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Someone posted about a new bike shop in Bruntsfield just past the petrol station, on the same side (heading towards M'side) but I cannot find the post.
Anyway, going by today, I see that it is 'opening soon'; it is called 'Pedals' and the slogan on the window says something like 'be kind to your bike, be kind to the environment'.
Sounds interesting...
Well that area is a bit short on bike shops. ;-)
First person in, let us know what it is like!
Well may I wish them the best. of course at the moment there is no waiting time at all at The Bike Works... see my next post!
"First person in, let us know what it is like!"
Well I nearly did but I thought I'd look at the web site first.
http://www.pedals-edinburgh.com
Well no doubt they will be saying who is involved sometime, this -
"Pedals wasn't created in a boardroom, we aren't the offshoot of another company, we are just pedals. Dedicated cyclists with a passion for bikes, and for keeping people riding."
is about as personal as it gets at the moment (unless I missed something).
Dedicated cyclists with a passion for bikes, and for keeping people riding
I wish them all the best, but in that location they're up against some established favourites who can all be described by the strapline above.
I can't believe someone opened up a bike shop opposite Velo Ecosse, just up from Biketrax, around the corner from the Bicycle Co-op and a stone's throw from the Bicycle Works (have I missed any?)
I mean, good luck to them. But surely there's a huge gap up the Newington area which is only serviced (and then perhaps with variable success, according to reports on this forum) by the Bicycle Repair Man.
"I can't believe someone opened up a bike shop opposite Velo Ecosse ..."
Well there is the 'cluster effect' but..
Until relatively recently there were usually 2 or 3 shops in the South Side.
Thing that strikes me most about the new shop is that it's pretty small. Hope the customers pick up their bikes when they are ready...
I'd assumed they'd presumed that existing demand must be quite good around that area to support the existing places, or that Bruntsfield is slightly closer than Newington to the west end of the city centre for the lunchtime needs of cycle-commuting finance-drones, or that they'll catch some well-heeled pootlers popping into town from Morningside, or that they'd be handier for cycle traffic, or that there might be some overspill from people who would usually go to EBC to get repairs done but find that there's a two-week-long waiting list, though that would be much more likely to occur during the summer.
It is owned by an ex-mechanic from here named James.
Mark - phoned tonight - got the workshop - was trying to work out how to change the battery in a smart helmet light but shop was busy, which is good. I found the clip under the strap eventually. JAmes off to Bruntsfield. Interesting. For my geography higher in 1981-2 I measured the length of each shop front in Ayr High Street [one sunday morning, back when shops were shut on sundays]. I divided the rates each shop paid by length of front to find the most expensive points and the disparity from shop to shop etc, fairly analysed this data (I was keen, thumbs all cut and blistered from rolling the tape measure in and out too). Not surprisingly Marks and Spencers paid twice as much as anyone else per metre. A year or so later British Homes Stores opened up next door. The site was good for access but also I imagine as right next to M&S they would be hoping to benefit from fallout from next door. I imagine EBC must have many dissatified customers who have tried to get a slot for bike to be fixed and been told come back in six weeks. On the other hand, there used to be two bike shops in Argyle place I recollect. If the landlord of all the shops in Balernon didn't charge such high rents I could see a second TBC out here.
That BHS also has the useful addition of a restaurant where you could get a big breakfast. I remember my dad going there many mornings in the '80s.
Cluster doesn't seem to happen here. There is one bike shop in Airdrie/Coatbridge. Dales in the town, a couple in the west end. South side is best avoided because there are Apache waiting behind the bluff to head you off at the past.
Alistair Gow did have a shop in Milngavie a long time ago but it made less money than the one in Campsie glen so he dropped it.
Yes I have encountered South Side Apache
Was on a 126 train bizarrely from Edinburgh to Helensburgh the other day. I was going Ed Park to Bathgate. Had to put bike in disabled space as nowhere else for it and sit at rear wheel to stop it sliding. Nice chat to Strathspey Railway enthusiast(or could have been random carrier bag). With black brompton. So assuming guy stayed on the train - there were two Bromptons in Airdrie this Tuesday
All together now - One Brompton In Airdrie, there's only only one Brompton in Airdrie
Ummm... there are three Bromptons in this house (two in the garage and one in the downstairs toilet).
I was at an SQA course last week which was cancelled just after I got there. It's been rescheduled for next month in Dalkeith so I'll have a chance to try out the Airdrie - Waverley train. They offered a taxi from the station but it's almost a straight line so I'll just cycle.
Straight line from Waverley to Dalkeith - some undulation, and degree of ascent and Sherrifhall Roundabout?
Should be fine. I used to know someone who stayed in Willowbrae and we wandered around Arthur's seat and the park so I don't think I'll get too lost.
I'd rather cycle than use a taxi.
Sherrifhall Roundabout
Avoid that - go up Gilmerton Road, across the Bypass just after Gilmerton, round past Dobbies / Butterfly World and then into Dalkieth at Melville Gate.
And maybe get off at Haymarket at pass 5 bike shops.
"
Hello fine people of CyclingEdinburgh!
I have recently (open for two days now) set up Edinburghs, and perhaps the UK's, first eco conscious cycle repair centre.
http://www.pedals-edinburgh.com/
Our focus is on high quality professional repairs, with a super fast turnaround, clean and professional environment, and polite staff, using biodegradable lubes and cleaners, recycling 90% of our waste and in a few months enrolling in a scottish tree planting program to help offset the carbon produced through the daily running of the shop.
It would be fantasic if you could list our site with all the other shops, and if you want to chat about what we do please feel free to give me a call on 0131 629 6065. We have already had a lot of interest in the 'sustainable' side of our business, and if we grow this shop at the forcast rate aim to open a small group of repair centres throughout Scotland.
If you have any feedback/advice on what we do, and ways we can do it better, please let me know.
Look forward to hearing from you
Best regards
James
"
Good luck guys, always good to see another cycle shop.
You might want to have a look at your pricing though. The Bicycle Works charges £32 for a service while your website states that you charge £45. If my arithmetic is right that is about 40% more than a well established and highly regarded competitor.
That said, EBC somehow seem to get away with charging £49 for a service that doesn't even include truing wheels!
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