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

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Oldhippy

Cynical idealist
Photo Winner
Inevitably and sadly they will die out due to Internet competition. It's a no win situation. There are those thankfully that try to diversify offering other things to people who cycle. Bike charities for example deserve more exposure, especially in the magazines and advocacy groups instead of all the new 'bling' and 'entry level' and you can't go gravel, road ride, tour, delete as applicable without spending thousands on a bike and 'specific clothing nonsense. How many of us in past times built our own bikes without all this and went to bike shops for bits and bobs for the latest upgrade. You can get anything next day now and knocking up your own bike as a kid is near extinct if not already.
 

Punkawallah

Veteran
Darlington is pretty good for bike shops and has been for as long as I can remember (Chris Thompson & Skinnergate Cycles when I started out). Don't forget Northern Bikeshed, they have a lot of older stuff in, including a selection of what could be described as 'modern classic' road bikes, although the skinny tyres give me the heebee geebees these days. The place that surprises me is Byker (appropriately) ~ three bike shops in the town centre and Recyke Y' bike, which is an Aladdin's cave of a place.

I was including Bikeshed - is there another shop I’m not aware of?
 
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