Yet Another Cycling Forum

General Category => Freewheeling => Topic started by: LEE on 01 September, 2018, 08:50:05 pm

Title: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: LEE on 01 September, 2018, 08:50:05 pm
Bollocks and Arse!!

The best shop my town ever had, in any category, has been forced to close.  Abbots Ann Cycles of Andover, along with it's in-house cafe, TUBS, has finally given up the fight with the on-line retailers.

This is a real shame as it had become a real hub for cyclists in the area.

Unfortunately shops like that can't compete with the bulk-buying power of online warehouses like the Wiggle-ChainReaction group.

It's the way of the World so there's nothing else to say except, "It's a damn shame".
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: Torslanda on 01 September, 2018, 09:36:28 pm
It's worrying. I'm relying on the fact that the one thing the internet can't do is actually fix your bike.

I've never understood the 'if you bought it online I ain't fitting it' attitude from some people. To me that's cutting the nose off to spite the face. With me it's the total opposite. Fitting parts is simple and helps the cashflow. Maybe I'm strange.
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: LEE on 01 September, 2018, 09:44:23 pm
It's worrying. I'm relying on the fact that the one thing the internet can't do is actually fix your bike.

I've never understood the 'if you bought it online I ain't fitting it' attitude from some people. To me that's cutting the nose off to spite the face. With me it's the total opposite. Fitting parts is simple and helps the cashflow. Maybe I'm strange.

I think the repair/mechanic side of the shop was busy but the owner wanted it to be more than that.  Unfortunately that requires staff and a steady flow of sales.

I still think there's an element of the public who think bicycle repair/maintenance should cost 10% of the price of car repair/maintenance, despite it taking just as long and requiring identical spanner-twiddling. 

2 hours spent on a car and a bill for £160 +VAT would go unnoticed but try giving someone a £160 bill for 2 hours spent on a bike.
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: ElyDave on 01 September, 2018, 09:57:09 pm
 not so much the time spent as the tools as well, talking to a chap at my LBS they are really pissed off with the plethora of ever changing "standards" requiring new stuff.  No wonder they need to charge what they do
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: PaulF on 01 September, 2018, 09:59:26 pm
Was that the one on Weyhill Road?
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: LEE on 01 September, 2018, 10:43:12 pm
Was that the one on Weyhill Road?

Yes
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: Paul on 01 September, 2018, 11:06:19 pm
I’m still grieving over the loss of Samways in Derby two years ago. 84 years they’d been going.
 :(
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: Robh on 02 September, 2018, 12:03:58 am
It's worrying. I'm relying on the fact that the one thing the internet can't do is actually fix your bike.

I've never understood the 'if you bought it online I ain't fitting it' attitude from some people. To me that's cutting the nose off to spite the face. With me it's the total opposite. Fitting parts is simple and helps the cashflow. Maybe I'm strange.
I think the repair/mechanic side of the shop was busy but the owner wanted it to be more than that.  Unfortunately that requires staff and a steady flow of sales.

I still think there's an element of the public who think bicycle repair/maintenance should cost 10% of the price of car repair/maintenance, despite it taking just as long and requiring identical spanner-twiddling. 

2 hours spent on a car and a bill for £160 +VAT would go unnoticed but try giving someone a £160 bill for 2 hours spent on a bike.

This.

not so much the time spent as the tools as well, talking to a chap at my LBS they are really pissed off with the plethora of ever changing "standards" requiring new stuff.  No wonder they need to charge what they do

And this.

Perfect storm innit :-(
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: Pedal Castro on 02 September, 2018, 06:34:08 am

I still think there's an element of the public who think bicycle repair/maintenance should cost 10% of the price of car repair/maintenance, despite it taking just as long and requiring identical spanner-twiddling. 

2 hours spent on a car and a bill for £160 +VAT would go unnoticed but try giving someone a £160 bill for 2 hours spent on a bike.

Surely you are paying for knowledge and experience not just time. Most cyclists can do their own maintenance/repairs whereas most motorists can't. Back in the day I could fix most things that went wrong with my car, even changed a whole engine once (with the help of a mechanic friend) but cars are not so simple now, are bikes going the same way?
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: giropaul on 02 September, 2018, 07:32:58 am
LBS in my local town has gone too. He especially cites the attitude of the distributors to small shops. Small shops get very poor credit terms, and often have to pay the distributor before the customer has paid the shop. He’s going to work at another shop locally, but this one has a bigger turnover and can get good discount and credit terms.

It’s also interesting to note that a significant number of “LBS” s are now actually owned by the distributors - typically a move when the shop owed the distributor more than they could quickly pay.
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: mzjo on 02 September, 2018, 10:09:03 pm
In recent times I have actually moved from buying online to going to the LBS. Only I won't ask him to order stuff that is going to take him too much time and give him no margin, that I will find for myself, it's kinder on both of us. Fortunately there isn't much that comes in that category. He goes racing so he has a decent spendy clientele with the local clubs (and he's a nice bloke and knows a bit about touring stuff, which is a rarity here).
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: slowfen on 04 September, 2018, 04:52:15 pm

I've never understood the 'if you bought it online I ain't fitting it' attitude from some people. To me that's cutting the nose off to spite the face. With me it's the total opposite. Fitting parts is simple and helps the cashflow. Maybe I'm strange.

From one local (now closed LBS) The problem would be that the bike would be bought on the web (cheaper than they could do it) Then as a dealer, they were expected to set it up for free
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: Torslanda on 04 September, 2018, 05:06:52 pm
That's just a pisstake.
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: Greenbank on 06 September, 2018, 01:05:35 am
Pretty much all of my LBSes have gone in the last few years (W.F.Holdsworth, Putney Cycles and even the local Halfords, [EDIT] plus the Evans in Wandsworth has gone).

From the ashes of the Holdsworth shop Elswood Cycles has risen, but just doing spannering and selling accessories, no complete bikes.

The only other bike shop left is Velosport. I don't think I can even afford to step in the place though. A bit further away is Strattons, they'll get my next commuter purchase.
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: Jakob W on 06 September, 2018, 08:26:46 am
Boo, Putney Cycles was my LBS when I lived there (15+ years ago mind...) I suppose London rents outweigh the greater number of cyclists there, especially in the more desirable bits.

