State of the industry: a running thread

[FluffyChicken]

i have worked in the motor trade and marine industry in the parts dept for the past 28 years and most of the people who i come across that say they are engineers, i wouldnt let them work on my bike or give them a nut and bolt to put together.

i once had to explain to a so called engineer what a gasket was !

back to the topic of local bike shops, all the ones in my area seem to be slowly disappearing.
this has to be caused by the power of internet buying and the cost of living crisis.

but maybe once all the big boys start to go bump, people may start returning to the LBS.

I guess you assume and Engineer is a Mechanical or Vehicle Engineer?
Being an engineer doesn't mean you know about cars or how a bike goes together, they could well be Software, Electrical, ...
Long gone has the notion an engineer is about an engine.

 

[geddy1972]

I guess you assume and Engineer is a Mechanical or Vehicle Engineer?
Being an engineer doesn't mean you know about cars or how a bike goes together, they could well be Software, Electrical, ...
Long gone has the notion an engineer is about an engine.

i think your right there.

most people including myself tend to think of an engineer as someone that works with something mechanical.

 

[novocaine]

You can all **** off. here we are chatting about know it all arseholes and how every walk of life has them, then you go and lump all engineers under the same umbrella. well screw you. (note the smiley faces, this is said in jest).

I'm a mechanical engineer. I am also an ex bike mechanic, have worked as an HGV mechanic, erm..... I hope I'm not the type of engineer you are thinking of.

also, I've never started a conversation with "I'm an engineer", but I've ended a few. :{

granted, I'm an arsehole, but I admit I don't know it all as well as admitting to being an arsehole.

 

[geddy1972]

You can all **** off. here we are chatting about know it all arseholes and how every walk of life has them, then you go and lump all engineers under the same umbrella. well screw you. (note the smiley faces, this is said in jest).

I'm a mechanical engineer. I am also an ex bike mechanic, have worked as an HGV mechanic, erm..... I hope I'm not the type of engineer you are thinking of.

also, I've never started a conversation with "I'm an engineer", but I've ended a few. :{

granted, I'm an arsehole, but I admit I don't know it all as well as admitting to being an arsehole.

sounds like your the type of engineer that actually knows what your are doing . and one that works on bikes aswell.

my wife is always telling me im an arsehole and she always knows better than me.

 

[al-onestare]

https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/...iscussions-with-a-number-of-interested-buyers
Quoted £97M of debt, presumably there's more than that when you get fully under the hood with the latest accounts.

If Ashley does purchase, he'll be looking to recoup that quickly, so Wiggles/CRC's assets will be forefront. I'm guessing warehouse, location and infrastructure maybe of use for SportsDirect and other brands he runs (and vice-versa). NI location brings some import/export "benefits" post-Brexit that the rest of the UK doesn't have (well done gammons!)

 

[geddy1972]

does make me laugh how you can suddenly find yourself in £97 million in debt !

surely they must have noticed the debts piling up !

 

[novocaine]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-67261798

does make me laugh how you can suddenly find yourself in £97 million in debt !

surely they must have noticed the debts piling up !

because it's not a true debt, they don't have a nice profit and loss spreadsheet with a number at the bottom that flashes red. they have some very clever accountants who float credit against income against asset against some other imaginary value. the point at which a company goes bust isn't the point at which the debt gets to high, it's the point at which the accountants admit defeat. basically its bullshit.

I Fraser group get involved I'd be surprised if that debt was ever realised and if any of it that is actual debt to suppliers etc. it get's paid back instead of left with the administrator of the bankruptcy. you can see it happening with Wilkos right now.

 

[N-plus-one]

The LBS in the Middle East are:

prompt and polite service. The techs kowtow as you enter, and fight to take your bike off you.
variable quality work. They know what they know, but wont admit to where the boundaries are or what they know they dont know (esp those from the "sub-continent").
poor stock of spare parts, but very happy to order for you. Sadly the postal systems in ME are random, so couriers are required (kerchingg).
full of loverely jubbly glittery fantastic high-end stuff. A conscious effort to overcome "N+1" is critical for financial health.
encouraging owners' laziness, because they will wash/dry/lube your bike after a dusty ride - for a very low price.

posted semi tongue-in-cheek.

 

[minor_LEGEND]

You can all **** off. here we are chatting about know it all arseholes and how every walk of life has them, then you go and lump all engineers under the same umbrella. well screw you. (note the smiley faces, this is said in jest).

I'm a mechanical engineer. I am also an ex bike mechanic, have worked as an HGV mechanic, erm..... I hope I'm not the type of engineer you are thinking of.

also, I've never started a conversation with "I'm an engineer", but I've ended a few. :{

granted, I'm an arsehole, but I admit I don't know it all as well as admitting to being an arsehole.

When I worked in the cycle trade, this encounter with 'engineers' was frequent. Oh I'm an engineer, what can you knock-off if I put it together myself? 9 times out of 10 the bike & said engineer would return usually due to being stumped by a L/h pedal thread but then mention the gears & then the brakes, so actually you would end up performing 95% of a PDI on the shopfloor whilst they watch on trying to act like they knew all along.
Likewise my mate, a main dealer mechanic/tech for VW gets me to do all his bike maintenance.

 

[Titiritero]

For the record, it's not that they "suddenly" found a pile of debt. They had loans, but also the promise from the parent company of a 150m credit line. So the accounts were "matched". The parent company backtracked in the last minute and then the black hole was opened...