Decathlon Cycle Parking - Impressed

[Sheffield_Tiger]

Wow!

What a refreshing change - and that's not the woodpecker talking!

I've gone past Decathlon regularly but never gone in as "it's a sports shop" and I'm not a "sporty" person. I thought it would be all tennis, athletics and the like. I did give it a try though a couple of weeks ago for the first time ever and it's so good to see a shop that puts proper bike facilities.

Sturdy stands, with added thick cables for wheels etc, you can totally secure your bike with one D-lock.

I hadn't even got in the store before I was impressed...

OK, many will already be aware, but I thought, compared with the facilities (or lack of) elsewhere, they deserved a mention!

I'll definitely be going back, and if they sell something that I could buy elsewhere, I'll shop at the store that puts the thought in to its cycling customers!

 

[tightwad]

Use Decathlon regularly for bike bits and other gear. Always take my bike in with me, never been asked to leave it outside. To lock is to fail.

 

[mr_cellophane]

Canada Water always has a couple of bikes chained up outside. Never noticed any bike racks at Lakeside even though Halfords is at the other end of the row of stores.

 

[bad boy]

Canada Water always has a couple of bikes chained up outside. Never noticed any bike racks at Lakeside even though Halfords is at the other end of the row of stores.

I am really impressed with the secure cycle storage at Canary Wharf underground carpark does anyone know how much it is to use ??.

The Canada square Sheffield hoops or loops as there a unique design are really well thought out very small but the looping design means you can get two bikes next to each other without them touching.

 

[Crankarm]

Can't say it was Decath's bike locking facilities that attracted me to them, more their large range of stuff for pretty much every sport all reasonably priced. Their B-twn brake blocks are now favs of mine as they are keenly priced, pretty good in wet and dry and don't squeal. Their cycling shorts are good as well for the price. There is a Decathlon in every decent sized French town, but that's because the French are more active as a nation than Brits who are a nation of lard 4rses. I only wish Decathlon would open a store in Cambridge.

 

[marinyork]

Interesting opinions as I've heard other people criticise Decathlon on cycle parking. There is a certain opinion that as a fairly new store that their facilities are whilst not dreadful, below expectations. I would subscribe to this comparing other similar developments - not awful, but could be better.

 

[tdr1nka]

I always take my bike in, its never a problem.
+1 for Surrey Quays.
Plus it's 5 min from my house!

 

[marinyork]

Places that allow bikes in door though, can't criticise .

 

[vernon]

I can't comment on cycle parking facilities of Decathlon as on the two occasions that I used the company, I was in France and use them to source a replacement rear wheel and a complete bike when I suffered mechanical failures on two separate tours.

I found the cycle sections to be exemplary in the services that they offered and the quality of customer service from their staff. EBC and Halfords should take lessons from Decathlon and employ knowledgeable staff and offer instant fixes to simple problems.

 

[beanzontoast]

Places that allow bikes in door though, can't criticise .

One of my LBS is laid out to allow bikes to come in and has external places where you can chain a bike up, the other isn't and has no facilities that I can see for securing the bike outside the shop either. Speaks volumes to me.

 

[Sheffield_Tiger]

Interesting opinions as I've heard other people criticise Decathlon on cycle parking. There is a certain opinion that as a fairly new store that their facilities are whilst not dreadful, below expectations. I would subscribe to this comparing other similar developments - not awful, but could be better.

What I'd suggest is perhaps there are not enough spaces.

But for me, that is a non-issue. Went in today and on a Saturday lunchtime, I had all the stands to myself. Came out and there was one other bike.

So I suppose provision for up to 8 bikes isn't enough in theory......in practice it's fine.

Compared to JE James where I negotiated the maniac drivers in the car park (visiting the "toy shop" for a bike "for the kids") and found a bit of railing - not interested in using wheelbenders - or my LBS which I did take the bike in, but - and through no fault of Butterworths which I class as a "proper" LBS - if someone else was in with their bike, there may not have been room.

On that basis, today, decathlon was the best of premises visited.

Shame they didn't have everything I needed nor anyone on running to give me proper advice re: a foot problem, but for the advice, I'll just go back on a weekday evening when its quieter

 

[Maz]

I've gone past Decathlon regularly but never gone in as "it's a sports shop" and I'm not a "sporty" person. I thought it would be all tennis, athletics and the like. I did give it a try though a couple of weeks ago for the first time ever and it's so good to see a shop that puts proper bike facilities.

Are you talking about the one on St.Mary's/Bramall Lane? Been there many times (I always walk, though). Plenty of very tempting decently-priced bike kit.

 

[marinyork]

What I'd suggest is perhaps there are not enough spaces.

But for me, that is a non-issue. Went in today and on a Saturday lunchtime, I had all the stands to myself. Came out and there was one other bike.

So I suppose provision for up to 8 bikes isn't enough in theory......in practice it's fine.

It really depends what you're comparing it to. For example in that sort of area there are two newish buildings that have the covered cycle stands - one being the BBC building so you could say Decathlon was poor. I'd also point out that Decathlon has a lavishly large car park that takes about 100 cars so we'd also be expecting a bit more from them and the size of their business especially as some of them would be cyclists. For parity of its size, business and other facilities I say decathlon should really have a covered stand and enough capacity for about 20 bicycles (not all covered). There are also two sets of public stands close by so there is a history in the area.

On the other hand there are many new builds that have little or zero cycle parking and four stands with bars across situation by the entrance is visible and good. Of city centre parking there's a lack of cycle parking in general south east of town if you strip out the concentrated bits round Sheffield Hallam university. For example the three stands outside the Showroom is woefully inadequate.

Compared to JE James where I negotiated the maniac drivers in the car park (visiting the "toy shop" for a bike "for the kids") and found a bit of railing - not interested in using wheelbenders - or my LBS which I did take the bike in, but - and through no fault of Butterworths which I class as a "proper" LBS - if someone else was in with their bike, there may not have been room.

Butterworths is fine, it's cramped but it's normally good to upto about 3 bicycles being in there. Tony Butterworths is another matter. JE James really should bother and get rid of the wheel locks but so many bike shops don't have cycle parking.

What I was quite impressed with was Condor in London.