Was Velosport always that? I vaguely remember there being a couple of bike shops on the Upper Richmond Road, but my memory may be faulty.
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: telstarbox on 06 September, 2018, 09:30:58 am
From Lewisham we are blessed with 4 LBS within a 10 minute ride, plus a Decathlon and a Halfords. One of them doubles up as a flat white/Macbook type cafe (London Velo) with the workshop in the back.
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: numbnuts on 06 September, 2018, 09:47:13 am
We have lost two in my area in three months, could be partly down to my fault by buying online and looking at the condition of bikes around here most ride them till they drop and buy a supermarket replacement.
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: Greenbank on 06 September, 2018, 10:23:28 am
Was Velosport always that? I vaguely remember there being a couple of bike shops on the Upper Richmond Road, but my memory may be faulty.

Streetview from October 2008 has it as KallKwik business design + printing. Can't remember any other bike shops along that stretch (apart from Putney Cycles which had its second shop on URR up by the Station).

(Blimey, looking along the road according to old Streetview brings back some memories.)
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: Paul H on 06 September, 2018, 10:39:21 am
I’m still grieving over the loss of Samways in Derby two years ago. 84 years they’d been going.
 :(
Have they built the 39 student flats on the site yet?  Apparently developers had been after it for a decade, there must be several long established businesses whose property assets outweigh their profitability.
Meanwhile elsewhere in Derby - another LBS closed down, Holts, positioned opposite the old Rolls Royce works, ideal in a time when so many rode to work, a bit of an oddity since.  Recent additions - Two high end road bike shops.  Two from the other end of the spectrum whose main business is second hand and repairs.  A unit on an industrial estate specialising in repairs and servicing (Including building up and checking bikes bought online) A new Cycle Republic in the city centre offering the same sort of range as Samways used to. Another new LBS getting a reputation as the go to place for those interested in e-bikes.  A bike parking and servicing center in the city (The attached bike shop and cafe didn't last).  Plus another long established LBS that somehow manage to keep going, though I have no idea how.  Then of course there's Mercian, who although my most local don't rely on locals.  There's also a couple of home based businesses, wheel builder and mobile repairs.  There's more cycling businesses locally than at any time in the last couple of decades, it's not all gloom.
Independent cycling retailers seem to have had a pretty good run compared to many other businesses.  I come from a family of shop owners, though none of them close or recent, among them a hardware shop that couldn't compete with B&Q and a carpet shop that went bust in the 80's when Allied Carpets opened in the town.  Things change.
 
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: DuncanM on 06 September, 2018, 11:11:14 am
The bike shops in Oxford seem to be permanent fixtures.  Only Walton Street Cycles and the Oxford Cycle Workshop (which was a bit of an odd business model) seem to have changed/gone in the last 15 years or more. A few bike repair type places are relatively new, and there are a couple of mobile bike repair types too. Oxford is a bit of a special case though.
I'd be really curious to see what the scene is like in Newport now. Growing up, there was Halfords in Cwmbran or Newport, or if you wanted something good you went to Martyn Ashfield in Risca. I'm guessing that the existence of the velodrome and the general uptick in cycling in the last 20 years means there are a few decent bike shops around now (google shows a few).
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: menthel on 06 September, 2018, 12:37:54 pm
We are fairly lucky in K-Town. Down the road is one of the two branches of Bright Cycles (the other was in Raynes Park where we previously lived), Kingston has Neil's Wheels, Evan's and Sigma and across the park is the newer of the Pearson's. Just on the other side of Kingston is Surbiton Cycles which does some excellt Frog bikes for the boy.
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: Paul on 06 September, 2018, 01:47:12 pm
...
Meanwhile elsewhere in Derby - another LBS closed down, Holts, positioned opposite the old Rolls Royce works, ideal in a time when so many rode to work, a bit of an oddity since.  Recent additions - Two high end road bike shops.  Two from the other end of the spectrum whose main business is second hand and repairs.  A unit on an industrial estate specialising in repairs and servicing (Including building up and checking bikes bought online) A new Cycle Republic in the city centre offering the same sort of range as Samways used to. Another new LBS getting a reputation as the go to place for those interested in e-bikes.  A bike parking and servicing center in the city (The attached bike shop and cafe didn't last).  Plus another long established LBS that somehow manage to keep going, though I have no idea how.  Then of course there's Mercian, who although my most local don't rely on locals. 

I don't recognise all of these references. Holts, Mercian, Bikeworks (though they seem to be selling bikes (https://bikeworksderby.co.uk/collections/new-bikes) - new and used - again, which is news to me), Cycle Republic, Bike Back and the Bike Shop I know about.

And when I list them like that, I feel a lot less  :( about Samways. You're right, it's not all gloom. :thumbsup:

But are there some in your list that I don't know? Who are the "Recent additions - Two high end road bike shops.  Two from the other end of the spectrum whose main business is second hand and repairs."?

And who is the "long established LBS that somehow manage to keep going," (or is that The Bike Store on Monk St above?).

Things change.

Right again.
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: Paul H on 06 September, 2018, 02:09:49 pm
I don't recognise all of these references. Holts, Mercian, Bikeworks (though they seem to be selling bikes (https://bikeworksderby.co.uk/collections/new-bikes) - new and used - again, which is news to me), Cycle Republic, Bike Back and the Bike Shop I know about.
But are there some in your list that I don't know? Who are the "Recent additions - Two high end road bike shops.
Velo Bavarian in Duffield
Prima Velo in Darley Dale
I think there's also one in Mickleover that used to be on Midland Rd - Bespoke?
Quote
Two from the other end of the spectrum whose main business is second hand and repairs."?
DD Cycles on Harvey Rd
Bargain Bikes on London Rd
Quote
And who is the "long established LBS that somehow manage to keep going," (or is that The Bike Store on Monk St above?).
Yes

If you didn't get them, Big on Bikes is the ind est service centre and the e-bike store is Cyclo Monster in Spondon

Quote
Bike Back... I know about
I'd forgotten about them, I'm never sure where their line is between community or commercial, I ought to find out more.



Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: ElyDave on 06 September, 2018, 07:16:16 pm
we have one remaining LBS in Ely, which does pretty well as far as I can see.

Even in Cambridge however they can struggle with one turning into this http://www.oldbicycleshop.com/ (http://www.oldbicycleshop.com/). At least they serve some decent beer
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: mattc on 06 September, 2018, 07:27:17 pm
The bike shops in Oxford seem to be permanent fixtures.  Only Walton Street Cycles and the Oxford Cycle Workshop (which was a bit of an odd business model) seem to have changed/gone in the last 15 years or more.

It's sad to note that those two made up the lowest end of the market :(
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: DuncanM on 06 September, 2018, 08:07:44 pm
The bike shops in Oxford seem to be permanent fixtures.  Only Walton Street Cycles and the Oxford Cycle Workshop (which was a bit of an odd business model) seem to have changed/gone in the last 15 years or more.

