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

[Happy_Days]

if you didn't have £2k burning a hole in your pocket there was very little for you.
I can't imagine they sell many bikes there, but I guess you don't need to sell may of the bikes you stock when the average out at 3 grand a bike.

I want to replace my broken bike, but today’s prices are putting me off cycling.

Do I want to be in a hobby that’s normalised bikes averaging out £3k or more per bike?

It’s not rational, as I have enough savings to afford a new bike. But the industry’s pricing puts me off this hobby—despite being keen until now, including racing triathlons. I’ve paused on purchasing.

 

[PaulSB]

Is it really that expensive as a hobby? Nine years ago I spent £3200 on a Cervelo C3. I still have it and will use her as a winter bike this year. I'll get at least another five years out of her by when I'll be 77. Possibly I'll be reviewing things at that age.

Ignoring servicing costs etc the C3 has cost me £355/year, or £7/week. It gives me huge pleasure, clears my mind, keeps me fit, takes me places and shows me things I'd otherwise miss. I ride 2/3 times a week so that's +/- £2/3 per ride. Locally it's £20 to hire a tennis court for an hour. Five a side pitch? £60 per hour.

My wife is a member at David Lloyd. This year her membership is £1800, she gets great pleasure from this. Does she have anything left at the end of the year? No. It's pure cost, never seen again.

£1800 will buy a decent bike. £3600 will buy a very good bike. Bikes are a capital investment in one's overall wellbeing to be written off over years. Running costs are basically the same for all bikes.

£0000s on a bike is a damn good and very sound investment. Don't cut off your nose to spite your face.

 

[wakemalcolm]

Whatever you do don't get seduced into buying a 'forever' bike. I did that for my 40th: it's got v-brakes, narrow gauge handlebars and not enough clearance for a decent set of gravel tyres. It was marketed as a touring bike.
Just back from taking a mooch around Decathlon. They've got a bike there that does pretty much everything I'd ever want from a bike for about GBP1,500.

 

[Andy in Germany]

Whatever you do don't get seduced into buying a 'forever' bike. I did that for my 40th: it's got v-brakes, narrow gauge handlebars and not enough clearance for a decent set of gravel tyres. It was marketed as a touring bike.
Just back from taking a mooch around Decathlon. They've got a bike there that does pretty much everything I'd ever want from a bike for about GBP1,500.

I bought my "Forever Bike" in 1997.

Just rode it to the shops and back today. It had some changes: now uses 3/8 gears and the old Canti's were replaced by V's years ago. It's had a longtail extension for nearly two decades, but it is still doing the job I bought it for, which is everything.

 

[All uphill]

Whether a bike is expensive depends on what you are using it for, and what you are comparing it with, imo.

As @PaulSB says a bike for fun and health is much cheaper than a gym membership, and as @Andy in Germany implies a bike that does everything is spectacularly cheaper than a car.

I wince when a new 9speed cassette and chain costs me £40, but I seem to recall routinely getting £500 bills for an ordinary car.

 

[Punkawallah]

Whatever you do don't get seduced into buying a 'forever' bike. I did that for my 40th: it's got v-brakes, narrow gauge handlebars and not enough clearance for a decent set of gravel tyres. It was marketed as a touring bike.
Just back from taking a mooch around Decathlon. They've got a bike there that does pretty much everything I'd ever want from a bike for about GBP1,500.

On your own advice, don’t buy it :-)

 

[Drago]

I know that'll happen to the UK retail bike industry.

Much will move online, and those with sufficient turnover to survive on a small margin but high sales model will possibly survive.

Those that remain on the high street will largely die out.

May as well lock the thread now

 

[Gillstay]

Whether a bike is expensive depends on what you are using it for, and what you are comparing it with, imo.

As @PaulSB says a bike for fun and health is much cheaper than a gym membership, and as @Andy in Germany implies a bike that does everything is spectacularly cheaper than a car.

I wince when a new 9speed cassette and chain costs me £40, but I seem to recall routinely getting £500 bills for an ordinary car.

My brother just got a 450 quid bill for a lawnmower.

 

[Dogtrousers]

I bought my main bike 14 years ago. There's not a terrible lot left of what I bought - just the fame, fork and seatpost really. Oh, and the mudguards. It would cost me £1250 new now. On offer at £945 at the moment. I dread to think how much I've spent on it in that time - multiple wheels and drivetrains, other bits and pieces...

But as @wakemalcolm notes, I wouldn't buy the same if I were buying new now. I'd want fatter tyre clearance and disk brakes probably.

 

[biggs682]

I was in local Go Outdoors yesterday and the cycling section is run by Leisure Lakes .

I couldn't believe the cheapest bike I saw for sale was over £1200 , it's hardly surprising bikes are not selling

 

[Punkawallah]

I was in local Go Outdoors yesterday and the cycling section is run by Leisure Lakes .

I couldn't believe the cheapest bike I saw for sale was over £1200 , it's hardly surprising bikes are not selling

Yeah. But it’s bikes priced at £1200 that struggle to sell. One of my FLBS deals exclusively in reconditioned bikes, and sells enough (with repair work) to keep two and a half people going.

 

[biggs682]

Yeah. But it’s bikes priced at £1200 that struggle to sell. One of my FLBS deals exclusively in reconditioned bikes, and sells enough (with repair work) to keep two and a half people going.

That's a good way of doing it

 

[PaulSB]

I was in local Go Outdoors yesterday and the cycling section is run by Leisure Lakes .

I couldn't believe the cheapest bike I saw for sale was over £1200 , it's hardly surprising bikes are not selling

If you're ever in Ormskirk pop into The Bicycle Lounge while they do offer some lower priced bikes the owner freely admits the bulk of their sales come from high end machines.

There is definitely a very strong market for high end bikes no matter what one may think of this.

 

[PaulSB]

I bought my main bike 14 years ago. There's not a terrible lot left of what I bought - just the fame, fork and seatpost really. Oh, and the mudguards. It would cost me £1250 new now. On offer at £945 at the moment. I dread to think how much I've spent on it in that time - multiple wheels and drivetrains, other bits and pieces...

But as @wakemalcolm notes, I wouldn't buy the same if I were buying new now. I'd want fatter tyre clearance and disk brakes probably.

Which is why careful thought needs to go into a purchase. I'm not implying a criticism with this comment.

I always try to future proof my bike purchases, even more so as I get older. I recently bought a Cervelo Caledonia 5 frame. We then played around with the kit with an eye on the future. In particular di2 GRX instead of Ultegra which would have made her go like the wind.

 

[Jameshow]

If you're ever in Ormskirk pop into The Bicycle Lounge while they do offer some lower priced bikes the owner freely admits the bulk of their sales come from high end machines.

There is definitely a very strong market for high end bikes no matter what one may think of this.

Divorced Mamils I expect.... !