Does anyone know where I can have a bicycle tyre replaced on a sunday morning right there and then?
Ideally right at the Elephant or nearby.
I know of recycle but not that keen on them lately.
Had work done in the London Cycle Repair store on Hatfields recently and was very happy with them but unfortunately they're closed on sundays...
There's the bike workshop at the Northern end of Crampton St saw it today at about 5pm, not sure of opening hours poss Thursday, Friday & Saturday 3pm - 6pm. For tools & advice & practical help.
Thanks so much for everyone's response and being so helpful!
I had it fixed at this repair place on 18 Druid Street.
As I found a mobile nr. on the Gumtree add linked by James I was able to call this guy at 10.30 in the morning. He said he'd open at 11 but had already an appointment but if I were to arrive for 11.30 he would be able to fix it right there and then. And that's precisely what he did - 15 minuets later I cycled home. Fantastic!
Somehow quite unusual an experience in London I think - straight forward and no nonsense etc.
I may not have been too clear actually - I had a flat tyre and needed the inner tube replaced, not the outer tyre.
I paid a tenner plus a small tip I gave him as I was and am so happy how quick and easy all was.
Evans cycles charge £12-50 for a tube replacement. I took my bike back to Evans for a checkup and they wanted £75 so I came home, read the instruction booklets and once I got to know my sprockets from my cranks and derailleurs and learned not to overtighten my nuts, found basic maintenance is straightforward.
Why are there so many gears, bits and bobs on a general purpose commuting bike anyway. Mine has 24 gears and I've only ever used 3 around London.
" Us folks who do work in bike shops do use tyre levers. But only to get the tyre off the rim. Never ever, ever use a tyre lever to put the tyre back on - especially that last little bit, because it will pinch the new or repaired tube, and you will be back to square one. You need to use your thumbs - and bicycle mechanic magic!
My recommendation is to a quality puncture resistant tyre, like a Schwalbe Marathon Plus or an Armadillo. These maybe slightly heavier than a regular tyre, but you will get far fewer flats if you use them. They cost a bit more (£30), but with London cycle shops charging around £15 for a tube replacement, the investment soon makes sense
The other thing that many cyclists do not do is KEEP THEIR TYRES PUMPED UP HARD!
This simple act prevents many punctures, keeps the life of the tyres (and rims) greatly extended - and the ride is much better, with less, energy sapping, rolling resistance.
The little "3cm rubber enema tube" [in a puncture repair kit] is for the old fashioned Woods valves, which no-one uses any more. Except the Dutch. "
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