Yet Another Cycling Forum

General Category => The Knowledge => Topic started by: robgul on 08 January, 2024, 12:10:10 pm

Title: Long-gone bike shop?
Post by: robgul on 08 January, 2024, 12:10:10 pm
There was a bike shop that advertised in the CTC mag years ago - simple one page ad with loads of text listings .... it was in Yorkshire or Lancashire .... any idea what it was called? - just to satisfy my curiosity (I recall buying stuff online and going there once)
Title: Re: Long-gone bike shop?
Post by: paton on 08 January, 2024, 12:29:08 pm
Settle cycles?

in the station yard.
Title: Re: Long-gone bike shop?
Post by: robgul on 08 January, 2024, 12:40:49 pm
Cigar (vurtual) en route!   That's the one - I knew it started with S

I wonder whatever happened to it.

Thanks
Title: Re: Long-gone bike shop?
Post by: Regulator on 08 January, 2024, 12:44:43 pm
Cigar (vurtual) en route!   That's the one - I knew it started with S

I wonder whatever happened to it.

Thanks


It closed down about 15 years ago.  I think one of the people involved briefly traded under another name but has since given up.
Title: Re: Long-gone bike shop?
Post by: paton on 08 January, 2024, 12:49:49 pm
faded away

https://www.bizseek.co.uk/settle-cycles-01729-824152

https://forum.cyclinguk.org/viewtopic.php?t=8863
Title: Re: Long-gone bike shop?
Post by: paton on 08 January, 2024, 01:10:13 pm
https://companycheck.co.uk/company/04611174/SETTLE-CYCLES-LIMITED/companies-house-data
Title: Re: Long-gone bike shop?
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 08 January, 2024, 01:18:18 pm
There used to be one in Leeds, a couple of miles from Woodrups. Advertised mainly in the Comic.

Really good place for racing bike frames, parts and repairs. They shipped all over.

No idea of the name.
Title: Re: Long-gone bike shop?
Post by: Paul H on 08 January, 2024, 02:06:16 pm
That's a name from the past, I bought a bit from them, found them very pleasant to deal with.  I don't think they made the transition to online, whether through lack of ability or inclination I don't know, they did have a go at eBay trading, under a different name, possibly they were too early at that.
Title: Re: Long-gone bike shop?
Post by: robgul on 08 January, 2024, 02:11:31 pm
That's a name from the past, I bought a bit from them, found them very pleasant to deal with.  I don't think they made the transition to online, whether through lack of ability or inclination I don't know, they did have a go at eBay trading, under a different name, possibly they were too early at that.

I think you're probably right in terms of transition - IIRC the owner did try and sell the business as a going concern.  My recollection is phoning up to order stuff.
Title: Re: Long-gone bike shop?
Post by: hubner on 08 January, 2024, 05:33:31 pm
I bought a front and rear Mavic derailleurs from there, by mail order.
Title: Re: Long-gone bike shop?
Post by: campagman on 08 January, 2024, 08:43:16 pm
I think that I bought my caradice panniers from them. I even stopped by to have a look when on tour once.
Title: Re: Long-gone bike shop?
Post by: yoav on 09 January, 2024, 09:07:55 am
Anyone remember J.D.Whisker and their 2 shops, one on Kilburn and the other in Hertfordshire somewhere, as well as their ‘famous’ mail-order catalogue?
Title: Re: Long-gone bike shop?
Post by: tatanab on 09 January, 2024, 09:40:23 am
Anyone remember J.D.Whisker and their 2 shops, one on Kilburn and the other in Hertfordshire somewhere, as well as their ‘famous’ mail-order catalogue?
Only ever dealt with by mail.  Back in the days when a letter "dear sirs as advertised in --- please send me".  The nice thing was that you could buy individual Campag brake stirrups.  As I remember, you did not pay until you had received the parts, which might be a month later as was usual in those days.

Another one was Reeds in Wimbledon.  They did mail order, but it was routine to pop in if I was passing on a ride from Portsmouth into or through London ---  early 1970s.
Title: Re: Long-gone bike shop?
Post by: robgul on 09 January, 2024, 10:28:52 am
Anyone remember J.D.Whisker and their 2 shops, one on Kilburn and the other in Hertfordshire somewhere, as well as their ‘famous’ mail-order catalogue?

I think that they may still exist in Welwyn Garden City - a pal that had an LBS until about 3 years ago used to buy stuff from them.
Title: Re: Long-gone bike shop?
Post by: Robh on 09 January, 2024, 12:13:30 pm
Anyone remember J.D.Whisker and their 2 shops, one on Kilburn and the other in Hertfordshire somewhere, as well as their ‘famous’ mail-order catalogue?

