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I need some bits including tyres but not bought anything new for the MTB in ages. My first port of call was CRC but now what? Genuinely have no idea any more
tredz and merlin cycles, via topcashback , although i noticed alot of tyres out of stock on merlin today
winstanley or tweeks are ok too..
tyres are cheaper from france but diff websites have different import/export setups. so ensure you dont get stung.
ps. i use my local bikeshop alot more in recent years, with discount its only a few quid more than online for many brands,
tyres excluded, my car tyres are cheaper than ones i've seen in bike shops.
Leisure Lakes, Biketart, Brink and Slam69 are some of my recent ones.
Not a fan of Winstanleys. They always sell stuff that isn't in stock so you have to wait for them to order it in and ship it out. I've waited weeks for pretty basic stuff that could have easily been found elsewhere had I known they didn't actually have it available.
Just google what in particular you want and then choose wherever is cheapest. Leisure Lakes have Troy Lee on sale currently but according to their newsletter only mens gear, they ignored the female cohort so I'm ignoring checking. Merlin are very good and have some stuff at good prices and they're always a pleasure to deal with. I generally find a shop and check reviews and if they're okay just buy from them.
great thanks,
used winstanley, merlin, biketart, tredz in the past. Back when I spent all my disposable income on bike bitz but that was a long time ago
Have seen a few of these threads since CRC went bust, and have myself spent some time trying to find one shop that has a few things I want at the same time rather than paying multiple delivery charges for a number of small parts.
Given how ubiquitous CRC was for purchasing any manner of bike related stuff, makes you wonder just how they managed to **** it up.
SJS cycles are great for shimano / hope if you no the part number :0)
have myself spent some time trying to find one shop that has a few things I want at the same time rather than paying multiple delivery charges for a number of small parts.
Yeah same here, I've found bikeparts (aka woolyhatshop on ebay) seem to be the closest replacement I've found.
I like to try and use merlincycles where I can too having had good service from them down the years but I find their stock levels a bit frustrating (navigate to the item you want, only to find it's not in stock).
Given how ubiquitous CRC was for purchasing any manner of bike related stuff, makes you wonder just how they managed to **** it up.
I've also wondered this, was the problem that the business model was always unsustainable and it was it was just a matter of time before it went pop? or parasitic private equity firms loading it up with debt and sinking it? I feel the loss of the inhouse brands is pretty big (Nukeproof, DHB). It's good to see some of these products pop up elsewhere (Ascend Components and nukeproof frames with On One) but will these places be able to field new products in the same way?
I've had a fair bit of stuff from Merlin Cycles - always quick delivery, good prices. And one order from Tredz.
Clothing, I tend to stick with Rapha who have a sale on at the moment.
Your local bike shop.
CRC won the race to the bottom. Whoever tries to fill that void will be next.
Your local bike shop.
Much as I love my LBS - and in fact rely on him for much of my mechanical stuff - he can't come close to matching online prices and in fact has pretty much given up on trying to do so. He makes most of his money from servicing; he'll source parts where required (and for much of the "budget level" stuff he does, the punter doesn't know enough to go trawling the net to find replacement parts).
But equally, if someone can buy a Di2 groupset online for less than the price he/the shop pays at trade, that's an industry level problem, not a customer problem.
My latest purchases have been Merlin, biketart, leisure lakes and bikeparts.
My LBS did that, right up to the point it wasn’t sustainable anymore.
Not sure why he should be expected to match online pricing when the service he offers inc your mechanical support is quite different to a box shifter.
Madison have a price promise which allows dealers to compete, or at least get close to online grey kit. Even if slightly more expensive, they’ll at least ensure all parts inc e-tube wire lengths are correct for your bike. There’s often little flexibility in the packages that online discounters offer.
The comparisons made of LBS vs online are often not apples with apples.
I have 3 bike shops within a 10 minute walk from my house and another 3 a short ride or drive away. I'd love to use them more and I always check when I need something but it's almost impossible to get what you want when you need it regardless of price.
They seem to be like junk shops at the moment with bargain bins stuffed with the stuff no one else wants.
If you need cables, square taper bottom brackets or XXXL hi-viz clothing they've got you covered. Anything else, mail order is faster and cheaper.
Sounds like they’re stocking stuff that they aren’t expected to match online discounters on, which to an extent I can sympathise with.
If it's clothing wise also check out sportspursuit but be prepared to wait a short while, but their estimates are accurate.
I tend to use Merlin or SJS, but echo the LBS sentiment. I'm not buying much either way recently though.
aliexpress and lord gun for the last load of stuff I've bought. I check out merlin but wouldn't touch an LBS for anything other than an emergency or a wheel true.
Merlin is one of my LBSs, so I hope I'm allowed to buy cheap bits from them.
Wanted to stock up on chains and a cassette the other day and found BikeInn was most economical for my niche 11s needs though.
I do miss the CRC online jumble sale, but I'm managing.
Do you really buy all your bike parts from your LBS though Tom?
Another good online shop is Certini https://www.certini.co.uk/
and [url= https://www.sigmasports.com ]Sigma[/url] are usually worth a look
My nearest LBS is 15 miles away (unless you call Halfords a LBS). I find the internet slightly more convenient. Especially as LBS opening hours are the same hours I work, except maybe Saturdays, when I would prefer to go riding than shopping.
SJS are really good for Hope parts.
Banana and Bikeparts (aka woolly hat shop) mostly. Gorilla brakes for pads. Ebay, usually from the brands online shop (eg OKO sealant).
Sign up for the newsletters from Banana as they are 100% the new Planet-X with deals which come & go daily. They have had a load of tyres recently.
Do you really buy all your bike parts from your LBS though Tom?
The vast majority of the parts on the bike I’m putting together at the moment have either come direct from the manufacturer or from a small independent, not necessarily local to me though. The stuff the came from bigger names were mostly bought in store, in person though, because I know the staff.
Only the tires and a discontinued shifter, iirc, have come from an internet box shifter.
Just google what in particular you want and then choose wherever is cheapest.
Is in part, the reason that the OP is having to ask.
I have access to a Madison trade account through a friend (not an LBS) I haven't used it because the trade price they can get their small quantities of stuff at is more expensive than the big retailers are selling at. Madison have a tier structure for their pricing based on volume.
.
Anyway, to answer the OP. SJS and BikeMonger but intend to buy slightly obscure bits. Non-consumables I usually go second hand anyway.
Merlin, Winstanleys or SJS for more obscure parts.
If waiting an indeterminate amount of time for delivery isn't a problem then BikeInn usually has the biggest selection and lowest prices.
Given how ubiquitous CRC was for purchasing any manner of bike related stuff, makes you wonder just how they managed to **** it up.
AFAIA. 'They' didn’t screw it up. Financial backer pulled the plug because they didn't want to weather the post covid storm. Absence of cash flow killed it.