[Closed] Does anyone still preference their LBS over online?

Well, I bought a Garmin Edge 1030 from my LBS, about two weeks before they closed down. Now my nearest LBS is the other side of town, and might as well be on the far side of the moon.

My closest "LBS" is a (rather useless) Evans, TBH I prefer going to the Decathlon across town if I'm in a pinch for some sort of emergency part.
We do have a bicycle Kitchen here (Reading), Although I seldom have need of them, of the places that you could go to get a bike sorted that's the one I have the soft spot for because they teach people a bit more self sufficiency and keep bikes rolling...

But in answer to the original question, nope the interwebs gets most of my money disposable income these days.
I can go to a "local bike shop" and pay more to have Covid huffed over me in person (for something that basically came through the same supply chain but with the extra overheads necessary to keep a shop going). Or I can pay slightly less online and have the Covids Huffed over me by a Hermes driver... I might as well save a couple of quid where I can.

I was at mine a couple of weeks ago having some wheel-building done.
I can get wheels straight or round, he can both at once and so I go to him. There are some things you just cant do online, we will always need an LBS
He has next to no stock and operates out of a couple of shipping containers though, it is 99% a workshop not a shop-shop. The business model seems to work

Do we have to keep having this thread?

I don't have an LBS any more, just not got the need for it. I'll still always browse a shop when I see one and happily buy stuff, but, it's 5 years since I wanted something done that I couldn't do myself

Gereally prefer an LBS still, though I gave a newish one a go for the first time, fairly simple job, that I couldn’t be arsed to do (clean and re tape some tubeless wheels, to get them to hold air).

Apparently the tape was fine enough that they didn’t need to change it (hmm), just the valve needed changing. Picked them up, drove home, flat before I got home, 20mins later. Rang up to let them know I’d be bringing them back in the morning. ‘They all do that. What you need to do is pump them up again and go for a ride and keep pumping them up until they hold air.’
‘You want me to pump them up, ride them until they go flat (less than 20 mins remember), and keep doing that until they hold air?’
‘Yeah, to give the sealant chance to get round the rim and coat the tyre’

Erm, no. Took them back, mechanic told me they’d ‘only lost a few PSI’ in the hour between him ‘finishing’ them and me picking them up and that I should just carry on riding and reinflating. Nope, you do the job I paid you to do, let me know when they hold pressure for at least 24hrs.

Picking them up again on Monday, we’ll see...

Can't remember the last time I bought anything of value from one. Maybe 10 years. I don't think I've ever used one for fixing stuff apart from a fork service in Morzine once. I suppose I'm glad they exist and I'll always look in the window if walking past. I like to know a bit about the products I'm buying and how much they cost and that is much easier online

not used an LBS in years - needed the BB on a new frame tapped. Can do everything else myself.

I no longer have a local bike shop, they were all drummed out by the internet before cycling was cool again.

Strangely my nearest dispensary of all things bikes appears to be still operating but is never open and the phone is always unanswered.

40 minutes away is a wonderful bike shop and the bike shop of my youth. Increasingly as parts no longer are reduced online if they have stock at all i am buying parts from my localest analog bike shop as there is no longer a price difference enough to not justify not supporting them.

I am happy to pay rrp, put diesel in the van and take 90 minutes out of my day to support these fine people.

The internet never made me a coffee whilst it fixed my bike immediately without booking workshop time.

And the internet never did that gladly.

Erm, no. Took them back, mechanic told me they’d ‘only lost a few PSI’ in the hour between him ‘finishing’ them and me picking them up and that I should just carry on riding and reinflating. Nope, you do the job I paid you to do, let me know when they hold pressure for at least 24hrs.

Picking them up again on Monday, we’ll see…

What exactly do you expect them to do with them, other than leave them in the back of the store room for the sealent to soak in and seal for 72h over the weekend? That describes at least half of the tubeless tyres I've ever fitted.

Yes, just picked up a new frame from my local bike shop, and the one in hebden bridge saved me from a very long walk home on Friday.

Use them or lose them.

There are some things you just cant do online, we will always need an LBS

News to me. I have never taken my bike to an LBS for them to do anything in 48 years of riding and messing about with bikes.

What exactly do you expect them to do with them, other than leave them in the back of the store room for the sealent to soak in and seal for 72h over the weekend? That describes at least half of the tubeless tyres I’ve ever fitted.

Yep, completely normal. Inflate, ride round the block, top up with air, leave for 24 hours for sealant to seal up, top up with air again. They should hold air after that, if not, then you do have a problem.

Use them or lose them.

Same as any other shop. If there is a use and demand for them they stay, if there isn't they go.

It may end up with people providing a mechanical service for cyclists along the lines of car garages where you don't go to buy cars or parts but you get you car fixed. For the rest of us who fix our own bikes we will be the equivalent of the home mechanic.