It's sad to note that those two made up the lowest end of the market :(
The lowest end of the market is Cycle King!
Walton Street is still there, though I think it has been taken over - for a while there were 2 bike shops next door to each other.
Oxford Cycle Workshop diversified into training courses, but eventually funding dried up and they went bust. The Broken Spoke co-operative has emerged somewhat out of the ashes and seems to be going very well.

I forgot about uByk - they seem to be super high end stuff aimed at club racer types.
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: telstarbox on 06 September, 2018, 08:51:46 pm
Out of interest, what's a good wage for a mechanic (out of London) these days?
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: mzjo on 06 September, 2018, 09:07:50 pm
The bike shops in Oxford seem to be permanent fixtures.  Only Walton Street Cycles and the Oxford Cycle Workshop (which was a bit of an odd business model) seem to have changed/gone in the last 15 years or more.

It's sad to note that those two made up the lowest end of the market :(
The lowest end of the market is Cycle King!
Walton Street is still there, though I think it has been taken over - for a while there were 2 bike shops next door to each other.
Oxford Cycle Workshop diversified into training courses, but eventually funding dried up and they went bust. The Broken Spoke co-operative has emerged somewhat out of the ashes and seems to be going very well.

I forgot about uByk - they seem to be super high end stuff aimed at club racer types.

I think Cat had her Oxford bike from Oxford Cycle Workshop. It wasn't really up to much particularly bearing in mind what it cost.
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: Jakob W on 07 September, 2018, 11:02:11 am
Out of interest, what's a good wage for a mechanic (out of London) these days?

I note that the starting wage for mechanics at the big chains (Halfrauds/Evans &c.) seems to be not much more than the minlmum - £17-18K or so (though I don't know whether they pay more in that London).
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: mattc on 07 September, 2018, 12:10:13 pm
The bike shops in Oxford seem to be permanent fixtures.  Only Walton Street Cycles and the Oxford Cycle Workshop (which was a bit of an odd business model) seem to have changed/gone in the last 15 years or more.

It's sad to note that those two made up the lowest end of the market :(
The lowest end of the market is Cycle King!
Walton Street is still there, though I think it has been taken over - for a while there were 2 bike shops next door to each other.

How could I forget Cycle King???  :facepalm:

Good to know Walton St is still going. I'm too far out of Oxford to really use these places, but they're nice to visit, and are a possible backup plan if I need something obscure etc.
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: Torslanda on 07 September, 2018, 12:59:05 pm
Out of interest, what's a good wage for a mechanic (out of London) these days?

Poverty
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: Paul H on 07 September, 2018, 01:17:35 pm
The lowest end of the market is Cycle King!
Walton Street is still there, though I think it has been taken over - for a while there were 2 bike shops next door to each other.

How could I forget Cycle King???  :facepalm:


I also forgot the Derby one, branded Hawk Cycles but the same company.  Dreadful place, not even particularly cheap.
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: DuncanM on 07 September, 2018, 01:21:49 pm
The lowest end of the market is Cycle King!
Walton Street is still there, though I think it has been taken over - for a while there were 2 bike shops next door to each other.

How could I forget Cycle King???  :facepalm:


I also forgot the Derby one, branded Hawk Cycles but the same company.  Dreadful place, not even particularly cheap.
I suspect you have both wiped it from your memory. Understandably. :)
I pass it when I take my daughter to school.  I think the only thing I have ever had cause to buy there was 20" inner tubes with Schraeder valves (for a BMX). At least you can be sure that those are new and not nicked (their excuse for being caught selling a stolen bike last year was that someone had brought it in for repairs and then never collected it).
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: andrewc on 07 September, 2018, 09:00:15 pm
https://news.sky.com/story/bike-retailer-evans-cycles-in-talks-with-lenders-as-chain-struggles-11492689[/font]

Evans in trouble.[/font]
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: Torslanda on 07 September, 2018, 09:39:41 pm
You beat me to that one.
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: andyoxon on 07 September, 2018, 11:34:08 pm
https://news.sky.com/story/bike-retailer-evans-cycles-in-talks-with-lenders-as-chain-struggles-11492689[/font]

Evans in trouble.[/font]

Didn't Evans have quite a prominent web presence, or is this the Wiggle merger chain reaction, sucking the life out of everything else?
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: perpetual dan on 08 September, 2018, 10:54:07 am
The Evans in Brighton seems to have really shrunk the range of accessories and spares on display. There’s quite a few other LBSs, but it feels like they’re reducing the money tied up in stock and expecting people to buy online.

In Lewes we have two LBSs, which are really two branches of the same shop about 200m apart. Both have displayed a lack of clue / rudeness often enough that while I’ll buy bits there I probably wouldn’t buy anything spendy or needing advice.
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: LEE on 08 September, 2018, 11:55:37 am
My (former) LBS owner tells me that Wiggle/CR sell lots of stuff at below the trade wholesale cost to smaller retailers.

As a country we've chosen with our credit cards and I'm as guilty as the next but, as one door closes, another opens.  If you are a bike mechanic your skills are still in demand. 
You were never going to become a millionaire twiddling spanners on bikes but you really only need a small rental unit somewhere.  Word gets around.  Maybe "Home collection/drop-off" is an option.

High-street retail has lost its appeal to me to be honest.  Through no fault of their own small retailers simply can't provide the range of "stuff" that's available.

My other hobby is photography.  Like any niche hobby things have changed dramatically since I were a lad.   Back then Canon, Nikon, Pentax & Olympus would each have 2 or 3 cameras.  A "beginner", an "enthusiast", and  a "Pro", Body.  The range of camera bodies would stay current for 5 years or so.
The local Cameras Shop, whilst being about 3x the size of a current Jessops, would invariably have EVERYTHING available, because they could work with many fewer models and 5 years to shift current stock.

Move to 2018 and Canon has 4 DSLRs in their "Beginner Range", 5 DSLRs in their "Enthusiast Range", and 5 in their "Pro Range".  Now they have a Mirrorless, interchangeable lens, range plus countless "point-and-shoot" compacts.

No high-street shop on the planet can afford to have around 40 camera models (just from Canon) on their shelves.  Multiply that by the increased number of manufacturers in the game now (Fuji, Panasonic, Sony, all competing on Beginner to Pro models) and you can guarantee that a visit to a camera shop is almost always a disappointment.

"You can get expert advice from a high-street shop".

I get 99% of my expert advice from Youtube reviews.  The level of expertise available on Youtube is 2nd to none. I don't really want to know what grade of magnesium alloy a camera is made out of, but I'm sure someone on Youtube will be able to tell me.

