Assembled our free bike at a very reasonable cost, efficient, polite and helpful, unlike some of…read morethe major chains in the area!

There is a huge warehouse shop in an industrial unit in Gillibrands, Skelmersdale selling recycled…read morecookers, fridges, furniture, paint and so, with the whole place run as a social enterprise. In the midst of the warehouse is a bike repair and recycling shop named The Bike Shed, run by a guy called Dieter, which is the subject of this review. I am sold on the idea of a social enterprise bike recycling business as totally oozing green credentials. As with the rest of the warehouse, the bike shop is a bit Steptoe & Son, with loads of frames and partially completed bikes hanging from the ceiling of what we might loosely call the showroom, with the other room being the workshop. I've had one bike serviced here at a cost of £20. From talking to Dieter, I would say this was a deluxe service with the whole bike stripped down and servicable bearings regreased before reassembly, and therefore something of a bargain at that price. I've had three different components replaced - gear shifter, rear derailleur and bottom bracket. In all cases, the part & labour cost was a lot less than any high street bike shop would charge. Where it gets even more bargainous is when Dieter has the necessary component in his parts box. For example, parts cost for a 6-speed shifter was just £2. (OK, it was a thumb shifter to replace a twist grip shifter, but who wants to spend £20 on a part like that for an old bike - not me!) Another time, I brought my mate here looking for a pannier rack and Dieter fitted one while we waited for £5 all in. The best thing seems to be to go in and talk to Dieter, who I would say is offering his extensive mechanical skills and experience at a fantastic price. If you are at the cheaper end of the market, then servicing and repairs should be cheaper here and you should get a lot more for your money. If you are in the market for a cheap recycled bike, tell Dieter what you are looking for and he will see what he has in stock. However, don't be expecting bikes in stock ready to buy and ride away, it is more a case that bikes get built to customer orders from the available stock of frames, forks, wheels, etc. At the higher end, sometimes really good bikes are donated to the project, so you could pick up something quite special. Or if was a custom build you were after from old or new parts, I would talk to Dieter and see what he says. The only thing I would say is leave your expectations of other bike shops at the door and you will get a lot more out of this place.

This shop is now run by Colin and Gaz. They have really built the place up and you can now find top…read moremakes of bikes at low prices. You should go in and shop around and find yourself a bargain. Their servicing is ultra professional and second to none and they are really making a difference to our community, as we have been crying out for a decent bike shop in the town for years. Take it from me I put my carbon fibre road bike in for a service and the care and attention I experienced was second to none - well done these guys are amazing!

Admittedly I've not had to deal with these guys for a few years as I no longer have a bike but when…read morei did they were fantastic. The service was excellent which is more than I can say for other shops like this in chester. I went in once for some new bearings and grease and they give me the bearings for free! top quality guys.

I remember buying my first BMX bike from this shop in its old site next door to Don Luigi's. My…read morefriends and I would regularly visit there and perve on the bikes and the various parts, despite the fact we weren't exactly biking or BMX-ing experts (think more wannabes than riders). The business has since moved to a much larger store of the edge of the industrial park next to Tesco which has undoubtedly improved how much stock they can fit in, even if it is at the expense of their previously quite handy location. The shop itself is bright and shiny (kind of like a new bike, I suppose), with the shop front covered in windows to enable all passersby to see all their bikes. Upon on entering the shop, you are met by an extensive range of bikes that are split up into their respective categories, but despite this it can be quite daunting to a biking n00b (much like myself). However, the staff there are friendly, approachable and, most importantly, knowledgeable without trying to push certain models on you. They also sell many bike accessories as you'd expect, so I would definitely recommend visiting Formby Cycles for all of your biking needs.

