The wave of new London bike shops

I hear you Oliver, but it is also a fact that most bike shops, independent or otherwise are not overly female friendly, a pretty unusual issue for most retail stores.

This is true. However, London Fields has always employed a lot of women (I know four personally), like the aforementioned Katie, and while having women on the shop floor isn't a necessary prerequisite for ensuring that this sort of thing doesn't happen, I can guarantee you that they're very much aware of the issue and would go out of their way to ensure that it doesn't happen. It's definitely worth talking to them again.