MYSTERY SHOPPER Hastings
High Tide Cycles
Oh, we do like to be beside the seaside. The sea air really puts Mystery Shopper in the mood for applying some pier pressure to the retailers of Hastings. With varied terrain, we’re in search of something speedy, yet capable of tackling some steep inclines…
PURELY A business handling second-hand refurbished cycles, High Tide were a sociable bunch, talking Tour de France, cycling Hastings and much in between. With chit chat flowing nicely, it was time to talk about a bike to get Mystery Shopper from A to B in the minimal amount of time. With just one yet to be refurbished bike in stock, there wasn’t a whole load to sell on, though the assistant pulled the cycle from the window and began to detail what was right and what was wrong with the bike. The garish paintjob could only be described as ‘technicolour dreamcoat’, but the shop assistant wasn’t shy of pointing out the paint defects and suggested a respray by the new owner. Having done his best to help me see past the aesthetics, the helper began to sell on the positives, pointing to the sturdy wheels adorned to the bike and telling me ‘they’ll last and last’. Sensing this particular bike might not be my cup of tea,
he urged me to check back regularly, as racing bikes ‘come and go like buses’. Helpful throughout, but a bit of a lottery as to whether you’ll find the right bike here.
30 BIKEBIZ AUGUST
BIKEBIZ.COM
Hasting Cycles (Seafront)
HOSTING A closing down sale, the seafront store has until now provided a hire bike and sales service to the town’s population. With the clearout well underway, I was browsing
some vintage stock when the assistant approached with a friendly “excellent bike in its day, that one”. From there the conversation flowed freely as the helper shared his knowledge of the 1957 Raleigh gents bike. I was informed of the wheel and tyre upgrade that had been added by the shop and the workings of the gearhub, which given the bargain price, began to make the bike seem like a steal. It became hard to resist the knowledgeable sales
pitch, nonetheless, I was after something a little ‘faster’ and as such was pointed to the town centre branch of Hastings Cycles.
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