The wave of new London bike shops

Anyone tried Cycleway in Leytonstone?

Bike Boutique in Winchmore Hill (N21) - a CC London favourite and home to a Wattbike training studio - will be closing at the end of June. https://www.facebook.com/BikeBoutiqueLondon/posts/2049879201720537

Cycle PS is closing its doors end of June... Saddest news I have had in a long time

https://www.instagram.com/cycle_ps/?hl=en

I find it a little sad how this thread is turning into one on bike shops closing, which is why I've started a new thread for closures:

https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/321451/

I think that it might be worth leaving this thread only for openings. What do people think?

Yeah, otherwise, it might be a bit depressing for those looking for new bike shops near them! Cheers!

Seabasss tubes are expensive!

Did they charge RRP for a tube? This is how bikeshops make money.

More than rrp. I stock the same tubes

The margin on inner tubes are the only thing keeping London bike shops afloat

ouch

I understand that, and I wish them the best. The guys there are sound and if they can get people to pay up then good on them.
I'm not gonna complain any more than I already have.
The truth is it was an emergency situation and I accept that I have to just suck it up and pay what they're asking.
Serves me right for not being prepared I suppose

anyone had experience with cloud 9 cycles?

my surly is there at present (hopefully) having a Rolhoff hub fitted.

Sad times ...

I know Kris and Adam (who own Cloud9) well and have used them since they were a small workshop in an arch in Camden.

Kris especially is an excellent mechanic and knows all the bodges and work-rounds on unusual components and is big into his MTB. They are a good shop and deffo reccomended

Ah, that's good to know; thanks.

It's surprising how hard it is to find a LBS which does consistently high quality work, has at least a bit of a customer service ethic, is prepared to source a wide range of parts.

I'm hoping Cloud 9 might become my go-to place. I've tried a quite a few...

LBS which does consistently high quality work, has at least a bit of a customer service ethic, is prepared to source a wide range of parts.

Bike shop Mecca!

Stock is a huge issue, do they cater for road/mtb/commuter/fixie skidder etc.

Quality work is down to the individual mechanics and can be hit or miss.

Customer service - we as a nation expect good customer service but are unwilling to pay for it. So instead we have shops staffed by people who were once enthusiastic cyclists but after being paid minimum wage and dealing with the general public now resent anyone who crosses the threshold into the shop.

The truth is it was an emergency situation and I accept that I have to just suck it up and pay what they're asking.

I don't know anyone who goes to the shop with a pre-planned puncture. Prices are constantly going up and they will reflect somewhere. Also you can thank all people who voted for Brexit.

Wasn't a puncture but I get your point. Of course you can't plan for all eventualities.

Maybe I should bump the price of my tubes up 🤔

Sums it up quite well - and because it’s an ‘enthusiasts’ industry management misguidedly think offering trade price to staff is enough of an incentive, so they don’t offer much else in the way of bonuses/commission /sales training /progression etc, and it will never attract good people from other sectors

Customer service - we as a nation expect good customer service but are unwilling to pay for it.

Personally, I am willing to pay for it but I realise that I'm in a relatively small group which won't easily make a viable market.

And even though I'm willing to pay, I'm quite selective and even if I had "bike shop Mecca" around the corner, I'd probably only visit a few times a year as most stuff I can / can be bothered to do myself.

More than rrp. I stock the same tubes

Dude, Impac tube are £6 rrp.

Yes my dude, you're right.
Turns out I pay less for mine so price is relative.

I like Cloud 9, Adam and Billy are top guys. Don’t think I met Kris... what does he look like?

Would go there more often if they were nearer to me....

This in so many ways.

OK so where do bike shops get it right* for those who want the full service and people who are pretty well tooled and skilled at home? Being willing to get specialised stock at the drop of a casquette? Happy to do complex / specialist stuff (I dunno, like installing a Rolhoff say)? Having a coffee machine? Not taking the piss with margins on tiddly things like tubes or bidons? Actually sell a great range of tools?

I’d love to hear what indy shop owners think about how they stay afloat (awheel?).

*and stay in business!