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Blue Mountains
Mountain Designs
A couple of raves for this Katoomba store, which is the only Mountain Designs still to have a bike section. Leigh 'Sherpa' Nilsson runs it, and is the reason people love it.
Simon Hayes: I find that Mountain Designs in Katoomba are very good. Especially Leigh who actually works on the bikes. He knows just about everything but it can be hard to stop him once he gets talking. These guys ride local so they know what's good and what's bad. The only thing I would say against them is that they don't have a huge amount of stock.
Mountain Designs, 190 Katoomba St, Katoomba NSW 2780
Tel: (02) 4782-5999
Central Coast
Thanks to Robert Strong for this:
Roundabout Cycles
Good service, very limited MTB parts, will order anything on request.
The Entrance Rd Erina NSW 2250
Tel: (02) 4365 2344
Rod Martin Cycles
Fairly large range of MTB's, not a lot of top end spares. Good service, very helpful.
Pacific Hwy, Gosford West NSW 2250
Tel: (02) 4324 3388
Ettalong Bike Shop
1 or 2 DH bikes, mostly low end bikes. Fair range of parts. Good mechanics. Local kids hangout.
Ettalong Bike Shop, Memorial Ave, Ettalong Beach NSW 2257
Tel: (02) 4341 3906
Bikecology
Mostly second hand bikes, friendly service, good for the odd spare.
Bikecology, York St Gosford East NSW 2250
Tel: (02) 4325 1400
Wheels In Motion (Rebel)
Large range of bikes, mostly hardtails, best range of spares out of the shops mentioned so far, prices OK, friendly service.
Wheels In Motion, Erina Fair Shopping Centre, Terrigal Drv Erina NSW 2250
Tel: (02) 4365 4998
Newcastle
Heath Carney and Wayne Chapman had this to say about Newcastle dealers:
Gateshead Cycles
Heath: If you're looking for a new bike, you'll only get a Mongoose from Gateshead. They have some other brand BMXs, but only Mongoose MTBs. Service has always been pretty good - maintenance advice when I bought my first bike, after sales service is very good. Wal is the man to see. I think his main claim to fame was that he was in the inaugural Mammoth Mt. World Champs, still, he knows what he's on about. Most of the other staff are not to shabby either.
Wayne: Wal actually won about 13 Australian titles, (this includes DH & XC). His mechanical ability is top notch!
Gateshead Cycles, 20 Pacific Hwy, Gateshead NSW 2290
Tel: (02) 4943-7233
Extreme Cycles
Heath: Don't let the name put you off, this place isn't too bad. They have a nice set up, with a wide range of bikes. Never actually bought anything from them, but they are always friendly when I go in.
Wayne: Owned by Mick Edwards and Glenn Forman. Mick is the Diamondback & Manitou Race support mechanic and is Cadel's bud and personal mechanic while the Evansed one is in OZ. Glenn is a former state DH champ and current BMX vet cruiser champ.
Extreme Cycles Pty, 144 Lambton Rd, Broadmeadow NSW 2292
Tel: (02) 4957-9944
Hadley's Cycles
Heath: Owned by Rob Hadley - apparently a bit of a schmoad veteran.
Wayne: If you want the best service ask for either Dave "billy-ray" Burgess or Ken "the Goat" Wells.
Hadley Cycles Pty Ltd Bicycle Sales & Service, 617 Glebe Rd Adamstown NSW 2289
Tel: (02) 4952-5959
Civic Bike Shop
Wayne: Owned by Margaret McLaughlin. Husband John is respected frame builder. Margaret has a lifetime of experience in the cycle industry. (she previously owned Stanmore cycles)
Civic Bike Shop Shop 2/ 571 Hunter St Newcastle NSW 2300
Tel: (02) 4925-2930
Sydney
Bike Addiction
Mike Pickford: I think Bike Addiction should definitely be included. They have a really good range and a good understanding of the upper-end of our market. Their prices are pretty reasonable too. The other thing that particularly impresses me about Bike Addiction is that they support the local club race scene - not just by saying so, but by turning up, providing prizes, food, and mechanical support to the participants... Makes a racer go all warm and fuzzy...
