Independent Cycle Shops - do they have a future?
Discussion
As per title really…..
Just seen a google post about a shop in Kent probably closing due to retirement and wondered if independents are a dying breed
Where do PHers buy their bikes, who services them etc.
Is everything moving online or is there still a demand for personal attention of an owner/ fellow enthusiast?
I’d much rather touch and feel what I buy, and have a bit of craic as well
Just seen a google post about a shop in Kent probably closing due to retirement and wondered if independents are a dying breed
Where do PHers buy their bikes, who services them etc.
Is everything moving online or is there still a demand for personal attention of an owner/ fellow enthusiast?
I’d much rather touch and feel what I buy, and have a bit of craic as well
I try and support, bought my new helmet locally. Can try for fit, etc, on the way home from work, and then have it instantly from there, thats worth the extra £15 I paid over the online price.
Likewise while I service my own bike, local shops are invaluable for getting a wheel trued, or facing a bottom bracket for new bearings etc.
Equally for trying a new bike for a child, I think as my parents did 30 years ago, I would go into the shop for that, as I did for the last bike I bought new about ten years ago. Only other way I have bought a bike is buying a second hand one, remotely via pinkbike, having riden a mates bike of the same size and spec.
The thing I find most annoying is when you go in for something like a self adhesive patch and they only have conventional glue patches. Or its 5x the price of online. But otherwise maybe not all doom and gloom.
Likewise while I service my own bike, local shops are invaluable for getting a wheel trued, or facing a bottom bracket for new bearings etc.
Equally for trying a new bike for a child, I think as my parents did 30 years ago, I would go into the shop for that, as I did for the last bike I bought new about ten years ago. Only other way I have bought a bike is buying a second hand one, remotely via pinkbike, having riden a mates bike of the same size and spec.
The thing I find most annoying is when you go in for something like a self adhesive patch and they only have conventional glue patches. Or its 5x the price of online. But otherwise maybe not all doom and gloom.
Bristol, as I’ve said before, has many indie bike shops that cater for many markets and they cater for their particular market very well thus they all have a future.
Most of them are all ok for spares, clothing etc if I’m passing and need something generic but some are better than others for workshop repairs, new bikes, custom/niche bits and bobs etc. There are of course, some I’d personally never enter too….
Most of them are all ok for spares, clothing etc if I’m passing and need something generic but some are better than others for workshop repairs, new bikes, custom/niche bits and bobs etc. There are of course, some I’d personally never enter too….
Slowboathome said:
The one I use is overwhelmed with work.
Proper old-school shop: one bloke and a helper, place looks like chaos, but he really knows his stuff. I don't think he sells bikes.
He's been there decades, mind, and has built up a great reputation.
Mine is the same. Was in there last week and he says he's the busiest he's ever been. Always get great service and he's cheap and honest. The shop was previously owned by an Olympic athlete who was selling lots of high end bikes - never really worked. This chap took over about 6 years ago and has been building his business ever since. Says he'll never be rich but gives him an honest income.Proper old-school shop: one bloke and a helper, place looks like chaos, but he really knows his stuff. I don't think he sells bikes.
He's been there decades, mind, and has built up a great reputation.
They sell kids Frog bikes and the odd secondhand adult bike they've refurbished, but most of the money comes from servicing and accessories.
Our local is doing fine, but they do all the fitting etc, have a decent workshop, and just expanded to offer more commuter/ebike stuff.
Only bikes bought from shops have been because I had to for C2W (if those schemes get axed it'll hit a lot of shops hard), tend to order direct otherwise and most parts etc I can fit myself. Only maintenance I don't do myself is suspension that's more than a basic lowers service.
If I was setting up a bike business I wouldn't bother with the overhead of a retail shop, just do repair/servicing work. Do collection and delivery early and late in a van and have a cheap unit somewhere.
Only bikes bought from shops have been because I had to for C2W (if those schemes get axed it'll hit a lot of shops hard), tend to order direct otherwise and most parts etc I can fit myself. Only maintenance I don't do myself is suspension that's more than a basic lowers service.
If I was setting up a bike business I wouldn't bother with the overhead of a retail shop, just do repair/servicing work. Do collection and delivery early and late in a van and have a cheap unit somewhere.