The classic Bicycle example is the amount of Brake blocks/pads available now (Hundreds if not thousands) compared to about 3 types when I was a teen.  Have they established a standard Thru-Axle or Disc mount system yet?  Probably not.  Just more choice, more stock to keep.

So, whilst I sometimes join in with the collective moan, "It's all just Poundshops, coffee shops, Charity shops and Betting shops", I realised a few years ago that I wasn't getting much from local high-streets.  If I want a bit of retail therapy (say I want to buy a nice pair of shoes) then it means heading to a city centre.  I can handle that occasionally.

Shame though.
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: Kim on 08 September, 2018, 12:21:04 pm
Yeah, seems to me that a bike shop can keep itself in business doing one of two things:

a) Mechanicing and sales of some common stuff.  Won't pay the rent on a fancy high-street location.
b) Selling fashionable high-end bikes at a healthy profit margin.  Won't provide what most cyclists are looking for in a bike shop.

Neither of these are:
c) A wide range of extremely specific parts and accessories.
d) Clothing to try on.
e) Bikes YACFer types are interested in to test ride.


The way I see it, (c) is only ever going to work as an online thing.  There's room for one or two SJSes per country, and you pick the one that has what you're looking for.  Sometimes that's from one in Germany or the Netherlands.

(d) is a lost cause - cycling clothing that fits all the real people is never going to pay the rent on the retail space needed to display it.

There's some future in (e), at least where the bikes are sufficiently interesting that the customers are willing to travel hundreds of miles to visit 50 Cycles, JD Tandems or Laid Back Cycles, but that's never going to be a high street thing.


The future of expert advice and specific widgets is the internet.  There's some room for the more specialist bike shops to do some of that, but the likes of Spa Cycles aren't going to compete with the CRC/Wiggle collective.  I don't think that bike mechanics are going to stop existing, but they're not going to be operating out of high street premises.
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: hubner on 08 September, 2018, 12:24:35 pm
I can't even remember the last time I bought something from a bike shop*, they won't have what I'm after anyway and even if they did, it would be hugely more expensive than mail order/online.

I used to get all my stuff in person from a mail order retailer with a shop.

I think too many bike shops opened in the last few years.

*edit: I bought 2 tubes for £2.50 from Decathlon recently although I would't call Decathlon or other chains a LBS. And anyway my purchases tend to be consumables like tyres, brake blocks etc as I only ride old bikes.
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: SteveC on 08 September, 2018, 01:02:45 pm
We have three LBSs in or near Yeovil.
None are on the high street. Tri-UK (which is also the Yeovil Cycle Centre) was in town but moved out to the edge of one of the industrial/trading estates over a decade ago. I've not been there for ages as it's the wrong side of town but it caters for triathlons as well as cyclists and has a lot of high end bikes. It is open on Sundays which is sometimes handy.
Rock and Road seem to be doing well. They're on my side of town, again on an industrial estate. They have a workshop which is where I get things done which I either can't do myself or just don't have the time for. Again, not cheap, but friendly and helpful.
There is also a one man operation in one of the nearby villages but I've not been there. I hear good things about it, though.
Not bad for a town of 30,000 or so.
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: Legs on 08 September, 2018, 01:24:39 pm
we have one remaining LBS in Ely, which does pretty well as far as I can see.

Even in Cambridge however they can struggle with one turning into this http://www.oldbicycleshop.com/ (http://www.oldbicycleshop.com/). At least they serve some decent beer
I assume you mean City Cycle Centre, but isn't Jerry Turner still running the excellent JT Cycles at Chettisham Garage?
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: Jurek on 08 September, 2018, 01:42:21 pm
I make a point of using my LBS (http://www.vaidasbicycles.com) as much as I can.
He's open Sundays and is a walk away (so in the unlikely event that all of my bikes are banjaxed, I can still get there) and stays open until 19:00 during the week  - which means I can call in on my way home from work.
He has lent me tools in the past and is a nice guy to deal with - I won't get any of that online.
I confine my online purchases to the very specific / no-one-else-stocks-it stuff, like a couple of Joseph Kuosac (https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/saddles/joseph-kuosac-saddle-for-bromptons-standard-black/)  saddles I recently bought.
Or components like bearings - which I wouldn't be looking at an LBS to supply anyway.
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: hatler on 08 September, 2018, 02:50:27 pm
I had cause to pop into the Evans on Clapham High Street a couple of days ago to get an inner tube for a colleague.

They had about 40 700c tubes and just the one 26" (which is what I needed). Pity the poor sod who followed me in looking for another 26" tube.
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: LEE on 08 September, 2018, 03:19:04 pm
We have three LBSs in or near Yeovil.
None are on the high street. Tri-UK (which is also the Yeovil Cycle Centre) was in town but moved out to the edge of one of the industrial/trading estates over a decade ago. I've not been there for ages as it's the wrong side of town but it caters for triathlons as well as cyclists and has a lot of high end bikes. It is open on Sundays which is sometimes handy.
Rock and Road seem to be doing well. They're on my side of town, again on an industrial estate. They have a workshop which is where I get things done which I either can't do myself or just don't have the time for. Again, not cheap, but friendly and helpful.
There is also a one man operation in one of the nearby villages but I've not been there. I hear good things about it, though.
Not bad for a town of 30,000 or so.

I'd be interested to know how many staff they employ and, most importantly, how many bikes they need to sell to cover the wages of one full-time staff member.

Mechanics can be self-funding but don't bring in much profit.  "Sales" staff need to shift a lot of metal to justify their existence.

That's why it's so tough to move beyond the Owner + Mechanic setup.  OK, in London I think things are different.  There's generally more money around, there are definitely more cyclists, by a huge margin, than in the provinces.  Tube station/Rail station locations provide a perfect catchment area of thousands/millions of potential customers.

The only surviving bike shop in town here* is a tiny Owner + Mechanic operation (Just Bikes).  It's as traditional a bike shop as you can imagine.  Mid/low range bikes racked and stacked everywhere and a small range of odds and sods.  It could be from the 70s...but it's still going.

*The local garden centre has just opened a bike shop. (E-Bikes Central @ Wyevale Garden Centre)
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: rogerzilla on 08 September, 2018, 03:56:36 pm
We still have a few (I'm ignoring the pointless Pinarello boutique, which tries to sell ten grand bikes to guys old enough to afford them but too old to ride them as intended).

They generally sell Raleigh and other low end stuff but at least one has a decent workshop.

