If you need your bike fixing in a short time and for very little, come to The Bike Works…read more PRICE: Parts and tools cost as little as they would anywhere. The cost of servicing is very reasonable, and you will only pay for what you have asked to be done. QUALITY: Service is very good. Friendly staff will sort out what you need, and always have a useful suggestion to make. CHOICE: Though small, there are a wide range of parts to choose from, and the shop is able to order in any component not found within their stocks. Being a keen and experienced cyclist, on coming to Edinburgh I needed a shop where I could get my brake pads, tyres and inner tubes for a reasonable price and relatively near where I lived, whilst also providing a place to service the bike if it required work beyond my expertise. The Bike Works provided this. It is a wee shop just off Sciennes Road or the Meadows and easy to find. Staff here are friendly, know their stuff and won't try and fleece you. Maintenance is of a high standard and when the occasion arises that you cannot fix your bike yourself, they will do only as you ask them and the bike will potentially be with you by the end of the day. The shop is also open at very useful hours, allowing you to pop in for that spare part you couldn't find during those evening bike-maintenance sessions, or to pick up an inner-tube before spinning off on a night cycle to the Pentlands. Other very useful features include rails for bike-parking outside; a card-reader for the change-less many out there and regular staff who often recognise you or your bike when you bring it in with a bent hanger or misaligned derailleur. I find this place to be a gem among the many fine shops in this little area of Marchmont, and it deserves a terrific thumbs-up and my own special Gold Award for best in class.

If you live in Marchmont and need you bike fixed then I could certainly recommend that you call…read moreupon the expertise of The Bicycle Works. Although I don't really cycle much myself, I saw the work which they did on a friend of mine's bike and it was excellent. He had smashed his front wheel on a particularly high curb and brought it in to these guys who realigned the wheel and fitted it out with new spokes. Apparantly it only cost about £30 and he hasn't had any problems with it since. The shop inside is clean and ordered with a whole range of spare parts, puncture repair kits and bike chains. The staff are friendly and definitely know what they're talking about, making this the place to come for your cycle repairs.

My virtual fitting with Dougie was AWESOME. He talked me through adjusting my cleats to a different…read moreposition and orientation and then changing every aspect of the bike fit. For those who ride a Peloton, my settings went from an I-16-B to an L-20-F! The bike couldn't feel more different under me. Immediately, I felt activation in my hamstrings that I've never had before. Dougie also coached me on my pedal stroke; it's going to require continued work and focus, but it's great to have a professional telling my exactly what I need to do to improve. I haven't even been riding a year yet at this point, and I'm glad I didn't wait any longer to get fitted. This is going to totally change the way I ride for the better. I can't wait to do my first endurance ride at these new settings!

This review is based on my hubby's experience but I was there watching, taking notes and pics and…read moremarvelling in the technology and expertise. Before this process started, my hubby was very sceptical of this new-fangled bike fitting system. In his day *coughs* it was very common to get your steel bike custom made and any good bike shop had the ability to measure you up at no extra cost. And if you're not a pro - will a fitting really improve your performance? Well after an in-depth session with Dougie at Edinburgh Bike Fitting we have a much better understanding of who will benefit and how. So, If your're not a pro looking for marginal gains, why is this fairly expensive service needed? ONE: Most bikes are now carbon and stamped out in a factory far, far away. You've only got 3 options, Small, Medium or Large and any adjustments come from your handlebar stem and seatpost. Chances are you bought it online or in a chain store that has no idea how to fit a bike. You now have a sore back, dodgy knees and a stiff neck from riding your expensive yet poor fitting bike. What do you do? Take your bike to a specialist bike fitter and they can adjust your position so you can ride comfortably and maybe even a bit better. TWO: You don't want to buy a poor fitting carbon bike but there are so many brands out there - each with slightly different geometry and sizing. The Retul system Dougie uses is connected a big database of off the shelf bikes. He can take detailed measurements using lots of wires and lasers from all different angles - plug that into the database and hey-presto you get a list of the best bikes for your body and riding positions. You no longer are at the mercy of poorly trained salespeople (or even knowledgeable ones trying to sell you the most expensive bike). THREE: This was my hubby's reason for crossing over into the hi-tech dark side of cycling. You want to buy a good old-fashioned custom built steel bike - made just for your and your quirky long back and short legs. After searching for months the bike builder you settle on is in Holland. You can either fly over for the builder to take measurements OR most builders will accept measurements taken by a reputable system (Retul is top of the list). My hubby was happy to find a Retul Fitter right here in Edinburgh and Dougie took this service to an even higher level. So, although we both saw merit in the bike fitting system in general the 5 stars really go to Dougie (sole proprietor at Edinburgh Bike Fitting). Pretty much anybody can go for a few days training, buy the kit and become a registered Retul Fitter. Dougie's background and previous experience allow him to provide an in-depth fitting service that goes way beyond sticking on sensors and letting the software do all the work. Not only is he an avid cyclist, he has gained valuable knowledge through studying sports science and sports massage both requiring a huge amount of anatomy and physiology. When the laser traces showed an imbalance in my hubby's left hip and leg (where he was also experiencing dull by annoying pain), Dougie was able to offer suggestions for exercises and stretches as well as making adjustments on the bike. I'm sure there are not many other fitters that could do the same! All these measurements were done on a Bicycle shaped 'rig'. For the one price, we were also able to bring the newly built bike in (even several months later) and have his position tweaked to optimise comfort and performance. My hubby is now a bike fit convert - but only if the fitter has the additional knowledge of cycling and anatomy like Dougie. Note: These fittings are by appointment as Dougie may not be in the shop if you just drop in. The entry is the door next to 'Laid Back Cycles'.