Rarely... i do all the work on bikes myself. If it's something i don't want to do (freehub bearings that require special tools) then i use a nonlocal LBS who are 30 mins away because of a few reasons, but Rotec Cycles are the place i'll always use. I keep most other bits in spares/stock just in case i need something. Although today i need a 180mm rotor, but it's BH weekend so the LBSs are shut anyway, so i've had to order online and i'll improvise with a 160mm for now.

Lucky enough to have 3 independent LBSs near me. One is small but very good at customer service (Hamoons in Shaftesbury). I use them all as much as is practical, but I will also use the e-web for some parts too.

I'd hate to lose my LBS.

Am trying to, my local shop has a lot of great stock (lots of high end gravel and road stuff mainly).

Has exposed the fatal flaw in the industry though whixh is that it takes a small shop something like two weeks to get parts in, for which you are then charged RRP, whereas you could have had the same part cheaper and two weeks quicker online 🙄

I do hope to start using them for repairs and maintenance work, I've got wheels to build, drivetrains to install and mudguards to fit, and just can't find the time at the moment!

Edinburgh has a lot of bike shops all with their own USP. Like all businesses they vary in quality and I only use them for building wheels (pedals ) or bits i need right then ( halfords)

A properly taped and jiggled tubeless wheel should hold air. Most of mine will hold 80-90% pressure for weeks. I’ve got a set on the wall that were built in December and setup tubeless at the same time and they’re still at maybe 50% after 4 months. They’ve never been ridden.

What exactly do you expect them to do with them

Get them to a point where I could at least ride the bike home? Of the dozen or so wheelset I’ve done, or had done, I’ve had at least a ride out of them before a top up is required. Not them being pankcake flat after 20mins

‘You want me to pump them up, ride them [...]?
‘Yeah, to give the sealant chance to get round the rim and coat the tyre’
Erm, no.

Uh, yes. You’d have saved a lot of bother (yours, the bike shop’s) if you’d listened to the person who actually knows about such matters.

Having said that, tubeless (and suspension tuning) are the things that most home mechanics struggle with and yet very few bike shops actually offer a good service on this.

I’d love the ability to potter round a LBS, I’d probably buy some stuff although I imagine I’d still go online (for the convenience, more than the price).

We have three decent bike shops in Aviemore, four if you count Alpine at Tisos. They all seem to be doing fine. Personally, I'm rarely in any of them as I carry out my own spannering. My riding mates are 50:50 on home servicing or just handing it to one of the shops and I know from chatting to them that there is usually a bit of a wait so it appears the shops are busy enough.

They all do that. What you need to do is pump them up again and go for a ride and keep pumping them up until they hold air.’

‘You want me to pump them up, ride them until they go flat (less than 20 mins remember), and keep doing that until they hold air?’

‘Yeah, to give the sealant chance to get round the rim and coat the tyre’

100% best advice there, no better way to set up troublesome tubeless wheels and the advice we always gave riders after picking up wheels. Letting them sit with the sealant in one place won't help at all. The shop should have told you this at pick up though.

My LBSs include Decathlon, Leisure Lakes, Evans, and Rutland. So kind of cheating.

But I'll be popping into a smaller independent this week as they do Syncros bottle cages that I need, and my road bike is booked into another for its post winter service. New shoes and helmet are required so thats a couple more trips to a real shop somewhere

I was at mine a couple of weeks ago having some wheel-building done.
I can get wheels straight or round, he can both at once and so I go to him. There are some things you just cant do online, we will always need an LBS
He has next to no stock and operates out of a couple of shipping containers though, it is 99% a workshop not a shop-shop. The business model seems to work

Happy Trails in Galashiels by any chance - recommended.

I have a number of good LBS close by but don't really use any of them (last time was for them to press in a FSA press fit - threaded BB sleeve).

I buy pretty much everything online, most of that is from "real" bike shops, but they're not local to me.

I used to use the German suppliers, but that's all gone tits up now.

It's my cash, I shop around for where best to spend it. My most local LBS is full MRRP on everything, they appear to be thriving, I'm just not their customer base.

It used to be that CRC would be cheaper than shops could buy parts for, then the Germans, we're currently in a parts drought though, I'm sure a new supplier will pop up post Covid/Brexit.

A smart move was/is a workshop only service (mobile / collection) that you can have your online purchased parts delivered to, they then charge you an advice / handling / fitting fee. They'd use the internet as their parts store, it's impossible for a shop to carry the stock you want as there's so many standards/specs/variables/colour etc, plus they're most likely quicker to get it to your bike that way than a LBS ordering through their supplier.

Generally just use the internet after a couple of bad experiences but not against LBS use. Have an acquaintance who runs an LBS a bit further away and he’s had his best year ever - he was on the verge of shutting for good pre lockdown. But it’s not coz of the likes of ‘us’, it’s due to all the lockdown cyclists...

