I had my bike lights stolen on Wednesday so last night I cycled along the river down to Bonthrone bikes in Fulham after work (to avoid roads and they are open till 1900hrs).
So I got in the shop, but sadly they didn't have a good selection of lights in stock. The two staff then decided to offer me the much better display models at 1/2 RRP. I was chuffed!
When the time came to pay my card was declined. I went to the cash machine and the same again... dammit!
I got back to the shop and explained "sorry can I just take a tiny single LED rear light as I don't have enough moneys." Stuart (shop guy) said "hmm.. just come back next week and pay. I can't let you cycle without lights..", and he handed me the two lights FOR FREE!
....and restored my faith in people and bike shops staffed by cyclists.
:-)

best shop ever is salvageite in denver. nice people that know every thing, only stocks quality stuff, the owner is always on the floor helping people out, they let the messengers hang out when its cold or rainy, sponsers every event. its the standard by which other shops are mesured

I'd like to add Bicycle Magic in Whitechapel to this list.

On the Aus night ride I was checking my chainring bolts after having bought some lube form BM.
As I tightened one nut, it completely sheared in half. It was 20 minutes after BM closed but I ran around to see if anyone was there not wanting to miss the ride.
After a knock and a phone call the owner came to the door, went up to the workshop, found a nut and gave it to me completely free of charge.

Great stuff. Thank you LBS!

+1 BM.

I'm feeling the love people... :-D

Above and beyond list:
1 - Bonthrone Bikes, Fulham
2 - Bicycle Magic, Whitechapel

Putney Cycles is my local and home to reigning rollapaluza champeen - simon twosheds jackson.

A real passion for bikes, fixed and otherwise,and are always willing to source some of the more 'esoteric' parts

and dave the manager is always willing to explain stuff and doesn't laugh at me til i'm out of the shop when my 'strange rattling sound' turns out to be a loose valve washer…

Is that truly above and beyond? There are already threads about good bike shops...
I rate Putney Cycles, BLB, and some others for various reasons. Even ActionBikes in Chiswick fitted some headset cups urgently on a really busy saturday at 4pm when I gave them the old puppy-dog-eyes. ;-)
(hahaha - valve washer!)

(hahaha - valve washer!)
hahahaha

wayne, how long did it take to manouvre through the door?! :p

I use a lovely little local place called FW Evans. I've never actually met Mr. Evans myself but I imagine that he's a kindly old white-haired gentleman with a long beard. The reason I've never met him is that he has a wonderfully enlightened policy of only employing disadvantaged local teenagers with learning difficulties who know nothing about bicycles in his shop, to give them a start in the industry...

Seriously, Moose Cycles, Colliers Wood. Mostly MTB, but patient and expert.

that's above and beyond in my book! i would have pissed myself laughing if i was in their position…

[they've also lent me tools when they've seen my sorry face pressed against the window after closing time]

dogs- i shall deal with you later

with your mankini, bitch

+ 17.
Rode the bob for about two weeks- didn't like the original gear ratio, went in at the end of a day's work, fully expecting to be told to pick it up tomorrow, and immediately the bike was looked after, sprocket changed and all without charge.

Also, it may not be london, but Oxford Cycle Workshop has to have some of the nicest people around. Alexis for any knowledge, and Ivan for just joking about.
legends.

If you guys ever find yourself Cardiff way and in need of a shop, Cyclopaedia recently gave me a 3T stem for free after I complained in a chat that I was finding a stem locally at a good price was difficult. Gave me a nice discount on the other stuff I bought from there too. Tidy guys.

Bonthorne were really nice to me when I visited a while back to buy a frame. Didnt offer me anything like the original poster got, although I didnt need any, but felt theyd happily do everything they could to make me a happy customer.

2nd moose at colliers wood.

that's because they are your buddies!

but yeah, solid geezars.

AW cycles in colliers wood is amazing, like going back in time 30 years..
love it.

If this list grows I will make a nice google map thing.
1 - Bonthrone Bikes, Fulham
2 - Putney Cycles, ermmmm
3 - Bicycle Magic, Whitechapel
4 - Moose Cycles, Colliers wood
5 - AW Cycles, Colliers Wood
6 - Oxford Cycle Workshop, Oxford
7 - Salvageite, Denver CO

I want details of how the shop went above and beyond.. ( being good mechanics / mates isn't enough will no longer be sufficient! :-P )

salvagetti-
on top of every thing above, scott (owner) is one of the nicest people in the bike industry and takes time to chat to every one whose coming in even if your only after a spoke nipple.

