Your once a week dose of retail therapy from Singletrack’s Premier Dealers, stockists and advertisers, Tuesday Treats gives you a quality serving of independent bike retailing and a chance to win big in this week’s prize draw.
This week, we revisit: The Ride Stuff.
The Ride Stuff is located in lovely Littleborough, Rochdale, a gateway to the South Pennines. Being down the road from Singletrack HQ they are also rather well known to us here. Legend has it that our very own staffer Richard has been evicted on numerous occasions, for unpaid bike repair bills!
Owner Paul Sharp talks us through what’s been occurring since we first looked around in late 2012.
It’s been a while guys. What’s changed in all this time?
Absolutely loads. 2013 has been an amazing year for us here. We got Whyte in store at the end of 2012 and then Trek in the middle of last year. We’ve got three new staff members to help out in the increasingly busy workshop and on the shop floor. Our website has also been completely renewed (we still need to add loads of products, just need the time…)
Any new lines in-store that really tickle your taste buds?
Becoming Whyte and Trek dealers was obviously a big step for us in terms of the quality, service and the sheer scope of our offer. We now also stock Fox Clothing and, something for the girls (and some boys), we have the brand new range of Flare Clothing Co. in store, up on the wall and being tested out on the trail…
What has been hot, product-wise this winter?
Everything Whyte are doing is being well received by our customers. Lezyne lights have shot off the shelves and Lupine lights have done blindingly well (ha ha!).
What’s the score with demo bikes and custom builds?
We’ve got a Whyte G-150 in Medium, a Trek Stache in 19” and a Trek Cali women’s 29er in 17”. We also have a cheeky carbon road bike with Di2 if anyone is that way inclined.
We have the full range of Lezyne lights available for demo too. We’ve been doing loads of custom wheel builds including the amazing Hope hubs and Stans rims combo. One of our customers is made up with his gleaming red Chris King hubs built into Stans Crest rims.
Any events that are worth the effort, travel and pain/joy?
There are a few events on this coming year in the brilliant Lee Quarry which is just over the hill from us in sunny Bacup (Lancashire) and naturally we’ll be here to fix any broken bikes that happen as a result.
Now for some crystal ball gazing. Where are we all headed; a fourth wheel size? The return of bar ends?!
Let’s hope there are no other wheel sizes thrown in the mix for a while… or bar ends for that matter!
Lastly, remind us what do Singletrack Premier Subscribers get from you guys?
Premier subscribers benefit from 10% off parts/accessories and a whopping 25% off servicing and labour prices. (Our Richard really has no excuse for not paying his repair bills then! Ed.)
We have a time limited offer on (in-store only) which is a free pair of socks with every pair of shoes purchased until the end of January 2014.
We’re rather partial to posting pics of Mrs Ride Stuff’s special weekly cake creations, over on Facebook. Better stay in touch then.
Tuesday Treats Prize Draw
Click here to win this week’s prize!
