Do you use your local LBS?

[summerdays]

I used to, but then I moved away.... I still use them but I have to pass who knows how many on my way there! Actually he did mention knowing my nearest one that I've not been into so I ought to at least pop in and see what they have sometime.

 

[Spinney]

Yup - nearest is in the next village.
OH does his own fettling, but although I probably could I'd rather pay the LBS to do it. And there are the odd things that I don't have the tools for (e.g. needing a pop rivet to refasten a mudguard - not worth buying the rivet gun for the sake of the couple of quid the bloke charged me for fixing it).
And where I used to live, I used the LBS for repairs etc and buying small bits like brake blocks.

 

[Arrowfoot]

There must be 10 bike shops within 5 miles of me, spoilt for choice I guess, I have used the second closest most recently, they are cheaper and more flexible than the closest

Clothes get bought online from places with free returns as virtually no shop anywhere keeps virtually any women's clothing in my size on the shop floor

Parts I'd usually buy online as cheaper and pay the LBS premium for fitting which still works out cheaper mostly! And I actually enjoy the online shopping process!

10 bikes shops within 5 miles? Is there really a bike heaven?

 

[ianrauk]

LBS is part of a small chain, Cycles UK. Really good, nice and friendly. I don;t buy much in there to be honest but when I want some thing done I can't or wont handle, I'll give it to them to do. I also buy small things like inner tubes etc when I do go in.

 

[Arrowfoot]

LBS can no longer compete on product price but more on service pricing. With rising rentals and wages, service is now a struggle as well. There is a guy in our local that gives sermons on supporting locals to be popular but we have seen enough deliveries to suggest that it is pretty much online in his household. I guess he too needs to live within his means.

I am more keen on bike cooperatives like Brixton Cycles. To me that is a viable cause and a collective cause at that. You can see the pride and stoic approach to their cause. It not driven by profits alone as everyone has a stake in looking after their customers and their business (more like their cause and their interest in cycling)

 

[glenn forger]

Mine is increasingly eccentric and erratic and forgetful, won't name him cos I'm still happy but every visit turns into a saga.

 

[Drago]

Yes. They just reopened after a huge refrurb and are now a premier giant dealer. Planning to nimble down next week for a coffee and biscuit on their sofa, and doubtless my wallet will appear in my hand.

 

[Glow worm]

Im trying to do more fettling myself these days but for the major jobs I use the Elementals in Newmarket and it's excellent. Also Ben heyward in Horningsea - which is very good indeed too, and always friendly. I'm quite proud to say I've never yet set foot in the halfords in Newmarket!

 

[steveindenmark]

I have 2 in my local town that I use and they are brillant. I use one for bits and the other for bikes. One sells Koga bikes and the other doesnt. But I am in them both most weeks for a chat or a coffee.

 

[Sara_H]

My LBS repair shop is fab (Bike Rehab in Sheffield if anyone is interested).

They don't do sales, and I'm afraid I buy from whoever is cheapest when buying bikes/parts/accessories.

I had a right to do a few years ago with a local chap who did repairs. He took OH's bike in for repairs and then just couldn't get him to give it back. Still not sure to this day what was going on!

https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/bike-held-hostage-any-trained-negotiators-here.124042/

 

[further]

I used mine yesterday,to fettle derailleurs after I had fitted new cable inners and outers.

 

[vickster]

10 bikes shops within 5 miles? Is there really a bike heaven?

SW London is a bit of a hotbed, I'm also less than 15 miles from central london. So within 15 miles there are dozens! Not to mention halfords

 

[mjr]

I buy various bits from Anglia Motor Cycles and they have fixed bikes in the past. I try to buy from small chain Richardson's sometimes, now that they've got a decent manager in there, but the parts I want are often a bit too retro for them to stock and if I have to order, I may as well get them delivered to my office, not 4 miles away from me. If I want parts at a weekend, Wilco Fast Fit often have them. I used to buy from another but they're now the furthest away and they seemed to have forgotten to put grease in headset bearings which rather blew my trust away. Half odds is actually my nearest but I only use it if I really really want something 6-8pm Mon-Wed (to fit before the next morning, perhaps) because it's just such an awful depressing "retail experience".

 

[ScotiaLass]

I do use my local LBS and bought my Specialised MTB there.
My bikes go into them for the stuff I can't do myself and I'll buy some bits from them.
The service is great but the prices....not so! I know it's overheads of running a shop etc but I'll often buy bigger items online, especially clothing and safety stuff.

 

[Ian H]

Yes, several of them, for parts. I do all my own maintenance. My current frames are all either bespoke or second-hand.