100% best advice there, no better way to set up troublesome tubeless wheels and the advice we always gave riders after picking up wheels. Letting them sit with the sealant in one place won’t help at all. The shop should have told you this at pick up though.

I must have setup / taped at least 16 wheels from scratch and changed tubeless tyres many more times. Once popped into the rim and filled with sealant / inflated I do the Stan’s dance / jiggle and spin the wheels around a bit. Never had a tubeless tyres then go flat in 20 mins. They’ve all stayed up fine.

If I’d put a wheel into a bike shop I’d expect them to do the same as me and get the same result. Unless the tyre randomly wept loads of sealant out the side wall in which case I’d reinflate and ride it. I haven’t actually had a tyre do that in any meaningful way though - the Maxxis / Specialized / Schwalbe tyres I’ve used have all been pretty easy tubeless.

I must have setup / taped at least 16 wheels from scratch and changed tubeless tyres many more times. Once popped into the rim and filled with sealant / inflated I do the Stan’s dance / jiggle and spin the wheels around a bit. Never had a tubeless tyres then go flat in 20 mins. They’ve all stayed up fine

I've never had one that's gone down that didn't need attention, sure i've had a few that've lost a bit of pressure, but generally if they've lost it all, especially within 20 mins, then the taping is crap or i've used tape that was already fitted instead of fitting new tape. But if they're going flat in 20 mins, i'd say there's something more than a minor bit of fluid will fix.

Very rarely use a LBS, i buy 99.9% online and have done for the last 20+ years

I can strip a bike and build one from scratch inc wheel building since i was 14 so Ive never paid for a shop to carry out a repair

I have some good bike shops in the surrounding 25 mile area but they inevitably more expensive, dont have the item i want in stock and cost me money in fuel to go there (twice if i have to go there to order and then go back once they get it in stock)

Along with the above most of them can only stock certain brands due to other shops not wanting to stock the same brands as other local shops which is understandable but frustrating if you dont want to have to go to 2-3 different shops to get the parts you want

Ordering online for example from Wiggle (i do use other smaller online shops with actual shop premises too) i can get everything i want pretty much from one retailer, get a 12% platinum discount and have it delivered the next day for £10 a year (Wiggle+)

Every single tyre I’ve set up tubeless (probably 40+?) will go flat after the first inflation without riding. Maybe not in 20 mins but over an hour or so. Perhaps my Stan’s dance game is not good enough. In fact I’ve learnt not to bother with all that, a ride is a much better way to shake the sealant about.

Pump it up and go ride is good advice.

I think it’s completely reasonable to expect an LBS to clean and fit new tape if you asked them to do it from the outset. Just saying the old tape is fine is a bodge and a waste of time. The old tape may be fine but you asked for new tape.

It’s relevant as service levels stopped me going to Bike shops. One of them tried to rip me off consistently by quoting prices and then charging more once the part arrived or job was done. Another just have staff who need some training on how to deal with customers who walk into a shop actively looking to buy.

Funnily enough if I won Euromillians I would run a Bike shop but I’m not sure it would make much money now the internet has made it easier and cheaper to both buy and watch YouTube videos on how to spanner.

As a lot of the comments above, I've not really used an LBS for years; apart from taking bike boxes from them and once when my weak and puny muscles couldn't take a cassette lockring off. Plus we have talented people like MrOvershoot in the neighbourhood for tricky stuff like bearings.

I'm on a couple of groups on Facebook for Frog and Islabikes and what is amazing is that plenty of (quite wealthy?) folks go on there to ask questions about their "investments" that they could easily have sorted with a visit to their LBS. And I'm talking about a wide range of issues that most people couldn't sort at home due to the tools required, through to "tyres are flat; the valve is different" stuff. Maybe the industry has a bit of an image issue with dusty old shops? Maybe a lot have closed down? Maybe YouTube is seen as the go-to for self help?

Recently, someone has started posting in those groups about taking those queries to LBS's which is good to see. But as mentioned above, I think their business model has changed to virtually all maintenance plus occasional sale. With almost zero parts sales.

Closest shop is not very good, but has a good business model - cheap, proper kids bikes in the main. I gave up using them for servicing etc 20 years ago.

There was another good shop 10 miles away that I bought one of my daughter's bikes from, paying a small premium over online. Sadly, it's gone bust.

I have used the local service only shop occasionally and would do so again if I couldn't do the job myself.

There’s 2 Bike Shops in Fort William both seem busy all the time. I only use one of them and if it was to go I would do more things myself to my bike.

I use our LBS....I'm just getting back into cycling after a 5 year gap. Living in a different area than when I was last into riding so had no prior experience of the one that I'm using. They seem great though. Bought some commuting tyres from them last week. 2 quid per tyre more than I found online. I needed new tubes for them too....they did me 3 for 2 on the tubes which was really nice of them. Got my gf a helmet from there, again maybe a few quid more expensive but was good for her to try a few on.

