NB: These are bike shops as opposed to shops that sell bikes. Inclusion does not indicate endorsement. Before buying a new cycle, please read the Anatomy of an Everyday Bicycle, and the Colchester Cycling Why Bike and Which Bike pages.

COLCHESTER AREA BIKE SHOPS (local independents)

Bike Guru The Kiosks next to Firstsite, Queen Street, Colchester (town centre). Cafe and repairs. Check opening times. Matt Lawford, 07889124001.

Colchester Cycle Stores 50 St John's Street, Colchester (town centre). Sales and repairs. Dealer for Orbea, Brompton, Pashley, Dahon, Batavus. Brian and Annouk Lewes, 01206 563890.

Thomas's Cycle Revolution Peartree Business Centre, Colchester. Sales and repairs. Dealer for Specialized, Trek, Giant. Family-run business. 01206 764545.

Interbike London Rd, Marks Tey (behind petrol station). Sales and repairs. Patrick Schils and family. 01206 213730

53-12 Cowdray Centre, off Cowdray Avenue, Colchester. Triathlon and racing specialist, and everyday bikes for adults and children. Ed Page, 01206 505011. Sales and repairs.

Re-Cycle Bikes-to-Africa charity sells a limited number of second-hand cycles to fund administration costs. Cyclists can also use the Re-cycle workshop to repair their own cycle for a small fee. Contact: Derek Balcombe on 0845 458 0854.

Colchester Market, Fridays, JEM Cycles, Matt Summers, mobile 07957 140475. Complete cycles, limited selection of parts.

Colchester Market, Saturdays, Neal Chattenton of Felixstowe. 01473 434441, mobile 07801 811909 . Wide range of accessories. No complete bikes.

Colchester Cattle Market (Saturday mornings only), Severalls Industrial Estate, Colchester. Auction may include used bikes.

COLCHESTER AREA BIKE SHOPS (national companies and franchises)

Cyclelife 6 St Botolph's Street, Colchester (town centre), 01206 502502, Sales and repairs. Raleigh and Diamondback dealer. 

Cycle King 46a East Street, Colchester, 01206 867756, National chain. Sales and repairs.

Halfords Colne Retail Park, Cowdray Ave, Colchester. 01206 763725. National chain. Sales and repairs. Brands include Boardman, Carerra and Apollo. Worth comparing the range with Dutch Halfords, an entirely separate company with no local links, but only a short hop across the North Sea.

Go Outdoors Turner Rise retail park (next to Asda), Colchester, CO4 5TU. 0845 155 2036. National chain. Sales and repairs. Brands include Diamondback and Raleigh.

REGIONAL STORES WE LIKE

Bicycle Doctor Bartholomew St, Ipswich. Mobile workshop for cycle tours and events; also good for hard-to-find or obsolete bike parts. Kevin Ablitt, 01473 259853

Shed Born Bikes and Essex Dutch Bike Based in Brentwood, e-mail Shaun Miller or ring 07727 230 342

Drakes of Cambridge, 56 Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 1LA, 01223 363468

Bikefix, Lambs Conduit Street, London

Velorution, 18 Great Titchfield St, London W1W 8BD

There Cycling, 60 Boston Road, Hanwell, London, W7 3TR