1234 Speer Blvd.
Denver, CO 80204

for mapping

add to this if you like:

http://maps.google.com/maps?tab=ml

+1. When they found me some bullhorns they also straightened out and tightened up the chainline for free, and kept the shop open 15 mins late so that I could get there after work and have my bike back the same day. Plus Ivan was kind enough to repeatedly call the Holdsworth gorgeous, even though its quite a ratty beast, which was nice.

I've found Putney Cycles a bit unusual. I've been in there a few times, got student discount once from the manager (spent about 70 quid) but then another time (60 quid on a jacket) he said that they've never done student discount. Rather strange.

Took a faulty light bracket back in, got served by a youngish guy, short, long black hair. I explained to him everything, had receipt. He just seemed to smirk constantly, and told me he would have to check with his manager, which I thought was fine. He then told me they didn't have any in stock and that I would have to wait a week. Obviously this isn't good when I have to commute every day to uni, and suggested that he take a bracket out of a light set, give it to me, then when the new ones come in just replace it back in the box (they're resealable). This took him ages to understand, and it should have taken 5 minutes to get the whole thing sorted.

Maybe I was in a foul mood that day, but he just came across totally wrong and it's put me off going there again, even though I thought it was great beforehand.

i have an axe to grind with mosquito. terrible, wanky attitude. why? because you've got a pegoretti on the wall that looks like someone vomited a packet of refreshers and cranberry juice all over a perfectly good white frame??

I've moved out of London to Bristol but I've got to give a strong recommendation to Stratton Cycles in Wandsworth. Would always come in there with something broken and they'd mend it within 5-10 minutes. And then give me a discount. After 2 major shunts I had my bike back within 2 days, ready to roll. I was even allowed to hang out in the workshop area and examine/admire all of the bikes in for service.

In Bristol, I'd have to recommend Bike Workshop - gave me the choice of new MKS chain tugs for £20 or no-name used chain tugs for 50p. They're building my new wheels at-cost as well.

Can't go wrong with either of them.

I went into Cavendish Cycles who were very helpful. The massive bike mechanic in there extracted the remnants of my bottom bracket and cleaned the threads for nothing. Really helpful. I will spend my pounds in there from now on.

bicycle workshop, 27 all saints road, w11. Its the best bike shop I've ever known. A lady ran the place when I was last there, and the quality of work was always the highest.

Condor, grays inn road great ability to ignore customers even when quiet.

these guys are way cool and a few of them are on here (hassanr, dannoleed etc). they are sponsoring monopoly ride as well :)

Aye, cavendish helped me by phoning round asking for some 36H open pros on a Sturday. Also they gave good suggestions for alternative sources, which I consider the mark of a truly helpful bikeshop - directing you to another bikeshop!

London
1 - Bonthrone Bikes, Fulham
2 - Putney Cycles, ermmmm
3 - Bicycle Magic, Whitechapel
4 - Moose Cycles, Colliers wood
5 - AW Cycles, Colliers Wood
6 - Stratton Cycles, Wandsworth
7 - Cavendish Cycles, Central.
8 - Bicycle Workshop, All Saints rd., w11

Nodnol:
1 - Oxford Cycle Workshop, Oxford
2 - Bike Workshop, Bristol
3 - Salvagetti, 1234 Speer blvd., Denver CO

Nodnol

Blazing Saddles in Hebden Bridge (google it). The guy opened REALLY early for me one sunday morning when i was due to start an audax. I'd arrived and couldn't unclip my from my pedal cause the cleat had come loose. The fella changed both my cleats for me for no charge.

Always had decent service from BikeFix in Lambs Conduit Street, did everything they could to fix my MTB BB, spent a whole morning trying to extract it, but with no luck, didn't charge me, just gave me lots of recommendations and advice about what to say to the manufacturer... Who eventually replaced it. Also happy to chat about bikes and their qualities.

Funnily enough, I have met Mr Evans, and he is a kindly old white-haired gentleman. He doesn't have a beard though, he is resolutely clean-shaven.

How the times have changed, when I used to live down the road from there it was well scary at night, last time I looked it had become swanky restaurants and bathroom accessories...

BICYCLE WORKSHOP LIVES!
;-)

When I asked Edwardes in Camberwell if they had ANY old hybrid frame so that I could replace my broken crap singlespeed conversion in an emergency they stripped a brand new Saracen (oh yeah) in 5 mins flat and sent me on the way for £40.

Then they took a fiver off an already cheap Renkompressor because I said "thanks" when I went back.

And for helping the estate BMX kids whose crankarms have dropped off whilst surrounded by £5k Pinarello Prince builds and other Italo bike porn.