Will use them for repairs as and when needed. Anything more technical than simple adjustments are beyond me....I just don't enjoy working on bikes, never have, never will.

One is small but very good at customer service (Hamoons in Shaftesbury). I use them all as much as is practical, but I will also use the e-web for some parts too.

I’d hate to lose my LBS.

This sorta illustrates why they can't survive.
Last time I called Will was just for a +20 or +23 postmount adapter but they don't keep them in stock.

My local local LBS is only open Friday's as Saturdays and has never been able to do anything I need and has no bike parking.

In general bike shops only have 3 uses .. 4 if you include keeping a track pump or even a compressor like LL at 417)

1) Supply parts - no longer viable unless they REALLY specialise. If Hamoon don't keep a +20 in stock who would ??

2) Do jobs I don't have the tooling for - but then unless they can get the job done faster than I can order in the tooling online they just burned this opportunity forever .. not ponly have I nbow invested in the tooling but it's more convenient to do it at home as I don't need to get a bike to a LBS and then risk leaving the bike I used to get there outside.

3) Provide a cuppa and chat about bikes

The most useful LBS for me are ones can do a job on the spot whilst you ride or have a cuppa.
I guess now I'm a van owner that is much less.

I wouldn't usually carry a full set of taps, inserts etc in the car or my full suspension tools and fluids in the car but now I have a van its way easier. Indeed I started a reorg last night - I usually didn't carry full brake tooling rather I have a bleed kit and pads and spare rotors in one general toolbox and spare hose, olives, barbs in another. Since last night I now have a separate brake toolbox ... I'm meeting a mate next week and I'll have the suspension toolkit/spares in a separate toolbox by then to do a charger bleed as he's not done one before but then we'll use his unless he's missing anything or the nipple isn't delivered on time.

I offered to just lend him mine but as he said he'd rather have the tooling to do it himself so he's not dependant on a booking or having to stay in on a riding day for a courier delivery.

I think maybe this is where LBS's are now. Unless they can keep the parts in stock its very inconvenient to try and use them.
You have to wait with no bike as a minimum until they get stock delivered. Then you have to get the bike to them whilst CRC or amazon can get it to you next day.

Yes and no, I can do a fair bit myself. Bicycle Ambulance in Cambridge have been good the couple of times I’ve used them, although I’ve never taken any MTB stuff there as they look very geared towards road biking. Bought my MTB from C6 nice chap on the desk but very focussed on shifting £6k Santa Cruz, would prob by tyres from them if I needed and did look if they stocked OneUp recently rather than buy online. Then Brink is not too far from me, I’ve popped in a few times to look at stuff think they know there stuff but again seem £6k Santa Cruz focussed.

When I got home, I span the wheel in the stand, then went for a 10 min spin in the morning, any more and I’d be risking the rim. Neither made a difference, air is coming out of 3 or 4 spoke holes, fast. As I say, I’ve never had this issue from any other shop, or when I’ve done it myself. Only reason I asked the shop to do it was I CBA retaping the wheels, having refilled the sealant. As it is I’m in no better position than when I took the wheels in, save for I have a new valve, and am £30 lighter.

I'd use my LBS more if they had the parts I wanted or could get them in as quickly as I can mail order them. For me, this is the big issue rather than a few quid more for a shifter or a couple of quid more for some pads.

I went to my LBS a few times looking for pretty basic parts (pads for Hope e4s, a bottle of Stans and a shimano 11 spd derailleur). On all occasions they didn't hold what I was after in stock. Not 'sold out' - didn't stock them.
Don't stock Stans? The (I would wager) most popular sealant out there? In a bike shop in the High Peak? No, I dont want to buy Orange seal at £20 for a liter - I've not heard great things about it.

I can get that you can't hold one of every type of Mech / shifter / crankset / etc. But pads take up hardly any room at all and it's not like Hope E4s are rocking horse poop rare are they?

I now wont bother going down to check to see if they've got something I need, I'll either order online or if I'm in a real hurry I'll call Active Cycles in Buxton and head over to them if they have what I need (which they have done quite a lot).
Issue here is that they shut at 530 pm (10-4 Saturday) and closed Sunday (which I really support).
So getting there can be a problem, but that's MY problem and if I need the part urgently I will find the time!

Neither of these shops will live or die on my custom - but I'd still rather be using them than online. Online is sometimes the only practical way to get what I want in a reasonable time scale though.

I'll still pop in for a mooch if I'm passing (when life gets a bit more "mooch" friendly) but topping up on pads or consumables is what I would have done to chuck some money through the till - if they dont stock basic stuff then I can't do that.

Si

Nope - worked on my own bikes for the last 30 years inc wheel building, so no need for workshop services. I proactively look at things like threaded BB etc when buying a bike, to ensure self sufficiency.

