Bicycle Repair in Edinburgh

valk_scot

I'll second or third that bit about learning at least the basics yourself. Apart from anything else it saves valuable time if you don't have to drag a bike in and out of the repair shop for something simple. And if someting goes wrong when you're out on the road then you've got a much better chance of getting home quickly if you carry a repair kit and know the basics.

Also if you know what you're talking about when you go into the shop you're far less likely to get ripped off, if that's what they were thinking of doing. As a middle aged, greying and dumpy female I'm not anyone's idea of an experienced cyclist of 30+ years and usually get patronised when I go in..well, briefly anyway!

What kind of repairs did you need done? Some shops and staff are better at specific things than others, like wheelbuilding.

Marco_Panettone

For a good 'fix it yourself' website try https://www.parktool.com

Most bike shops will have more experience with certain things than others. A good road bike shop isn't always the best place to take a mountain bike if you have suspension issues, for example.

donnacha_2

@gadjah543 - Thanks for adding Blackhall Cycle Repairs to the discussion.

@Marco Penettone - Thanks for pointing out Parktool.com and good point about different repair shops having different specialities.

@Biketrials08 - very good point that it can sometimes be cheaper to buy a new component then repair an existing one, although that does then bring environmental impact into the equation, which appears to be one of the primary considerations at Pedals.

@rodenal - sorry that my original response came across as abrasive, it wasn't meant that way, I just wanted to refocus the thread on the subject of "good repair shops in Edinburgh" as opposed to "what is the cheapest way to keep a bicycle running". I totally accept that, in the long-run, being able to perform repairs ourselves is the best way to save money but my hunch is that this is one of those noble intentions that 95% of us will never get around to honouring. I would rather see people on their bikes and supporting honest, local businesses rather than being forced back to car dependence in a mess of oil and guilt.

You are correct that it would be helpful if I could detail the repairs I had done - I honestly can't remember the Leith Cycle Co. job, it was a long time ago, it was some fairly specific gear problem that I later realised was augmented with a lot of maintenance stuff that tripled the price and was not necessary to get me back on the road. The Edinburgh Bicycle Cooperative job involved straightening the rear wheel, the problem there was the six-week wait. I will have more precise details for my write-up of my experience with Pedals.

@valk_scot - yes, good point that knowing the basics not only saves you money but also gets you out of tight spots and means you are less likely to get cheated when you do need to get repairs.

donnacha_2

Apologies for not getting back with the Pedals details.

I have actually just put my bike in for another repair and will give a breakdown of the price paid here as soon as I collect it.