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I knew about some of the Cycle Surgery closing some of its stores but just found out Moorgate, Strype Street and the velodrome are all closing. I have also just been told that Evans at Spitalfields will be going too. Which is a bugger as the next day collection for mail order is so convenient.
Does anyone know if Evans are staying local to the area?
bugger.
There's a reasonable sized Evans on Mark Lane, and a cycle republic on Lime St. and SBC in Hoxton ish
And there's always Condor.
Is Swift Cycles losing down?
Evans still open in Canary Wharf ATM..
Wirral Cycle Surgery also to close and M STEEL Cycles in newcastle just closed down , the firose before christmas, high buisness rates and rents a probable causse
Whaaaat?!?! Those are all the ones that I use!!
It doesn't make sense to close Evans Spitalfields AND Cyclesurgery Strype St, as they are both next to each other as soon as one goes the other will be much more profitable..
How did you here about this? The timing is weird as cycling has never been more popular, but there has also been an explosion in bije shops opening up so maybe there's too many. Cyclesurgery Strype St has been around for ever tho..
The Cycle Surgery stores are being turned into new multi brand stores (Cycle Surgery, Cotswold Outdoors & Runners Need in one store). More in line with their parent co AS Adventure stores in Europe. Should be good.
Evans by St. Pauls is still going!
Times are hard for a lot of bricks and mortar cycle shops both small lbs and the chains.
I’d guess it’s been a good 18 months of slowing down so far
How will you ever manage?Now there will only be 17 bike shops in 10sq miles.Poor loves.
Profits aren't that great considering sales etc for Evans. I should imagine they're cutting high rental costs
Strype Street is a shame but i'd imagine not many people outside of enthusiasts knew about the stock it held
How will you ever manage?Now there will only be 17 bike shops in 10sq miles.Poorloves.
Well this is quite offensive, not sure what has prompted it to be honest. Trolling I guess?
Isn’t there a Cotswold Outdoor on Strype St as well, on the end?
Makes a lot of sense to merge them IMO.
Most likely a board troll Shermer.
I first read about it on Bikebiz and one of the guys at Strype St told me about which store were closing. Evans I heard about through building management via Spitalfields Estate. Apparently that whole side of the square is being redevolped and as yet Evans aren't renewing the lease afterwards.
Swift Cycles should be fine I'd imagine, independant and a steady flow through the door backed up great team working in there.
My apologies....I underestimated how fragile the inhabitants of our capital are during these testing times.
Apology excepted - please be gentle with us during the coming weeks. Times are indeed tough and our fragile souls have been bruised.
Ignoring the sarcasm and naivety in the last few posts.....too many companies, too little differentiation in product & service offers, no real attempt to develop a USP.
Go back to 2011 - most bike shops, mainly the chains, were pushing offroad; post 2012 olympic success the pendulum moved the other way and, surprise surprise, the same shops were now promoting road bikes.
The small number of shops who have stayed true to their first love are those who - as a massive generalisation - survived and will continue. One of the exceptions is M Steel ^^^ for their demise; bought my first road bike c/w panniers from them in the depths of the last century.
For those still owning and/or working in bike shops - lbs or chain - chapeau chaps.
My apologies....I underestimated how fragile the inhabitants of our capital are during these testing times.
Erm...does Rorschach think he's Katniss Everdeen?!?
Are you sure Steels has closed? I was in there 2 days ago. Will pass it on my way to work this morning and have a look.
Closed yesterday according to the above link?
Yeah heard Steel’s sadly closed yesterday.
is there a decent mtb shop in London, i.e. one with a good range of bikes and knowledgeable staff? Loads of decent road bike shops
Surprised at Evans Spitalfields going, however it seems a leap of faith to say that based on the fact they’re yet to renew the lease after redevelopment.
...and, unfortunately, you've stated both the problem and the cause of the problem all in your original post 🙁I knew about some of the Cycle Surgery closing some of its stores but just found out Moorgate, Strype Street and the velodrome are all closing. I have also just been told that Evans at Spitalfields will be going too. Which is a bugger as the next day collection for mail order is so convenient.
Bricks and mortar shops can't possible compete against the might of the online retailers and those that do both (e.g. Evans) are possibly in the worst position of all, being forced to maintain an expensive chain of shops while their customers expect to pay bottom dollar, internet prices for stuff *and* have the convenience of a store to back it up. It will never work and this is probably just the beginning of store rationalisation.
Note: I'm not one of these LBS flag waving luddites - I buy 90% of my cycling kit online, but I understand what this means. I've become entirely self-sufficient in my maintenance and rarely step foot inside a bike shop (apart, ironically, from yesterday when I bought a new bike for the wife - at a knock down price!) But the reality is that the LBS (both big and small) are in a great deal of trouble and the big chains are not immune - in fact, they may well be in the worst situation of all.
Evans had a really aggressive expansion a few years ago, opening loads of quite small "commuter" shops in all sorts of places, sometimes down little alleyways or just off main drags like Oxford Street.
I couldn't see it lasting even then - I know that somne of the shops were loss leaders but were opened simply to stop a Cycle Surgery or other brand opening up there and gain a foothold in the market.
The simple fact is that bricks and mortar shops cannot compete with the internet giants on bike sales. On line, over the past two years I have bought two good quality full-suss frames for £650-£700. A shop would have to pay a distributor around £1100 to get one of those frames into stock, and then they'd hope to sell for £1600..... But of course they can't sell the frame at all because they are being massively undercut.
If you are relying on sales, life is going to be difficult. Some might be doing ok, and good luck to them, but most are struggling.
Rorschach » I underestimated how fragile the inhabitants of our capital are during these testing times.Erm...does Rorschach think he's Katniss Everdeen?!?
🙂
Good work
El Vino - Member
is there a decent mtb shop in London, i.e. one with a good range of bikes and knowledgeable staff? Loads of decent road bike shops
Moose cycles in Colliers Wood is basically a good mountain bike shop which deals with the odd commuter bike repair / sale, good people as well.
Soho cycles are the only real MTB specialist in Central London. It's a small market, there aren't many mountains in London, or many off road sections deserving of suspension
Soho Bikes in Berwick Street. Excellent range of MTBs and gear.