A true rip off merchant!.Snake Oil salesman comes to mind....
Back in May 2023, I made the mistake of trusting Cyclopolis with my Specialized full-suspension enduro MTB, and it was hands down the worst experience I’ve ever had with a bike shop. Before even buying my nearly new used wheelset—DT Swiss with Hope hubs—I visited the shop to ask if they would fit. He assured me they would and even said he could re-spoke the wheels if necessary. Based on that, I went ahead with the purchase, trusting his word.
A week later, I brought him the wheels along with all the necessary parts—and straight away, he seemed annoyed, as if he didn’t actually want to do the job. Then he suddenly changed his story, saying he doesn’t re-spoke wheels but would “make it work.” From that point on, it was just excuse after excuse. He even told me that confirming the correct wheel width with Specialized would be too expensive because he charges by the minute and they’re a busy shop. As said id rather have the job done properly but he just started saying it going to be to expensive for you, basically patronising and belittling me as I never had the mechanical knowlege, What kind of excuse is that?
Instead of doing what he originally promised, he botched the job. He forced a fit on the front wheel using a washer, whihc he stated he mechined down to make it fit, then told me the rear wheel didn’t sit properly and was a dew threads out. Worse still, the quick-release didn’t even thread properly onto the hub and 4 threads were off, meaning it wasn’t a true fit. And then—after charging me an extortionate £340 for this mess—he had the audacity to warn me not to ride too hard after charging me as I was leaving because the wheel could rip out and damage my frame. So not only did I get ripped off, but he effectively admitted the job was unsafe!
To make matters worse, despite me supplying all the parts, the only thing he actually replaced was a gear cable—using an inferior one at that. And the biggest insult? He left the old inner tube in, knowing full well it had a slow puncture, even though I had given him a spare 29" tube he could have just swapped in from my other wheels he had removed. Instead, he just pumped the tyre up before handing the bike back while quickley talking and rusing me out. By that point, I was so frustrated I just wanted my bike and didn’t even argue—but I was fuming.
When I first handed over the bike, I told him to take his time and do the job properly. Instead, I got excuse after excuse, when I called in asking if everything wss ik theb he sent me a text dsying your bike is ready and when I finally got the bike back, he acted like he’d done me a favour. The reality? His shoddy work caused my bike to break down less than two months later from normal city riding, I rode no trails and only rode to work and back as I was scared to use to properly.
I strongly urge anyone considering this shop to do some research. Read through the reviews carefully—you’ll notice a pattern. Many of the glowing reviews seem eerily similar, and the people who’ve been ripped off all have the same kind of story. If you want real customer service and quality work, do yourself a favour and check out the shop across the road. You’ll immediately notice the difference in professionalism, honesty, and expertise.
Take the time to compare both places, get a quote from each, and trust your instincts. I wish I had. Don’t make the same mistake I did.
Now it’s clear from the start that he never really wanted to do the job and was just making excuses. Then relisee he got me stuck so ripped me right off!
Be warned this place will make a fool out of you and smile at you while ripping you off a real snake oil salesman! Youve been warned proceed at your own peril!
P.s im never one to leave reviews but this really has been bubbling in my for ober a year, now that im coming round to repairing it