is this actually happening?!

[kase1983]

Re: Re:

Cambridge bike shop thread hijack! I remember the wife at Howes (Pat?) being pleasant but her hubby was a bit temperamental/ grumpy! I had my MTB wheels built by Howes - one set a very nice pair of F.I.R. rims that were on my Kilauea when it got stolen. Seem to remember not real high-end bikes in there but always had any parts needed. I heard their kids weren't interested in keeping it going so it was a sad end to a shop with something like 120 years of history.
They had a closing-down sale of course and I got a few bits and bobs. A lovely set of ancient wooden drawers lives in the lounge with the hi-fi on top came from their workshop with ancient grimy barely legible words written on the drawer fronts - 'cogs' is one. And an orange Michelin sign with the fat tyre man riding a bike that's on the landing wall.
Ben Haywards - aah, the cycling Santa in the window every year! They had a few more niche bits and the odd higher-end bike if I remember correctly. The lady was lovely. A good shop but like a lot of the others rent's rose, the net came along, and they went by the way-side. Now that cycling's back bigger than ever LBSs are thriving. Long live the Bike Ambulance! (for us Cambridgers!).
I never did step foot in Taurus...wasn't a regular shop...I think they made frames only??

yeah Pat howes. she was more into darts than bikes i think. there kids wernt intrested and knew nothing about bikes, they worked the till every now and then. i like the shop and the history but no sad to see it go really.
i worked with Andy and sam from cycle ambulance for years untill mikes bikes closed and they went and worked for Rick, who all had worked for rody on the market.
that damn santa creaking away every christmas. cycle ambulance now moved to ditton lane of newmarket road. i hope they do well down that side of cambridge.

 

[2manyoranges]

Indeed I was sad to see Howes go - the woman at front of house (yes...Pat I recall) could do good mediation with her husband and I learned the right approach to getting the best from the shop - not cheap but they had such good contacts in the industry that they would do some good special ordering. I wanted some Armadillos in 26 - yep they ordered them for me. Wanted some Cateye products - yep they could get them. Proper LBS.

They seemed sad to close but not desolate. It's great that you have some nice fittings from the close down; I missed the sale of those and wish I had been able to pick some things up. Goodness the world has changed....but seeming now to go full circle, with more and more people wanting and needing a good LBS.