ANGRY customers have expressed their shock after a specialist bike shop closed.

Ubyk runs a shop in Sydney Street, Brighton, where it sold top-end bicycles and carried out repairs.

But customers who use the shop have reported having problems with their orders for bikes worth thousands of pounds in the run-up to Christmas.

Others bought parts worth hundreds of pounds, and others had also left their bikes at the shop for service repairs.

Now they are all trying to reclaim their money so they are not left out of pocket.

A note on the door at the Brighton store states: “Sorry, we are closed for a refit.” But inside the shop in the North Laine a man confirmed the shop was shut.

He said: “It has closed. It will be closed over Christmas. We hope to find a new buyer in the new year, it takes time.”

The company is registered in Oxford. When The Argus called their Oxford number there was no answer.

Customers have reacted angrily to the news online. On the Trust Pilot website Simon Hagan-Young posted: “Very disappointed. I took my bike into the Brighton shop last week where I made my purchase six months before. Having heard nothing for a week, I paid a visit to the shop on both Monday and Tuesday, only to find they have closed up for a refit.

“I have no idea when I’ll get it back. I also emailed the manager, but haven’t heard anything.”

Ryan Wheal wrote that he was £3,000 out of pocket.

He said: “I bought an ‘in-stock’ Santa Cruz Bronson three weeks ago in the Black Friday sales.

“Money was taken immediately and I was looking forward to getting my bike within the week.

“I had no contact from Ubyk apart from a generic message.

“I waited a few days then called their Brighton store.

“A helpful chap told me the bike was a special order and being built up at Santa Cruz.

“But after another few days there was nothing.

“I emailed them to request a refund and tried to call them numerous times, but to no avail.

“Their website is also ‘down for maintenance’.

“I’m £3,000 out of pocket, but paid through PayPal so I’m hoping they will sort it all for me.”

The website and shop shows two email addresses to contact but The Argus had no reply when we sent messages to both of them. The shop remained closed yesterday.