Bicycle touring shops Yorkshire

Cycle-touring, Expeditions, Adventures, Major cycle routes NOT LeJoG (see other special board)
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Kapalasa
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Bicycle touring shops Yorkshire

Post by Kapalasa »

I reside in Johannesburg and am visiting my parents in Bridlington, East Yorkshire next month. I'll also travel to Dewsbury to spend time with my sister. Are there any bicycle shops with a decent "touring" section near either location? Shops here are very much mtb and road race focused. I'll have a hire car so could travel within reason.
pete75
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Re: Bicycle touring shops Yorkshire

Post by pete75 »

Kapalasa wrote:I reside in Johannesburg and am visiting my parents in Bridlington, East Yorkshire next month. I'll also travel to Dewsbury to spend time with my sister. Are there any bicycle shops with a decent "touring" section near either location? Shops here are very much mtb and road race focused. I'll have a hire car so could travel within reason.


Located in Harrogate, about 25 miles from Dewsbury, is Spa cycles. They're considered by many to be the leading cycle touring specialists in the country and rightly so.
http://www.spacycles.co.uk/
'Give me my bike, a bit of sunshine - and a stop-off for a lunchtime pint - and I'm a happy man.' - Reg Baker
eileithyia
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Re: Bicycle touring shops Yorkshire

Post by eileithyia »

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Paulatic
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Re: Bicycle touring shops Yorkshire

Post by Paulatic »

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thirdcrank
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Re: Bicycle touring shops Yorkshire

Post by thirdcrank »

I thought for a minute about a key indicator for a touring shop and perhaps having Carradice panniers in stock might be one.

On that basis, Spa Cycles as already recommended is your number one place to go. Again, if you were looking for the CTC shop in this part of the world, (as opposed to retail chains which have had a financial arrangement with the CTC) then Spa Cycles is surely the place.

Not a million miles from Dewsbury, Sowerby Bros in Mirfield is my favourite bike shop, but not touring oriented.

http://www.sowerbybroscycles.co.uk/

Driving from Dewsbury to Brid by the direct route (ie not through Harrogate) there's Cyclesense in Tadcaster. I've not been recently but they look to be thriving and do some touring stuff.

http://www.cyclesense.co.uk/m60b0s74p0/ ... nnier-Bags

Others have mentioned most of the decent bike shops around here. I don't think Eliis Briggs in Shipley has been mentioned. One of the legendary lightweight shops. Again, I've not been recently but I see they are advertising their own touring bike available to the customer's spec.

http://www.ellisbriggscycles.co.uk/besp ... r-tourist/

NB Ellis Briggs has always closed all day Wednesday and I see they now seem to be closed on Sundays as well.
============================================================
PS

It's perhaps obvious but mail order has had a big effect on the lightweight bike trade and stuff advertised by shops may not be in stock or if it is, might not be on display. Both Spa and Cyclesense have moved to bigger premises in recent years as a result of that trend. I think it's fair to say that part of Spa's success has been in continuing to sell the kit that "CTC types" want to buy. I don't think you would ever read a thread from somebody saying they had bought a bike from Spa Cycles and they now found it had nowhere to fit luggage racks or mudguards and BTW, is there any way of lowering the bottom gear? That's a fairly regular type of query on here from inexperienced riders who have bought bikes from the most recent versions of the "CTC shop." (Honourable mention here for Geoff Butler Cycles who provided the first outsourced CTC shop.)
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Kapalasa
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Re: Bicycle touring shops Yorkshire

Post by Kapalasa »

Thanks everyone for the advise. The Spa Cycles shop looks absolutely incredible to a third world cyclist like myself. Will have to get there.
hufty
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Re: Bicycle touring shops Yorkshire

Post by hufty »

http://www.keeppedalling.co.uk/ - also 35 miles from Dewsbury!!
Please do not use this post in Cycle magazine
thirdcrank
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Re: Bicycle touring shops Yorkshire

Post by thirdcrank »

It has occurred to me that as a newcomer you may not have seen this long-running thread - nay soap opera - about Spa. As you are coming some distance, it's useful background reading.

viewtopic.php?f=18&t=7228
Tangled Metal
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Re: Bicycle touring shops Yorkshire

Post by Tangled Metal »

A long way away for the UK but south Africans probably think of it as just round the corner at the next town. In the lake district (Ambleside) There's Ghyllside cycles who are very much a touring shop. They are possibly the retailer with the largest Ortlieb catalogue in store. Plus they sell Arkel luggage. It is expensive but looks the best if you like pockets and organization in your bike luggage it's probably the best brand.

