In Reply to: seasoned traveller? dont know what that posted by tiger on Friday, 1. June 2012 at 19:46 Bali Time:
but never in Denpasar?
You don't need to be at all "courageous" to go there.
It's just a bustling market town and has a mix of people and buildings including Balinese, Indonesian (other), Indian and Arabic.
You will see mosques alongside temples, and walk down Jalan Sulewesi to see the different races of peoples tending to the cloth stores.
There is a very good bike shop in Jalan Diponegoro, on he left heading towards Jl. Hassanudin (gold street) from Ramayana (local dept. store)
There are others opposite the gold shops, but not as specialised.
For hardware, there are a couple of places opposite the main markets in Jl.Gaja Mada opposite the Hong Kong Resto.
Some cheap stuff, but you are probably better in Ace or Mitre Ten.