MacDonalds Cycles -...
 

  You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more

[Closed] MacDonalds Cycles - Edinburgh. Shut

13 Posts
12 Users
0 Reactions
291 Views
Posts: 0
Free Member
Topic starter
 

Another one bites the dust it seems. I bought my first bike with my own money here in '91.

No doubt the Evans superstore opening one street away was the final nail.

I beleive Macaskill was the mechanic there for while.


 
Posted : 12/12/2013 11:43 am
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

That's a shame - never went in there, but they always had a very good reputation.


 
Posted : 12/12/2013 11:47 am
Posts: 0
Free Member
Posts: 65918
Full Member
 

I got my first mountain bike from there, shame 🙁 Though... I've been in there a few times in recent years, never felt close to spending any money, to be honest, seems like a decent selection of bikes but everything else seemed a bit crap. Especially the clothes stuck in the back room, felt more like someone's cupboard than a shop.


 
Posted : 12/12/2013 12:18 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
Posts: 931
Free Member
 

Shame to lose a bike shop in Edinburgh but just think there's a lot of bike shops very close together in that part of Edinburgh. Macdonalds was the only one I've had bad service in so I never went back. (They tried to sell me a small Giant TCX as the right size for me - I'm over 6 foot!!). With there being so much choice locally there's no reason to give them a second chance.


 
Posted : 12/12/2013 12:53 pm
Posts: 0
Full Member
 

It is sad.

They did have a decent selection of bikes, but other stock was a bit lacking, unless you happened to get a tour of the basement and cellars, which were amazing. Assuming you appreciate heaps of NOS bits and bobs from the last 30 years. Which I do.

I know they hadn't been a Raleigh dealer for a while, but there is now a new bike shop that deals with Raleigh in Corstorphine. They seem to have got their act together, in terms of road bikes at least, and have a lot of decent looking new products.


 
Posted : 18/12/2013 12:23 pm
Posts: 41395
Free Member
 

I know staff there, it's been touching cloth for years, and the manager a not-really-functioning alcoholic (no secret AFAIK).


 
Posted : 18/12/2013 12:57 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

it's no loss. Went in there a few times and they never had anything useful. One time looking for shoes and gloves, no gloves at all and only about 3 pairs of shoes. Pitiful array of old model bikes was a clear sign that things were not good.
It could have been a really good LBS and flourished even with Evans and EBC close by.


 
Posted : 18/12/2013 1:08 pm
 iolo
Posts: 194
Free Member
 

To keep a high level of stock you need a lot of money and a lot of customers. If you have the big boys close by what chance do you have?


 
Posted : 18/12/2013 1:14 pm
Posts: 6686
Free Member
 

The one in Musselburgh closed ages ago... its a laundrette now.


 
Posted : 18/12/2013 1:27 pm
Posts: 0
Full Member
 

cynic-al

I also know staff there, and yes, it's unfortunately all true.


 
Posted : 18/12/2013 1:34 pm
 hels
Posts: 971
Free Member
 

I won't miss them, went there once to get brakes bled. They rounded off the bolts on the front brake (!!) then tried to say I had done it and they were already like that, and charged me for the work. I pointed out that if they had done the work, how could the bolts have been rounded off when they started ????? Numpties.


 
Posted : 18/12/2013 1:40 pm
Posts: 709
Full Member
 

Sad to see another Edinburgh LBS go, but I'm not altogether surprised.

I bought myself a Giant XTC from them about eight years ago to reward myself for quitting smoking. Got me properly back into mountain biking after a wheezy hiatus.


 
Posted : 18/12/2013 1:51 pm

6 DAYS LEFT
We are currently at 95% of our target!