I think that they may still exist in Welwyn Garden City - a pal that had an LBS until about 3 years ago used to buy stuff from them.
Yes. When I saw this thread yesterday I immediately thought of them. A great source of quality cycling stuff. I think they also had a shop in Kilburn(?) at one point. Anyway, I went googling for them yesterday and found that they now have a shop in Welwyn Garden City and a lot of stuff for sale on eBay.
Title: Re: Long-gone bike shop?
Post by: Andy W on 09 January, 2024, 02:43:35 pm
Crosses cycles in Church Street Baldock and latterly Crosses cycles Baldock high St. In 1977 I was allowed to buy fireworks there as I'd turned 16. When I was 10 my parents ( father christmas) delivered  me a  bright red single speed Elswick Hopper.
How about  Byerscycles of Clifton Beds. In 1996 I bought a Pearlescent  green Paul Donohue 531c frame and forks. Full shimano rx 100. Managed a 1:02 25 mile tt on it. Still got it.
Title: Re: Long-gone bike shop?
Post by: robgul on 09 January, 2024, 04:29:52 pm
I seem to have started an "all our yesterdays" thread!

The big cycle shop names where I lived back in the 50s and 60s on the Essex border with London were Leach Marathon in Stratford, E15 and Rory O'Brien in Manor Park, E12 - and when I first went to work I used to pass a tiny half-shop unit in Grays Inn Road, London that was Condor (about 150 metres from where Condow is now, further along the street)

All I could do was lust after these bikes - having a Raleigh and later a Rudge, both pretty ancient.
Title: Re: Long-gone bike shop?
Post by: paton on 09 January, 2024, 07:06:15 pm
https://www.ebay.co.uk/str/jdwhiskerltd
Title: Re: Long-gone bike shop?
Post by: Jurek on 09 January, 2024, 07:51:34 pm
I seem to have started an "all our yesterdays" thread!

The big cycle shop names where I lived back in the 50s and 60s on the Essex border with London were Leach Marathon in Stratford, E15 and Rory O'Brien in Manor Park, E12 - and when I first wet to work I used to pass a tiny half-shop unit in Grays Inn Road, London that was Condor (about 150 metres from where Condow is now, further along the street)

All I could do was lust after these bikes - having a Raleigh and later a Rudge, both pretty ancient.
My bold
I remember that. It was on the other side of the road to where Condor is now,  just south of Clerkenwell Road.
Title: Re: Long-gone bike shop?
Post by: Robh on 09 January, 2024, 07:56:49 pm
I seem to have started an "all our yesterdays" thread!

The big cycle shop names where I lived back in the 50s and 60s on the Essex border with London were Leach Marathon in Stratford, E15 and Rory O'Brien in Manor Park, E12 - and when I first wet to work I used to pass a tiny half-shop unit in Grays Inn Road, London that was Condor (about 150 metres from where Condow is now, further along the street)

All I could do was lust after these bikes - having a Raleigh and later a Rudge, both pretty ancient.
My bold
I remember that. It was on the other side of the road just south of Clerkenwell Road.
And they had a picture on the wall, of Mick Jagger taking delivery of his shiny new Condor bike.
Title: Re: Long-gone bike shop?
Post by: robgul on 09 January, 2024, 08:48:20 pm
I seem to have started an "all our yesterdays" thread!

The big cycle shop names where I lived back in the 50s and 60s on the Essex border with London were Leach Marathon in Stratford, E15 and Rory O'Brien in Manor Park, E12 - and when I first wet to work I used to pass a tiny half-shop unit in Grays Inn Road, London that was Condor (about 150 metres from where Condow is now, further along the street)

All I could do was lust after these bikes - having a Raleigh and later a Rudge, both pretty ancient.
My bold
I remember that. It was on the other side of the road just south of Clerkenwell Road.
And they had a picture on the wall, of Mick Jagger taking delivery of his shiny new Condor bike.

. . . yep, other side of the road as Jurek says . . . .  I don't recall Mick Jagger's picture . .  it was September 1963 so perhaps Before Jagger?

Title: Re: Long-gone bike shop?
Post by: aidan.f on 09 January, 2024, 09:08:22 pm
Quote
As I remember, you did not pay until you had received the parts, which might be a month later as was usual in those days.
Oh.. I do remember the same arrangment with Spa Cycles,  ... was very civilised
Title: Re: Long-gone bike shop?
Post by: Robh on 09 January, 2024, 10:04:28 pm
I seem to have started an "all our yesterdays" thread!

The big cycle shop names where I lived back in the 50s and 60s on the Essex border with London were Leach Marathon in Stratford, E15 and Rory O'Brien in Manor Park, E12 - and when I first wet to work I used to pass a tiny half-shop unit in Grays Inn Road, London that was Condor (about 150 metres from where Condow is now, further along the street)

All I could do was lust after these bikes - having a Raleigh and later a Rudge, both pretty ancient.
My bold
I remember that. It was on the other side of the road just south of Clerkenwell Road.
And they had a picture on the wall, of Mick Jagger taking delivery of his shiny new Condor bike.

