to build up my hard tail. I asked at Pedal Revolution about top-swing front mechs and the guy didn't know what I was talking about.
Fat Birds is over an hour away. . . help!
and no jokes about mountains in norfolk.
That's pretty much it in Norwich, there's a cycles uk(I think that's the name) downstairs in the big sports shop next to Jarrolds, all the rest are low end. John Borwell on Spencer street is pretty small but seems to stock some higher end stuff.
Elmys or Thomas cycle revolution in Ipswich are the only other big shops in the area really
do you know any shops in Thetford Forest, maybe? I want a independent shop that I can trust to put a new crankset and mechs on my bike. . .
Bike art is in Thetford forest at high lodge, stock nice stuff not really had many dealings there but there are stories on here of the owner being a bit funny...?
hmmm. . .
maybe I'll check out the one on Spencer Street.
any groups going out for rides that you know of? I'm new in town.
street life are a briliant shop in norwich and they know there stuff ask for alex the owner his shops have been in his family for donkeys years and all his staff are friendly helpful bike nuts too they go out of there way to be helpful and make a good coffee too 😉
failing that if you can pop to lowestoft il show you what you need to know as have a full work shop of tools and been in and out the cycle trade for years (between forces and offshore that is) all i charge is jaffa cakes 😆
and street life do regular rides as well as icieni velo local road club and theres a few of us in lowesoft do wednesday night rides and saturday sunday rides all over and at thetford drop me a email if you fancy coming riding
Happy trails Dan
Sebgt, I'm guessing you haven't found Streetlife (opposite the Fat Cat off Dereham Road). As Cannondaleking says, great bunch of guys, know their stuff and very hospitable. There's usually some interesting bikes to look at as well. They seem to be the only shop in Norwich to be into proper mountainbikes in any kind of big way, and all their staff are regular on and off road riders.
As above, try "Street Life", they [i]may be[/i] an improvement on Pedal Rev, but I've not used them.
Not that it would be difficult to improve on Ped Rev.
Pedal rev just want you to turn up, select something from off the shelf and pay.
I've been in there when customers have started to blow a gasket cos something was wrong with the [i]service[/i] they had/had not received.
I only pop into Pedal rev to kill time and look at what they think they can sell.
Borwell might be worth a look, but he's a strange f'er and is known to [i]miss[/i] things.
I bought a new bike from there once, got home to discover that he hadn't tightened up the face plate of the handle bar stem !.
😯
I don't use him now anyway, he's just too weird.
Still, all the bike shops in Norwich seem to survive, so ultimately, what does that tell us about Joe public on a bike ?.
I'd open a bike shop in Norwich, if people could tell a good one from a not so good one.
Oh !, and don't forget Halfords....
HTH
😉
what was the one near the station on prince of wales rd? it closed years ago, but did it move elsewhere?
iirc it was 'free wheel', been gone a long time
Capt.
Thats going back ages.
I can see that shop now in my mind, but can't recall its name.
Velo cycles use to be in Anglia square, but has moved onto Sprowston road now.
I wouldn't consider him for carrying out work on a bike.
I don't think thats their scene now, could be wrong though.
Another vote for Streelife.
Streetlife is the one you want, excellent service and always something to see.
Solo - Member
Capt.Thats going back ages.
I can see that shop now in my mind, but can't recall its name.
Remembered it: Freewheel!
I've used Madgetts in Diss and FatBirds for bike builds and found both to be excellent.
I live in Ipswich and have used both Elmys and Thomas's locally, and both are ok, but I would still prefer the above.
slight hyjack - are there many riders/ groups in the norwich/ north norfolk area that aren't roadies. Nothing against roadies just not my bag. Used to ride witton (bacton) woods and haeding up there soon, so looking for potenital riding buddies 😀
+1 for Streetlife - top guys. Ask for Tim the mechanic, really knows his stuff.
Flip456/Nathaneddy - I live in Norwich, ride all sorts, bmx, fixed, mtb - occassionally head over to Chicksands, and go and have a play in Thetford (although not into the XC side of it).
I think Bacton is still about - was up at the coast over summer and saw a bunch of lads of full bouncers riding into Cromer looking like they'd been in the woods.
I'd be interested in info for trails in Norwich or Cromer.
