[Closed] Bikelab, Poole, Closed?

Website now only shows Richmond - hope the Richmond store is not about to close.

Don't know but there's a new specialist in Ringwood who's setup will blow ya mind.

I do know, but it's not something i want to go into on here.

Tough times where you have to get everything right.

A few poor decision or just some bad luck is all it takes.

It closed due to a falling out of business partners, simple as that.
Clive (ex owner bikelab).

That's a shame, was for the most part a reasonable shop.

Good luck in whatever you do next.

Such a shame. Always keen to visit the shop when I was ever in Poole.

No doubt you'll be a great success in whatever new venture you do next.

Good luck. 🙂

MM - has bikesheds moved yet?

Yes, moved out yesterday and reopen on Thursday.

Thanks guys, I had ten years there, we had a lot of fun, sold some sweet bikes but everything comes to an end at some point. I have a distribution company that needs my attention (axel imports) so that will be the focus of my attention for the foreseeable future.

Hi clive

I worked in f.t.bikes just as you took over Titus. I miss opening frame boxes with ti and exogrid! I always thought Titus would go on for many years to come,getting bigger all the time but ive just had a look on the planet-x site and nothing has changed over the past year (25th Nov to be exact)

I take it Andy is still with you at Axel?

refer and specialist ??

Just read this thread - it's a real shame they've closed. It was always a good shop, and they were VERY switched-on.

What's happened to the mechanic who worked there as well (the same bloke who used to work at the other bikeshop in between Bournemouth/Poole)?

That's a shame, was for the most part a reasonable shop.

a glowing recommendation!

Martin is now working in the new bike shop in Ringwood and Andy is doing bike fits at a tri shop in Yoevil i think.

Sorry, I'll try to be more gushy next time. 😉

Be good to see New Ultimate get a higher profile, their stuff is far better than their rarity suggests!

A cracking shop run by a cracking bloke, you can be sure to see Clive pop up somewhere in the industry soon enough... He's a longtermer

Yep it's a shame and I already told Clive I was gutted when I heard the news. Bikelab Poole were exactly how an LBS should be. They developed a great relationship with the customer, the coffee was excellent, and I lost count of the number of times they sorted out something on the bike while I waited and watched rather than having to book the thing in for a week.

I can't see Bikelab in Richmond getting anywhere near that without Clive's input. It has the same name but apart from that it's a different shop completely IMO.

It's a bit of a trek but I'll be following Martin to Ringwood. They were called 'Common Assault' but the new name escapes me.

Again, thanks for the kind words.

Martin has gone to work for The Forge Cyclworks in Ringwood, not as specialist as bikelab but has potential to be with Martins input and a bit of courage. Neal has gone to work for Tri UK in Yeovil, one of the best bikefitters i've ever had the pleasure of working with.

I think you might mean Andy who spannered with us a few years back, he went to Primera and is now at Ride in Poole, VERY good mechanic, one of the best out there. Ginger Stu went to work for Cycling Weekly a few years back and the other Stu went off to be the Yeti Brand Manager so a couple of the guys went on to some great jobs in the industry.

The other Andy is still involved with Axel Imports and with the great coverage of Esigrip in the Dirt 100 I have been packing boxes all day. We also do Industry Nine wheels and one of you is right, New Ultimate does need a bit more love as it's great stuff.

Anyone who shopped with us over the last ten years (especially you Mark!), thanks for supporting us, we enjoyed making you that coffee and eating the biscuits you normally provided!

As for what I'll do now, well focus on Axel's brands and next weekend i'm off to Europe to test ride a prototype bike that's billed as the Worlds lightest 29er at sub 850 grams for the frame so I will report back!

Hi Clive, Just found out the news.
Since you and Martin helped me put together my Cotic Roadrat for the Tour D'Afrique, Bikelab has always provided me with 1st class service, help and advice, mostly in some last minute emergency before another trip!
After many 1000s of miles Roadrat is still going strong, and is still my favourite bike.
Thanks for everything, and best of luck with your new business.
Clive

Cheers Clive, go and see Andy at Ride, he'll look after your roadrat for you, great mechanic or go and see Martin Hoyles at the bike co down poole quay.

Good luck with any future adventures!
Clive

[b]Mmmmm Axel now has a silver hammer
[/b]
One door closes and another opens - that's the way things seem to work on planet earth. This door however has closed and we found ourselves concerned for the welfare of those super guys running the business.

The faster half of this cycling duo is writing a note for this forum about the wonderful service we have enjoyed over many years at Bike Lab but I would like to record how energising it has been to be in the company of Clive and to see him engaging with the public. Clive has an encyclopedic knowledge of bikes and an infectious enthusiasm for all things cycling. Above all he is a thoroughly decent guy and one that we feel proud to have known as a trustworthy friend.

Good luck to you all. It has been a wonderful experience to share such happy times with you.

Ken

I can’t believe that “the best bike shop in the world” aka Bikelab at Poole no longer exists. We have supported Clive since the shop first opened simply because he has always offered us such sound advice.

We have bought lots of bikes from Clive and together with Andy, Stu 1, Stu 2 and latterly Martin, the team have always given us exemplary service. We live over 200 miles from Poole but regularly did the round trip simply because they were the best and we had the highest regard for the way they operated.

Clive - good luck with your new venture, I know you will succeed.