Author Topic: What was your local BMX shop back in the day? (Read 34110 times)

generallee · « **on:** January 14, 2011, 12:02 PM »

Thought this would make an interesting thread...
I was remembering my old local bike shop from the 80s - I lived in Chalfont St Giles, Bucks, and I seem to remember going to the bike shop in Chalfont St Peter with my two older borthers [ both of whom rode], and I think the shop was called SPOKES.
It had a fair few bikes and parts - it seemed like heaven to me.
Id love to hear about what your old local bmx stockist was - and if they are still going today/still stock bmx/have closed down etc.
SPOKES has sadly disappeared by the looks of it.
Weirdly, I think Stodgy Dave used to ride in my area in the 80s too - Denham Common, Hazlems woods etc etc - though we didnt meet til a few years ago!
Come on then - what was your local BMX shop ?
steve

pickle · « **Reply #1 on:** January 14, 2011, 12:07 PM »

my old local bike shop was called MOORES CYCLES at the Glebe shops in Stevenage. It was a Raleigh shop so sold copy gear mostly but i always remember a lovely redline f+f hanging above the back of the counter

It's still there now but called something else.

also used to go to the motobike shop in Knebworth high st for JT Racing stickers and decent grips

Saunders i think it was called $:-\$

Swivel · « **Reply #2 on:** January 14, 2011, 12:07 PM »

We never really had a shop as such, there was a guy in a massive van used to drive about (mobile shop) and show us on his warez lol. Used to be ram packed with decent stuff and his son had the best bike around by us, TA loaded with everything lucky git. That guy used to drive all around hertfordshire and essex so probably took a good few quid. Bit I remember the most was all the mushroom grips in all those colours, superb

wildon · « **Reply #3 on:** January 14, 2011, 12:09 PM »

We used to use Ladypool Cycles in Birmingham .. it's actually still there although not been in there for a long time.

SaMAlex · « **Reply #4 on:** January 14, 2011, 12:10 PM »

HOTSHOT. First it was about 8 miles from me and we'd cycle there (on BMXs) just to LOOK at stuff. Then it moved to a bigger shop that is right next to where I live now. Shame HOTSHOT went ages ago. I used to love it in there.

stu27 · « **Reply #5 on:** January 14, 2011, 12:10 PM »

stechford cycles in birmingham was the main one for me,sadly not there anymore
always worth a visit as it was quite near birmingham wheels
complete builds upstairs,with all the parts downstairs,but what i really remember is all the landing gear forks hanging up behind the counter
also halfords and roberts cycles in ac0cks green(got me first z rim there)

Robbo · « **Reply #6 on:** January 14, 2011, 12:13 PM »

They had a Raleigh specialist in Hatfield which is still there now and wasnt much good so we used to jump on the train to Stevenage to visit Custom Riders, was a much smaller shop than it is now and Mason had hair!!!

sharp767 · « **Reply #7 on:** January 14, 2011, 12:14 PM »

superbike in ilford, essex...i used to stand in there drooling.

trasher · « **Reply #8 on:** January 14, 2011, 12:18 PM »

Bunny's bikes in nottingham

Had all the top spec gear , I can remember getting
Some Christmas money , and going in there , and coming out
With a red set of tuff 2's , a pair of vdc monkey bars
And a pair of Oakley grips , was a magic moment

They were a bit gob smacked though when I took my Curtis back
After snapping it , gave me a new one , no problem

There still trading aswell I think

rollin72 · « **Reply #9 on:** January 14, 2011, 12:38 PM »

suntal cycles in Oldham which i just remember the gooses, then when i moved b.p cycles in Tyldesley which had some pretty choice stuff, got my d.b prostar from there it had red z'ds, mushrooms and gt bars on it, he stocked quite a few firebirds, both sadly closed down now

Spen69 · « **Reply #10 on:** January 14, 2011, 12:42 PM »

Halesowen Cycles in the outskirts of Birmingham was the place where my shattered rear Tuff 2 was hung behind the counter for years as I was the first idiot round our way to bust one and Dave who ran the place couldn't believe the mess I'd made of it miss-judging the hieght of a set of concrete steps. The shop is still there now but has moved a few doors up the road and still sells BMX.

Also we had 2 wheels in Stourbridge which was the bigger shop full of dreams like TA's and Curtis. I still remember the day my brother saw his Tange-framed mk1 Cromo Burner in there next to my Mongoose Cali and the Supergoose your parents could never afford like it was yesterday. He still has the Chromo today and the story of how we ended up with those two bikes is still my happiest ever christmas day memory. I can only hope to make my kids as happy as our parents did in 1983 one day. It was 2-wheels and Halesowen Cycles that made it all possible and we went down there everytime we had enough money saved for something - GT Pro bars for £25 took months to save up for!

