why are the local bike shops closing down?

[classic33]

Nearly 8 years later I'm still waiting for this call.

Call them back.

 

[Chromatic]

Call them back.

I think they are long gone.

 

[classic33]

I think they are long gone.

Sorry to read that.

 

[Cavalol]

We had a few locally, now it's effectively Halfords, Evans and The Bike Factory (with a Specialized store next door). The Bike Factory are brilliant, Evans just feels like a catalogue shop and the staff when I visited a handful of times seemed a bit clueless.
There was another shop (69 Cycles) near by, the owner was the friendliest person you could ever meet, but tried everything to sell me a bike that was too small for me, and that really wound me up to the extent I wouldn't go back there again. Evans probably saw them and 'The Edge' cycles off, though the internet has probably done the most damage.

Half the fun in buying a bike is going to see it in real life, trying the correct size out and ordering it. Maybe people do go and see them in bike shops, try one out then find cheaper on the net though?

 

[Milzy]

We have one that's closed Monday and closes at 3 pm every day it's open. Impossible to visit after work. Surprised it doesn't close down.

 

[Venod]

We have a new shop in the area, we have two well regarded LBS's, Kendell in Castleford, J's in Ferrybridge as well as Evans and Halfords, so its a brave decision to open a new one, but good luck to them.

https://cykelhouse.com/

 

[vickster]

Loads of independent bike shops around here, probably or even more within 10 miles! (Including the one officially recognised as the world’s oldest bicycle business a mile away)

A heavily populated area with lots of cyclists of all flavours. Halfords and Evans too

Probably not a one has a sub £500 adult bike to sell right now!
Evans in Wimbledon is stripped, some e-bikes, handful of carbon road bikes, a few mountain bikes

 

[Landsurfer]

Does anyone find that with cycling experience the need for a LBS disappears ...
I've built up all the bikes i've had for the last 30 years, the 2 i bought ready built i dismantled and rebuilt on arrival ... upgrades it's called.
I have 2 one man band LBS in town a Halfords and a James Cycles .... i never use any of them ....
SJS for bits and diy ...

 

[lane]

What there is round here are a few "mechanics only type set up" rather than a shop as such. Think it makes sense with so much retail online.

 

[Landsurfer]

1 near us is just 2 pop up gazebos on the local shopping area .... quick fixes, punctures and no bike sales .... seems to be busy ...

 

[nickyboy]

1 near us is just 2 pop up gazebos on the local shopping area .... quick fixes, punctures and no bike sales .... seems to be busy ...

This is the business model that will survive. Most bike customers want to either buy online or have a supermarket experience like Halfords, Decathlon etc. The customers that want to buy a bike from a LBS are in the minority. The money to be made is in servicing these bikes. Most people have no interest in learning how to maintain and service a bike. Paying someone to do it is fine for them.

LBS that don't understand this and keep trying to focus on bike sales (except those specialists for things like tandems, folders etc) will close

 

[screenman]

Overheads are huge for shops, most cyclists I know expect to pay say £25 an hours which is not enough to run a shop on.

 

[Grant Fondo]

We had a few locally, now it's effectively Halfords, Evans and The Bike Factory (with a Specialized store next door). The Bike Factory are brilliant, Evans just feels like a catalogue shop and the staff when I visited a handful of times seemed a bit clueless.
There was another shop (69 Cycles) near by, the owner was the friendliest person you could ever meet, but tried everything to sell me a bike that was too small for me, and that really wound me up to the extent I wouldn't go back there again. Evans probably saw them and 'The Edge' cycles off, though the internet has probably done the most damage.

Half the fun in buying a bike is going to see it in real life, trying the correct size out and ordering it. Maybe people do go and see them in bike shops, try one out then find cheaper on the net though?

As another local, agree with you on TBF, good bunch and bought my last Spesh from there. Had a couple of Merida test rides at 69, funny little place really but nice chap, he must have gone 2 or 3 years ago now? I will add Global Bike out at Tattenhall to the list, another one I liked and now sadly gone

 

[Notafettler]

LBS Have one solid advantage, they can repair things I could do myself... but can't be arsed. Although they take there time doing it.

 

[Notafettler]

Does anyone find that with cycling experience the need for a LBS disappears

No

I have 2 one man band LBS in town a Halfords and a James Cycles .... i never use any of them ....
SJS for bits and diy ...

Nothing to brag about