The Samways post got me thinking about this.

I’m a serial second hand buyer and in 11 years of biking have only bought one new frame, my Niner. It was bought from Cadence Cycles in Bath despite 18bikes being slightly cheaper, and Stif offering deals, I thought I should #Supportyourlbs

What about you guys – local or national?

zero.

Went to a LBS recently with a view to possibly ordering a new bike/frame, but the staff were seemingly uninterested in serving me. 🙁 So I’ll probably buy elsewhere or online.

Mixture. First few were from LBS cos there wasn’t no internet buying of bikes available in them days!
After that it was mostly ebay and STW classifieds.
Tripster frame was from a LBS.
Last MTB (first new full bike) was mail order (shop in Wales). I did go to a local dealer for the same bike, but they didn’t have the model I wanted in stock. They were good lads in the shop though, so was a little disappointed not to be able to give them my business.

3 from Stif (since they moved to summerbridge/Harrogate)
3 from Boneshakers in Harrogate (closed 2.5 years ago)
2 from specialized concept store in Harrogate (it’s a franchise, and it’s staffed by mates/folk I used to work with at Boneshakers /\
1 from Halfords (£90 Apollo BMX, was a student)

My last 2 road bikes were from the LBS, but then I have a great LBS (Mickey Cranks)

From most recent: no, yes, yes, no, no, no, no, no, yes, no, no.

Cant really remember any further back.

I very nearly bought my first mountain bike (back in 1992 IIRC) from the shop
4 doors away. Tried it out, decided to buy then they couldn’t get it. Bought it from another shop on the other side of town. That was the last bike I bought new, and still the most expensive.

Personally 2 out of the last 4, for work 6 out of 6.
I get on fine with the LBS but I don’t feel particularly loyal, when I got the Mrs bike she asked for a £3.50 bottle and cage to be thrown in on a full price bike- No. So we know where we all stand, they give us no cuttings, we give them the same.

2 out of 4.
Back when I lived up north my local bike shops were Merlin (Felt F95) and Ribble (R7). 🙂

Going back: No, Yes, No, Yes, Yes, No, Yes, Yes, No, No, Yes then it goes a bit hazy.

Two bikes from current LBS in the 3.5 years I’ve lived here, plus Reverbs, forks, wheels & other components.

Helps that it’s one of the best-priced UK internet retailers anyway.

None, although I’ve bought all but one bike from shops that were a short drive away. The bike shops that are properly local to me tend to specialise towards the family friendly end of the market so buying from them would mean them getting stuff in specifically for me which seems like a bit of a faff.

Latest one was yesterday from a shop but not local as I was chasing end of line stock. Lygon in Melbourne
Previous 2 new were from the same Local Shop both excellent deals and great service. (including a 4 day demo) Sprung in Launceston
3 before that were all second hand
2 Before that were from KMB in Keswick again great deals, service and support

none.
The three shops I spoke with wanted to sell me what they had, not what I wanted to buy.

Actually, the geographically closest bike shop (an independent) is run by a bunch of liars, crooks and shysters, and I’ve actively discouraged people from shopping there. So I’ve probably prevented several sales of new bikes there. I’m well into minus figures in that respect. 😆 -6 or 7 at least, I’d say.

Got both my Reign and XTC Team frames, new, from Back-on-Track in Malvern.

Two, though not for a couple of years. Also bought various wheels, most recently about a month ago.

Pretty much 50/50 between Alpine Bikes Edinburgh and Edinburgh Bicycle Coop, and one off here 8)

Evans always get a look in as they carry some interesting stock, but I’ve never actually bought from them and would always favour Alpine or EBC anyway. If I ever give in to my disturbing desire to buy that bright pink Charge Plug it will probably be from Evans.

Bikes always from a shop as I’m a massive tyre kicking timewaster so would feel bad buying online.

Anything small or fiddly typically online now, can’t be arsed with special ordering etc.

1 full bike after demo
1 frame after demo
2 bike builds one with shop frame above and one Cotic

So thats 3 bikes all / substantially from the LBS (Nirvana) out of 4 bikes owned.

None, I don’t want to pay full RRP for Trek or Specialized

If I ever give in to my disturbing desire to buy that bright pink Charge Plug it will probably be from Evans

I think I may be indulging that urge tonight 😀

Never, I try to avoid going to my LBS as it’s shit and the people there never seem like they want to help you in any way!

Actually I tell a lie as there’s a new bike shop opened closer to me, but i think it only sells kids bikes and bells and stuff.

I did by a bike a few years ago from an actual shop near to where i used to work though, so I reckon that should count.

Last frame from my LBS was in 2005.

