Freewheel Cycle Shops

Reviews

• Avoid avoid avoid!

  I wanted to purchase from this local shop as I presumed (being an enthusiast shop) the service would be second to-none. I selected a Globe San Francisco 2 at £440 with 10% off because it was discontinued 09 stock. I also wanted to change the grips and the sales person (I think the manager) said the ones I had chosen were ideal; and that he could also swap out the existing handlebar for another FOC to give me a wider and overall better grip. The grips were £40 but he said he could do the bike and grips (with free handlebar replacement) for £430. I had a quick look around and found the bike for £329 elsewhere (£70 cheaper!), so went to the shop the following day to see if they could improve on the price. The best they could offer was £400 (just £30 off), which wasn’t fantastic but I was happy to pay a little more (£40) for the service. I also purchased some more extra’s, total spend £463. When I picked the bike up, besides struggling to get the bike out the shop door on my own (assistants happy to stand there and watch me struggle with a bike trying to pull the door open!) I then noticed they’d put some cheap end bars on but not the new grips. To cut a long story short, the guy I was dealing with had forgot and it turned out the grips wouldn’t fit on the bike anyway! After much deliberating we found a pair at £20 which would fit … but despite being £20 cheaper than the ones in the original price, he wanted to charge me for them! I said no way and he agreed to charge half price but I said no – the deal was for the bike and £40 grips for £400; so by having these new grips (because he’d boobed!) I was £20 pounds out … so I was da***ed if I was then going to pay any more. He (not I!) started to get a little off with me and in the end said ‘that was the offer take it or leave it or he’d refund’. I asked for the refund … gutted, I loved the bike! The shop was expensive, gave wrong advice, quoted wrongly and didn’t fit what was agreed … then tried to make another tenner out of me! Amazing … they would have actually been £20 better off, but rather than keep a customer happy (and save money), for the sake of a tenner they lost the deal! Will never step foot in there again. Found the bike today for £329 at Cycle Surgery and in the end I’ll save about £60; so my advice is look elsewhere. Just realized I didn’t get a refund for the mudguard as it wasn’t on the receipt because again he had quoted a full price with accessories but ‘forgot’ to add this … leaving for me to pay extra on top. So, that’s a £463 order and valued customer they lost all because they wouldn’t rectify their mistake … unless of course I loose £20 off the original deal and then fork out another £10!!!

  10

  Neil K.
  Review Date: 21/01/2010 Report review
• Never again!!!!

  I wanted to purchase from this local shop as I presumed (being an enthusiast shop) the service would be second to-none. I selected a Globe San Francisco 2 at £440 with 10% off because it was discontinued 09 stock. I also wanted to change the grips and the sales person (I think the manager) said the ones I had chosen were ideal; and that he could also swap out the existing handlebar for another FOC to give me a wider and overall better grip. The grips were £40 but he said he could do the bike and grips (with free handlebar replacement) for £430. I had a quick look around and found the bike for £329 elsewhere (£70 cheaper!), so went to the shop the following day to see if they could improve on the price. The best they could offer was £400 (just £30 off), which wasn’t fantastic but I was happy to pay a little more (£40) for the service. I also purchased some more extra’s, total spend £463 When I picked the bike up, besides struggling to get the bike out the shop door on my own (assistants happy to stand there and watch me struggle with a bike trying to pull the door open!) I then noticed they’d put some cheap end bars on but not the new grips. To cut a long story short, the guy I was dealing with had forgot and it turned out the grips wouldn’t fit on the bike anyway! After much deliberating we found a pair at £20 which would fit … but despite being £20 cheaper than the ones in the original price, he wanted to charge me for them! I said no way and he agreed to charge half price but I said no – the deal was for the bike and £40 grips for £400; so by having these new grips (because he’d boobed!) I was £20 pounds out … so I was buggered if I was then going to pay any more. He (not I!) started to get a little off with me and in the end said ‘that was the offer take it or leave it or he’d refund’. I asked for the refund … gutted, I loved the bike! The shop was expensive, gave wrong advice, quoted wrongly and didn’t fit what was agreed … then tried to make another tenner out of me! Amazing … they would have actually been £20 better off, but rather than keep a customer happy (and save money), for the sake of a tenner they lost the deal! Will never step foot in there again. Found the bike today for £329 at Cycle Surgery and in the end I’ll save about £60; so my advice is look elsewhere. Just realized I didn’t get a refund for the mudguard as it wasn’t on the receipt because again he had quoted a full price with accessories but ‘forgot’ to add this … leaving for me to pay extra on top. So, that’s a £463 order and valued customer they lost all because they wouldn’t rectify their mistake … unless of course I loose £20 off the original deal and then fork out another £10!!!

