What do you think will happen to the UK bike retail industry?

[katiewlx]

But in the post from fwgx above, their shop had no children’s bikes, so the kids do not ride?

The FLBS selling second hand in my town has a demand for front suspension mountain bikes (for riding to work) atm. Or at least that’s what I’m fettling for the shop floor when I’m in. No road bikes in the yard, any old steel 10 speeds turned to flat bars, and the usual trade in kid’s bikes because they’ve grown and it’s not near birthday/Christmas. They could sell Carrera MTB’s all day long, but road bike sales are infrequent, and people want bigger tyres.
I can understand people wanting a ‘do everything’ bike, but think they over-estimate their off-road requirements, and either don’t know or don’t care they their suspension and tyres make more work for them on road.

define a kids bike though ? I see alot of kids (teens really) on bikes that are clearly small adult sized MTBs, and theyre nearly always MTBs too.

I dont see alot of younger kids on bikes at all, they seem to prefer scooters, or its a reflection of road safety fears etc and they dont ride at all.

and I dont doubt either alot of that is people arent prepared to spend £100-£150 on a bike for their kid anymore that they may outgrow in a year or two, and actually they dont use much because its not like when I was growing up and every kid had a bike and you spent all your time riding with your friends around your neighbourhoods.

so the shop is reflecting almost what I think is the reality of alot of peoples buying habits now.

but absolutely people over estimate their off road requirements, and end up with poorly suited bikes to the road, which inevitably puts them off cycling or convinced e-bikes are the only way, whilst a decent LBS would actually steer them towards what they really need, alot of them are just interested in the sale and shifting the stock.

 

[Dadam]

People who don't know any better, like the majority of people who don't cycle but are thinking of it, and like me before I got into it, generally want a MTB.

This is for several reasons: they perceive suspension will make the ride more comfortable on the potholed roads, because they want to ride trails, or because MTBs are just seen as cooler. Drop bar bikes are perceived as for the elite: pro racers or the very keen weekend warriors who aspire to be like them.

I bought a cheap Apollo MTB/BSO from the free ads in 2019 to commute on, but then started reading a lot online, though I didn't find this forum for some reason. So a few months later I got a mid range rigid fork hybrid on the cycle scheme.

As a shop owner you stock what will sell if you have any business sense.

 

[Gillstay]

Last year I almost gave up mending bikes for people as there seemed no interest, but this year i have serviced and mended quite a few.
No idea what is driving the change.

 

[sevenfourate]

M

Last year I almost gave up mending bikes for people as there seemed no interest, but this year i have serviced and mended quite a few.
No idea what is driving the change.

My local, privately owned / run LBS is heaving busy. On repairs and bike sales.

So much so they’ve gone from having a few guys covering all the opening hours - but pretty much only having one person working at a time - to having two people most of the week. And I think 3 on Saturdays at times. I THINK much of this due to electric bikes. And the fact they will / can repair anything pretty much electric wise. Halfords apparently (As currently about the only other option in Town; won’t touch an Electric bike reference repairs; unless purchased from them).

I’m in Lowestoft - classed as a deprived area - and the bike sales / interest / buzz around cycling seems incredibly high to me. Literally they are selling / someone is trying every time I go in. It’s great to see ! They are a great bunch of lads - and perhaps they’ve made their own luck through decent prices, honest work and treating people well. Sticking out some tough times no doubt - and currently being the only Independant and one of only 2 shops in the Town currently favours them too of course……..

 

[Punkawallah]

Last year I almost gave up mending bikes for people as there seemed no interest, but this year i have serviced and mended quite a few.
No idea what is driving the change.

Price of food has increased about 50% in the last five years?

 

[Drago]

Price of food has increased about 50% in the last five years?

Indeed. Folk can no longer afford to feed their bikes properly.

 

[katiewlx]

though I saw in the local paper, Pedal Revolution (not to be confused with Cycle Revolution), who are (were?) one of the largest independent bike shops in Norfolk, just celebrated 25 years of being open, just gone into administration.

Saddleback been running for over 20 years, also just appointed administrators.

both I thought were doing really well, always a pleasure to deal with, order from, answer queries, had good local following and both basically are gone, whilst staying open in the meanwhile till new owners can be found. but crazy situation to be in.

 

[sevenfourate]

Pedal Revolution (not to be confused with Cycle Revolution), who are (were?) one of the largest independent bike shops in Norfolk, just celebrated 25 years of being open, just gone into administration

I never set foot in the Norwich Store. My experience of Gorleston was pretty awful however. Twice I felt I was ruining someone’s afternoon by visiting. And if I remember correctly I was the only person in there 🤣

Second visit - they had a bike in stock, in my size, at a price I liked and I wanted it badly. Yet I walked out without them ‘selling’ it (Loose sense of the word as it was already sold effectively) to me.

That was the last time I visited……..🙄

 

[Shearwater Missile]

I never set foot in the Norwich Store. My experience of Gorleston was pretty awful however. Twice I felt I was ruining someone’s afternoon by visiting. And if I remember correctly I was the only person in there 🤣

Second visit - they had a bike in stock, in my size, at a price I liked and I wanted it badly. Yet I walked out without them ‘selling’ it (Loose sense of the word as it was already sold effectively) to me.

That was the last time I visited……..🙄

Sounds like us visiting a electrical shop. We knew what we wanted but just wanted to view before purchase. The salesman tried to sell us what he wanted to sell because it meant more commission for him. He was so uninterested what we wanted. We walked out.

 

[Katana]

Could it be the reason that a small but significant percentage of people are now buying Chinese brands online delivered to their doorsteps? So maybe as a consequence local bike shop numbers have dropped? No doubt some of the well known Chinese brands are offering really good value for money for frames and wheelsets while most are using Shimano group sets so no compromise on quality.

 

[midlandsgrimpeur]

Could it be the reason that a small but significant percentage of people are now buying Chinese brands online delivered to their doorsteps? So maybe as a consequence local bike shop numbers have dropped? No doubt some of the well known Chinese brands are offering really good value for money for frames and wheelsets while most are using Shimano group sets so no compromise on quality.

I still think very few UK buyers are purchasing direct from China. I think there are multiple reasons; less cyclists post covid boom (leading to a saturated 2nd hand bike market so no need to buy new for many), online buying and direct to consumer from the likes of Canyon, financial squeeze killing sales coupled with huge overstocking.

All of this has killed a lot of bike shops and has badly impacted the industry as a whole. As pointed out above, the average lbs now is likely to rely on ebikes and cheaper mtb for its core bike sales.

 

[Webbo2]

The 2 bikes shops near me seem to be doing well. One is a Trek dealer but also sells Orbea and I think they must do a lot of stuff on line. Big shop and a lot of staff. Other shop lots of high end stuff Colnago, Pinerello, Cervelo and Bianchi plus some Italian made to measure stuff. 3 staff web page but no online shop, over the phone or visit the shop.

 

[Paulus]

You and yours, a programme on Radio 4 last Thursday had an article from the bicycle association, the industry body, who says that bike sales increased by 6% in the last year and e bike sales increased by2%, the first increases since 2022.
Bike shops also reported a 8% increase on servicing and repairs.
Maybe a little bit of good news.