Cyclehouse

I have just finished my 1^st ride on my new Ragley Marley custom build hardtail & I can’t stop smiling. The whole process has been pure fun, enjoyment & learning, from initial research to maiden voyage! I must admit I was a bit hesitant to approach a bike shop about a custom build because they can be so cliquey & they have been known to give even a fairly experienced rider a sense of inferiority But I had no choice because I don’t know quite enough to have done it myself. I’d heard from a friend of a friend that Cyclehouse Warrington were really helpful, down to earth & practical (they even talked him down from unnecessarily pricey stuff), so I was instantly drawn to the place. Once I found out there was good coffee on offer, there was no holding me back! We discussed what I wanted &, importantly, what I actually needed. Some of my internet research was validated by Rick & the 2 mountain bike brothers in the workshop (they LOVE bikes). The important thing was that the initial ideas I had about set-​up, components etc that may have been misguided/​naïve were not met with sniggers, smirks or dull in-​jokes from bike nerds. Quite the opposite in fact they managed to explain clearly (&without patronising me once) the rationale for certain choices e.g. Why opt for a certain frame geometry, Why go XT on certain components. & why I didn’t need anything more than SLX on other parts of the bike. In terms of price, this all balanced out & it felt great to know I wasn’t being hoodwinked or sold something I didn’t need. Rick was in regular contact, without being pushy & all discussions were consultative, rather than being told why I needed the same chainset as the pros. Once I had all the parts, I was then eager to help bring the bike to life. I was invited to come & watch it being built, whilst getting a step by step guide on how it was done. Most mechanics don’t want you near them but these lads were proud & confident enough to hide nothing. the way they took their time to teach a bit too was really impressive I even put a few bits on myself! So what was it like to ride? Well, I met my regular group of biking lads in Bolton & we had the obligatory new-​bike-​appreciation session, prior to pedalling off. From the point that the 1^st speck of mud hit the frame, it was no longer a show-​bike & the Cyclehouse fellas would now be held accountable for all the advice I’d received: — Geometry that allows me to climb & descend well After 20 mins I was clearing descents as quickly & confidently as I do on my Orange 5 that I kno inside out.- Clutch rear mech Chain stayed in place on the roughest of downhills & no sound of clanging dérailleur– Shimano XT disc brakes 15 stone stopped on a sixpenceHowever, all the technical stuff is exactly that, just stuff. It’s the well thought through aggregation of all that stuff that provides the most meaningful result for me The main result was the banter from the lads on our post-​ride-​pint. Each one of them commented on the size of my smile as I went up & down the hills of Rivington & that’s why we do it isn’t it? Thank you Cyclehouse.
Nathan Jones.

I could not speak highly enough of the team at Cycle house. Absolutely top draw service. I bought my first bike from them back in May of 2012 and I’ve not looked back. I didn’t have a clue what I was looking for but I left there with the perfect bike for me.
The after sales are as good if not better! The guys in the workshop must be sick of me! They assembled the bike originally and have been great ever since. They have offered me all sorts of advice. I’ve had a couple of accidents on the bike whilst I was getting use to cycling for the first time. The accidents left me a little nervous and left my bike requiring a safety check. The guys were quick to reassure me not to worry, just to bring the bike in at my convenience. The turn around on my bike was just 24 hours and the communications were excellent.
A particular note to one of the work shop lads. Sorry I don’t know his name but he wears glasses. Top draw lad. Patience of a Saint!
Thanks a lot to everyone at Cyclehouse