I think they do have a future, but only the really good ones.
I tend to buy bikes exclusively online, I’m not all that fussed about trying before I buy, and now most companies publish full geometry charts and component specs it matters less and less (for me obviously, I understand not everyone feels the same).
Vast majority of work I try and do myself, forks get sent off to Tftuned and for the occasional headset fitting etc I’ll use a local shop that isn’t too badly priced and is friendly(ish).
I’d use bike shops more, but on the whole I don’t find them particularly convenient, good value or friendly.
I tend to buy bikes exclusively online, I’m not all that fussed about trying before I buy, and now most companies publish full geometry charts and component specs it matters less and less (for me obviously, I understand not everyone feels the same).
Vast majority of work I try and do myself, forks get sent off to Tftuned and for the occasional headset fitting etc I’ll use a local shop that isn’t too badly priced and is friendly(ish).
I’d use bike shops more, but on the whole I don’t find them particularly convenient, good value or friendly.
TT1138 said:
I’d use bike shops more, but on the whole I don’t find them particularly convenient, good value or friendly.
Perhaps that's the key - mine is open late Wed-Fri and open Sat and Sunday, is walking distance from my house and is super friendly.I cycled to work 2 weeks ago and the bike was clearly in a bad way, cycled home that evening, dropped it off at the shop around 7pm, walked home and it had had a full service with quite a few new parts 3 days later, ready for collection at the weekend.
Yes they have a future mostly for servicing however I did buy the last bike from a LBS as it was for my daughter and she wanted a ride on it first. Can’t do that online. They will also buy it back and sell me the next size up in 12 months time which is a nice touch. They also service mine as I’m not messing about with top of the range groupset.
sjg said:
Our local is doing fine, but they do all the fitting etc, have a decent workshop, and just expanded to offer more commuter/ebike stuff.
Only bikes bought from shops have been because I had to for C2W (if those schemes get axed it'll hit a lot of shops hard), tend to order direct otherwise and most parts etc I can fit myself. Only maintenance I don't do myself is suspension that's more than a basic lowers service.
If I was setting up a bike business I wouldn't bother with the overhead of a retail shop, just do repair/servicing work. Do collection and delivery early and late in a van and have a cheap unit somewhere.
One of the bike shops local to me is basically a shed in someone's garden by the looks of itOnly bikes bought from shops have been because I had to for C2W (if those schemes get axed it'll hit a lot of shops hard), tend to order direct otherwise and most parts etc I can fit myself. Only maintenance I don't do myself is suspension that's more than a basic lowers service.
If I was setting up a bike business I wouldn't bother with the overhead of a retail shop, just do repair/servicing work. Do collection and delivery early and late in a van and have a cheap unit somewhere.
sjg said:
If I was setting up a bike business I wouldn't bother with the overhead of a retail shop, just do repair/servicing work. Do collection and delivery early and late in a van and have a cheap unit somewhere.
I don't know when, or how it will be costed, but I think a significant reduction on the overheads on retail shops is already over due.Online traders need to see more of the tax burden, and the empty highstreets units need using.
I bought my last bike direct from Canyon and while those sorts of D2C brands have been putting prices up and removing their main advantage lately, I still think the gap between online prices and LBS prices is too great unfortunately. I do my own servicing in the main, and get almost all my spares/accessories from Sigma online. If the prices at LBS were a little more expensive than online then I would definitely use them more, but its often 50% or more higher than online. I do sometimes pop in for tubes/lubes etc. if I need them quickly.
Kid's/wife's bikes I'll generally go to LBS as they can get sized properly etc, but I'll still do my own servicing.
I would love to use my LBSs more, but I just can't justify the additional expense.
I think they will always have the demand from people who don't have the knowledge/time/inclination to do their own tinkering, which I would imagine is a lot of people. I assume the servicing side is their bread and butter but I don't know for sure. All the ones near my home/work seem generally to be busy in the workshop, if not the shop floor.
Kid's/wife's bikes I'll generally go to LBS as they can get sized properly etc, but I'll still do my own servicing.
I would love to use my LBSs more, but I just can't justify the additional expense.