As others have said, I've also found that the delay to order things in is an inconvenience at best, especially if its what should be a distress part like a rotor or pads or chain (although TBH I keep spares on consumables on rotation). I actually needed a new shock pump last night (seems to be not engaging properly on fork) so ordered on Prime and it got half an hour ago. That convenience and speed, as well as guarantee of being able to get things is hard to match on the high street - in any sector.

That convenience and speed, as well as guarantee of being able to get things is hard to match on the high street – in any sector.

Which is exactly why a high street full of shops is/needs to die out. Offer something in a high street that fills a demand if you can think of stuff but shops that are just selling items slowly and at more expense are a thing of the past.
As I said above, there is a demand for fixing bicycles so that is a viable shop for one.

As I said above, there is a demand for fixing bicycles so that is a viable shop for one.

Agreed - I'm aware I'm an anomaly in terms self sufficiency, the only "assistance" I need is fork/shock damper servicing & tuning and I have a preferred person I send them off to, but can definitely see a real value for "kwik fit" style workshop facilities for bikes, especially post pandemic boom.

The "retail" part I think will have to radically change - as we know (asides from currently!), people are more time crunched than before, and speaking for mtse, definitely font have time to be ringing round a few local shops to ask if the have something specific in stock, get across town before closing time etc. I reckon we'll see workshops carry midrange 9/10/11/12 speed chains, mechs and cassettes for SRAM and Shimano, same with all core pads for most popular brakes,plus a small tyre selection to cater for the distress purchase market.

I'll sometimes use my not so local (1/2 ride away) shops - Sigma Sports and Pearson's (now Balfes). Both of these are really good and I don't mind paying a bit extra for stuff. I actually order a fair amount from Sigma on line. As SteveXTC said, they best use for me is as a workshop for tasks I don't have the tools or in inclination to do.
My real LBS i use less, I'm just not a fan of them. I tried to use them last week to cut a steerer and install a star nut on a new set of forks. I appreciate it's not a big job but when I called and asked about availability over the coming weekend was told it would be a two week wait. I know they are busy but I was hoping they could have dealt with that as a walk in (I would happily go and grab a coffee etc while I waited). Two weeks was too much though so ended up learning to do it myself,took me about an hour including YouTube and taking it slow. And for me, that's part of the problem.

I haven't used one for a couple of years now, mostly because I can't get to them.
We used to have a small LBS just under a mile away that was easy to take a bike down, have a chat then walk home, but they closed 3 years ago.
There was a big bike shop in Richmond which we tried once, when herself was after a new hardtail. The shop boys couldn't have given any less interest so she bought it built up how she wanted at a shop in Leatherhead as they were interested and keen to build how she wanted.
If we go into a LBS it's amazing how invisible she becomes, and we usually write them off from any future visit there and then.

Have only twice in the last decade used anyone to do work for me: a fork/shock service when I didn't have the means or time to do it myself (which I now do), and reaming out a seat tube because I didn't want to buy a reamer for a one-off job (and get didn't do the job properly anyway). As an ex-maintenance technician for industrial equipment, I'd rather do all my own work.

An example of the current problem with bike shops - I wanted a couple of Specialized Zee cages, standard models, so I phoned the most local to me shop just in case they had any in stock. "No, but we can order them in for you, they'll be in late next week." Explain why that's better than me just ordering them myself and having them delivered to my house for the same price, and not having to make a 10 mile round trip to pick them up?

Two weeks was too much though so ended up learning to do it myself,took me about an hour including YouTube and taking it slow. And for me, that’s part of the problem.

It's both ... but you can now do it yourself and have tools (although a hacksaw and file is all that is strictly needed) but regardless you now have the tools and it's so much more convenient to do at home.

2 weeks ago I was out with my mate and his son, first ride in months for me... and his lads saddle was too high ... back at the van for lunch and pulled out the saddle, cut seatpost with pipe cutter and filed and refitted 5 mins tops.

As it happens we were only a 5 min walk from a bike shop but that would be 10 mins assuming they'd even work on a non Santa Cruz bike and did it immediately. No idea what they'd change either but I'd assume he could get a new seatpost cheaper???

I went to my LBS a few times looking for pretty basic parts (pads for Hope e4s, a bottle of Stans and a shimano 11 spd derailleur). On all occasions they didn’t hold what I was after in stock. Not ‘sold out’ – didn’t stock them.

You were "lucky" .. last time I asked brake pads were a mystery item... this being at a bike shop that only specialises in MTB. I actually know their head mechanic quite well so I'll usually call him direct on his personal mobile but really... it get a bit tiresome "perhaps ask Chris if you have them".

Explain why that’s better than me just ordering them myself and having them delivered to my house for the same price, and not having to make a 10 mile round trip to pick them up?

