As mentioned previously (appreciate there's 40+ pages), excessive inventory is exactly the issue. I don't agree with being left behind but that's for another thread
State of the industry: a running thread
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My lbs is run by a bloke I fell out with over his changing poor attitude and useless mechanical ability decades ago now.. he had a good , in fact brilliant saturday mechanic but lost him.. this shop owner used to lend me tools if he didn't have time to fix something for me..!
I got fed up with his increasingly crap attitude, and costs but mostly for my bike dissapearing for days and weeks for drivetrain basics, I was a loner, my bike was everything outside school, two weeks without it was unacceptable.
So I started a lifetimes habit in every aspect of my life, buy the tool, keep some spares , learn to be self reliant. Want to fix the bike right now, have a brew and go ride some more.. get on with it!
You appear to describe the sort of bikeshop I would of likely ended up working saturdays in , in my youth if things hadn't changed, and still using now.
I often look out shops on holiday, all over the uk, and buy spares etc if I like the person and tell them I like the shop etc.
Ghyllside cycles in Ambleside being the most immediate to spring to mind, my other half knows I will not be in the lakes without a stop here! very long established, passionate ex engineer career.. bike obsessed but rounded and welcoming, I am always in there for ages, chat, and buy things ive deliberately left purchasing to get when on holiday.. pedals, service parts, lubes etc.. ive been in there couple times a year for the last twenty years, and talking to them theres a lot of us, a useful part of the buisness, no bullshit, no moaning on cost or trying to bargain plea like lifes an auction.. they love customers like me. I don't do modern bikes, which they respect and they have dug about upstairs and helped me with spares before, because they are like me.
I think it was the start of my lbs pushing towards selling new bikes and accessories rather than being a well rounded owner who saw kids like me as loyal customers who would soon be earning some money for bigger and better things.. anyhow he used to have amazing stock like this.. for his speedy working saturday genius.
This is the stock of a proper mechanic / engineer who fixes things, and I think this model is not what brands want, they want salesman.
Hats off to you for being service and customer minded. I walk in modern places pushing shiny gravel shit to hipsters , and walk straight out, walk in see racks of chains, etc for all kinds, or retrobikes hanging up etc.. there are solid clues to it being a shop worth spending money in...!
I think a service led model that does not require the buy in, or dependance on brands is great.
I'm generally out of touch with things, but when I do visit the only LBS about 60km I have no motivation to buy anything.
In part, I can wrench myself and have no interest in modern stuff. I went there with a neighbour to buy a track pump - guy behind the counter says they don't sell them anymore, and go to the big hyper-market up the road. Which means buying Chinese shit which will fall to bits of course. They are looking at new Ebike sales and servicing newer things. Still very polite and all, but I felt disconnected and time as rolled on.
It's no wonder why the bike cafe syndrome is popular. They are retro bike friendly, it's social, cheap, a melting pot of young and old, and you learn something. Perhaps it's another debate, but I feel it's going to be bike charities that will keep the wheels turning in society while there will be a massive correction in the new sales market.
In part, I can wrench myself and have no interest in modern stuff. I went there with a neighbour to buy a track pump - guy behind the counter says they don't sell them anymore, and go to the big hyper-market up the road. Which means buying Chinese shit which will fall to bits of course. They are looking at new Ebike sales and servicing newer things. Still very polite and all, but I felt disconnected and time as rolled on.
It's no wonder why the bike cafe syndrome is popular. They are retro bike friendly, it's social, cheap, a melting pot of young and old, and you learn something. Perhaps it's another debate, but I feel it's going to be bike charities that will keep the wheels turning in society while there will be a massive correction in the new sales market.
ChromeChainstay
Senior Retro Guru
welcome to the new electronic bike age (shite')
CassidyAce
Senior Retro Guru
Welcome to the new AI bike age:
https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/...think-for-themselves-shimano-patent-suggests.
Before long, the humble pedal-powered, all-mechanical bicycle might seem as quaint and dated as the horse-drawn plough. Sadly.
ChromeChainstay
Senior Retro Guru
the absolute pinnacle was the mid nineties before cheap aluminum took over. imo
been downhill ever since.
oh well, i am stockpiling 11spd mechanical. i saw the end and it doesn't look pretty.
shyt' in and shyt' out these days
i am old and i have issues
been downhill ever since.
oh well, i am stockpiling 11spd mechanical. i saw the end and it doesn't look pretty.
shyt' in and shyt' out these days
i am old and i have issues
Let's try and keep old tropes off this thread. There's plenty of room for that elsewhere on the forum
Guinessisgoodforyou
rBotM Winner
It was only wafer thinLet's try and keep old tropes off this thread. There's plenty of room for that elsewhere on the forum
Difference is that there are a lot more old bikes around than ploughs, and they will always be cheaper than electric/electronic bikes and some individuals will always want to be pedal powered for recreation, fitness etc. But yes, for pure transport purposes I can see more electric bikes coming into play. But people still play tennis even though they can more easily watch it on the TV/play a computer simulation of it.
I thought both Nukeproof and Vitus were owned entirely by CRC Wiggle/Signa....., No...?
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