As you can guess, I’m not writing this from another ethereal plan, and I did manage to avoid being mangled with my bicycle and the back end of a Skoda Octavia. I did however take one important lesson though from this brush with the cold hand of death, and that was to finally get my bike checked out and overhauled.
There are a number of cycle shops and repair workshops in town
to choose from, and most of them are independent and local businesses. But I
decided to go to Hardy Cycles at the bottom of Fore Street. The reason; Rob Hardy, the proprietor, had come into the
office where I work my lowly 9-5 job and handed me his card for his new shop
that had just opened. He was nice, smiling, kind of chap and we had a quick
chat about his new enterprise and what he had planned. This happy encounter
stuck in my mind, and so the first day after being given my second chance on
this world I carefully rode down to his humble premises to see what he could
do
The place is compact and well organised, with no vital space
wasted on luxuries or pointless amenities. In a busy working environment like
this you imagine it to be dirty and greasy, but the place is spotless with
neatly displayed accessories for sale and implements hung on the wall. You walk
right into the workshop where bikes are hoisted up on racks to allow access to all
manner of cogs, chains and gears, and a work bench has all the tools and parts
that are needed to perform any manor of jobs on a whole array of two wheeled
machines. My patient that I had bought along was in need of some quite major
surgery so after giving the bike a quick, but thorough, check up I was given
the diagnosis and what was needed to be done. Rob obviously knows what he’s
doing and has been around bikes all his life and the relaxed; stress free
atmosphere that he exudes is very reassuring. I was told to come back in a few
days time and I would have a bike fit enough for Bradley Wiggins (ok, he didn’t
actually say that but having ridden around now for a few weeks on my healthy,
fit again set of wheels I recon I could give Wiggo a run for his money this
year in France).
So I was surprised to get a call from Rob the day before I
was due to pick up my machine. He had finished the work, only there were a few,
minor, unforeseeable problems and he had not managed to get everything to his
high exacting standards. He had even gone out and given it a test ride to check
it was all ok. I reassured him that it was fine and that my cycling
requirements were not all that severe. However it is nice to see someone take
such pride in his work and courteous respect when it comes to customers.
Whenever you go and see a repair man about anything nowadays
you always seem to automatically believe that they will try and swindle you
somehow, by using complicated words and blinding you with jargon. All these ‘consumer advise’ shows have scared
us into believing that we are all hapless mugs, easily fooled into throwing
money away at all these snake oil salesmen. Hardy Cycles, I can assure you, is
not like that. It is friendly, and welcoming, and everything is laid out simply
and explained properly. Rob is a genuinely nice guy who is only concerned that
you are safe and are able to get the most out of your bike. With Spring in the
air and good weather fast approaching you better dust off the old penny
farthing and take it in for a once over so you can enjoy cycling around all
summer hassle free, safe in the knowledge you won’t end up under a bus because
the handle bars come off in your hand.Call 01392 434997
Email contact.hardycycles@gmail.com
Hardy Cycles
35 New Bridge Street
Exeter
EX4 3AH
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