Bike Addiction, 178 Sydney Road, Fairlight NSW 2094
Tel: 02 9907 6781 Fax: 02 9907 6783
The Bike Bar
Jesse Geisler is a master mechanic, and that's what the Bike Bar is all about. It's said that turning up with a chicken and avocado roll is a sure way to get him to move your job to the top of the queue.
The Bike Bar, 368 Crown St Surry Hills NSW 2010
Tel: (02) 9332-1955
The Bikesmith
John Stevenson: I said I wasn't going to write shop entries, but dammit, I like Gerard and Bike Smith. Friendly little store, and the interactions with customers that I have heard have been good.
The Bikesmith Pty Ltd, 559 Kingsway, Miranda NSW 2228
Tel: (02) 9525-7772
Blakehurst Cycles
Original base for the Metro Mountain Bikers. Ask for Peter.
Blakehurst Cyclery, 617 Princes Hwy, Blakehurst NSW 2221
Tel: (02) 9547-1812
Cranks
Wayne Morris: Working in North Sydney, Cranks have become my LBS. (the two bike shops around Bronte where I live are both box-headed roadie places, great if you want to race time trials, but what the hell is singletrack?). Cranks are not the cheapest on parts/service, but what's an extra couple of bucks on a $40 purchase when they really try to help you when you're in the shit with mechanical problems on a Sunday, or some other disaster? They have provided good mechanical service on my 'Dale, including the somewhat testy Headshok, and are helpful with "quick/extra" adjustments gratis at their own initiative. They will also order stuff (for example roof racks) in at competitive prices. I've taken bits I've bought overseas in and they don't give you shit about it. I look at it as when you pay fair money for whatever it is you should get fair service, I don't try and screw 'em and they accord the same respect. The guys all seem to be a consistent high level of mechanical competence, all ride - you see em on the trails - and are personable enough. Ross the owner is also usually at one of the two shops and makes you feel like he values your business. They are also open seven days. Cranks will continue to enjoy my custom & I think they're worthy of listing.
Cranks Bike Shop, 92 Pacific Hwy, Roseville NSW 2069
Tel: (02) 9411-5466
Cranks Bike Shop, 165 Walker St North Sydney NSW 2060
Tel: (02) 9954-6466
Cyclery Northside
Matt Sullivan: A very professional shop and one of Sydney's best for Specialized and Avanti. Caters for roadies and MTBs. Personnel has changed over the last few years to reflect MTB dominance, particularly mechanics (some who race). Regular customers get a 10% discount on everything except labour, as do members of BNSW. Good range of quality accessories and clothing. Always open to a deal on last year's models. Service and repairs done well and on time. Ask for Owen.
Cyclery Northside, 815 Pacific Hwy, Chatswood NSW
Tel (02) 9415 1343 fax (02) 9415 1345
Cycology
Jason McHatton: Mostly a BMX shop, but they have some MTBs and bits, and will get anything you want. Their mechanics are good, and they build great wheels, as anyone who's seen the way I treat mine can attest.
Cycology, 242 Victoria Rd, Gladesville NSW 2111
Tel: (02) 9879-7000
Durban Cycles
Kenneth Innes: Nice guys, really honest. Reasonable prices. Very much road orientated, but thoroughly nice guys. Good place to practise your French.
Durban Cycles, 580 President Ave, Sutherland NSW 2232
Tel: (02) 9521-3067
Frasers Cycles
Kenneth Innes: One of the best ranges of 1000-6000$ rigs cheap to general public (you don't have to befriend them first, be on the list and so on) Ordinary mechanicking
Frasers Cycles Sports & Toys Unit, 1/ 228 Taren Point Rd, Taren Point NSW 2229
Tel: (02) 9526-7722, Fax: (02) 9526-7774
Kirrawee Cycles
Mitchell Anthony: I'd love to give Kenny from Kirrawee Cycles a rap. He doesn't bag out other shops, he gives good prices, he doesn't talk down to customers, he doesn't care if you're buying a duallie or a puncture repair kit - the service is always first class. If he doesn't deal with the parts you need he'll get them in, or custom make something if he has to. If your bike is having something done to it, he'll check the WHOLE bike & make sure its working good & proper like. The man is truly a God, I'm going to name my first born after him.