My favourite LBS was Roger Page Cycles in Birmingham.  Piles of stuff, sone good offers, a part to fit anything (it was simpler when there was one standard for most things) and a good workshop.  They used to get frames properly enamelled (not powdercoated) for £30 in 1992.  Argos charge almost six times that.
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: hatler on 08 September, 2018, 05:02:41 pm
AW Cycles in Merton High Street is about to close down. Boo hiss.
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: hatler on 08 September, 2018, 05:07:29 pm
We are fairly lucky in K-Town. Down the road is one of the two branches of Bright Cycles (the other was in Raynes Park where we previously lived), Kingston has Neil's Wheels, Evan's and Sigma and across the park is the newer of the Pearson's. Just on the other side of Kingston is Surbiton Cycles which does some excellt Frog bikes for the boy.
And there's Waldens just on the corner of Cambridge Road and the A308.
And also Road Cycle Exchange on Richmond Road. Second hand road bikes sales, exchange and a workshop.
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: rogerzilla on 09 September, 2018, 08:25:29 am
Besides the Internet and general high street woes like business rates, the other factors seem to be:

1. Proliferation of standards.  No LBS can now be sure of finding a part for anything without ordering it in, in which case the customer wonders why they bothered.  In the 1980s there was one headset standard (ok, two if you count slightly-difderent JIS).  Now there are about 15.

2. Manufacturers/wholesalers not supplying decent brands to smaller shops that don't shift boxes fast enough.

So you end up with mail order sheds, Halfords and small shops catering to the lower end of the market.
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: hubner on 09 September, 2018, 10:43:35 am
I think LBS mainly cater for:

people new to cycling.
low end stuff.
generic products, ie someone needs a brake block, any that fits will do, they're not looking brand x model x in orange.
when you need something straightaway.
people who don't do their own maintenance.
people with more money than time.

Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: hubner on 09 September, 2018, 10:47:25 am
Quote
So you end up with mail order sheds, Halfords and small shops catering to the lower end of the market.

I think it's always been like that.

For high end stuff, you had to go to a "lightweight" shop and they were always a minority and even then they dealt with a lot of low end stuff.
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: ElyDave on 10 September, 2018, 07:26:58 am
we have one remaining LBS in Ely, which does pretty well as far as I can see.

Even in Cambridge however they can struggle with one turning into this http://www.oldbicycleshop.com/ (http://www.oldbicycleshop.com/). At least they serve some decent beer
I assume you mean City Cycle Centre, but isn't Jerry Turner still running the excellent JT Cycles at Chettisham Garage?

Yes, I've never been in JT Cycles, he sponsors the local club jerseys as well.
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: Torslanda on 10 September, 2018, 03:11:22 pm
Redundancies at Rapha. Over on road.cc...
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: trekker12 on 10 September, 2018, 04:32:30 pm
https://news.sky.com/story/bike-retailer-evans-cycles-in-talks-with-lenders-as-chain-struggles-11492689[/font]

Evans in trouble.[/font]

They have only just opened a new store local to me. I used to have to go all the way to Chelmsford for click and collect, there's now one half way home on my commute*. I called in the other day and scrounged** some chain lube as mine had washed off in the rain on the way to work and I could no longer cope with the squeak coming from my chain - even for the last seven miles.

I did want to pick up a traditional puncture kit with glue and patches but I got odd looks when I asked the assistant***. Why they would want to stock something like that?

* It's in Martlesham, north east of Ipswich near the big Tesco
** I had bought some hub spanners on their click and collect so it wasn't my only reason for going there.
*** This was shortly after he congratulated me for combining SPD shoes with a road bike - something he apparently gets ridiculed for by his colleagues.
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: telstarbox on 10 September, 2018, 04:55:20 pm
In Haverhill the (very efficient) LBS is in a corner of the  TV and radio shop.
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: menthel on 11 September, 2018, 05:19:28 pm
AW Cycles in Merton High Street is about to close down. Boo hiss.

That is sad, used to go past it all the time when I commuted that way. Never had reason to use it as Bright cycles was my closest in Raynes Park for all the little bits and bobs I needed.
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: menthel on 11 September, 2018, 05:21:37 pm
We are fairly lucky in K-Town. Down the road is one of the two branches of Bright Cycles (the other was in Raynes Park where we previously lived), Kingston has Neil's Wheels, Evan's and Sigma and across the park is the newer of the Pearson's. Just on the other side of Kingston is Surbiton Cycles which does some excellt Frog bikes for the boy.
And there's Waldens just on the corner of Cambridge Road and the A308.
And also Road Cycle Exchange on Richmond Road. Second hand road bikes sales, exchange and a workshop.

Walden's is the one with the tiny wheel triangle bike in its one functional window, correct? I have never visited the Exchange, too much bling for my body weight!
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: hatler on 11 September, 2018, 09:07:23 pm
AW Cycles in Merton High Street is about to close down. Boo hiss.

That is sad, used to go past it all the time when I commuted that way. Never had reason to use it as Bright cycles was my closest in Raynes Park for all the little bits and bobs I needed.
I've been in there a few times and have always got precisely what I went in there for, whether that was a bulk purchase of gear inners, or a new clamp for a front mech. Lovely chaps that run it, they've simply run out of years and want to retire. I'll keep an eye out if they are holding a close down sale and will post on here.
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: hatler on 11 September, 2018, 09:08:28 pm
We are fairly lucky in K-Town. Down the road is one of the two branches of Bright Cycles (the other was in Raynes Park where we previously lived), Kingston has Neil's Wheels, Evan's and Sigma and across the park is the newer of the Pearson's. Just on the other side of Kingston is Surbiton Cycles which does some excellt Frog bikes for the boy.
And there's Waldens just on the corner of Cambridge Road and the A308.
And also Road Cycle Exchange on Richmond Road. Second hand road bikes sales, exchange and a workshop.

Walden's is the one with the tiny wheel triangle bike in its one functional window, correct? I have never visited the Exchange, too much bling for my body weight!
Could be. I haven't looked in their window for a while now. It's the place on the left as you turn the corner heading for Kingston having come from New Malden.
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 19 September, 2018, 09:49:15 pm
What Evans do which the pure internet retailers cannot is click and collect. Find something on their website, get it delivered to your nearest Evans, and pay on collection. Of course part of the reason this is an advantage is due to their weakness, ie they often send something slightly different to what you actually ordered, sometimes because it was misdescribed on the website. But it does mean you get to see it first and you get the webby price. I bought a Tortec rack for £20 recently. It was the same price at Tredz and SJS, but SJS charge for postage. Evans had the edge over Tredz because of click and collect. But if I didn't have an Evans 15 minutes walk away, it probably wouldn't be an advantage for me.
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 20 September, 2018, 02:57:27 pm
One of Bristol's longest established and best known bike shops, Fred Baker's, closed down this summer. Established 1935, now on the third generation of family ownership, but it's a couple of decades since they justified their slogan "Bristol's best bike shop." In fact, even though I live less than a mile away, I didn't notice they'd closed for a couple of months. I gave up on them about five years ago, when I went in wanting a 700 x 35 tube and they didn't have any. "Most of our customers are roadies, so we mostly stock narrower tubes," apologised the bloke – while standing in front of a display of hybrids. "We'll be getting a delivery on Thursday," he continued. Great! but today was Monday. If I'd been asking about an unusual item, waiting four days would be no problem at all, rather quick actually, but for a common item of immediate necessity, it's crap.