Not so many now, but about 10yrs ago when I had more disposable income and could afford it I lusted after a litespeed Pisgah frame. My LBS was a litespeed dealer so I was able to get one from there. Also bought a Kinesis Maxlite bike from them as well as my first “proper”MTB a Marin Nail Trail with Manitou Magnum R Forks!!
Over the last 15 yrs this bike shop has doubled in size and moved twice. (Alf Jones , Wrexham)

2 from Don Skene
1 from Sunset
1 from Afan Shed.

2 s/h
1 on-line from We Love Mountains I think they were called.
1 from Halfords on the R2W scheme.

None, I don’t want to pay full RRP for Trek or Specialized

Didn’t know that was possible, I certainly haven’t for the 5 I have/had, from both independents and franchises.

I bought a frame from Keswick bikes about 9 years ago, good advice, good price and great service. Once I realised I could fix / replace things myself easily enough I bought 2 2nd hand bikes. Bought a bike from Rose bikes 2 years ago as nothing could compete on price. Don’t think I’ll ever buy a bike local, wrong stock for me and too expensive for something I consider disposable.

2 out of 8 in 10 years. 1 “dream build” hardtail for £lots from Race Co in Stourbridge and 1 c2w road bike from John Atkins in Leamington. Of the rest, 1 was from Decathlon in store, 3 online, 2 second hand. The decision to do so was a combination of choice and cost, I generally knew exactly what I wanted and in which size so it was difficult to justify the extra cost of an LBS.

Prior to that they were all from the LBS, but that’s mainly as the internet was in its infancy or for large parts, didn’t exist. A good few from Halesowen Cycles, a couple from the shop whose name I can’t remember that is now Leisure Lakes in Wolvo and at least 1 from Two Wheels in Stourbridge and Brotherton’s in Old Hill.

4 from LBS – Cotic were still in Nottingham at the time so I’m counting them.

And 6 bought online.* One of which was cheaper for the current model year than Samways wanted for the previous years lower spec model that sat in the shop 3-4 months after they couldn’t do me a discount.

*In my defence, 3 were frames I had built up by an LBS.

i bought a bike locally this year – as in local to where i live now. Previously i always went back to my old local and employer.

It was the only dealer for the brand anywhere near me and i knew the bike was a pre order only at the time.

I practically had to throw money at them to look interested in finding out how long it would take to order in….. I wasnt trying to haggle – i just wanted that damn specific bike. Not one of the CX bikes you have in stock and i wont be talked round because its not even close to what im asking you to order for me.

When it arrived it was assembled for me – by the saturday boy i assume. In all of the shops ive worked in it would have failed PDI on a number of points. The one that annoyed me most was both hubs were nipped up and didnt turn freely (which if left unattended would result in dead hubs PDQ) but there was a significant drought of grease through out , seatpost was in dry. The bar clamp was nipped on one side and had a massive gap on the other.

remembered why i prefer to buy my bikes in boxes and sort them my self.

One. out of about 10.

None from an LBS,all national.

7 out of 8

3 from Northwest Mountain Bike Centre
2 from 18 Bikes
1 from On One
1 from Cyclestore
1 secondhand frame off Ebay

Edit – Ok, not my immediate LBS’s but NWMTB, 18 bikes and Cyclestore are the closest ones I use

3 bikes 1 frame – Samways
2 bikes – Je James
1 frame – stif
1 bike – leisure lakes.

Plenty of frames from online retailers and a lot second hand.

I doubt if I wasn’t so impulsive that the lbs’s would have done as well out of me.

I doubt if I wasn’t so impulsive that the lbs’s would have done as well out of me.

Good point, the most recent purchase was something I’d been mulling for ages but didn’t really need. On the day I bought it the wee ice cream place next to the bike shop was handing out free Frappucinos, hence massive sugar and caffeine spike as I walked past the bike shop offering discounts on Trek Superflys. How could I not?

None.
Halfords, Ribble, On One, second hand off here, Halfords, Halfords and Evans.

Tried to use LBSes a few times and have either been shouted at by a grumpy mechanic for asking if they had x in stock (he was the only one in the shop and apparently shouldn’t be disturbed) or been lied to (they thought they’d put me on hold on the phone, but hadn’t so I heard “nah, I’ve not ordered it” and then they came back on the phone and told me “we ordered it last week, the distributors didn’t include it in yesterday’s delivery for some reason”).

Quite a few over the past 20+ years all from Ralphies Taunton.

Not including the children’s bikes I have bought, two of my current five were bought at Bike Shed in Cardiff. The others were all bought second-hand.

Before that, I was in Canada and bought the bikes I had there in the days before the internet, so the LBS was the only option.

1 from Samways, 2 from The Bike Shop Derby, 1 national and 2 online (including 1 for the wife and 1 for my daughter), over the last 8 or 9 years.

Virtually all!

Three second hand ones
two from China
one from an alternate supplier
18 (I think) from the LBS 😳