I think they will always have the demand from people who don't have the knowledge/time/inclination to do their own tinkering, which I would imagine is a lot of people. I assume the servicing side is their bread and butter but I don't know for sure. All the ones near my home/work seem generally to be busy in the workshop, if not the shop floor.
My mate is a mechanic in a team of three in a local indie bike shop in Reading and they always have a couple of weeks wait for servicing. Bike sales are doing really well too.
Mind you, Reading has a terrible problem with bike theft, it's absolutely out of control, so there's no end of people needing new replacement bikes after their pride and joy has been pilfered by a light fingered scrote.
Mind you, Reading has a terrible problem with bike theft, it's absolutely out of control, so there's no end of people needing new replacement bikes after their pride and joy has been pilfered by a light fingered scrote.
The two local bike shops to me sell either Trek or Orbea stock, I'm not overly fond of either brand so it's unlikely I'd every purchase a bike from one, however I do pop in for things like tubes, lube, chains etc as they're reasonably priced and it's helping a local business.
Their workshop also has a 2-3 week waiting list, and I'll get them to service both of my bikes once a year and use them for jobs I don't have tools for / can't do myself. Hope they stay open they're a nice bunch of chaps.
Their workshop also has a 2-3 week waiting list, and I'll get them to service both of my bikes once a year and use them for jobs I don't have tools for / can't do myself. Hope they stay open they're a nice bunch of chaps.
Scabutz said:
Cant remember the last time I went to an LBS. No wait I can, I got a load of f
king attitude and poor service I thought sod you lot Ill give my money to Wiggle.
I'm all for supporting local independent shops but some of them do themselves no favours.
I service my bikes myself
Wasn't a bike shop in nottingham was it? Went in to to get some crank covers and got a very unhelpful, couldn't be bothered reply. Ebay is my part supplier for bikes tbh.king attitude and poor service I thought sod you lot Ill give my money to Wiggle.I'm all for supporting local independent shops but some of them do themselves no favours.
I service my bikes myself
We're very busy with servicing, but can't get stock to sell. Anything half-decent is on 6-month plus lead times. Not helped by the fact that some of the big brands, who do have UK/Euro stock, are getting rid of their independent stockists to focus on larger destination stores (much like happened with car dealerships).
One problem, though, is that people don't really want to pay for proper servicing. If you bring us a bike you haven't cleaned in years, with a worn-out chain, worn chainrings and cassette, pads down to the backing plates, frayed cables, knackered BB and a seized seatpost, you should be expecting a fairly hefty bill - but instead we get stuck with people insisting on cutting corners then complaining that the bike isn't right - or worse, wanting us to release an unsafe bike back to them and getting upset when we ask them to sign a waiver. Or they buy all the service parts on Wiggle and then want us to "just" fit them - and complain when we charge them for removing the old parts or washing the bike first.
I think we're here for the long term, but the costs of running a retail business go up every year, especially with London rents.
Thank Heavens for MAMILs is all I can say. Without them I think we would go under.
One problem, though, is that people don't really want to pay for proper servicing. If you bring us a bike you haven't cleaned in years, with a worn-out chain, worn chainrings and cassette, pads down to the backing plates, frayed cables, knackered BB and a seized seatpost, you should be expecting a fairly hefty bill - but instead we get stuck with people insisting on cutting corners then complaining that the bike isn't right - or worse, wanting us to release an unsafe bike back to them and getting upset when we ask them to sign a waiver. Or they buy all the service parts on Wiggle and then want us to "just" fit them - and complain when we charge them for removing the old parts or washing the bike first.
I think we're here for the long term, but the costs of running a retail business go up every year, especially with London rents.
Thank Heavens for MAMILs is all I can say. Without them I think we would go under.
Our LBS us just switched to repairs/maintenance only, when they used to sell bikes too. Can’t say I blame them. I looked to get a new bike through them and the manufacturer build slots were a year out. Worse still it seems they can’t reserve a build slot and then wait for a prospective buyer to fill it with a specific spec. Instead they were having to take a flyer at ordering a specific size and spec (often limited by what the manufacturer can get their hands on) then hoping a buyer would come along.
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