Chainsmith bike shop and workshop on Cleveland Street, was founded over ten years ago by David Piacenti (another fantastic Italian import!) and Alison McGregor.
All types of bicycle are serviced and repaired by David, Alison and Ben, the other member of the team (apart from ‘e’ bikes, see below). They are keen cyclists and are very experienced bicycle mechanics. Alison says, “that having worked in other bike shops they have learned what to do, as well as what not to do”.
As well as services and repairs, Chainsmith sells a range of cycling accessories and clothing (saddles, pedals and mechanical components and jerseys, socks, caps, shoes and bootees).
Chainsmith, 482 Cleveland Street, Surry Hills. Ali Macgregor, Co-founder, Chainsmith. Article by Abigail Sheppard, SHBP Board Member.
Chainsmith sells very few bicycles directly as such, but they take personal orders and source individually customised bicycles from one of six artisan bicycle ‘builders’ in Italy who they deal with personally. They operate a bike fitting ‘lab’ to finish the customising process.
As the years have gone by, Chainsmith’s customers now increasingly include commuter cyclists as well as hard core, lycra wearing cyclists. Although in favour of the increased
use of ‘e’ bikes, Chainsmith do not repair or service them due to safety issues. Alison’s prediction is that there may be a lot of abandoned e bikes in future as people find they have limited opportunities to get them repaired.
The Chainsmith team are welcoming and supportive. They always seem to have time to give practical advice and encouragement, including to less confident new cyclists, as well as giving boutique services to more serious cyclists.
As a cycling tragic, I love dropping in to Chainsmith. There are always beautiful (usually Italian) bicycles and accessories and there is a genuine bicycle ‘workshop’ feeling. Chainsmith rightly pride themselves on their ethical, caring and thorough approach, their expertise, their reasonable and transparent pricing and their use of high end components.