London bike shops closing

Indeed.

Wired, though?

I want cheap + tough

Brick Lane Bikes has survived, where other have died...

Yeah, this is the thing with condor, they stock almost everything I need and can't get it other shops.

It could also be the cycle to work scheme where you save on the tax. So it’s the made monies available via another mean Ie not physical cash.

I am guessing all local shops have abandoned sales (due to online) and focussed on service already

This in spades. My lbs was even talking about not even stocking full bikes anymore, they just sit on the shop floor not being sold. Servicing and consumables are where the money is made these days

Blb and condor have become brand names know and collaborated with big names this strategy has probably had a big effect there survival.
As well as half decent websites that most often compete well with wiggle/crc

A lot of commuters buy from Evans, Halfords, Cycle Surgery etc etc “highstreet brand names”, shops with history and multiple branches/perceived security, not little independents.

And a lot of people now treat a bike as a consumable, £300-400 on c2w, so about 250-300 after “savings”. Many would rather scrap or sell the bike every 2-3 years and get a shiny new one.

Not saying this is always the case but it’s definitely a thing.

The distribution arm of BLB has probably saved the physical shop. There can't be that many fools buying double spoked kustom fixeh nowadays.

Don't Condor own their building? I'd imagine that helps.

Rent is hideous in many parts of London and I honestly could not see how any LBS could turn any meaningful profit other than the ones that have a niche market such as Rapha and a strong customer base such as Condor.

The cycle trade really has a lot against it sadly with a saturated used market selling high quality cheap products, Wiggle and their power to deliver quick free delivery on well priced goods has to be the over riding factor I would guess?, even with price matching in the main stream high street stores I have noticed a distinct down turn in footfall whilst browsing their establishments.

Then there is value for money on the current range of shop floor built bikes, I was fairly naive to the prices of bikes in 2018 and what you actually get for the money, recently I was looking for a gravel type bike and the price to component specs was questionable for myself and I guess many people that could source parts and build a bike.

I have to ask how is the Velodrome doing and cycle circuit?, are they still getting enough people in to make the setup viable??..

Retail is basically the principle of having knowledgeable people employed near you to help you with buying what you need. I don't think that when retail has died the Internet will ever be able to pick up the slack. Sure, there are bad shops and people who want to rip you off even in retail, but overall my experience of small, independent shops is overwhelmingly positive, and I hate the fact that they're currently being undercut so badly by all that short-sighted Internet ordering and showrooming that people do (not just in cycling, of course).

I had a v good experience at sbc. In future I’m happy to travel to them on weekends and when I’m not at work cos it’s worth the extra effort imo. I also value Condor for their mechanics and experience and accessibility to parts, but I guess they’re in a different bracket?

Edit- ah I see condor has already been mentioned

Side note: not a big fan of the ‘front of house’ side of condor, often don’t seem to have a clue what’s going on. Only had a small amount of experience with them though.

Those who work in the industry/LBS what are your suggested solutions to fix this?

Current situation though is: go into local store (independent or otherwise) and get help finding what you want from knowledgeable shop staff. Um and ah about whether you want it while seeing how much it is on Amazon. Buy on Amazon prime (perhaps while you're still in the store even) and get it the next day.

Not saying this is what I do, but the amount of times you overhear: 'but it was only £... on Amazon so bought it from there'

Yes, that's what I was referring to by 'showrooming'--you don't seem to know it under that expression?

Correct. I don't.

Haha. That’s quite funny.. sometimes I think people must be trolling you in situations like that!

I went to Wilson’s in Peckham the other day as they were the only place open that had track nuts (no where in camberwell had them in stock apparently?!). They had stock but were cheap looking and expensive. People seemed nice enough in there though.

What are people’s thoughts on Edwardes? Are they doing well? They seem to be doing ok throughout the whole time I’ve been living in camberwell (25 years?!). Could be because they are so well established. I got my first bike from there but have never been a regular customer.

Those who work in the industry/LBS what are your suggested solutions to fix this?

Suggestions to fix retail? God knows. Retail doesn't know how to fix retail :)

For bike shops, focusing on services (as they are) and selling niche high value high margin stuff that can't be easily sourced elsewhere. Whilst forming close links with the riding 'community'. Didn't really work for Soho bikes tho - one rent hike or the owner losing interesting and....gone.

I think in America they have this figured out. Places like Golden Saddle in LA and Cycleast in Austin have made their places social spaces with strong social media presence and regular rides and events, making it a destination for people visiting the city and locals to regularly hangout and therefore spend money

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p811stpqbsk

Saying that, i think Cycle Ps had most of those things....

I always read that as "Edwardès" with a slight Spanish accent. I suspect I am not the only one.

I think in America they have this figured out. Places like Golden Saddle in LA and Cycleast in Austin have made their places social spaces with strong social media presence and regular rides and events, making it a destination for people visiting the city

Brick Lane Bikes would be the London equivalent. They've got 50,000 followers on Instagram, Golden Saddle have 30,000, Cycles PS 4,000. BLB will get the rich tourist pounds.

And why does anyone need to go into a bike shop when you can pick a bike up on the street and pay 50p for 1/2 hour, or whatever it is?