Hub Vélo

I’ve used this place a few times and haven’t had any issues here before. On my previous visits, they seemed to be a normally operating business.

My brother baught a folding mountain bike, which they didn’t know existed till I turned up at their shop with mine, and thought there were parts missing to fix his tyre to the bike. So he called them, and a guy picked up. After listening, his first response was “You should have baught a bike from us, deal with the supplier”. We thought we only needed 2 bolts, but he wasn’t interested in helping my brother as we live local and didn’t buy a bike from him. My brother did not have time or the patience to take it up through the supplier, and was willing to pay to resolve his issue immediately. So we popped into the store to face the most disgusting approach I have ever seen to a customer. His face wasn’t happy seeing my brother, then he looked down and didn’t make eye contact as my brother told him he spoke to him on the phone. He then grinned (still looking down) and mentioned it’s a quick release... expecting my brother to know this like it’s common sense. He wouldn’t be a professional at his shop if it was common sense. My brother did not like his attitude so refused to go back there as he couldn’t adjust his brake correctly. I told him I will take the bike for him. So I took it in today and the same guy must have thought I was my brother (as we are twins). Before even asking me how he could help me, his first response was “we are fully booked till Monday and that any repairs to the bikes have to go through a booking method. I said to him that I have had a walk in service before and one of my friends did the same thing last week. His response was that the repairs man got loads of bikes in there to be fixed. Little did he know that I already looked in the repairs shop (next door) before popping inside the main bit. I only saw one bike in there that he was working on. All other bikes were on display and were for sale. So I asked him “Do I need to wait till Monday for a simple brake adjustment?”. He laughed and said “Coarse you do! We don’t know if it’s a big repair or a small repair or if we need to order parts for it”. Firstly, it’s only one screw you have to deal with as my brother did try, but couldn’t adjust it perfectly. Secondly, it’s a brand new bike, so why would it need parts? And thirdly, how could adjusting brakes be a big repair? I would just like to say that the guy that my brother and I was dealt with seriously needs customer service skills from the very basic level of how to approach and talk to customers. Also, he is meant to be a professional in his game, but I doubt his ability or knowledge about bikes. It’s a shame how he has been the face of the business in the past two days, and how he managed to change my view on the business. If he is the owner then he seriously needs to go back to the drawing board.

I would just like to add the fact that his selection of bikes in his shop did not spark the slightest bit of interest for me or my brother. We like mountain bikes, as we have been riding them since we were kids. But we also needed a folding bike for storage purposes, which they do have but not in a mountain bike. If I needed a folding city bike then maybe I would have considered getting one from here... but not after that stinking attitude. The rest of his bikes are like racing bikes. Very light weight, and sleek in design. But they do not fold. They are designed for smooth surfaces. A typical person that would buy those kind of bikes are those that do not have a car and use a cycle for the purpose of commuting (they are very expensive). My brother and I are both drivers, so we don’t need a very expensive bike that we can not fold away. Our bikes were purely baught for exercising, not riding on the road with it. This place had nothing for our convenience, but the guy still thought he can cater to our needs. I have never seen such narrow minded people represent a business like that. I will never go back there and would not recommend to go there either.

The worst bike shop in London (in my experience). The short version is they demonstrated shockingly bad workmanship and were totally dishonest (and I know a bit about bikes).

In total I paid £90 for the 'work' they did, sent 27 emails, and visited the shop 7 time. If you need a tyre changed fine, but if you need any real work doing, do not use this shop. Story and images below.

I bought a new frame, a gravel bike, as I cracked the chain stay on my CX bike. I prefer independent bike shops and had just moved back to Hackney so I took it to Hub Velo. Okay, so the mechanic was rude, going on about how I needed a new chain and cassette, and also little things like he didn't notice the cracked chain stay on the old frame. I wouldn't have minded but when I picked up the bike he'd fitted the wrong headset bearings (there were red flags - hindsight etc). I didn't notice till I got home, but email the shop with pictures (see attached). They told me 'it was fine'. It was not. I fought to get them to re-do it. Eventually they did, but again fitted the wrong size. I emailed again. In the end messaging the manufacturer to get the right size, then forwarding this to Hub Velo. Third time they got it done, but then a couple of days later the bottom bracket starts sounding like death. I go home and check it, and notice the they had SWAPPED OUT MY CHAINRING BOLTS. Yes, that's right, they had taken my nice shiny chainring bolts and changed them for mismatching odds and ends. An incredibly petty thing to do. I sent a pretty strong email about this. They replaced them. Finally I took the bike to a shop I trusted, they told me they had had to space out the bottom bracket because it wasn't a great fit for the frame. Another example of just how bad Hub Velo were. A.k.a THE WORST.

Lack of professionalism and lack of precision in build. Took my bike for a rebuild, got told things during the consultation, the staffs forgot to order the pieces, then told me i don't need it at the end, got my headset too tight, felt like falling and pulling on a side, had to get my bike re check by an other bikeshop, found out they forgot 2 pieces during the rebuild. The kid on the phone was defensive and unprofessional. Finally got my bike back.
I felt like these people took no care of a bike who means a lot to me. I would not recommend this bike shop.

Have been using this shop for servicing and, most recently, puncture repairs for just over 2 years and very happy with service. Friendly staff, reasonable prices and awesome cakes in the coffere shop.

Been using the free bike pump outside the shop for years but always assumed due to the professional appearance that it would be expensive for repairs. I was wrong. Great service, great value. Wish I'd known sooner. Recommend 100%

Phoned for a service around 1220 on a Wednesday (9th November). Bike was ready by 1335. £107 for a service, new chain, new cassette and puncture repair/new inner tube. Great service! You'd obv wait longer on busier days/times.

when i first went in with my bike they were rude and unprofessional. i got a service from them (£130) and had to go back 4 times for extra repairs, each time they were still rude to me.
there was still problems with my bike, i went elsewhere instead (as i have had enough) and this other place informed me of the poor workmanship that had been done to the bike and had to be undone and done properly (costing me more)
pretty disappointing since i spent so much at this place.
they are either dishonest or have no idea what theyre doing, i wont recommend.

After having my bike serviced here, I noticed a few weeks later during a puncture repair that my new tire had worn out early. I took the tire back and the team at HV promptly replaced it with a better tyre and fitted it for me at no extra cost which I really appreciated.