. . . yep, other side of the road as Jurek says . . . .  I don't recall Mick Jagger's picture . .  it was September 1963 so perhaps Before Jagger?
Yes. I can't recall when I visited for the first time - probably the late 70s or early 80s -  but it was when the shop was on the other side of the road. (This gives us the Jagger pic and tells us that the Jagger bike dates from '75: https://www.condorcycles.com/pages/the-condor-way).
Title: Re: Long-gone bike shop?
Post by: drossall on 09 January, 2024, 11:23:12 pm
Anyone remember J.D.Whisker and their 2 shops, one on Kilburn and the other in Hertfordshire somewhere, as well as their ‘famous’ mail-order catalogue?

I think that they may still exist in Welwyn Garden City - a pal that had an LBS until about 3 years ago used to buy stuff from them.
Yes still in the industrial area of WGC I believe. I've been there once or twice. The Hertfordshire shop was in Goffs Oak (https://maps.app.goo.gl/V95vxQbkybEkVjUJ7) - I used to go there before the Internet was a thing.

I too remember Settle Cycles, though I haven't thought about them for years.

The shop that started it all for me was Meadows of Cheadle (Cheshire). Don't suppose anyone else remembers them now, but stunningly, they are listed on a couple of Web sites. They didn't even do mail order, just a very small, knowledgeable LBS, with some really nice kit in.
Title: Re: Long-gone bike shop?
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 10 January, 2024, 10:44:38 am
I seem to have started an "all our yesterdays" thread!

The big cycle shop names where I lived back in the 50s and 60s on the Essex border with London were Leach Marathon in Stratford, E15
You've got the germ of another thread in there. Moving from one place to another with the same name.
Title: Re: Long-gone bike shop?
Post by: orienteer on 10 January, 2024, 10:51:48 am
My long-gone bike shop was Macleans (hand built featherweights) in Upper Street at the Angel Islington. My father bought bikes there before WWII, and our family had a tandem which I stoked with younger brother in child seat on the back, mother on her own bike. I bought few bikes from them in the 1950s/1960s, before my first Moulton in 1965 from a bike shop in Old Lode Lane in Solihull.
Title: Re: Long-gone bike shop?
Post by: giropaul on 10 January, 2024, 06:34:06 pm
Anyone remember J.D.Whisker and their 2 shops, one on Kilburn and the other in Hertfordshire somewhere, as well as their ‘famous’ mail-order catalogue?

I think that they may still exist in Welwyn Garden City - a pal that had an LBS until about 3 years ago used to buy stuff from them.

They run an EBAY shop still clearing New old stock - I’ve had a few bits of Campag 10 speed from them.
Title: Re: Long-gone bike shop?
Post by: yoav on 11 January, 2024, 09:11:22 am
Anyone remember J.D.Whisker and their 2 shops, one on Kilburn and the other in Hertfordshire somewhere, as well as their ‘famous’ mail-order catalogue?

I think that they may still exist in Welwyn Garden City - a pal that had an LBS until about 3 years ago used to buy stuff from them.

Given their catalogue was in such small print that listed an enormous range of items, I’m not surprised that they’re still selling off stuff to this day. I’ll look them up on eBay. 

They run an EBAY shop still clearing New old stock - I’ve had a few bits of Campag 10 speed from them.

Given the size of their catalogue, I’m not surprised they’re still selling stuff. I’ll have to look them up. The Kilburn shop was my LBS. The epitome of an old fashioned bike shop - frames and wheels hanging from the ceiling, the man in the shop wore a brown coat and if you just needed a single part, it would be in one of many drawers behind the counter, and he would know exactly where it was.
Title: Re: Long-gone bike shop?
Post by: drossall on 11 January, 2024, 11:04:57 pm
Given the size of their catalogue, I’m not surprised they’re still selling stuff. I’ll have to look them up. The Kilburn shop was my LBS. The epitome of an old fashioned bike shop - frames and wheels hanging from the ceiling, the man in the shop wore a brown coat and if you just needed a single part, it would be in one of many drawers behind the counter, and he would know exactly where it was.
Describes Meadows of Cheadle exactly :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Long-gone bike shop?
Post by: 100kiloKOM on 12 January, 2024, 02:09:45 pm
Very fond recollection of Settle cycles from the 1980's. The shop was a good !00 mile round trip ride form home. I used to ride out and spend an hour or so looking at what I considered to be exotic Olmo frames, Campagnolo kit, proper cycling clothing.  Although I had no money to buy any of it All quite rare to see in those days. All in a very low fuss and welcoming atmosphere. They also used to make, or at last rebrand, custom frames. A friend of mine had a made to measure touring frame from them that was truly beautiful and a great ride. All a bit different from my other accessible "proper" bike shop which was the original Ribble Cycles shop on Water Lane in Preston - pile it high and sell it cheap!!
Title: Re: Long-gone bike shop?
Post by: JefO on 16 January, 2024, 09:14:10 pm
RJ & J Picketts in Benfleet, was my local bike shop, and I often walked there after school, 50 years ago. That went long ago.
However, the bike I wanted aged 13, was a Claud Butler Electron, in yellow and white. There was one of these at James Brownings shop in Chalkwell. And that is still going strong as "James Browning and Daughter", supplying clothing and accessories to cyclists.