Cycling Industry Thread

The last month or so has seen Rapha shedding staff, Evans needing more money, CTUK announce it is closing, Always Riding closing their online retail, Moore cycles closing etc etc.

Cycling has boomed in the past ten years, so what’s at cause?

What are the success stories?

What are the success stories?

JRH, a major success story

I often think stuff like this is a continued problem “there are a number of sales roles available at various central London branches of Cycle Surgery at the mo, part time and full time. No retail experience necessary, a passion for bikes and cycling is enough.”

Basically employ cycling enthusiasts who will work for peanuts because they like bieks and staff discount over people who understand customer service. This is a problem across British service industries.

The problem there is more the peanuts pay than the taking of people with no retail experience. IME basic customer service skills can be taught to most people in a day, and then cemented by experience - but if you're paying people minimum wage you're less likely to invest even in that level of training.

The has been slowly changing for years now, just that some of the bigger players are coming a cropper.

I opened my own place this year, we are a little unconventional and it's working really well. Workshop and knowledge centric, not pushing normal bikes, apparel and accessories really. Instead focusing on just being an excellent workshop and then we have a membership system, allowing folk to use the storage, all the tools, bike wash machine and get help with mechanical stuff as often as they need. (Some lbs don't change for "little help" but others do, and some refuse for their own reasons).
Some folk get it, others don't, but mostly had a very good reception

Sounds interesting. You got a website?

Blatent plug ..
http://www.glasgowbikehive.com
Website a constant WIP, Facebook has more useful info.

that looks like a great idea. I'd be a member if I lived in Glasgow. Good luck with it!

Where are we discussing the shit show that is/was CHPT3?

What's up with them?

Going to be rebranded as CHPT11.

They’ve gone into voluntary administration.

I see.

I'm looking for a couple of cheap Bromptons...

I put it over in the stylish cycling kit thread! Their designs had become very boring, and it seemed odd that they had this big launch for the new cycling shoe and then going into voluntary admin a month after it is launched!

I have some of there stuff when it was produced by Castelli and I really like it.

Fran Millar (sister of David Millar), recently became CEO at Rapha. She was one of the directors at CHPT3 until August.

CHPT3 now being dissolved seems to me like David Millar drawing a line under CHPT3 and removing any conflict of interest ahead of an upcoming senior role at Rapha.

Does Rapha need a Director of Doping and Half Truths?

Either that or a Director of Nepotism.

Going to be rebranded as CHPT11.

You can't make the same joke in 2 threads!

I thought David Millar was now working with Factor;
https://factorbikes.com/bikes/ostro-vam-david-millar-edition

either that or CHPT3 was a money laundering mechanism, purely basing this on not seeing a single product out in the wild

I have once seen a chapter 3 Brompton being handed in for service in Condor

Thats just a Brompton with diff paint. I meant ORIGINAL CHPT3 products, if they exist.

Can someone please provide visual proof that is not AI.

He's been working with factor for years.
Factor are also Rapha's bike partner for RCC rental bikes.

This is truly amazing. 6 yrs have passed and this statement is still 100% current.

You can't tell me what to do.

And it was a good joke, worth repeating imo.