Anyway, spa cycles is a great start for you. They sell surly brand like Ghyllside cycles just I don't think they stock it all. No fat bikes there. BTW if you haven't tried fat bikes and have time, try one out in the lakes. Mountain biking over bogs on a fat bike is supposed to be good.
MarkF
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Re: Bicycle touring shops Yorkshire

Post by MarkF »

thirdcrank wrote:Others have mentioned most of the decent bike shops around here. I don't think Eliis Briggs in Shipley has been mentioned. One of the legendary lightweight shops. Again, I've not been recently but I see they are advertising their own touring bike available to the customer's spec.

http://www.ellisbriggscycles.co.uk/besp ... r-tourist/

NB Ellis Briggs has always closed all day Wednesday and I see they now seem to be closed on Sundays as well.


FYI Ellis Briggs (as it was) is no more, it has moved from it's very large premises to a small shop about 1/4 mile away on Commercial St, Shipley. It appears to me to be run by 2 ex-EB employees and seems to be majoring on repairs now.
thirdcrank
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Re: Bicycle touring shops Yorkshire

Post by thirdcrank »

MarkF wrote: ... FYI Ellis Briggs (as it was) is no more, it has moved from it's very large premises to a small shop about 1/4 mile away on Commercial St, Shipley. It appears to me to be run by 2 ex-EB employees and seems to be majoring on repairs now.


Thanks for the update. Times change. I'm now at the stage in my cycling where I've more junk stocked in my garage than I'll ever need so my visits to bike shops are not frequent. I've just had another look on their website and it obviously confirms what you have posted. No explanation or even mention of the move, other than the different address. I described EB as a legend and the history tab on the website gives a taste of that, but no hint of this latest chapter.

Until recently, one of my sons worked at a firm on nearby Dockfield Road and not being a driver, he commuted to Shipley by train. If he worked overtime at weekends, there was no train to get him in for 0600 so it was Dad's Taxi. All the shutters down at that time in the morning so no reason to notice any change. I do hope they are successful.
gibbo1982
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Re: Bicycle touring shops Yorkshire

Post by gibbo1982 »

The only reason Ellis Briggs is now in smaller premises is because the shop no longer sells bikes except for handmade Ellis Briggs bikes and frames.

For many years the shop concentrated on selling entry level to mid range bikes and family cycling. Which in the 80s, 90s and early 00's was very successful. But the lack of inflation in the bike business made it impossible to continue with that and still make money. We also didn't want to get into the high end market which has too much competition and is in fact struggling at the moment.

So the decision was taken to concentrate on the side of the business which Ellis Briggs is famous for. Namely handmade steel frames and bicycles and frame repairs and alterations. We also sell components and accesseries which suit steel frames and we will repair and service any quality bikes.

We've been too busy so far this year to update the history section of our website but it now has the latest part of the story.

Yes it is a shame that the Briggs family is no longer involved in the business but I'm sure you'll agree that they have earned their retirement now.

Paul Gibson
Ellis Briggs
thirdcrank
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Re: Bicycle touring shops Yorkshire

Post by thirdcrank »

gibbo1982 wrote:... I'm sure you'll agree that they have earned their retirement now. ...


I'm happy to say "Hear hear!" to that. :D I'm also happy to repeat my sincere good wishes for your future success. In the past, whenever somebody has come on here querying the cost of getting a lightweight frame repaired, I've always linked to the EB price list, itemising things like replacing a frame tube and I'll carry on doing so, secure in the knowledge that the repairs I've had done there were first class.

Thanks also for the prompt clarification: I for one will feel better informed when I'm making recommendations, as I did further up the thread. :D
gibbo1982
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Re: Bicycle touring shops Yorkshire

Post by gibbo1982 »

Thanks Third Crank.

Your links which you post certainly haven't gone unnoticed. So thanks for that. :D

Regards
Paul
bromptonrail
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Re: Bicycle touring shops Yorkshire

Post by bromptonrail »

And if you are in York why not visit Cycle Heaven -three shops.
http://www.cycle-heaven.co.uk
Cycle Heaven at York Station (at the front) for folding bikes - Brompton (loads), Tern, Birdy and Airnymal for starters.
The main emporium is at Hospital Fields Road (access by car or bus from Fulford Road; and excellent cycle access from the riverside paths south of the city centre, near the Millennium Bridge and on the east side of the river.

Oh, and this huge store also has a first rate cafe. Well worth a visit just for coffee, cake and a wander around!
No advertising please.
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