  10

  Neil K.
  Review Date: 21/01/2010 Report review
• Disappointing Service - never again

  Disappointing - fact - The crank on my 1 year old bike had been taken off and replaced by Freewheel during a £50 service (and £150 new disc brake installation) after I was told it was loose, The crank fell off after 4 miles biking causing me to fall off. The crank had never caused me a problem before. I wasn't told during the service the crank would be in imminent danger of falling off. We both looked at the thread and we agreed there was enough. I was told it was a cheap part and was asked if I wanted to replace it - that wasn't really a good enough reason in my opinion. So, after the crank dropped off, I complained and took the bike back to the shop. It seemed from the start I was receiving reasons why this would've happened ie not their fault. They kept it for a week as the mechanic was away. I was told it was not their fault as it would've happened anyway, it was a cheap part, I should've replaced it etc. I am dissatisfied basically as it just seems that having had the crank re-fitted and then for it to fall off after 4 miles is just not acceptable. I believe the part wasn't tightened properly and if indeed it was in such poor condition that it was going to fall off at any moment, I should've been told. Communication - conversations were basically a monologue of how it wasn't their fault, call backs always took a few days, calls weren't returned, they kept the bike for over a week waiting for the mechanic to return. I had another bike shop look at it and there is nothing wrong with the crank. Make your own mind up.

  10

  M L.
  Review Date: 01/11/2009 Report review
• no warranty given

  I agree mostly with the things other people said, it"s (mostly) a good shop with (mostly) friendly and helpful staff. BUT: I bought a new bike (every-day-use Globe city) there half a year ago and since the beginning, I have had problems with it, lots of small things, e.g. the backlights never worked properly, I believe and my first pair of breaks were worn off after only 200 (!) km and the mechanics wanted to seriously tell me that this is normal. And when I got the bike, they didn't even oil it, the chain was dry, I had to do that myself. Normally a service that I think would be included if you buy a £700 bike. Also, the bottom bracket has been clicking and cracking since the beginning and I've had it in for repair for this reason a few times (at least 4-5), but it has never been properly repaired, they simply don't want to take this on warranty and change the part (Worse, I had a discussion with the 'boss' today and they seem to think that customers don't even PAY for their warranty when buying a bike, Ridiculous!). They keep fiddeling with the bottom bracket and refuse to change it even when I am sure it's that part. The owner/boss (I think, at least he behaves like this and is one of the older ones there) simply told me I cannot be sure and it could be anything and locating a click by listening isn't possible. From my chain he also wanted to tell me that is is my own bad maintenance (I oil the bike roughly every 2 weeks and I have NEVER had problems like this with my old bike which I have used for 13 years now) that causes this. As I have had this problem since the beginning this just isn't possible. I've now decided to change my bike shop. Unlucky, I likes it otherwise, but the way they treat theit warranty is simply annoying and ridiculous. Be carful when you buy a bike there and make VERY sure everything is ok before you buy one.

  10

  Boris H.
  Review Date: 13/08/2009 Report review
• Very good recomended

  This shop is a very well stocked bike shop selling all the good components from all the top names. I found this shop about a year ago and visit at least once amonth. no problems

  10

  Alex A.
  Review Date: 17/01/2005 Report review
• Freewheel

  A top bike shop. Excellent staff. Quality repairs. Plenty of bikes and accessories. Always busy on Saturdays!

  Visit Freewheel first.

  10

  Peter O.
  Review Date: 16/08/2004 Report review
• XTR Upgrade

  Brought my first mountain bike a Trek 6700 (Disc) from freewheel about three years ago, got some great advise before I brought it from the guy's at the shop who told me everything I needed to know about it. And what a shop it's got everything you could ask for in a cycle shop, the expensive exotic's and the cheap and chearful entry level bikes. I've now got a Spesh Epic which I love and have just upgraded the brake- levers, brakes, crank and front & rear mech with XTR kit. From walking into the shop and asking about buying it all, to having it fitted and ready to ride only took a few days. And with freewheel being a recommended Shimano service centre everything was set up like a dream. The bike looks and handles better than I could ever imagne. Do yourself a faver if your in the market for a £400 or £4,000 road or mountain bike, get yourself down to the boy's at freewheel, the service and most importantly the after sale service is the best.

  10

  Wayne F.
  Review Date: 08/07/2004 Report review
• Freewheel For Service

  I recently ordered a new bike from Freewheel which owing to supplier problems took 2 months to arrive. The staff went out of their way to keep me informed and eventually had to source a bike from another shop for me. All this was done with the minimum of fuss. And they do a free 1 month check on new bikes and discounts for further services, and they know what they are talking about unlike some other cycle shops I could mention. What more could you ask?

  10

  Phil M.
  Review Date: 06/07/2004 Report review