Technically however they haven't closed, just "consolidated" with a smaller place near the main station that mainly concentrates on commuter repairs, as far as I can tell. In fact, the family ownership was part of the problem, from what I've been told; the original Fred and his son were keen on the bike shop as a bike shop but for the grandson who inherited it, it might as well have been shelves of beans.

In contrast, this morning for reasons I had some spare time and wandered into another LBS, smaller (in floor space at least) and established around 1990. This one has bikes on the ground floor with a cafe upstairs (not just in the current trendy fashion, it was set up that way). They manage the cafe-bike shop overlap with eg bike-focussed art on the walls for sale, and in fact although I wasn't looking for anything, I ended up buying a t-shirt. Not a jersey. And not even for myself. And will probably be perceived by its recipient as something other than a "cycling t-shirt." Of course they have lots of bikes there too. A range from Bromptons to TT bikes. And IMO stock is a factor – it's because this particular LBS had one in stock when I was looking for something touringish a couple of years ago, that I ended up with a Specialized Sequoia rather than a Trucker or Tour de Fer or various other options which other shops could only talk about.
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: Torslanda on 20 September, 2018, 09:17:10 pm
Evans Cycles set to become latest victim of High Street crisis? (https://road.cc/content/news/248699-evans-cycles-set-become-latest-victim-high-street-crisis)

road.cc sounding the death knell?
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: ElyDave on 21 September, 2018, 11:45:28 am
yep, read as much on the beeb yesterday, seems a very cut-throat industry, lowest common denominator for supply of bits with the value being in the "hands on"
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: The Family Cyclist on 21 September, 2018, 03:00:28 pm
53-12 in Colchester is going as well. It's a triathlon shop but always found hugely helpful and due to moving work has been my lbs for last year. Site is becoming houses and owner has decided not to relocate
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: Jakob W on 21 September, 2018, 08:09:54 pm
Fred Williams in Wolverhampton still seems to be open (at least it was when I went by this afternoon!). It looks to be an old-skool high street family-run bike shop, albeit one that seemingly doesn't rely on bargain-basement kit; there was a swanky limited edition Brompton in the window. I think they cater to some of the local clubs, which may help.
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: Jaded on 21 September, 2018, 10:39:55 pm
One of Bristol's longest established and best known bike shops, Fred Baker's, closed down this summer. Established 1935, now on the third generation of family ownership, but it's a couple of decades since they justified their slogan "Bristol's best bike shop." In fact, even though I live less than a mile away, I didn't notice they'd closed for a couple of months. I gave up on them about five years ago, when I went in wanting a 700 x 35 tube and they didn't have any. "Most of our customers are roadies, so we mostly stock narrower tubes," apologised the bloke – while standing in front of a display of hybrids. "We'll be getting a delivery on Thursday," he continued. Great! but today was Monday. If I'd been asking about an unusual item, waiting four days would be no problem at all, rather quick actually, but for a common item of immediate necessity, it's crap.

Technically however they haven't closed, just "consolidated" with a smaller place near the main station that mainly concentrates on commuter repairs, as far as I can tell. In fact, the family ownership was part of the problem, from what I've been told; the original Fred and his son were keen on the bike shop as a bike shop but for the grandson who inherited it, it might as well have been shelves of beans.

In contrast, this morning for reasons I had some spare time and wandered into another LBS, smaller (in floor space at least) and established around 1990. This one has bikes on the ground floor with a cafe upstairs (not just in the current trendy fashion, it was set up that way). They manage the cafe-bike shop overlap with eg bike-focussed art on the walls for sale, and in fact although I wasn't looking for anything, I ended up buying a t-shirt. Not a jersey. And not even for myself. And will probably be perceived by its recipient as something other than a "cycling t-shirt." Of course they have lots of bikes there too. A range from Bromptons to TT bikes. And IMO stock is a factor – it's because this particular LBS had one in stock when I was looking for something touringish a couple of years ago, that I ended up with a Specialized Sequoia rather than a Trucker or Tour de Fer or various other options which other shops could only talk about.

It’s fun looking at the Bromptons in there.
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 22 September, 2018, 08:47:33 am
One of Bristol's longest established and best known bike shops, Fred Baker's, closed down this summer. Established 1935, now on the third generation of family ownership, but it's a couple of decades since they justified their slogan "Bristol's best bike shop." In fact, even though I live less than a mile away, I didn't notice they'd closed for a couple of months. I gave up on them about five years ago, when I went in wanting a 700 x 35 tube and they didn't have any. "Most of our customers are roadies, so we mostly stock narrower tubes," apologised the bloke – while standing in front of a display of hybrids. "We'll be getting a delivery on Thursday," he continued. Great! but today was Monday. If I'd been asking about an unusual item, waiting four days would be no problem at all, rather quick actually, but for a common item of immediate necessity, it's crap.

Technically however they haven't closed, just "consolidated" with a smaller place near the main station that mainly concentrates on commuter repairs, as far as I can tell. In fact, the family ownership was part of the problem, from what I've been told; the original Fred and his son were keen on the bike shop as a bike shop but for the grandson who inherited it, it might as well have been shelves of beans.

In contrast, this morning for reasons I had some spare time and wandered into another LBS, smaller (in floor space at least) and established around 1990. This one has bikes on the ground floor with a cafe upstairs (not just in the current trendy fashion, it was set up that way). They manage the cafe-bike shop overlap with eg bike-focussed art on the walls for sale, and in fact although I wasn't looking for anything, I ended up buying a t-shirt. Not a jersey. And not even for myself. And will probably be perceived by its recipient as something other than a "cycling t-shirt." Of course they have lots of bikes there too. A range from Bromptons to TT bikes. And IMO stock is a factor – it's because this particular LBS had one in stock when I was looking for something touringish a couple of years ago, that I ended up with a Specialized Sequoia rather than a Trucker or Tour de Fer or various other options which other shops could only talk about.

