To help you out in getting about town on two wheels, we’ve compiled a list of what we reckon are some of the capital's best bike shops. Whether you fancy yourself as a wannabe pro, committed commuter or weekend warrior, we think we’ve found something for everyone.
Best bike shops for going fast
Swift Cycles
A hidden gem situated around the corner from Liverpool Street. As well as a range of bikes from the everyday to high-end speed machines, they do repairs, same-day servicing and also offer a bike fitting service utilising motion capture cameras, ensuring your position squeezes every last watt of energy out of your legs. The staff are both knowledgeable and super-friendly, something that you’ll want by the bucket-load.
Swift Cycles, 8 Strype St, London E1 7LF
Cadence
Based in Crystal Palace, it might not be the most local of bike shops for many, but those that do make the effort to visit aren’t disappointed. As well as a range of bikes made by Giant, they also have loads of accessories, a bike fitting service, studio for all of your fitness needs and a darn good café — making it the perfect place to start or end your rides to Surrey and Kent.
Cadence, 2A Anerley Hill, London SE19 2AA
Best shops for getting your bike fixed
Brixton Cycles
Brixton Cycles stared death in the face when the building they were in was earmarked for demolition. Following an immense crowdfunding effort, the shop found new premises, expanded and now also features a café staffed and stocked by Look Mum No Hands. The staff are thorough when it comes to rooting out the cause of that squeak you’ve had for months and will get your machine purring like new once again.
Brixton Cycles, 296-298 Brixton Rd, London SW9 6AG
London Bicycle Workshop
A no-nonsense approach to bike repair, right bang in the middle of Zone 1, these guys have the skills to pay the bills – and their prices are remarkably good! If you’ve ever had the need to take your bike in here to be fixed, you’re never in any doubt that quote they’re giving is precisely what’s needed. They also sell tons of gear should you want to buy a bike or accessory.
London Bicycle Workshop, 97-99 Clerkenwell Rd, London EC1R 5BX
London Bike Kitchen
Got a wobbly wheel but forced to choose between paying rent and heading to the bike shop? Why not learn how to fix it yourself? The London Bike Kitchen is a ‘do-it-together space’ where you can bring your bike in and fix it yourself, with a full tool library, mechanic on-hand to answer any questions and a fully stocked components shop for all the parts you need. Next time you need a running repair your new-found skills should be able to see you right.
London Bike Kitchen, 28 Whitmore Rd, London N1 5QA
Cycleworx
A residential street in Southfields is not many people’s first choice to head to for technical know-how, but these guys can just about fix anything. According to their website, whatever the problem, they “always have solutions”. They also sell a big range of gear so well worth the trip south.
Cycleworx, 79 Replingham Rd, Southfields SW18 5LU
Best bike shops for commuting
Brompton Junction
No bike is better for commuting than a Brompton. Had too much to drink after work or caught un-prepared for a sudden downpour? No problem. Simply fold it up and jump on the tube. This place sells anything and everything you need for this king of the folding bike.
Brompton Junction, 76 Long Acre, London WC2E 9JS
Velorution
These guys are masters of urban cycling, stocking all manner of clothing and equipment that will get you from home to work place seamlessly. Jeans designed for cycle commuting? Check. Electric bikes? Check. Dutch cycles? Check. Worth checking out.
Velorution, 75-77 Great Portland St, London W1W 7LR
Best bike shops for looking good
Rapha
One of the most revered clothing brands in cycling. In addition to providing the kit to Bradley Wiggins' and Tour de France winner Chris Froome's respective teams, they stock everything you could need to wear when out on two wheels – whether you’re racing, or just commuting to the office. They even have a ‘vault’ in their Spitalfields store where you can try their clothing on a static bike and change the climate to anything from blistering hot to blustery and cold. Each of their stores also feature cafés with bike parking and cycle racing on the TV – pretty much all the time.
Rapha,
85 Brewer St, London W1F 9ZN
Spitalfields Market, 61-63 Brushfield St E1 6AA
Best bike shops for something different
Isambard's Cycles
These guys are the defibrillator for bikes – in their own words; they “indulge in [their] own passions in bringing older bicycles back from the dead”. Specialising in reconditioned machines, they cater for all levels of knowledge and budget, from those just looking for something to pootle to the shops and back, to the classic retro racing machines. If you want to head to a bike shop and not feel foolish because you don’t know the lingo, these guys will make you feel instantly at ease.
Isambard's Cycles, 145 Bethnal Green Rd, London E2 7DG
Brick Lane Bikes
In East London, the Fixie rules supreme. Channel your inner hipster with a trip to Brick Lane Cycles where they have a large range of urban machines as well as friendly, knowledgeable staff who are more than happy to guide you in the right direction. They even have a cycle park in their backyard so you can unsaddle from your iron horse in the comfort that no-one else is going to be riding off on it.
Brick Lane Bikes, 118 Bethnal Green Rd, London E2 6DG
Best bike shop for coffee
Look Mum No Hands
Like bikes? Like Coffee? If you sit in the middle of this Venn diagram, we can't think of anywhere better than Look Mum No Hands to combine these two passions. Serving up Square Mile coffee, they have branches in Old Street, and Whitechapel, with pop-ups throughout the sunner. Look out for the many cycle-themed events they host including speed dating, film showings, and bring-and-buy sales.
Look Mum No Hands
49 Old St, London EC1V 9HX
101 Back Church Lane, E1 1LU
Cycle PS
Very similar in approach to Look Mum No Hands but with the added bonus that they sell bikes as well as fix them – Cycle PS’s reputation has grown rapidly. They have fantastic food (the pizzas are recommended) a licensed bar and even a pool table. The locations of each of their shops are on Cycle Superhighway routes which makes stopping off after the daily grind a huge temptation.
Cycle PS
41 Camberwell Church Street, London SE5 8TR
179 Battersea High Street, London SW11 3JS