^^^ This exactly ... not to mention where do you put the bike when you get there.
Imagine it was a chain ... 5 mile push or forced to drive vs delivered to your door next day

I don't have any favorites but initially go for UK based retailers for a number of reasons Economy & Environment, now we have Brexit will most probably always be UK or possibly the US for any Big Ticket Items ie XX1 AXS Upgrade.

Although since Covid the support my Wife's business has got locally has been inspiring, I will always try local 1st even if slightly extra plus I hate waiting.

I will counter what I said previously by saying that both my road bike and my 6 year old daughters new bike came from local shops rather than ordering on line (Sigma and Balfes respectively) and the service was great

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Popped in to one of my many LBS yesterday and found these! £29.95 - the price they were when they were current apparently.

In the last week, I have purchased 8 Meters of SP41, 2 S/S inner gear cables, a 11 speed 11-46 cassette, 11 speed XT chain and Chainring, nowhere online had everything in stock. Next week I may purchase a 12 speed cassette, chain and chainring as they have them in stock.
I don’t need any of it just yet, but don’t want to get caught short later in the year.

I get local shop to order in parts - Prefer picking up things at my convenience as opposed to worrying about missing parcel deliveries. I'll support local as much as possible. Nothing I buy tends to be available discounted elsewhere so cost wise it makes no odds. May as well give shops the trade.

Nothing I buy tends to be available discounted elsewhere so cost wise it makes no odds.

You don't buy biker stuff at all ?

My LBS, as in the nearest two to my house are useless, the nearest decent one is 6 miles away so I call that my LBS.
When I was younger and had no tools I took my new back wheel and new cassette already on and hand tight just to get tightened up to 40nm, they broke their tool in my cassette and slightly marked my lockring, watching him shaking my wheel and trying to fish out the broken bits made me never return, another shop charged me a tenner for fixing a small buckle in my wheel about 20 years ago, when I looked at the hand written receipt he had added VAT to it, that same buckle would take me about 10 mins to fix now, somehow that little shop is still going probably because it sells scooters and other stuff but its never busy.

Yes for clothes, shoes, bars, lights, grips, gloves, saddles, bags, helmets etc.
Stuff I like to see and touch before I buy.
And the things that should be simple but never are - racks, guards etc.

Very lucky because we have several fantastic shops in Hebden, Tod, Rawtenstall etc.

Always have done, always will do.

But no, because of 'standards'. I buy tyres, wheels and transmission bits online from Spa/Hewitt because it's in stock, they know what works and I trust them.

When I can, but we don’t really have an LBS that’s open at the moment

Ironically one of the shops here has shut for a bit partly due to being too busy.

As for tubeless, yes it shouldn't go flat after 20 minutes but there are no 'golden rules' for how long the system should hold pressure. You are dealing with products from different companies which have different tolerances, and any minor issue results in potential for leaking. Tyres themselves can leak air through them (Continental ask that people scrub the insides of their tyres with sealant before installing them for this reason). There's just too many variables. For this reason, the best set-up in terms of holding air were my old Mavic Crossmax XL wheels with Mavic tires. Bontrager wheels with Bontrager rim strips and Bontrager tyres have always been fine too. I wonder why? 😉

I always use my lbs or a bike shop wherever I go and want to buy bike stuff

I can do almost everything myself now. For whatever I can't I go to Elevation in Linlithgow. Not my most local, but run by a good guy. My actual local is quite a good shop, but is staffed by an utterly obnoxious now-it-all git and there's no way he's getting my money.

Like many others, I used to buy components from the Germans, but now from UK stores like Tredz, Bike Tart, Sigma and the like.

A properly taped and jiggled tubeless wheel should hold air.

I must admit if I can’t ride em straightaway,I don’t mount them on the bike but leave them in the living room and give em a jiggle every so often, which would probably be an extra hours+ on the Bill so I get why they advise a ride.

Although I think tubeless is something you need to learn as it’s the same sort of minimal skill like being able to change a tube that you probably ought to know.

My (geographically closest) LBS are rip-off merchants, who will happily con people into doing work that isn't necessary. Recently quoted a friend around £200 to service a bike, claiming it needs new wheels etc. All it needs is a new saddle and some grips, and a new brake cable. Everything else is fine. This same place has a reputation for ripping off women particularly, which is despicable. Dishonest. I would be happy to see them go bust.

Since CV really kicked in, there has been an explosion of little bike workshops popping up; places that only do servicing, and don't sell stuff. Set up in sheds, garages etc. Some are doing pretty well; one local to me is making a reasonable amount, and is booked up at least 2 weeks ahead at any time. So perhaps this is the new model going forwards, for bike shops. Advise customers on what they need, customers buy parts online, shop fits and services everything. Seems to be working for some.

Although I think tubeless is something you need to learn as it’s the same sort of minimal skill like being able to change a tube that you probably ought to know.

