The wave of new London bike shops

It's just been discussed, seems to be making everybody curious:

https://www.lfgss.com/comments/12275848/

Press release from Crown Estate.

Bike Rooms - never heard of them...

http://www.thecrownestate.co.uk/news-and-media/news/2015/leading-bike-specialists-to-open-flagship-store-in-regent-street-st-jamess/

Amongst a few, very select brands, luxury Italian bicycle manufacturer Pinarello will take pride of place. The brand has great heritage and is renowned for combining style and performance. Today it sits at the pinnacle of the sport, with Team SKY, amongst others, delivering countless victories, testament to the Pinarello family’s drive to always be the best.

Lolz

Thanks Oliver. Exciting times, new local bike shop, excellent name. Replacing a scary looking pub, even better.

Just gonna park this here; from a new shop opening in town.

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Oh come on!

..quartz!

Oooh, I like that.

Not cool...

Was on the way to the pub yesterday and discovered I have a new cafe / bike shop on my doorstep in Deptford. Went in there instead of the pub and enjoyed a few Red stripes whilst gazing out the window at the den of drug dealing and money laundering that is Deptford High St. Nice proprietor and cool vibe. Mechanic starts today apparently. Check it out SE folk.
http://www.ldnvelo.co.uk
They have a pretty cool shop dog too.

Oh I saw my LBS tweeting about that. Not really on my route to anywhere but I'll pop down for a coffee at some point.

Went there for their opening night on Friday - great place.

Having a beer in London Velo just now. Nice people, rad shop dog. Been waiting for a long time to get something like this in deptford!

I went to Bespoke Cycling on Farringdon road after work, wanted to try on some Bont shoes. Friendly and knowledgable chap, but they wanted to take a £50 deposit to book an appointment to try on some shoes.
Hmmmm.

Refundable or non-refundable?

Still can't top Pinarello's £100 for a test ride.

Press release from Crown Estate.

Bike Rooms - never heard of them...

thecrownestate.co.uk/news-and­-media/news/2015/leading-bike-specialist­s-to-open-flagship-store-in-regent-stree­t-st-jamess/

Amongst a few, very select brands, luxury Italian bicycle manufacturer Pinarello will take pride of place. The brand has great heritage and is renowned for combining style and performance. Today it sits at the pinnacle of the sport, with Team SKY, amongst others, delivering countless victories, testament to the Pinarello family’s drive to always be the best.

I can see Brew cafe man going in there to try out the overpriced mamil stuff when they ban him from driving.

Well they take that 50 quid off the pair of shoes you buy. Didn't actually ask if it was refundable if you don't find shoes you like.
Fuggit, the awkwardness of potentially asking for 50 quid back makes me want to try on shoes elsewhere anyway.

Normally the criteria for trying on shoes is that you have a pair of socks. Some shoe shops will even have socks ready for the sockless just for that purpose.

Supposing you try on a 46 too tight so you ask for and try on a 47 will that then be "£100 sir".

I imagine that it's to stop people coming in, trying on top end shoes, finding the right fit and then fucking off online to buy them cheaper. But, you know, that's the risk you run.
Daft thing was, he even told me to go home, use the Bont shoe fit wizard from their site, and use the suggestions from that to make Bespoked Cycling's life easier. Fair enough, were it not for asking me for £50 up front.
I get that they're trying to be high end and exclusive, and I get that internet shopping fucks over bricks and mortar. Making people feel like they're obliged to buy before they've even tried on some shoes is dickish though.

Precisely, the way to combat online is to provide a level of service and experience that you can't get online. Not make the experience worse.

And of all items that make sense to buy in real life, shoes are way up there.

Ho hum. Where else stocks Bont Vaypors then? They look like they could be The One for me.

There are any way to encourage them to buy shoes, deposits isn't it regardless of the reason.

Sigma Sport in Hampton Wick.

I imagine that it's to stop people coming in, trying on top end shoes, finding the right fit and then fucking off online to buy them cheaper.

I think it's also that they don't want people buying shoes in the wrong size, then bringing them back and all the admin / crap that involves. You are effectively paying for a 'fitting'.

If you buy the shoes, you're not paying for anything but the shoes - but it's the whole taking deposit thing that obliges you to buy the shoes, or at least semi-awkwardly-British-shopper obliges you.

Opposite side of town. Guess I could tie it in with an RP session, but how that works with bringing new shoes home I'm not quite sure....

@t.o. It had to happen on Old Kent Road eventually.