You are reading a single comment by @Colin_the_Bald and its replies.
Click here to read the full conversation.
London Fixed Gear and Single-Speed is a community of predominantly fixed gear and single-speed cyclists in and around London, UK.
This site is supported almost exclusively by donations. Please consider donating a small amount regularly.
Colin_the_Bald
Not too sure you have to be that niche.
I my part of town, there are many folks with a reasonable level of disposable income who cycle either as commuters, for recreation or both.
It's very difficult in this part of town to find a shop that stocks event basic parts (I accept tub tape might be seen as a bit niche).
With the exception of Decathalon, all of the shops I mentioned in my original post were empty when I visited them.
What's the point in even visiting a bike shop if they are unlikely to stock parts or consumables you might want, and if you wouldn't dream of letting the mechanics anywhere near your bike?
Ultimately, all these places are banking on the fact that they can get a big mark-up for flogging someone an expensive Trek, Giant or Cube. But I think that might be a fairly short-term strategy.
The big opportunity for independents, I would think, is that the chains are just shit.