I know how to do it. I just couldn’t be arsed with the mess and faff of removing the old tape, cleaning everything out, retaping and resealimg everything. That’s why I wanted to pay a shop to do it. If a freshly, properly, done setup has no pressure, 20 mins after leaving the shop (I assume it was pumped up in the back as I collected it, as it passed the finger squeeze test), something is wrong, and I’m in no mood to start trouble shooting what it might be/finishing off the job.

I used to favour my LBS (Sunset Cycles, Cardiff) most of the time as I lived round the corner from it, even when I moved a few miles away I still went there. Then they moved completely out of the City and my visits became markedly less. I only really used them for wheel builds, trues and to try stuff on in person (bought from them too, no 'showrooming') plus the odd 'emergency' purchase. With the recent lockdowns though I haven't been there for over 6 months as it's too far away and I've hardly been using the bikes enough to wear anything out! Haven't got a replacement LBS I use yet so will still use them for stuff but I'm pretty self-sufficient anyway so online is wining currently.

One is small but very good at customer service (Hamoons in Shaftesbury).

Will's a decent bloke and good on the spanners but managing his time effectively isn't one of his strong points! My mate from round there uses him for some jobs and he always has to chase him up about it, from wheel trues to frame bearings. We've turned up at Okeford before for Will to say, before anyone can say Hi, "Ah, yes. Will try and get X done Monday morning!". Usually triggered by Will seeing my mate on his DH bike when the trail bike is in his shop. Hopefully he can get Okeford running properly now too!

I’m moving to a town that has a LBS, and I’m quite excited as I’ve been nowhere near one for years. The shop is Giant/Liv affiliated.

I can do a lot of work on a bike, but having returned from abroad I don’t have the tools, space, or time to do some things, so I thought I’d take my bike in for a service. The prices were higher than I expected:

STANDARD SERVICE £70

Recommended every 12 months as a minimum. All bolts matched to a torque specification. Adjustments and lubrication to drivetrain components. Adjustments to braking components.

ADVANCED SERVICE £140

The enthusiast service. Recommended every 12-18 months. In addition to our standard service: Full strip down of drivetrain components, cleaned, reassembled, set-up and lubricated. Braking systems removed, cleaned, reassembled and set-up. Wheels checked for alignment and trued if needed

ULTIMATE SERVICE £200

When perfection is the only option. Recommended every 24 months. Your pride and joy is carefully stripped down to its bare frame and meticulously cleaned. Any moving parts that can be extracted will be removed, cleaned and reinstalled, including bottom brackets, headsets and wheel bearings. your bike will be reassembled and set up to perform at its highest level. Your bike is essentially returned to brand-new condition; so much so, that we’ll give it a free six-week check after everything has bedded in again.

As I said I’m returning from abroad, so this might be reasonable prices. Any opinions?

LeeW
Full Member

Popped in to one of my many LBS yesterday and found these! £29.95 – the price they were when they were current apparently.

I suspect those are worth more to the right retro builder tbh, with the box and all. And they were shit when new so it's not like they've dated. I wonder how the elastomer lasts in storage though.

Don't use my LBS much but they seem to be busy with service and repairs.

Happy enough when I do need anything done to just drop the bike off and know the job will be done properly at a good price . Last time was a Cane Creek headset supplied and fitted for little more than I could have bought the part for. Turned round in 3 days which given the number of bikes with job tickets scattered about was pretty prompt..

Solid Rock Cycles Balmore.

In Stafford we're spoiled for them.

Henry Burton, which has been here since the 1950s but doesn't seem to have clocked that there are new-fangled things like hydraulic discs, mountain bike wheels bigger than 26" and stems (quill, naturally) shorter than 120mm. Still useful for bits for my 27" wheeled pub bike.
Mammoth, (which used to be a Specialized concept store), which is great but pricey, but never mind.
Run and Ride (which used to be Mammoth) don't really know it
Swinnertons on Cannock Chase - full of stock, related to but rivals to
Swinnertons Stoke - everything you might ever need
Brian Rourke, Stoke - everything you might ever need plus they'll make you a truly lustworthy frame

And a bunch of others including Sideways Cycles a bit farther away.

But I still order some stuff from Wiggle, mainly because I like seeing the Black Country New Road address on the box and wondering if the band of the same name knows about it.

As far as service prices go: I charge my time at £200 a day. It takes me more than a day to do what's in that premium service up there.

I dont really buy from an lbs, in fact half of them i dont trust to sell me what i need, and usually I have to tell them. Not an agest thing, but most here have a huge amount of riding and building/servicing experience and many of the employees dont appear to know what theyre talking about.

for actual work when it needs to go in I only use the one guy, who has a bunch of actual cytech qualifications and is well respected for what he does - Willy Bain down in Eglington toll in Glasgow. He's the only mechanic I'll trust with my bikes or take advice from.

