Less Common Shops that sell Bicycle parts
- Thread starter JoeH
- Start date
bikeworkshop
Senior Retro Guru
It's normally appalling quality though.
I mean, I would say that, being an old style bike shop, but the number of customers complaining about their bendy wilko tyre levers, unsticky supermarket patches, rechargeable homeware store lights that don't work in the rain, it's usually a waste of money.
Big business thinks it can get rich in the cycle trade bulk selling low quality?
Occasionally they will dump a quantity of decent stuff below trade price, but in the long term that damages the market - like crc.
We quality control stock before offering it for sale, and if it turns out to be cr4p, we'll change the product.
This is helpful for many of our customers who don't want to engage with the detail, they just want stuff that works.
If you love the thrill of the chase though, experimentation and fiddling around, then maybe there are bargain items to be found.
I mean, I would say that, being an old style bike shop, but the number of customers complaining about their bendy wilko tyre levers, unsticky supermarket patches, rechargeable homeware store lights that don't work in the rain, it's usually a waste of money.
Big business thinks it can get rich in the cycle trade bulk selling low quality?
Occasionally they will dump a quantity of decent stuff below trade price, but in the long term that damages the market - like crc.
We quality control stock before offering it for sale, and if it turns out to be cr4p, we'll change the product.
This is helpful for many of our customers who don't want to engage with the detail, they just want stuff that works.
If you love the thrill of the chase though, experimentation and fiddling around, then maybe there are bargain items to be found.
Agreed. The Tesco chains were decent (branded KMC IIRC despite the tesco packaging) and originally a tenner. Obviously, no one thinks to buy a chain from Tesco so they remained unsold until I snaffled them all up.
Matalan has been known to have end of line cycling gear. A friend of mine recently picked up an Alpine Stars full face for under £40.
Matalan has been known to have end of line cycling gear. A friend of mine recently picked up an Alpine Stars full face for under £40.
minor_LEGEND
Senior Retro Guru
I have had chains & brake pads (V blocks) from ASDA. I wouldn't bother with much else, maybe cable inners. As said, poor quality parts are a hindrance more than anything.
Most supermarkets/chains will carry bike stuff all usually of similar quality or even the same manufacturer - tested this with a friend about 10/15 years back by unlocking a Poundland lock with a Homebargains key and vice versa. Not that it really matters as a strong breeze would snap one of those locks lol. No qualms picking stuff up from those places in a pinch/on Sundays/etc.
Homebargains have some "Francis Stuart" branded bike stuff which seems okay, repair kits haven't let me down yet. Cheap and cheerful but not bad for stuff thatll spend 99% of their time in a saddle bag. The Range carry tubes and other various accessories along with a pretty good degreaser/cleaner by BikeRight. Kind of miss having Wilkinsons, always had everything in one spot.
bikeworkshop
Senior Retro Guru
I'd only use a rema tiptop repair kit - probably the most expensive, but I'm only going to have to fix it once.
You can buy strips of rema patches too if your solution is still good.
