Where to get a Ladies Bicycle in Belfast?

coffeel0ver

Hey there!

I'm planning on buying a bike now, for summer & for returning to university next year. I was chatting to a friend of mine who takes cycling more seriously than me; he recommends I get a hybrid/city bike.

To be honest, I don't want to spend too much more than £100 but with all the sales on at the moment, I'd love to bag a bargain on a much more expensive bike reduced down to around £100.

I don't mind going second hand. Any recommendations of where to look? I've tried Gumtree (nothing completely suits) and Halfords (the bike that seemed perfect has awful reviews online)

Thanks

T xox

tara747

There's a great wee cycle shop in King Street (back of Castlecourt), McGarveys I think it's called. I bought a bike from this guy 5 years ago, he gave me a decent discount on the bike and a helmet and told me to come back if there were any probs or it needed adjusted and he would sort it for free. Proper old fashioned customer service imho. He had a good selection of bikes too.

There's also McConveys on the Ormeau Road and the Bike Dock on the Rvaenhill Road but I haven't bought from them.

HTH.

drew2k9

mcconveys is brilliant in ormeau, theres also dave kanes on the upper newtownards road, although might be pricey, to be honest you can get decent bikes from argos or tesco etc as long as you get the frame size right you're flying!

belfastgirl23

I bought my last bike in McConveys - they were good at the time of sale but when I took it back for repair their after care service was pretty poor - they told me that it couldn't be fixed (my guess was to get me to buy a new bike) and it was pretty clear that they didn't give a hoot - was v disappointed because I had bought from them on the basis of family run business and after care service. I did get it fixed in the end by a neighbour who knows a bit about bikes so it wasn't a difficult job!

Actually to be fair I think it might be different if you got the owner, it was one of the guys who works for him that I had and tbh it felt like he was a bit sneery because I wasn't a proper cyclist as well I am very much a leisure cyclist but still think I deserve decent service

If you're interested in second hand there's a guy who works out of Smithfield refurbing old bikes that I've heard good things about.

coffeel0ver

Hi there, thanks for all of your advice. I'll certainly check them out. I'm hoping to get a bit of a bargain as there's probably a risk of me not cycling as much as I intend to. Oh the joys of new years resolutions eh?!

Belfastgirl- I noticed the same thing about Mc Conveys, I got the impression of the guy I spoke to being a bit of a 'bike snob' haha.

tara747

Definitely try McGarveys then, I guarantee no bike snobbery, the guy was very nice. The guy out the back of Smithfield sounds good too.

SammyLee

Hi try your local 'Yahoo' Greencycle group and you may find one which is no longer used for free. Sorry can't post links
Good luck.

Abby21

Hi

I got a 2nd hand one from Belfast Telegraph for £35 and it does the job fine!!! The lady had only used it a few times, so like new!!

so maybe check there?

hth

tightasaduck's

McConvey's have a sale on at the moment and if you ask for and deal with the owner (Eamonn), you'll be fine. Repairs-wise, they can be quite pricey, but they know their stuff and do a good job, I find.

coffeel0ver

Thanks everyone! I'll be trying a few of these shops this weekend. I'll also keep an eye out in the papers though no luck so far with that, or on Gumtree. I like the sound of the guy at king street!

I'm thinking £100 isn't going to get me too much but I can but try! I didn't realise Mc Convey's sale was on so perhaps I'll give them a shot too!

Thanks everyone. This bike-buying malarky is more difficult than I anticipated.

belfastgirl23

Just to add mcconveys did throw in a lock for me when I asked and I think maybe mudguards as well which they fitted. Just letting you know it's worth haggling a little if you're wanting a few extras...I would def advise going with the owner, tall slim redhead guy (well when I was last there, might be grey now ) my beef wasn't with him, except for not training his staff in customer service.