Alleycat Sponsor Profile: CHARLIE THE BIKEMONGER
>> Sunday, 13 September 2009










I went over to meet Nick at Tredz (Swansea) today about supporting the alleycat (stay tuned for news). They have a bunch of complete fixed gear bikes there all ON SALE! So if you are on the lookout for an off the peg complete rather than trying to restore a big old hunk of junk then now is a perfect time to pop over there and try one for size. I took pictures of the sale tickets rather than the bikes, click on the first pic to go to Tredz' website and each of the other pictures to see a nice shot of the bike in question...





I popped into County Cycles in Cross Hands the other week, it's a nice little shop and the staff were friendly too, which is nice (rare). Downstairs is filled with accessories and general bikes, like a little mini Halfords ;-) but upstairs is filled with some serious kit, they keep loads of top of the range road bikes in stock as well as a truly impressive selection of jerseys! They don't keep any fixed gear specific stuff in stock but said they can order stuff in which is fair enough as Cross Hands is hardly the epicentre of all things 'new and exciting'. Check out their website: http://county-cycles.com




I popped into Cyclopaedia in Cardiff today to get some bar tape for a singlespeed I am building for my lady. I wasn't in there long but it seems like a really nice little shop, it's well stocked with all the usual gear and the staff seemed to be very knowledgeable to me, I don't know why but they just did.
There was a fairly sizeable workshop area out the back and their website says that "Cyclopaedia is run by Cyclists for Cyclists - every member of staff is a Cyclist, some are triathletes as well!" which I can believe and I think we'll all agree that this is essential when looking for any kind of specialist shop. They deal with over 50 different suppliers and stock 200 brands so they should have what you need, if they don't they will try and order it for you.
I haven't been to any other bike shops in Cardiff yet but I'll happily recommend this one for now cause it was well stocked and had the kind of feeling you get when you go to a skater owned skate shop or an independent record store, know what I mean?




I went over to Tredz in Llansamlet today for a look about. It's a pretty massive shop catering to all types of riders. There is a pretty good complete fixed section of Bianchi, Giant and Langster but no real fixed specific components but that's no different from practically every other bike shop in the world. There is a fairly sizeable collection of grips, bar tape, peddles and saddles that will deffo cover whatever your needs are in those departments.
I ended up buying another lock, my fourth this year, although not exactly what I want it is closer than the other three, I'm beginning to think that the lock of my dreams doesn't exist. Tredz has the best selection of locks I've seen, fact.
The staff were all really cool including Chris Hughes who organises the Critical Mass rides from Castle Gardens to Mumbles on the last Friday of every month. A nice ride over to Tredz is made easier because it is just off the cycle track that runs along the river so pop over there when you can and say Fixed Gear Wales sent you!



Exist Clothing is a skate clothing brand and shop based on Oxford Street in Swansea. Although it is not a bike shop in any way, shape or form the owner Ric Cartwright rides a fixie and all the clothes he stocks are great for riding your bike in. The shop stocks Zoo York, Rebel 8, Girl, Nike SB, Supra, Vox, 4star, Chocolate, Brixton, Diamond, Nu era and it's own brand as well as tons of skate hardware and spray paint/pens and second hand records. Ric can, and will, sell you a fixie, he is able to order them but doesn't have any room to stock them so ask to check out a catalogue if you wanna buy one complete and not build it yourself.
It is the only skater owned shop in Swansea and does loads for the local scene including hosting events and working hard to get a skate park. Exist the brand is a one man operation and all clothes are hand printed, there will be fixed gear specific designs coming soon.
Exist is based in the same building as Hobo's
The shop is small but packed with killer gear
Girls clothes and hats
Shoes, decks and bags
Ric, trackstand and skate hardware
Records, decks, longboards and videos
Molotow spray paint and pens*CARDIFF







Stocking the best product from Japan as well as clothing and parts from any other countries doing it well.
Your local bike shop probably won’t have this stuff - nothing essential, but all very nice nevertheless!
Purveyor of damned fine 29er, fixed and singlespeed produce.
Bringing the best fixed gear parts and tools from the US and other countries
The best track bike components in Japan to ship worldwide to wherever you are!
Excellent general online bike shop, well priced too!
