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news
Harley © Gemma PatersonKind cyclists step in to build 4-year-old's bike after Halfords say it'll take 3 days
Two keen cyclists stepped in to build a kid’s bike for him, after he was left in tears when Halfords said they didn’t have time for do it for three days.
Harley Stephen had just learned to cycle without his stabilisers, so his step-mum Gemma Paterson took him to buy a new one in the Perth store.
After Harley and Gemma were told the bike would be another three days, they were approached by Tony Fletcher and his friend who offered to help, having seen tearful Harley.
Gemma, 27, told the Daily Record: “They came up to me and said ‘We were behind you in the queue and we see how upset Harley is. If you go buy the bike we’ll build it out in the street for you.’
“Harley was over the moon so we bought the bike and the guys did it outside. It took 20 minutes. It was so nice of them.”
Having forgotten to ask their names on leaving, Gemma took to Facebook, where she shared a photo of Tony, his friend and a delighted Harley, which was shared more than 18,000 times.
She posted: “A massive massive thank you. Nice to know there are kindhearted people out there.”
A friend of Tony, 38, eventually saw it and let him know.
Tony, from Dundee, said: “I was just in the right place at the right time. The wee boy obviously wanted to go out on it that day.
“I had my tools with me so I told her I could do it for her.”
Halfords say they are investigating why staff were unable to build the bike that day and gave Harley a £50 voucher.
Latest Comments
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"...the beeswax-based covering magically shuns off whatever might be lurking in the corners. Even after multiple rides, when the bars rattled about...
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I've always wondered - why does the one-armed person in the cloak have their hand in the one-armed person with the cane?
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t-boned
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I didn't know the blue RA saddle was a holy grail - I had a 1986 RA bought new in 1987 with a blue saddle that lasted me very well until 2002 when...
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Solution: Put these up everywhere. Source: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/traffic-signs
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Glad you like it - this week was the first proper commuting week since I got it, 250kms nice and warm but not boiled, indeed - and when the...
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I'm there now too, if anyone wants a follow/wants to follow me. @cyclingtheseaso
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14 comments
I think your chances of getting a safe assembly from two random cyclists willing to volunteer to assemble a bike are probably higher than from Halfords if my experiences are anything to go by.
Grizzerly, I am baffled how you got charged by Halfrauds for building up a bike. It's meant to be included in the price. I'm also surprised that they insisted on doing it. I know people who have bought bikes from Halfords and assembled themselves, negotiating a discount in the process for saving them the workshop time.
Chapeau gentlemen.
CRCs flagship store has you waiting a week before they PDI the bike that's sitting on the shop floor in front of you assembled and ready to go.
We have a saying in the bike trade.
"That's Halfords, that's helpful!"
But it is the first port of call for the general public when buying a bike.
I've never told a customer ever that it would take longer than the same day when buying a new bike.
Spotted these machines sporting a revolutionary new braking system in the ASDA next to Manchester Velodrome yesterday.
Use your LBS and not ASDA
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Wow! You pay a lot of money for aero brakes like that on a top end TT bike!
Amazing that on a asda bike you get brakes hidden behind the forks from the drag. Very aero.
Halfords are good for something and I did buy two of my son's bikes there. Those were put together properly but I did check them over after I bought them. I've seen plenty that haven't been assembled correctly and the classic forks on the wrong way round mistake is very common. I saw one kid in the park wobbling along yesterday with his forks the wrong way round. I was running and working out using the outdoor gym and was going to say to his parents when they next came past, but I didn't see them again.
Against my better judgement, I have bought 3 bikes from Halfords over the past 20 years. On each occasion, they have insisted on assembling the bike (and charging for doing so ). On each occasion I have had to reassemble it properly when I got it home.
After Christmas, some years ago, 5 local children brought Halfords bikes to me when the brakes didn't work. They had no brake-blocks, because the shoes were mounted the wrong way round!
I think Harley & his mum have been pretty lucky!
Great to see cyclists being so helpful. And decent of Halfords for rectifying mistake with voucher so good weekend could be enjoyed by all
Great to see cyclists being so helpful. And decent of Halfords for rectifying mistake with voucher so good weekend could be enjoyed by all
Great to see cyclists being so helpful. And decent of Halfords for rectifying mistake with voucher so good weekend could be enjoyed by all
[Cynical]Waitng for the lawsuit after little Harley falls off and damages himself.[/Cynical]
Halfords are useless, better off they don't build anything