(Urgent) Best LBS in Cambridge, Huntingdon or P'boro?

It's my mother's 60th birthday and I want to buy her a bike. Bikes are
personal things so I'd like her to choose and need a good LBS (or
several nearby LBSs) which is well stocked.

She's always said she would like one "just like the bike she used to
have" but I fear you can no longer get rod brakes. Then again, she was
quite taken by the hybrid she hired recently so I'm not going to order
that Pashley quite yet.

Any suggestions for good LBSs in Cambs? I'm taking her out shopping
tomorrow and rapid responses gratefully received.

VMT.

Not Responding wrote:

She's always said she would like one "just like the bike she used to
have" but I fear you can no longer get rod brakes. Then again, she was
quite taken by the hybrid she hired recently so I'm not going to order
that Pashley quite yet.



The sort of bike she is looking for is available from
http://www.dutchbike.co.uk/

Tony

Not Responding wrote:
It's my mother's 60th birthday and I want to buy her a bike. Bikes are
personal things so I'd like her to choose and need a good LBS (or
several nearby LBSs) which is well stocked.

She's always said she would like one "just like the bike she used to
have" but I fear you can no longer get rod brakes. Then again, she was
quite taken by the hybrid she hired recently so I'm not going to order
that Pashley quite yet.

Any suggestions for good LBSs in Cambs? I'm taking her out shopping
tomorrow and rapid responses gratefully received.

Drakes in Cambridge do Pashley, but possibly not as a stock item, but
do have various solid Dutch commuters. I think Chris' bikes in Girton do
that sort of thing to, though I've never used them. Townsends had something
similar too, the last time I was in there (a while back).
For hybrids in Cambridge, see also Mike's Bikes, Howes, Ben Haywards,
and probably several I haven't mentioned. (In fact I bought my hybrid
from Cycle King - though they tend much more heavily to the "dual suspension
gaspipe" end of market, they sometimes have "sensible bike in last year's
model being sold cheap" too.)
Use Google to check cam.misc and cam.transport for more Cambridge
recommendations. I think University Cycles generally have good reports.
(I just remembered another one, apparently Rocco's are agents for
Cambridge Dutchbikes. http://www.dutchbike.co.uk/ )

For the Dark Side, there's D.Tek in Little Thetford.....

Not Responding wrote:
It's my mother's 60th birthday and I want to buy her a bike. Bikes
are
personal things so I'd like her to choose and need a good LBS (or
several nearby LBSs) which is well stocked.

She's always said she would like one "just like the bike she used to
have" but I fear you can no longer get rod brakes. Then again, she
was
quite taken by the hybrid she hired recently so I'm not going to
order
that Pashley quite yet.

Any suggestions for good LBSs in Cambs? I'm taking her out shopping
tomorrow and rapid responses gratefully received.

Probably not rapid enough, but:

Bristows Cycle Shop in Orton Waterville came well recommended and had
some interesting bikes when we were taking my mum. Predominantly a Trek
supplier, but both Trek and Giant are now doing step through frames
with swept back bars.

Richardson's Cycles in Huntingdon and St Ives. I'd use the St Ives one
as the staff in the Huntingdon used to be a bit crap. They once took
apart an STI lever (As in; took the bolt out of the front and
disassembled it... springs everywhere) when trying to fit the brake
cable.

I think that Mike's Bikes in Cambridge came recommended as well, but I
don't remember by whom.

Jon (Who is not away, but is devoid of an internet connection pending a
move next month!)

"Alan Braggins" wrote in message
...

But if you really want rod brakes,

Google 'Cycles of Yesteryear'

Not Responding wrote:
It's my mother's 60th birthday and I want to buy her a bike. Bikes are
personal things so I'd like her to choose and need a good LBS (or
several nearby LBSs) which is well stocked.

She's always said she would like one "just like the bike she used to
have" but I fear you can no longer get rod brakes. Then again, she was
quite taken by the hybrid she hired recently so I'm not going to order
that Pashley quite yet.

Any suggestions for good LBSs in Cambs? I'm taking her out shopping
tomorrow and rapid responses gratefully received.

Many thanks for the suggestions. We ended up at Terry Wright's in one of
the Deepings. Absolutely ideal; they had 3 of every type of bike
imagineable and very knowledgable staff. And a sale on.

My mother was instantly attracted to the Pashley Princess but it turned
out to be as heavy as it looks. OK for pottering around the village but
not really up to "going for a ride".

After several test rides, she settled on an Orbea something-or-other
complete with basket, woman's frame, side stand, dynamo lights,
mudguards etc. Only 5 gears but that's still 2 more than her last bike.

Whatever the merits of the bike, the important thing is, she loves it
all ready.