We stumbled across this as we were hunting another coffee shop chain and opted to go indie as it…read morelooked cute, popular with the locals and it was there! It's a duo store operating as a small cafe and bike shop - and it's a great idea. The feeling is of the cafe is quite chic in a dainty way. The staff were really helpful with the wifi code and served food and coffee quickly. Mum and I ordered bacon butties which came on brioche rolls - yum! My brother, ordered a cheese toastie. We all had flat whites which got slurped down rather quickly and came it neat little old china cups! More bacon, yes I love bacon! I just like a well-packed bacon sarnie or roll but that's me. If I were in the area again, I would defo seek this little cafe again as it seemed to be the little hub of activity and not surprisingly popular with a few cyclists!

If you do cycling of any sort in Edinburgh, you will probably be familiar with Edinburgh Bicycle…read moreCooperative. They're located on Alvanley Terrace, near to the Bruntsfield Links. I've been in a few times - once to get some new inner tubes, another time to get some cycling mitts (fingerless gloves) and finally to replace a light. The shop has such a great range of everything, along with staff who are passionate about the subject matter. Whatever I was looking for, there was always a great range of that item, across a variety of prices. This shop thus caters for the casual and hardcore cyclist alike. It's the sort of place that you'll wonder round, and see something that you don't really need, but do want, and then try to justify whether or not you need it. The selection of complete bikes for sale is also great to look at, with that 'if money was no object' glint in your eye. Apart from sales, the shop also does repairs in a small workshop that is part of the shop. It's pretty much a one-stop shop for your cycling needs, and in a city like Edinburgh where cycling is the quickest way to get around, it is a very useful place. Well worth a visit if you live nearby, or even if you don't!

If you want a new bike this is the place to come because they cover the complete range of bikes and…read morethey're all quality bikes which are good value for money. The cheapest you get is about £200 so perhaps they miss out the very cheapest bikes, but they may be forgiven for their level of quality. Should you want cheaper than this I would recommend picking up a second hand bike from Bike Station which are of good quality but second hand. The next step up is the standard £300 commuter bikes you get sold throughout town and from here the more you spend the more you get with many different types and styles of bikes. My advice would be to tell the staff what you want, what you need it for and they will do their best to find whatever suits you. A great bike shop.

So , this store is back in business again, again nice selection and interior…read more Cafe is working well also. I wish Ronde all luck and well in this though internet world

I'm quite a fan of Ronde, not for me, but for my partner who is an avid cyclist…read more Good range of product, it seems limited but we haven't had an issue yet locating bits and pieces he's needed for cycling. Service is friendly and they do group rides which my partner joined once and seemed to enjoy. There is also a cafe inside for a post-ride coffe/meal but is open for everyone to enjoy.

Some time ago I bought a bike. I bought it for a mere £35 from a rather nice man whose ad I spotted…read moreon Gumtree. I traveled out to Dunblane to get it and I cycled back. It was love. Cycling was definitely something I wanted to be doing on a daily basis. Now, many of you may have been cautious of such a well-priced bike and you'd have been right. But I'm an eternal optimist. - £35 poorer, I rode off into the Stirling hills. My bike served me well. I got through autumn and winter. I saved bus fares to uni, popped to the shops and generally loved that cyclist feeling of the wind in my hair. Then, spring had sprung and so had my left brake, popping out every now and then and just proving to be a general nuisance. I'd pop it back in hesitantly. If there's one thing you really do need for a bike, it's the brakes. And so, it wasn't long before the brakes blew completely and my head was filled with thoughts of a new, pretty bike. (My old bike was no looker, poor thing!) Recyke-a-Bike generally has a buzz around Stirling as the place to go for recycled second-hand bikes and you'll often see their sticker on the frame of re-worked bikes all over the uni campus. Cycling is becoming increasingly popular among students and many don't take their bike with them when they leave, so it makes sense to buy second-hand. After a few weeks bike-less and penny-saving, I headed to Recycke-a-Bike for a browse. OOOH, BIKES. - There's quite the selection. I was taken to the general ladies offerings and they resembled my old bike with thick tyres and a large frame. This time round I was looking for something thinner and lighter. The helpful lady took me to the smaller selection of road and hybrid bikes. And there I saw him... He was bright blue, a beauty, a bargain. Did I want to try the bike outside? Yes, please! I reserved the bike till payday. (They reserve for a max of 7 days.) Come payday I went to collect the bike. I paid. The lovely man gave the tyres a quick pump and off I rode, happy as could be. The only thing I will say is that on my two visits there weren't many members of staff on the shop floor so I did have to wait a little, which I was happy to do. Also, staff do sometimes deal with more than one person at a time. Although, to be fair, the really cool stuff happens in the warehouse at the back and if you take a peep you'll catch them at work. - They're literally making the bikes part by part. Kudos to them. Bus fares saved? Tick. Pop to the shops? Tick. Wind in hair? Tick. Fan of Recycke-a -Bike? Tick!

I bought a bike from here last year and as it was on offer I found it to be a good deal. The staff…read morewere great at helping me to find a bike that was perfect and not too pricey.