Since moving to Kent last summer I have been on the lookout for nice bike shops, and on a day out in Whitstable I stumbled across Herberts Cycles. I was immediately drawn to the shop by the pretty display of bikes outside and the retro signage. Amongst the colourful bikes were a few Bobbins, and a shop that stocks Bobbins it always worth a look in…
My daughter and I went in to say hello as we were looking for a ‘big girls’ bike for her. Florence has not quite mastered cycling without stabilizers – my own fault, as we tend to travel with her on back of my bike. But as her 6th Birthday approached I realised we had to get her a set of wheels she loved that would get her going on her own pedal power.
Owner Keith was warm and welcoming and I was instantly impressed by the range of bikes and the tasteful vintage memorabilia. The amazing thing about this shop is its history. It has been going since the 1939, when it was run by a Mr and Mrs Herbert Green and it sold not only bikes but prams, gramophones and fishing tackle… Brilliant!
Mr and Mrs Green passed it down to their son and his wife, Steve and Liz, who ran it successfully for many years, and in 2002 Steve’s apprentice took over. That apprentice is Keith!
The fantastic thing about Herbert’s Cycles is that it uses its rich history to create a vintage vibe, but the bike shop has very much moved with the times. I had to take a moment to look at all vintage posters tastefully framed on the walls. Now, I’d seen copies of these posters and images on the internet but these were the original advertising posters that Raleigh and other manufacturers sent to the shop back in the 30’s and 40’s.
But I digress. Back to the bikes. Keith shows us the range of kids’ bikes in the upstairs showroom and talks us through them as Flo hops aboard to see which one she likes. There is a very sweet vintage style bike that I am hoping she chooses, but no, her heart is set in the fuchsia pink mountain bike. Having always been a believer in going for the bike you fall in love with, who am I to argue?
Keith is a fountain of knowledge on all bikes, and also tells us about local bike rides we should try. He also very kindly looks after my bike while we go for tea and cake, as apparently Whitstable doesn’t have the best bike parking facilities. It does, however, have lots of nice cycling routes and coastal rides, so check it out if you ever need a weekend break.
Range of bikes: From pretty town bikes (Bobbin and Pashley) to mountain bikes and Kids’ bikes. A good varied selection.
Customer service: Friendly, welcoming and knowledgeable. And they will even look after your bike while you go for tea and cake 😉
Servicing and repairs: They have a good reputation locally. Experienced and qualified mechanics are onsite, offering three levels of servicing and a £5 off voucher is available from The Herbert’s Cycles Website.
This is a very sweet bike shop in a lovely location (Whitstable High Street) with a good range of bikes and friendly staff. Florence loves her new set of wheels and is set for a great summer ahead cycling with her chums.
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