Kirrawee Cycles, 146 Oak Rd, Kirrawee NSW 2232
Tel: (02) 9521-7998
Le Spit Cyclery
Tim Wardrop: My vote goes to Le Spit Cyclery at Spit Junction. Good, friendly service, usually has parts in stock, and Steve's a good wheel builder - I never managed to get my wheel out of true, even when I cracked the brake wall. He has a background in road bikes (hence the name) but he still knows his stuff on mountain bikes.
Le Spit Cyclery, 20 Spit Rd, Mosman NSW 2088
Tel: (02) 9968-3920
Menai Bike Factory
Ray Marcelo: Relaxed, honest service and reliable repairs. Reasonable selection of cool accessories and if the bike or parts are not in, they'll order it for you at a good price. Follow up and service on bikes is excellent, even on bikes from other shops. They'll also do quick repairs to get you going which is something many shops won't do.
Menai Bike Factory, Unit 3/ 814 Old Illawarra Rd, Menai NSW 2234
Tel: (02) 9541-0797 Fax: (02) 9541-2988
Renegade Cycles
Mike Pickford: Renegade Cycles at Lane Cove also get a good rap. Nice guys, good stock, v.helpful and quite exceptional service. A little pricey, but I guess you pay for what you get...
Renegade Cycles, Shop 9/ 43 Burns Bay Rd, Lane Cove NSW 2066
Tel: (02) 9427-1545
Stanmore Cycles
Jamie Davies raves about one of Sydney's living legends: Run by Bob de Kantzow, who knows just about everything to do with bikes, including the inter-inner-plate distance on IG 51 chains (2.38 mm, for the record). Small shop, personalized service, but can be pretty crowded on a Saturday morning. Prices are reasonable, and all the advice I've had has been good, or frighteningly accurate. When I'm in Sydney, I go there.
Stanmore Cycles, 208 Parramatta Rd, Stanmore NSW 2048
Tel: (02) 9560-5842
Universe Cycles
Universe is a controversial shop. Any dealership this large is going to have a range of cluefulness among the staff. Here's Jason Stummer
J Strummer: Everyone seems to have different experiences with bike shops. For example, I have been using Universe at Parra for many years now and have spent maybe somewhere around $10K there over that time. As such, I have built a very good rapport with them and I am constantly getting prices (on everything I buy there) that make most of my friends raise their eyebrows - from expensive bikes to $10-15 bits and pieces. I get excellent service and advice (mainly from Dave out there) and never oversold on what I need. I have friends who constantly ask me to get their bike stuff for them because of the prices/service that I get. Also, (maybe I'm just extremely lucky) but in 10 years of Triathlon racing and mtbing, I have only had 1 DNF because of mechanical failure (broken spoke) - which says something to me about the quality of the services my bikes are getting - once again I always get Dave to do my stuff. In short, I think building a long-term relationship with one bike shop is very beneficial financially and for service reasons.Sometimes it's not worth playing them off against each other (the bike shops) on every single purchase.
Universe Cycles, 458 Church St Parramatta NSW 2150
Tel: (02) 9630-1491
Wollongong
Spearman Cycles
Dave Hanes: I like Spearman Cycles on Crown St. Good service, and good range. Dave is great at getting my wheels straight when I bend them.
Spearman Cycles, 302 Crown St, Wollongong NSW 2500
Tel: (02) 4229-2317
Wilson's Discount Bikes
Dave Hanes: Wilson's on Keira St is good too. Good Mechanics, and good stock.
Wilson'S Discount Bikes, 337 Keira St, Wollongong NSW 2500
Tel: (02) 4228-7366