The Heart of Cycling in Worcestershire

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Shops & Service
Your local bike shop is pretty key to providing you with a good quality bike. You may think you can get a bargain from a supermarket or a cheap retailer on the net, but at least give the local shops a chance - you will usually be surprised.

Hallmarks of a good local bike shop:

The local bike shop should be the place where you can get good advice regardless of the type of bike you are riding.
Somewhere you feel "at home", where you know you will be sold the right thing - not just what's on the shelf.
Somewhere that looks after you-before AND after a bike purchase.
Somewhere that sets the bike up for you and prepares it safe for riding and to suit your riding style.
Somewhere that will order in that special part or accessory you want.
Somewhere that will be patient with your kids when trying a bike or helmet for size.
If you get tea or coffee and a chat about your riding then even better!

If you don't get what you want then go somewhere else. There are plenty of good bike shops out there that will take your money. If you are patronised, served by a grumpy or knowledge free shop worker, then turn on your heels and go. Make sure you shop with a quality bike shop.

image courtesy of www.thebicyclehub.co.uk

What can you do to get the most from your local bike shop?:

Give them a chance.
When you are buying something, give them as much information as you can so they can match the right product to your needs. If you want to ride to work and not up and down mountains - tell them - a good shop won't then sell you a cheap full suspension mountain bike.
Don't buy on price. Your local bike shop cannot compete with the supermarket boys (and why should they), remember anyone with buying power can compete on price, but do you get looked after and are your needs really considered?
Don't play one bike shop against another by trying to get a deal- your local bike shop is more than likely a family business, they are not there to rip you off, they're just trying to make a living in the local community.
After the supermarket style shop has given up selling bikes (because it's hard work), your local bike shop will still be there doing it's bit.
When you get treated really well - go and tell everyone about it.

See below the bike shops that we work with in Worcestershire and beyond, they are all a little different, go and try them out, see what they can do.
List in alphabetical order:
Back on Track (speak to Paul or Abby) Unit 2, No 6 North Malvern Road, Malvern. Tel. 01684 565777.
Echelon (speak to Tim) 124 High Street Pershore Worcs WR10 IEA. Tel. 01386 550606.
Worcester Cycle Centre (speak to Stuart or Erica) 89 College Street, Worcester. Tel. 01905 611123.
If you can't find what you want here, check out the The Bicycle Hub Ironbridge
or alternatively either go to Worcestershire County Council for a list of local shops or try a good shop in another part of the country on our links page.