We were pleased to see a Rayleigh bike shop – Grips – getting a good review on a bike business website yesterday.
Bikebiz.com – “For everyone in the Bicycle Business” carried out a mystery shopping exercise on 5 independent bike shops in the Southend and Rayleigh area and published their findings yesterday. Grips came out of it very well:
Split between moto-cross and cycling, I wrongly assumed Grips would be tailored towards the more ?extreme? end of the market, though after a short browse through stock I could see potential.
Moments later, a store assistant approached and began to take on board my requirements of purchasing a bike fit for touring.
Advising me that Specialized had one of the very best reputations within touring, the assistant used a similarly styled bike to demonstrate the kind of features I should expect on a well-built touring bike.
Explaining tyre choice and pannier mounting, the assistant went on to highlight a few bikes within the Specialized catalogue ? for which he suggested I researched further before placing an order with Grips.
On my exit I was handed a business card and told that I could pop in again to discuss a purchase fitting my budget.
There was very little more this store could have done to ?school? a self-confessed beginner in what kind of bike a first-time tourer should seek out.
Full article here.
Have to say both bikes I own (road and mountain) were bought from Grips and they are both perfect for what I needed and at a good price. The advice I got was excellent with no pushing to make a sale. Can recomend.