"Alladin's Cave in Sparkenhoe Street"

A review of Bob Warner Cycles by Martin Joseph Wain written on Tuesday 15th of December 2009

I was first introduced to Bob Warner Cycles by my uncle Mike in the 1950's when it occupied another shop further up Sparkenhoe Street, on the opposite side of the road to the current shop Since my first ride on a bicycle in 1956 ( I am now 58 and still ride a bike), I have owned, have been given, have borrowed and have recycled (excuse the pun) scores of cycles and Bob Warner’s has always been my preferred supplier of cycle parts, advice and expert assistance, especially from the current proprietor, cycle engineer and wheel builder John. I think he has got used to people calling him “Bob”, but he isn’t that ancient. I continued to use the shop even after I left Leicester in 1979 to live in Lowestoft, Christchurch, Norwich and for the past 4 years; Germany. There used t be other old established cycle shops in North Evington, including Twilly’s, Bones and one whose name I can’t recall on St Saviours Road, not far from Pollards drilling machine factory. In former times these were handy to call into en route to or from a swim at the old Spence Street Baths, but no cycle shop I know of has ever compared with Bob Warner’s for its extensive stock of spares, advice and honest value for money. During the 1950’s and 1960’s Bob Warner’s was often called into on the way to or from train spotting jaunts to “The Birdcage” on Hutchinson Walk, or to Leicester London Road Station,- and very little has changed at Bob Warner’s since then. I have bought complete bikes there and sackfulls of parts for a rebuild, but on odd occasions when I only wanted a small part for e.g. a brake or a gear mechanism, Bob Warner’s never let me down. If John couldn’t locate the item in one of his myriad shelves and drawers, he would even dismantle a brake or gear mechanism to provide me with the part just to help me out, whereas the majority of cycle shops would only sell you the complete mechanism. That is true service and if it made little profit in itself, it assured my continued patronage for over 50 years. I would recommend, and have recommended Bob Warner’s to anyone, and all those I have recommended to the shop have been similarly impressed. Nothing lasts for ever, so make the most of this local treasure whilst it is still in business. .

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