Fond memories those 2 shops indeed....

poolysheriff · « **Reply #11 on:** January 14, 2011, 12:54 PM »

Johnson bmx in Stockton

Peter J · « **Reply #12 on:** January 14, 2011, 12:55 PM »

J.E James Cycles and Veron Bakers (I think thats what they were called) in Dronfiled

Dannywhac · « **Reply #13 on:** January 14, 2011, 01:02 PM »

Quote from: Swivel on January 14, 2011, 12:07 PM

We never really had a shop as such, there was a guy in a massive van used to drive about (mobile shop) and show us on his warez lol. Used to be ram packed with decent stuff and his son had the best bike around by us, TA loaded with everything lucky git. That guy used to drive all around hertfordshire and essex so probably took a good few quid. Bit I remember the most was all the mushroom grips in all those colours, superb

We had a similar deal - bloke in his late 50's called Percy Bolton sold bmx components from his garage - loads of stuff ranging from Iron Horse all the way up to Skyway. Was like an alladin's cave - used to go there just to browse......

We also had Cliff Pratt's in Hull, only downside was they were a Raleigh dealership

southern andy · « **Reply #14 on:** January 14, 2011, 01:25 PM »

Hot wheels and Strongs cycles, both were in Bournemouth and used to take their shops to the race meetings which was handy.

Local shop in Southampton which we only used for an emergency were Peter Williams. This was actually a motor bike shop but he did a few decent BMX parts.

steve69 · « **Reply #15 on:** January 14, 2011, 01:43 PM »

My weekly hang out was Edwardes and if we fancied a change it would be Youngs or Alpine Sports/Action.

Happy days

stidds · « **Reply #16 on:** January 14, 2011, 02:14 PM »

Main place near me in Bristol was either SR Cycles (who ran the Bristol BMX club SR Jets) or Rollermania.

pickle · « **Reply #17 on:** January 14, 2011, 02:28 PM »

Quote from: Robbo on January 14, 2011, 12:13 PM

They had a Raleigh specialist in Hatfield which is still there now and wasnt much good so we used to jump on the train to Stevenage to visit Custom Riders, was a much smaller shop than it is now and Mason had hair!!!

Rob that cycle shop in Hatfield is cack! they never have a thing in the shop that need!

as for Custom Riders, i think they were in Hitchin rather than Stevenage fella..........i grew up in Stevenage and we never had a shop like his (unfortunately) although it was great when Mason popped into Bowes so we could all drool over his Gen1

Dannywhac · « **Reply #18 on:** January 14, 2011, 02:38 PM »

Quote from: Southern Andy on January 14, 2011, 01:25 PM

Hot wheels and Strongs cycles, both were in Bournemouth and used to take their shops to the race meetings which was handy.

Local shop in Southampton which we only used for an emergency were Peter Williams. This was actually a motor bike shop but he did a few decent BMX parts.

Got good memories of Hot Wheels from around '95 to 2001 - used to get most of my bmx stuff from them, would always pop down for a chat (even to Pod when he was being a miserable bugger

) and a butchers at some of their old stock from the 80's.

Late 90's Hot Wheels sticker (think Troy designed it):

There was also a shop in one of the indoor arcades at the time that had Phil Bray? working there - sold Addict clothing etc....

PRO THUNDER · « **Reply #19 on:** January 14, 2011, 03:04 PM »

Quote from: S&MAlex on January 14, 2011, 12:10 PM

HOTSHOT. First it was about 8 miles from me and we'd cycle there (on BMXs) just to LOOK at stuff. Then it moved to a bigger shop that is right next to where I live now. Shame HOTSHOT went ages ago. I used to love it in there.

Same as me Alex. Hotshot used to be in Kidlington near Oxford. It's where I got my first bmx in 1981 (HUFFY PRO THUNDER PRO 1) Then it went to a big shop above a womens clothes store in the Cowley centre, again just outside Oxford. My grandma used to live 100yds from it. Great times, just like being in a candy shop, just looking at all the stuff you could never buy, but I would always came away with just a couple of stickers.

How I miss those days and wish I could go back.

QUADROPHENIA · « **Reply #20 on:** January 14, 2011, 03:46 PM »

40p return on the train to alpine action nottinghill, get a free beating from big erol, was the tops

or if we was really brave a good 5 hour journey to surrey skates to get some vans

thecrooch · « **Reply #21 on:** January 14, 2011, 03:48 PM »

if you were a south east essex boy there was only one place to go.... the legendary RAD CITY in South Benfleet - an absolute jumble sale of a place but he had it all in there....