It’s fun looking at the Bromptons in there.
They even have a demonstrator Brompton. It's red with grey bits.
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: Paul H on 30 November, 2018, 12:30:37 am
Mercian are closing shop, though the core business of building and renovating frames and bikes will continue from the shed workshop.
https://www.merciancycles.co.uk/2018/11/a-new-beginning/?fbclid=IwAR2ICUafCrRWAsl4KLVJUrJx7VKtWX50shFWZf1uWQh3iK-AuBTLbUx-2PY
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: The Family Cyclist on 30 November, 2018, 06:34:13 am
This is funny. only in its timing as was discussing with one of the guys at work yesterday that there are people willing to pay for craftsmanship even if they're not for most products.
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: Paul on 30 November, 2018, 11:17:59 am
Bugger.

Between ‘94 and ‘98 I was studying for my degree (Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6pm to 9pm).

My journey back took me past the shop. In those days they left the lights on in the windows and they didn’t have the steel shutters, so I could stop and press my nose against them and dream.

I completely understand the move, but I’m properly saddened by this.
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: Adam on 01 December, 2018, 04:27:57 pm
Not surprised to be honest.  They've got quite a large showroom, but not much actually in it, so it makes sense to focus on their core business.
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: The Family Cyclist on 05 December, 2018, 04:18:22 pm
And another. Really helpful small unit that sells a few bits near my work is finishing at New year's. Usual can't compete with internet prices and you tube showing people have to fix their own. He told me another mobile guy has also packed up. There are a few others near me but not accessible in an lunch hour
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: ianrobo on 05 December, 2018, 07:28:49 pm
long established shop in Walsall Wood closing

https://www.davescycles.co.uk

One I used for many times, a lot of stock and bike mechanics who were good. However I stopped using them when I found cheaper through wiggle and that is the story really ...
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: ianrobo on 05 December, 2018, 07:32:04 pm
and on Evans Mike Ashley was in front go the house and said this

https://cyclingindustry.news/tax-retailers-doing-more-than-20-business-online-says-new-evans-cycles-boss/

in many ways, I know he is an hard person to agree with, that he is right here if you care about the generic 'high street'.

of course at a mechanic level a lot of people can now do things for themselves (including me) thanks to youtube !!
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: giropaul on 07 December, 2018, 09:00:52 am
There seems to be a lot of stress on LBS viability. I’ve heard of a couple more either closing or being on the edge.
I suspect that the Evans situation is having a wider impact. I understand that it was bought as a “ pre-pack” - in other words with the liabilities written off. At least one major distributor has lost a very big sum of money due to this I’m told, and this means that LBSs are being very actively chased for any outstanding invoices, and credit terms are being reviewed.
It’s bad news all round I’m afraid.
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: andrewc on 18 December, 2018, 10:37:38 pm
Liverpool now has a branch of Cycle Republic, on Bold Street in the city centre.  https://www.cyclerepublic.com/liverpool-store


I've not popped in yet, but they seem to have a lot of Bromptons on display.   A short walk from a branch of Evans as well, hopefully there is enough business for both .  It won't do the local independents any good  I suppose  :(
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 19 December, 2018, 08:50:47 am
I've forgotten now, was it Cycle Republic (Halfords) or Sports Direct that bought Evans? I think the latter but not sure.
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: cygnet on 19 December, 2018, 10:08:35 am
Mike Ashley (Sports Direct) bought Evans. Cycle Republic is Halfords
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: rafletcher on 19 December, 2018, 12:11:39 pm
Just out of interest I googled what were my L(ish)BS's back in the early 80's, John Atkins of Coventry (although even then the epomymous owner had already retired). Seems it's still going, but has moved from Far Gosford Street in Coventry to Leamington Spa.  And another I frequented, Mike's Bikes (Mike Vaughan Cycles), is still trading from the same location in Kenilworth.
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: quixoticgeek on 23 December, 2018, 10:27:06 am


One of the few Amsterdam LBS that targets non-utility cycling has closed down in the last couple of months. It's hardly a surprise, I rarely saw other customers in there, and their range was pretty ropey. I last went in there a few months back to look at Helmets, and wasn't especially pleased with the experience.

Another LBS seems to have had a bit of a refurb, moving the workshop out to make more space for bikes. They've increased their women's clothing range by approximately 50% (they had 3 women's jerseys, rather than 2...). I went in yesterday to get some over shoes, they didn't have a very good selection, but I did spend €50 on some socks instead.

Finally my preferred LBS* for having mechanic work done recently announced it's secured the unit next door, and is going to open a cycling cafe as well.

J

* for values of local, it's a 30km round trip...
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: robgul on 23 December, 2018, 01:53:04 pm
Just out of interest I googled what were my L(ish)BS's back in the early 80's, John Atkins of Coventry (although even then the epomymous owner had already retired). Seems it's still going, but has moved from Far Gosford Street in Coventry to Leamington Spa.  And another I frequented, Mike's Bikes (Mike Vaughan Cycles), is still trading from the same location in Kenilworth.

Not quite correct on the Atkins info - my recollection is that there were 2 shops running for quite a while, although they had the same name they were separately owned.  The one is Cov bencame a Raleigh branded outlet.   The Leamington shop is still going and seems fairly lively with lots of Bromptons etc - Coventry has gone  - along with Lee Cooper the frame bulder/painter that used to be at the back of the building ... IIRC Cooper made frames for Robin Thorn (a.k.a. SJSC) for a while.

Mike Vaughan is still there although "young Mike" is now "old Mike" as I believe his father has retired :-)   

Rob

Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: ianrobo on 25 December, 2018, 09:23:58 pm
Just out of interest I googled what were my L(ish)BS's back in the early 80's, John Atkins of Coventry (although even then the epomymous owner had already retired). Seems it's still going, but has moved from Far Gosford Street in Coventry to Leamington Spa.  And another I frequented, Mike's Bikes (Mike Vaughan Cycles), is still trading from the same location in Kenilworth.

Not quite correct on the Atkins info - my recollection is that there were 2 shops running for quite a while, although they had the same name they were separately owned.  The one is Cov bencame a Raleigh branded outlet.   The Leamington shop is still going and seems fairly lively with lots of Bromptons etc - Coventry has gone  - along with Lee Cooper the frame bulder/painter that used to be at the back of the building ... IIRC Cooper made frames for Robin Thorn (a.k.a. SJSC) for a while.

