I want to bike like common people.
About us.
We're The Common Cyclist. A bike repair kiosk beside Wandsworth Common, run by people who actually ride bikes, fix bikes and have lived around here for years.
We opened because this corner of South London needed somewhere approachable, unfussy and properly good at the everyday end of cycling. Not everything. Just the things that matter to most riders.
Who we are.
We're three experienced cyclists and long-time Balham and Wandsworth residents, all parents, all enthusiastic about getting more families on bikes. Our children went to schools here. We ride locally and further afield. This place is home.
One of our team has competed at the UCI World Championships in road racing, representing Great Britain. We are experienced cyclists and certified mechanics. We know our way around a bike.
What drove us here wasn't the race experience, though. It was years of watching the practical side of family cycling go underserved. Bikes sitting in sheds with a flat tyre. Children's bikes outgrown and gathering dust. Commuters putting off a simple repair because it all felt too complicated. We wanted to fix that.
What we believe.
Do a few things well.
We focus on the repairs people actually need. Everyday bikes, family bikes, commuter bikes, children's bikes. Certain jobs on high-end performance bikes or e-bikes require specialist equipment and knowledge which we won’t pretend to have but we can offer advice as to who can help. We'd rather be brilliant at the regular stuff than mediocre at everything and that keeps our costs down too.
Be straight with people.
We'll tell you what's wrong, what it'll cost and how long it'll take. No jargon. No inflated estimates. If an estimate comes in over, we'll call you first before we start.
Know your neighbourhood.
We're not a franchise or a chain. We live here, we ride here and our children went to school here. This is our community and we want to be a genuinely useful part of it.
Keep bikes in use.
A good bike is worth repairing, and a child's outgrown bike is worth passing on. Our exchange programme is part of that thinking — better for families, better for the planet.
Our home.
The kiosk sits right at the edge of Wandsworth Common, one of South London's favourite green spaces. We think good cycling infrastructure belongs here. Stop in for a repair, or just a chat.