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.
…and, unfortunately, you’ve stated both the problem and the cause of the problem all in your original post 🙁
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.