weakness for vintage racers/tourers, omafeits and beaters so unless they weld Eastsike, Soul and Bike Station together, I'm probably going to need a pilgrimage to Holland... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=4234#post-44275 Thu, 27 Oct 2011 09:46:22 +0000 wingpig 44275@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I don't think I've been in there since I needed a spoke on the way home (it's on one of the more direct non-shortest routes) last December but I've never been offended or put off by them. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=4234#post-44270 Thu, 27 Oct 2011 09:18:37 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 44270@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>For me it's one of those undefinable things with Alpine. I've bene in a few times, and every time just left thinking, 'nah'. Can't put my finger on it.</p> <p>My brother used to work for the one in Aberdeen, and it was strange, got exactly the same feeling in there. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=4234#post-44264 Thu, 27 Oct 2011 07:03:04 +0000 gembo 44264@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>When I commuted Balerno to Leith I used them frequently and shop was good. One mechanic, who was there a while but moved on knew his stuff - tbc then opened nearer my work and I switched to them. When I was keen on websites I used to check theirs out, along with ebc, tbc, wiggle etc.</p> <p>majority (?) on this forum are southsiders? But tbc bargains have lured some down that way </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=4234#post-44263 Thu, 27 Oct 2011 00:57:08 +0000 Arellcat 44263@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>CCE on <a href="http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=517">Edinburgh Bike Shops</a></p> <p>I think it's just the monumental effort that it takes me to ride home from Stockbridge that means I tend not to be down that way very often buying bicycle parts. And if I were, there's a place a wee bit along the road that has much nicer décor. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=4234#post-44251 Wed, 26 Oct 2011 22:13:02 +0000 Min 44251@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>They must be doing something right if they remain there. If people are happy with it then that is the main thing. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=4234#post-44249 Wed, 26 Oct 2011 22:06:28 +0000 steveo 44249@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@tbc my mistake I thought there was more overlap. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=4234#post-44237 Wed, 26 Oct 2011 21:27:51 +0000 druidh 44237@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Hmm. Never liked the Stockbridge branch since the time I was after a couple of 9-speed Powerlinks and the chap behind the counter (almost) refused to sell me them because I had a Shimano chain - him telling me it would never work and me telling him I was already using one! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=4234#post-44233 Wed, 26 Oct 2011 21:16:45 +0000 kaputnik 44233@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>But for a noob, they were friendly and helpful,</em></p> <p>always the mark of a good bike shop. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=4234#post-44228 Wed, 26 Oct 2011 19:59:55 +0000 chdot 44228@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"But for a noob, they were friendly and helpful, and most importantly made it easy for me to get back into cycling."</p> <p>Sounds a pretty good recommendation - and reason for sticking with them. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=4234#post-44227 Wed, 26 Oct 2011 19:45:53 +0000 D_Monkey 44227@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Possibly a little more of an inexperienced opinion, but I live above them, so they were the natural choice for my first commuting bike for years (three months ago). </p> <p>It has been in several times for minor adjustments and I have been nothing but delighted with the service - including when I had a pretty bad fall and managed to break the &lt;bit that attaches gears to frame&gt;, the broken components were replaced and the whole assembly readjusted for no charge. </p> <p>Perhaps when I become more experienced, and can fill in that part name above, then it may be time to move to another shop. But for a noob, they were friendly and helpful, and most importantly made it easy for me to get back into cycling. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=4234#post-44218 Wed, 26 Oct 2011 17:34:46 +0000 PS 44218@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Cubes are better than Treks though, eh? ;) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=4234#post-44216 Wed, 26 Oct 2011 17:20:25 +0000 thebikechain 44216@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><blockquote>they stock the same bikes as tbc</blockquote></p> <p>they don't.</p> <p>We would like to do Trek but alas that won't happen. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=4234#post-44203 Wed, 26 Oct 2011 16:17:05 +0000 Min 44203@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I dunno, I just don't really like it. I don't have problems as such, I think it is just the surfeit of slouchy 19 year old staff with <em>OMG a WOMAN</em> expressions on their faces. And the fact that TBC is infinitely better. It can come in useful if I desperately want something on a Sunday though </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=4234#post-44191 Wed, 26 Oct 2011 14:59:21 +0000 spitters 44191@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I do Glouscester Street cobbles (though for a while I have been using the water of leith to get home avoiding traffic) - Alpine is where I got my bike to work bike mainly as they were the only ones who would take the Halfords vouchers my work spewed out at me... Got to test ride it first </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=4234#post-44189 Wed, 26 Oct 2011 14:57:00 +0000 kaputnik 44189@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I've no problem with Alpine, bought a couple of things off them - but only because they happened to be the cheapest place to buy a specific item I was after.</p> <p>The shop always seems to be almost deserted when I'm in, and I amn't crazy for the range of clothing they stock. They are owned by Tiso, but I don't get the "this is Mecca" feeling in alpine that I do in Tiso. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=4234#post-44188 Wed, 26 Oct 2011 14:56:28 +0000 amir 44188@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>My nearest bike shop is in Newtongrange (<a href="http://www.lothianbikeshed.co.uk/)" rel="nofollow">http://www.lothianbikeshed.co.uk/)</a>. I actually haven't been there since it moved from Dalkeith (where they gave me some free cable ends) but may try it out for repairs. I did used to go the Freewheelin in Bonnyrigg for repairs before it closed down.</p> <p>Alpine Bikes is too far in general, though it is nice to visit Stockbridge on occasion and Ronde is very special. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=4234#post-44186 Wed, 26 Oct 2011 14:48:47 +0000 Stepdoh 44186@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>That ruddy great hill is an integral part of my commute now... thankfully I've got ballast in the childseat (my bag, not the coxwean) to keep my back wheel from bouncing too much off the cobbles with I'm climbing the col du dean park.</p> <p>Doing wonders for my legs though. :) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=4234#post-44184 Wed, 26 Oct 2011 14:38:30 +0000 steveo 44184@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I got my mtb on the BTW scheme from there although mainly because they were the only ones with stock of the bike i wanted.</p> <p>I think its just they don't add any thing, they stock the same bikes as tbc and biketrax and the bulk of the accessories they sell are bontranger which are also covered by biketrax. </p> <p>Plus they're at the bottom of a ruddy great hill... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=4234#post-44182 Wed, 26 Oct 2011 14:24:07 +0000 Stepdoh 44182@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Is there anything specifically wrong with alpine bikes that it doesn't get much of a look in on here? </p> <p>Or is it just that it's a chain store and there aren't many Stockbridgers on the forum.</p> <p>Popped head in after grabbing a coffee at Ronde and it seemed okay as far as these things go. </p>