Formby Cycles have a formidable range of bikes and accessories and offer competitve prices with…read moresome great reductions compared to average retail prices. I was impressed at the huge selection on show and how knowledgable they were about choosing a high end road bike to go for and they seemed to know all there is to know when choosing the right accessories. They also offer a reasonably priced service on the shop floor for those who just can't be arsed to do it themselves. The staff seem to know what they are talking about and have masters degrees in bike pumps.

stay well away from this shop i bought a bike online waited a for far too long only to be told bike…read moreparts are from russia ?! hmm not what every other bike shop has said about the same bike customer service is absolutely shocking they dont care and are just rude so do not buy from them what an awful company take your money elsewhere and be stress free

I ordered my Pashley Britianna bike from the Bike Factory as the pricing for it was excellent in…read morecomparison to other companies. Apart from it being falsely advertised as when I odered it, it was out of stock but the website not up to date. They repsonded quickly to let me know and were quick to correct it and get the process moving. It came next day delivery and I am over the moon with it. The Bike Factory team have been extremely helpful and quick to respond to any queries I've had. Thank you very much guys!! Will come to you in the future if need be.

I've never been much of a fan of bikes. As a kid, sure, but since I've been old enough to learn to…read moredrive, I've never bothered with a bike. I prefer controlling something with four wheels that offers me a bit more protection if I hit something. Plus, you don't get saddle sore in a car (unless you drive it weird, anyway). However, I recently visited College Cycles in Crosby with a friend and was pleasantly surprised by the selection of bikes on offer there. From the outside, the shop doesn't look particularly big but inside they make good use of the space, ensuring there is a large selection of bikes in various shapes and sizes on show. Their prices are pretty reasonable and competitive and their service is both efficient and personal, with their staff offering friendly advice and help whenever needed. I'll stick to four wheels myself, but if you're more of a two-wheeler kind of person then maybe check out College Cycles.

Awesome service and value for money. Before buying a new bike, get you old one serviced here…read more Brilliant!!!

I have it from Jack Parker himself that his shop sells many more bicycles than would be expected…read morefor a cycle shop of this size. Which is no surprise me, as Jack Parker Cycles of Burscough is a bit of a legend locally, and certainly the first name on the lips of many casual cyclists for miles around. And I've also encountered 'serious' road cyclists in the store every time I've been there. I've had a couple of bikes serviced here, and the price seemed reasonable enough. Jack himself is a very warm and friendly personality and the other staff I've dealt with have all been communicative, businesslike and skilled mechanics. As with most local cycle shops, Jack Parker cram a huge amount of stock into a small space and there are more bikes on display on the first floor. Recently, I was in the market for a new bike and visited several bike shop, including Jack Parker. It was a mountain bike with less nubby tires I was after, and the range of Claude Butler bikes that Jack Parker had on offer were not on display elsewhere. These Claude Butler bikes were all competitively priced, and somehow represented a pragmatic choice. For example, puncture proof tyres came fitted as standard whereas these needed to be bought separately for most bikes on sale at other shops. I notice Jack Parker are now offering cycle hire, at least to get you to Martin Mere WWT, and I think that would make a great day out from Manchester or wherever - catch a train to Burscough or Burscough Bridge Train Station both of which are close to the cycle shop. Lastly, yes, of course you can find some great deals online for cycles and accessories. But if you don't know what you're doing, you can just as easily waste money or end up with a bike which doesn't match your needs as well as it might. If you're local, and you only plan to visit one bike shop, you won't go wrong with Jack Parker for practical buying advice, after-sales service and the inevitable repairs in the years ahead.

Just what we needed in an emergency - good advice about repairing a much loved but rather worn out…read moreold bike, kept on a boat, and a very prompt and thorough repair on the same day to get us back on our way, and sticking to a price estimate despite having to do rather more than expected. What more can you ask for? Thanks.

Purchased my bike from Wyre Cycles and am extremely happy with both the service I received and the…read morebike. I did not even know the shop existed until a friend told me. It is located at the back of Brimlow's Garage in Poulton. Really worth seeking out and paying a visit. Also joined the cycling club whilst I was there and received a free bike service :) would recommend the shop to anyone.