Where do you shop for kit?

[Globalti]

. My Aldi 3/4 lengths lasted me over a year & my Lidl long sleeved top is still going strong and it will be 2 years old on the 5th or 6th this month.

I've got some Lusso bib tights that must be getting on for 18 years old, stitched and repaired all over the knees but still giving good service in winter.

 

[the_mikey]

Ebay, Wiggle, Parker International, Tredz, are some of the places I buy from, I've never been to a local bike shop for anything but a pump and a bottle of chain oil.

 

[glasgowcyclist]

Lidl do some great value kit, nearly all my cycle clothing comes from there but just watch out for some odd sizing. They'll swap stuff over no problem.
Things like lights or tyres I'll buy online (although my last set of tyres were Chinese copies of Marathon + from Lidl and they're proving to be excellent).
Annual servicing is done by my LBS.

GC

 

[phil_hg_uk]

I get most of my components for the bike online at either Wiggle,CRC or Ribble and on occasion Halfords if they are the cheapest.

My clothes I buy from Cyclesense in Tadcaster as I can go there and try them on, as a result I always get a discount as they know I will always come back for more so it works out cheaper than buying them online anyway.

 

[zizou]

Mostly online for clothes - it isn't just a price thing though it is mostly the range of brands on offer.

Sometimes get some things out of Evans there bigger stores have a broader selection than most LBS plus they will price match online stores.

 

[ianrauk]

You should have had an option for 'both'

 

[G3CWI]

I have never been in an Ann Summers shop. Do they stock any cycling kit?

 

[Mo1959]

I have never been in an Ann Summers shop. Do they stock any cycling kit?

I'm sure one of their whips might come in useful if the steerer on a tandem is slacking
In saying that, I have never been in one of their shops!

 

[Ciar]

Depends what it is my lbs gets the more bike related items, clothing is a split between various online vendors, chain reaction getting most of the business as I like the layout of their website for ease of use.

 

[Dan Ferris]

Decathlon stores usually have a good range of clothes for sensible prices if you're just starting out. Make sure to get the most padded shorts they do.

 

[mattobrien]

Both, I try to support my LBS as much as possible, but every now and again there is an online offer just too tempting, like the couple of 50% of items for winter I picked up from Wiggle (castelli top and tights). Odd that the discounted so heavily as we start to approach the colder seasons. I still wonder if they got it wrong as the same items were back to full price by the same evening.

 

[Born2die]

My lbs doesn't even stock clothes. He has been there for decades sells 2 makes of bike, 3 types of lock and that's about it really stuffy about servicing bikes he hasn't sold etc. the other lbs in town is the same so I shop mostly on line at the moment

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

usually online because my preferred kit is Assos and ladies assos kit is hard to get at the best of times. I have Assos kit that is +7 years old and still going strong. Don't really get on with dhb kit, have a single item of Northwave kit which if I could buy again I would, but that is nearly 10 years old... and recently purchased Gore bike wear top that is quite nice - though only worn it the once so far - this winter will test it out to its limit I suspect. Usual contenders Wiggle via CTC, Evans, CycleSurgery, Specialized, bike-discount.de and SJSCycle and the Bike factory.

bike parts tend to be online unless it is an emergency or we need to deal with it 'today' then it is a long drive or long ride to the closest LBS that stocks the parts. +20 miles by bike to the closest decent LBS that does mountain bike parts, 6-7 miles to the closest that does road bikes and if it is for my tourer, then it is over the phone or online and a wait...

 

[HLaB]

I like try shoes/clothes on so I tend to get them in a shop unless its an absolute baragain. Most of the components I buy are on line unless they are standard components I need in a hurry (cables/brakepads) and then I try a lbs. I've tried to use lbs for more stuff in the past but I tend to find they just dont carry the stock and you have limited brand choice.

 

[Herr-B]

A new LBS opened near me about a year ago so I popped in (they'd previously had a shop about 20 miles away), they had a discounted/sale rack and there was nothing for less than £60, absolutely nothing, and certainly nothing for anyone who isn't the same build as the Mr Muscle advert man. I may use them for some servicing details but certainly not for clothing.