Grrrr, why can't bike shops sell the bits you want

[Number14]

Why is it so hard to get hold of spare parts inthis country :?:

Need a new wheelset - no problem - just take your pick of countless suppliers.

Have a decent hub and happy to build your own wheel? Then don't count on being able to source the rim you want. Just buy an unnecessary completge wheel instead.

 

[Will1985]

What rim are you after? You could always source it yourself and take it to them (or someone willing) to get it built up.

Could it be that the profit to be made on an aftermarket wheelset is more than the labour charges for hand building a wheel?!?

 

[Gerry Attrick]

Spa Cycles and SJS sell components, no bother.

 

[02GF74]

Chain Reaction sell rims, hus, spokes and complete wheels. Don't undertand what the problem is.

 

[Davidc]

As above, plenty of online suppliers of parts.

Plenty of LBSs around here and I know that 3 of them will work with parts you supply yourself, and not just for wheels.

 

[Tim Bennet.]

You seem to be confusing a 'bike shop that just happens to be local to you' with what most people consider a 'LBS' to be.

There are plenty of bike shops in Lancaster, but none of hem qualify as a LBS because they are simply variations of the 'spotty youth selling mtbs and stuff'.

Our true LBS is 30 minutes away, and he has over 200 rims in stock of every sort. That's why Hewitt's is a LBS, but Evans, Lakes Leisure, The Edge, etc aren't.

Proximity (L) is only one criteria that makes up a LBS. They also need to be a proper BS to qualify.

 

[Davidc]

You seem to be confusing a 'bike shop that just happens to be local to you' with what most people consider a 'LBS' to be.

There are plenty of bike shops in Lancaster, but none of hem qualify as a LBS because they are simply variations of the 'spotty youth selling mtbs and stuff'.

Our true LBS is 30 minutes away, and he has over 200 rims in stock of every sort. That's why Hewitt's is a LBS, but Evans, Lakes Leisure, The Edge, etc aren't.

Proximity (L) is only one criteria that makes up a LBS. They also need to be a proper BS to qualify.

No, we have 5 (6 including Halfords) bike selling shops, 3 of which are what I'd call proper bike shops with knowledgeable staffs and decent workshops, all with their own niche in the market.

 

[vernon]

Why is it so hard to get hold of spare parts inthis country :?:

Need a new wheelset - no problem - just take your pick of countless suppliers.

Have a decent hub and happy to build your own wheel? Then don't count on being able to source the rim you want. Just buy an unnecessary completge wheel instead.

I wanted something basic like four spokes and went to the Leeds branch of The Edinburgh Bike Co-operative only because it is 15 minutes closer than my regular LBS.

Waste of time - after ten minutes of rummaging around in the workshop. The hapless assistant informed me that they didn't have any. They also lost the sale of a chainwhip and cassette removal tool.

I went to my normal LBS, Woodrups who lightened my wallet by £24 (after a couple of quid discount) for spokes and tools. Money well spent and I enjoyed a ten minute chat afterwards.

 

[Hilldodger]

Why is it so hard to get hold of spare parts inthis country :?:

Need a new wheelset - no problem - just take your pick of countless suppliers.

Have a decent hub and happy to build your own wheel? Then don't count on being able to source the rim you want. Just buy an unnecessary completge wheel instead.

Because everyone wants the cheapest possible price so everything is made in the Far East and it is very duifficult for suppliers/wholesalers/shops to get hold of stuff quickly.

 

[Cranks]

What is it you want exactly?

 

[andy_wrx]

Perhaps they haven't got an infinite-capacity stockroom, and an infinite amount of capital to tie-up in holding stock, so they don't have every possible thing that someone walking through the door could possibly want, they're just stocking the things which are likely to sell a lot of, rather then once or twice a year ?

The old-fashioned LBS, where you'd go in and ask for something and they'd say "yes, I'm sure we've got one of them somewhere" and do lots of rummaging-around in dusty boxes, before emerging triumphantly and selling it to you for 3-and-6 are gone some time ago I'm afraid.

Internet sellers like Wiggle or CRC are of course bigger : bigger customerbase, bigger turnover, they can afford to stock more items.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

who buys spares in the flesh these days?

 

[ThePainInSpain]

Why is it so hard to get hold of spare parts inthis country :?:

Don't know how you would get on living here. Nobody stocks anything, everything is available 'Manana'.
And nothing actually 'on display' is for sale.

 

[e-rider]

Don't know how you would get on living here. Nobody stocks anything, everything is available 'Manana'.
And nothing actually 'on display' is for sale.

my experience in Germany is also that everything must be ordered: practically nothing is kept in the store. UK bike shops are actually fairly good for stock levels - shame about the useless staff they like to employ for £5 per hour.

 

[jimboalee]

You seem to be confusing a 'bike shop that just happens to be local to you' with what most people consider a 'LBS' to be.

There are plenty of bike shops in Lancaster, but none of hem qualify as a LBS because they are simply variations of the 'spotty youth selling mtbs and stuff'.

Our true LBS is 30 minutes away, and he has over 200 rims in stock of every sort. That's why Hewitt's is a LBS, but Evans, Lakes Leisure, The Edge, etc aren't.

Proximity (L) is only one criteria that makes up a LBS. They also need to be a proper BS to qualify.

A PROPER LBS has a small door to an Aladin's cave of ancient parts and accessories, draw cabinets full of little bits and pieces that haven't been opened for years and an old work bench with a vice and tobacco tins on top and some nice looking frames stuffed underneath.
A PROPER LBS has a sturdy lock-up with the Master's track bike hanging on hooks with an old blue overall as a dust cover.
A PROPER LBS has a small brass bell above the door which tinkles when the door opens and closes.
A PROPER LBS has a big pile of broken bits in the back yard.
A PROPER LBS has a Monsieur Michelin sticker in the window with the edges peeled up where young lads have picked at it while waiting for wheels to be trued.
A PROPER LBS has a faded Poster of Eddy Merckx above the shelf behind the cash register.
A PROPER LBS has no carpet. There is an offcut of old brown lino where the Master sits on his wooden swivel chair.
A PROPER LBS has a card box with inner tubes in it with marker pen writing on the side "Punctured. 50p to Air Ambulance"