I'm not sure why a bicycle shop has to be at the top of the hill?! By the time you get there, you are so out of breathe you can hardly verbalise that you need some new brake pads before you free wheel down again.

Okay, so I am a novice but this store sure isn't, it is one of Bristol most established and specialised cycle shop that sells, repairs and hires. The staff were really friendly on the day we went in on 'mission brakes'. They didn't laugh at my husbands 'antique' bike - looking completely out of place next to their outdoor display of shiny new bikes - instead they helped him tightened his brakes and then sold me a pair of new brake pads within budget. We arrived, clearly not the type of people to keep them in business, but they happily helped us and that earns brownie points in my book.

We wizzed back down the hill and I am sure that I will venture there again (hill and shop!)