Yep, I would say pretty much everything apart from clothing I get from my local bike shop even my last bike came from my local. Can I find parts cheaper online most likely but my local are good people and these days I feel like I would much rather give my money to them than CRC or similar online shop.

I just couldn’t be arsed with the mess and faff

This is pretty much the number one reason I use my lbs. I don't enjoy working on my bike i want to spend my time riding it. Im lucky to have a few so never miss a weekend riding if there is a wait on parts.

I wouldn’t ever make a large purchase in mine but if I do nip in I always try and buy something even if it’s just some gels. Bought some bar tape last week when I went in.

I can do a lot of work on a bike, but having returned from abroad I don’t have the tools, space, or time to do some things, so I thought I’d take my bike in for a service. The prices were higher than I expected:

Wow, my son must owe me thousands and thousands based upon this !

It’s interesting the number of folk who say they do everything themselves mechanically and therefore (along with using online readiness of parts) have no need for LBS service. I’m in the same camp myself mechanically, except in aforementioned emergencies where i’ve bodged something and need the experience of the shop to get me out of a pickle.

...however these days I’m more and more time-poor, so am increasingly considering the shop for servicing etc which i’d normally do myself. I used to find spannering quite cathartic, plus I have trust issues with others working on my bike (if I put it together I KNOW it’s been done right), but i’m beginning to think that a Saturday afternoon with the spanners an IPA would be better spent either riding or doing other non bike related things.

I guess I’ve always been happy to pay a bit more (and wait a little longer) for parts because ultimately I don’t like the idea of a country full of nothing but distribution warehouses and Hermes drivers making £0.67 per delivery, and have the power to play my (small) part in preventing that from happening. The workshop services are looking more and more tempting though. It’s only really the lead times that put me off.

…however these days I’m more and more time-poor, so am increasingly considering the shop for servicing etc which i’d normally do myself

ultimately I don’t like the idea of a country full of nothing but distribution warehouses and Hermes drivers making £0.67 per delivery

Just an observation but wouldn't a mobile service be better?

I have two very good lbs, I use both regularly, I do buy stuff online sometimes but most big stuff I buy at LBS. One shop will give me a discount if the owner serves me and the other is owned by a mate, he'd happily sell me everything at trade if I let him, I don't tend to buy much stuff though.

Having somewhere to take a wheel to be seated tubeless using an airline at 4pm on a Saturday afternoon in exchange for a beer is worth it to me.

I'm always a bit confused by the 'buy local' thing. I understand that not everyone wants to/can shop online, however if I am 'meant' to buy from my local bike shop, then surely I should also be buying from my butcher, Baker, fruit shop, fish shop, ironmonger, newsagent etc etc. I will have to take time off work each week to allow me thr time to get to these shops (they only generally open 9-5 at best), pay for parking and pay a lot more than I would online or from a supermarket.
Yes... a high street supports local jobs, however my DPD, Hermes and Royal mail drivers all live locally, not to mention the depot staff. Are their jobs not important? These guys also likely earn more than a 'basic' shop worker so why is buying online 'bad'?
The world has changed and as has always been the case, some types of job disappear, whilst others thrive. The media are obsessed by retail job losses but never publish facts about how many new positions are created in IT/web design, warehouse, distribution, logistics etc, again most of which are going to earn more than a shop worker.
The media also like to publish stories about slave like conditions in online warehouses. I only know 2 people who work in that field. Both work for (different) large retailers, used to work in their high street shops and have moved to the online warehouses. Neither want to go back to the retail side and really enjoy the warehouse (especially as they don't need to deal with angry members of the public).

Perhaps I am a bad/selfish person, but I just don't get the fascination with the high street. Is it not time to move on and embrace 'new' jobs to replace retail.
(As for proper bike shops - I can see a good future for smaller workshops where you are encouraged to bring in your online sourced parts and they charge you to fit them - saves the shop owner as they need a much smaller premises and don't need to hold loads of random stock)

Norwich here.
LBS in general are real poor here.
Supported 1 with about 10 grands of bikes total and then they went bust.
Next one Pedal Addiction, great guy and great knowledge but unfortunately he has now closed and is working from home I think so can't browse and no real stock to spot buy.
Went exclusively to Wiggle but refuse to use now as delivery is so poor.
Now using independents away from Norfolk via online.
Evans, Bike hut etc are just so bad service wise, lack of knowledge, too expensive, poor clothing stock etc. And just no atmosphere.

…however these days I’m more and more time-poor, so am increasingly considering the shop for servicing etc which i’d normally do myself.

Could you do the servicing yourself in less than the time it would take you to do two return trips to the bike shop?

Stirling is lucky in that it has a couple of excellent cycle repair shops set away on industrial parks:  match internet prices, charge a reasonable hourly rate and work miracles.

There are shops on the street but I avoid them - because they don't do the above.