DanielJW

I was just wondering if anyone here has had any experience with the bike stores in the north perth area. I'm looking into starting cycling and buying a road bike. Obviously some stores are better/more usefull staff than others and i figured it would be worth checking if anyone here is from perth and knows anything about the lbs's here.

Johnny_Monkey

Avoid the one at the Carine Glades shops.

George's Bike Shop in Balcatta is pretty good. I bought my lower end stuff from him ie stuff for my commuter.

There's a bike force up north as well but I never used it.

What sort of bike are you after and how much do you want to spend?

DanielJW

About $1000 (plus or minus 2-300 if needed)

Mainly for 2 things, exercise and commutng. About 10-20 hours a week riding really.

Johnny_Monkey

Expect to spend a couple of hundred on accessories as well. I bought my commuter from the bike shop at the bottom of Queen street in the city (I think it was taken over by Fleet Cycles). They offered 3 years of free servicing.

Do your research and shop around. I think you'll probably end up with a Giant or an Avanti as they seem to offer to the best value for money.

Where is your commute to and from? I used to commute from Warwick to West Perth.

DanielJW

From joondalup to wangara.

Johnny_Monkey

That's not too far. You may find yourself going the long way home after a while.

mentat6059

I have a few bike shops that I frequent around north Perth, Morley. but I dont think you can find any better than Elite Racing Cycles in Highgate/East Perth (?). Greg Stoyles on Walter Road is another nice smaller shop

rambler1au

I like Georges in Balcatta one of the few who does not try and sell you a $2000 wheelset when all you need is a spoke replaced

Johnny_Monkey

He's a good guy alright. You will not get ripped off there IMO.

senator52

The shop at Carine Glades, is a mountain bike specialist, so a waste of your time, and mine ive had good experiences at Bikeforce Balcatta, i havent been to it recently but i know there is one in joondalup as well...

Johnny_Monkey

I didn't know there was a Bikeforce in Balcatta. Where is it exactly?

rambler1au

Bikeforce in Balcatta is in Erindale Road.

Bikeforce are pretty good but arent cheap to deal with, but if your a roadie around that area they know you by first names which is nice in todays world.

Its new, so is the Bycycle Entrepreneur in Osborne Park.

Why do you care if your in London?

Johnny_Monkey

I own a house in Warwick. That Bikeforce must be fairly new because it wasn't there when I left Perth 18 months ago.

What street is the BE is Osborne Park? My commute used to go through there.

rambler1au

The bike entreprneur is on Hutton street.

Nice shop with lots of stock so if you want to look at a new bike theyve got the whole range.

Cool bike worth $12K in there at 30% off.

astroman

i second that, elite are great. good service, good attitude, good support. they feel like they are there to help not look down on you, which is terrific and a relief! riders choice in leederville are good too.

crank'n

fix bikes on cambridge street done a good job repairing my road bike wheel

Johnny_Monkey

How long have they been around? I used to take my Pinarello to Glen Parker in Nedlands, but would have liked to go somewhere closer.

astroman

i think elite have been around about 18 months to two years. not so long. i think two of the guys there used to work at glen parker too. i do think they're good. good mechanics, and the ability to help on a range of stuff from fixed road to fixed track to hard core lycra man racing...they've made up a fix and a steel surly for me with gears, both are great and were good value...only bought a cog from glen parker, but a friend has had good service from them, but he works nearby...elite are two minutes from my work...

HappyHumber

hey Guys, mainly south of the River here. I've floated around a few of the chain stores. Tend to find one and use for a while until they tick me off by having the junior do a ***** job on something or keep trying to sell me something I don't want. But I find generally my LBS are bit hit and miss - depending on which staff member you get.

I have been doing a bit of business with Georges in Willeton lately. No grizzles so far

But having said that, I often travel to Quantum Bike Manufacturers in North Perth. They're not really a shop per se, but they're often able to do a lot of frame repair jobs a lot of other shops shy away from. First experience with them was with a busted derailleur hanger on my carbon trek. Then they helped me out with some practical advice when I built up my Surly cross-check.

DanielJW

Anyone else been here (or any of the bike entrepreneur shops)? I keep hearing the ad on the radio for their sale, figured i'd go down and take a look tomorrow.

Johnny_Monkey

I've been to the BCE in Nedlands. It was ok.

BFG

I usually go to the local ones, in midlandish area.
Guildford Cycles is good for anyone up here, i was intimidated about going there at first, but i was surprised. Highly reccomended.
As is the shop next to Bob Jane T-Mart in midland. The little indian guys there rock.

Chaderotti

reviving an old thread.
But Bikeforce in Morley is a great store. I haven't spent as much money as some of their other customers but they still treat me the same way they treat their big spenders!

They have some $600 road bikes up to a Ridley Noah... I tend to drool over the Noah each time I walk in the store!