However, I do not ride off road at the moment due to busted wrist 3 weeks ago.
Probably won't MTB until next year now.
🙁
If you're looking for mountain bike riding buddies in Norwich and Norfolk, again Streetlife and Iceni Velo are the people to talk to. Lots of rides round and about Nowich, Backton and the coast.
Nice one, all. as soon as I get this bike built up I'll scout out some rides.
Cannondaleking, I work in Lowestoft a few days a week, will be in touch about meeting up.
I saw that shop in Diss, I may check them out, too.
And I'll definitely be in street life soon -- is that the one with all the BMXs in the window?
Yep, that's the one. BMX one side, road and random pieces of cross and mountain bike the other.
The one in Lowestoft has loads of bmxs in the window a guy called Howard works in that one hes a good bloke comes riding with us most Wednesday and Thursday nights drop us an email and il send you my number be good to get another rider in town
Happy trails dan
nice one, Dan, will be in touch. I know the one -- bunch of Spesh stuff in the window, too, on the south side of town. but not to the Mandarin Cycles shop, i hope. . .
didnt there used to be a bike shop called apple pie somewhere in norwich or am i just imagining that??
Used to be - closed down ages ago.
+1 for Streetlife as the best shop with the added bonus of being opposite the best pub. Madgetts in Diss is also an excellent shop and well worth a visit. My personal opinion would be to avoid Pedal Revs as they are about as useful as a chocolate teapot!
I live in the City and there is plenty of riding well within a couple of miles of the centre, go and have an explore of Mousehold Heath and the UEA grounds. Despite what most people think of Norwich/Norfolk there is some useful gradient at both of these places though for bigger rides I would suggest going North to the coast or South to Thetford.
Yer forgot about Streetlife, been there once and was alright, guys seemed helpfull. The one in Lowestoft have helped me out aswell before. Dont visit shops much though as have been a mechanic for 10 years so can't comment on workmanship as I do it all myself.
Becks Bikes in beccles is a fairly new shop, nice guy, starting to get some nice bikes in too.
+1 for Streetlife, excellent bunch of guys in there, into MTBs as well as road stuff too.
As has been said, Iceni Velo are a good local club with a lot of members who ride both MTB and Road stuff, theres also a lot of local knowledge on there for local rides etc ?
there is an "Urban Jungle route" which is all the off road / trails in and around Norwich, which is about 25-30 miles for the full loop !!
Another place for riding buddies locally is: http://easternbikemonkeys.co.uk/forum/index.php
Really good bunch of people, good fun, good banter, dont take themselves too seriously either !!
Theres always something happening most weekends and we organise trips away to Wales, Scotland, the Alps etc
I`m in Norwich and always up for riding so drop me a line if you fancy hooking up ?
Cheers
Dom
nice one, I'll check that group out.
http://paulscycles.co.uk/ isn't too far away, 20-30 minutes by car. Better for full bikes though.
Leisure Cycles in eaton is ok if you want a cheapish workshop, used by a lot of the students i think. Don't expect them to maintain a stock of Hope hub bearings or the latest fox 36 forks though..
Aye !, I'm in Norwich too.
😉
Norwich massive 😀
Used to live in norwich and had a couple of routes, mostly mentioned above. The joy is you can cover a lot of distance on some nice bits of off-road. The trick is linking it all together. Marriott's way is a quick way of getting out into the country, we used to get off at an old bridge up some steps (can't ride them). Then head for the woods. Ringland hills still had some trails after the big jumps were bulldozed maybe 5 years ago?
Out in cromer we had a cracking route about 25 miles from the train station, I think the guys in streetlife do a variation on it that is good. Might have a .gpx somewhere but not the easiest to navigate through. Still nothing hugely technical but there was a tricky climb with done awkward roots.
Then you could head to brandon side of thetford for better singletrack.
Another vote for streetlife, although there was a marin dealer in town that used to have some nice stuff in
Just south of Norwich, but use Revel Outdoors in Bury as its close to work, but Madgetts in Diss is ace for the bits you just might need..
update to say I took my bike to street life in norwich on you'se all recommendation. They were great. replaced headset, BB, crankset, chain, and both mechs for . . . 21 quid! I paid almost that just to get a bb and crankset removed in Manchester.
good guys, highly recommended. thanks all