Mike Vaughan is still there although "young Mike" is now "old Mike" as I believe his father has retired :-)   

Rob

Sadly old Mike Vaughan died just before Xmas, got my first road bike from there as well a specialised Allen Elite
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: robgul on 26 December, 2018, 10:05:33 am
Just out of interest I googled what were my L(ish)BS's back in the early 80's, John Atkins of Coventry (although even then the epomymous owner had already retired). Seems it's still going, but has moved from Far Gosford Street in Coventry to Leamington Spa.  And another I frequented, Mike's Bikes (Mike Vaughan Cycles), is still trading from the same location in Kenilworth.

Not quite correct on the Atkins info - my recollection is that there were 2 shops running for quite a while, although they had the same name they were separately owned.  The one is Cov bencame a Raleigh branded outlet.   The Leamington shop is still going and seems fairly lively with lots of Bromptons etc - Coventry has gone  - along with Lee Cooper the frame bulder/painter that used to be at the back of the building ... IIRC Cooper made frames for Robin Thorn (a.k.a. SJSC) for a while.

Mike Vaughan is still there although "young Mike" is now "old Mike" as I believe his father has retired :-)   

Rob

Sadly old Mike Vaughan died just before Xmas, got my first road bike from there as well a specialised Allen Elite

Ah - didn't know that - he sold me the bike when i got back into cycling about 20 years ago (after a break of about 25 years!) - a Specialized Expedition hybrid.

Rob
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: andrewc on 12 January, 2019, 03:43:40 pm
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/jan/12/millenials-cycle-shop-closures


Article in the Guardian about the declining number of bike shops.
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: Kim on 12 January, 2019, 07:54:21 pm
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/jan/12/millenials-cycle-shop-closures


Article in the Guardian about the declining number of bike shops.

Interesting use of "put a spoke in the wheels" there to mean the opposite of what the metaphor suggests.
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: ianrobo on 12 January, 2019, 09:40:02 pm
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/jan/12/millenials-cycle-shop-closures


Article in the Guardian about the declining number of bike shops.

So we have Corden saying that ? I wonder has he ever cycled 
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: telstarbox on 13 January, 2019, 05:32:44 pm
Living not far from that shop I know several LBS which are busy at least on the surface, so not sure how much you can extrapolate. Cycling continues to grow in London which would suggest more bike shops not less?
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: Jakob W on 13 January, 2019, 09:12:50 pm
Some lazy millennial-blaming going on in that piece, no?
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: ianrobo on 13 January, 2019, 09:13:58 pm
Some lazy millennial-blaming going on in that piece, no?

The issue for LBS is purely down to cost and connivence and there are few things that can be done against that 
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: grams on 13 January, 2019, 09:18:15 pm
Headlines aren't written by article authors - usually they're added by someone else for clickbait reasons.

I note there's very little about millennials in the article itself.
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: Jakob W on 13 January, 2019, 09:29:04 pm
I was referring mainly to this bit:
Quote
Those figures have hardly changed since 2003, according to Cycling UK, largely because the younger generation think cycling “is too scary”.
Which I'd like to see properly sourced to a Cycling UK report or the like, because that sounds like a pretty dubious claim; surely rents, business rates, and online shopping are the bigger problem by orders of magnitude?
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: Kim on 13 January, 2019, 09:36:31 pm
I suspect there may well be a decline in cycling amongst younger people[1], but if total numbers are steady-state, that's probably not what's affecting bike shops.


[1] By now we must be well into the second generation of people whose parents forbade them from cycling anywhere interesting/useful.  I notice an alarming trend for smalls to have plastic electric contraptions where traditionally they'd have had bikes with stabilisers.  Not that it really matters if they're only allowed to use them after being driven to the park, but I suspect they'll graduate to micro-scooters or 'hoverboards' rather than bicycles.  I'd love to see some stats.
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: quixoticgeek on 13 January, 2019, 09:39:52 pm

Consider also tho that the generations that have come of age in the last 18 years or so are much more unlikely to have a drivers license, and even less likely to own a car. Insurance makes it just too expensive. This makes cycling quite appealing for shorter trips. If there is the infrastructure to make it feel safe.

It's a big if. And of course, it's very urban centric...

J
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 13 January, 2019, 10:34:02 pm
I think utility cycling in the UK has been very urban-centric since at least the 90s. I'm not sure how much that affects LBSs, as they're also urban-centric.
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: mattc on 14 January, 2019, 09:05:47 am
I was referring mainly to this bit:
Quote
Those figures have hardly changed since 2003, according to Cycling UK, largely because the younger generation think cycling “is too scary”.
Which I'd like to see properly sourced to a Cycling UK report or the like, because that sounds like a pretty dubious claim; surely rents, business rates, and online shopping are the bigger problem by orders of magnitude?

Yeah; I'd like to know if bike shops are suffering much more than any other high street shop that sells "things".

IFF it's the case that "lazy millenials" aren't cycling enough to support bike shops (a very big IFF), then as Kim says, cycling is something most people learn as children, and parents are the single biggest factor there.
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: DuncanM on 14 January, 2019, 11:31:27 am
Worth noting that my daughter's school year (yr 5) had Bikeability training before Christmas. Of the 45 kids in the year, 14 participated in bikeability (needed parents to fill in the form correctly, bring bike + helmet to school). I don't know the reasons for (what I perceive to be) the low uptake, but maybe it indicates the parents attitude toward cycling?  And this is in Oxford, where cycling is a significant mode of transport.
On the other hand, most LBS seem to be doing fine with student trade (though UBYK seems to have gone under in suspicious circumstances last year if you read the Singletrack forum).
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: The Family Cyclist on 25 January, 2019, 06:04:15 pm
This thread should be changed to my lbs shut down and I'm not at all surprised. I have maybe 5 cycle shops within 15 minutes of my work but have lost the two nearest and most helpful. Due to kids being at a party popped into one of the surviving ones on way home as wasn't in usual rush to get home. Loosely looking for cheap lights for kids bikes and a set of tyres to stick on a spare set of wheels... Anyway walked in and at least three if not more staff as it's a family place. No one even acknowledged me. Looked at tyres and asked where lights were. Told where they were then nothing. Had a quick look and walked out.
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: SoreTween on 24 February, 2019, 09:12:35 am
Severn Valley Cycles is closing shop, moving to Wales and going workshop only. Bum.
Title: Re: My LBS has just closed down
Post by: Phil W on 24 February, 2019, 10:46:32 am

Consider also tho that the generations that have come of age in the last 18 years or so are much more unlikely to have a drivers license, and even less likely to own a car. Insurance makes it just too expensive. This makes cycling quite appealing for shorter trips. If there is the infrastructure to make it feel safe.

It's a big if. And of course, it's very urban centric...

J

A high percentage of them still hold a driving licence though.  They are far from the non driving age range.