Viewing 40 posts - 1 through 40 (of 68 total)
  • New Bike Shop Poll: Nottingham, Chesterfield, Leicester or different?
  • SigmaF
    Free Member

    People,

    After struggling for a while with local bike shop service and philosophy, a few of us have got together and decided to give it a go ourselves….

    We have some ideas on where we'd like to be different, what we'd like to offer and what is actually possible….we think!!

    Clinical facts and figures aside, it would be interesting to hear your thoughts on location…..before we start to ask about the services/prices you want.

    We're thinking somewhere in the Notts/Derby/Chesterfield region….

    Any thougths/preferences??

    Pinkstiffee
    Free Member

    Tricky one. Not sure I would want to go up against JE James despite their many faults.

    Nottingham always seems hit and miss for bike shops as does Derby! So that would just leave Leicester that I know nothing about. Apart from it doesnt seem to be able to support any quality outdoor shops (industry that I am in)

    Thinking about it i really wouldnt want to suggest anywhere in the mids…

    Brown
    Free Member

    Sheffield too far? Nowhere I know of that's any good actually in the city. Since I've lived here I've had absolutely no qualms about going online for everything.

    Nottingham have Evans and Leisure Lakes (I believe – no idea how good they are though), so a fair bit of competition. Chesterfield has an OK JE James. No idea about Derby or Leicester.

    Kramer
    Free Member

    I'd go for Chesterfield, closer to the Peaks, and on many people's route to get there, so if you were well promoted and gave good service, you'd probably get a fair amount of passing trade.

    Don't know about competition, but in Nottingham you've got a Leisure Lakes (ok), and an Evans (what you'd expect) and then Freewheel in town (knowledgeable staff but expensive). You've got Sherwood Pines Cycles just up the road as well.

    In Derby, your competition would be Samways (don't know about the workshop, but I've always had reasonable advice in there.

    SigmaF
    Free Member

    Thanks chaps, all good stuff…

    Yes, we did consider Sheffield,does seem to have a few shops listed though..and a JE James.

    To be honest, we're not too fussed about competition…daft as it sounds…we're not looking to take over the world…just offer a great service, fair prices and good, quality lines (not an homogenous approach to filling the directors coffers!)…

    Guess we best find out how many people in Chesterfield ride bikes then!!

    Coleman
    Free Member

    The Notts Derby Chesterfield triangle has some major players which include Leisure Lakes, Evans, Freewheel, J E James, Samways, Stanley Fearns plus numerous Halfords and discount cycle stores so unless you are providing something different it will be difficult. Most of the big cycle manufacturers are already represented so it might be difficult to get a new franchise deal with one of the big names. Sadly lots of keen cyclists also use on-line retailers as well.
    Sorry to sound so negative, but good luck anyway.

    joemarshall
    Free Member

    Belper. Obviously.

    It is on the (busy) A6. You get hundreds of road bikers going past every day (and more on the weekends), it has mountain bike riding right nearby, and it doesn't have a bike shop at all. It is also dead cheap to rent shops in, especially on the A6 itself. The nearest shops would be Fearns (in Matlock), and Samways (in Derby).

    Plus it'd be very convenient for me.

    Joe

    theboatman
    Free Member

    In Derby you've got;

    – Samways, that stocks a wide range of kit from low end to high end, big names like specialized through to the likes of Cotic/ Charge. They are never cheap, but no more than most LBS's, and the shop staff are friendly enough most of the time, the workshop staff tend to look like they have a dog poo top lip, and treat you accordingly, but their work has always been good ime.

    – Mercian Cycles, less stock but they sell Mercians and this makes them worth a visit alone. More of a roadie bias, but do MTB kit. Their wheel building is fantastic and decent chaps to boot, it's definately my shop of preference.

    – The Bike Shop, seem friendly enough, but never seem to have in what I need (probably just bad luck), bit more low end than Samways.

    – A couple of Halfords

    – Lesuire Lakes down in Breaston which ain't far.

    And if you are heading up the A6 to the Peak, you've got Stanley fearn's in Matlock.

    So for a place the size of Derby, I feel pretty bike shopped up.

    Edit – I think Joemarshall has come up good with that idea, but it might be worth finding out why Samways closed their shop there.

    SigmaF
    Free Member

    Belper….certainly very close to home for one of us!!…and there's the Amber Valley….the problem really is more about population density really, we'll still need to probably adopt initiatives like cyclescheme etc so will need quite a large, localish industry contingent…

    Yes, that triangle is indeed quite well covered by some of the major manufacturers…but not any of the lines we're considering….well, frame suppliers anyway…

    That's also going to be part of the model – matching online pricing, keeping the overheads down…we won't have the buying power of the larger chains, but won't have the o/heads either…

    hmmm – all good stuff, maybe Sheffield is worth a visit!!

    midlifecrashes
    Full Member

    I'd pick somewhere with a big student population, so go with Nottm or Derby from your list. Depends on the bias of your shop though. Roadie-touring-utility-mtb-bmx-electric will all affect your choice.

    sam-r
    Free Member

    my 2 pence:

    we won't have the buying power of the larger chains, but won't have the o/heads either

    not sure that a massive warehouse in N. Ireland has a greater proportional overhead rate than a small shop. However, Sheff could indeed do with a mtb-focused shop that you feel happy to browse in/have a chat etc (several roadie ones: JF Wilson & one up near Hillsborough). JE James & Decathlon will slay you for kids/cheap bikes unfortunately and both are in the SW area of town. Hunters Bar/Eccleshall rd may be a good shout for boutique/specialist stuff.

    A leftfield location could be in the Wicker area – lots of cheap arches to rent near the motorway for passing trade from east of the Pennines…

    Onzadog
    Free Member

    Depends a lot on just how good your service is going to be and what sort of kit you're going to deal with. I live in Nottingham and I'm not overly impressed with any of the big local players. If someone was doing a proper job, I'd travel to them. However, Nottingham does have an opening for a shop with stock, knowledge and manners.

    SigmaF
    Free Member

    …an interesting observation Onzadog…and couldn't agree more with your sentiments…..hence why we want to do it properly…manners and all!!

    I'd agree with the ohead proportion comment….but, there's not necessarily a need to work to a minimum high% margin if you don't have 4 non-cyclist profit-centric directors to feed!!….manufacturers RRP's notwithstanding….

    Sheffield could be a good option though.

    Really good points, thanks all…..we'll be looking for the same input when it comes to the finer service/product detail.

    joemarshall – Member
    Belper. Obviously.

    It is on the (busy) A6. You get hundreds of road bikers going past every day (and more on the weekends), it has mountain bike riding right nearby, and it doesn't have a bike shop at all. It is also dead cheap to rent shops in, especially on the A6 itself. The nearest shops would be Fearns (in Matlock), and Samways (in Derby).

    Plus it'd be very convenient for me.

    Joe

    None of the above helped Mark Anthony keep his shop open there – or was that just because it was poo?

    Onzadog
    Free Member

    who was the high end shop that used to be in Belper probably 15 years ago. Bikes down staris, clothing upstairs?

    theboatman
    Free Member

    I'm struggling to think where else in the Amber Valley, most of the shopping towns are quite poor and some are just shiteholes, that are joined together by nicer bits. Whilst there are plenty of industrial estates around alfreton, for example which would beneift from being just off the M1, you would have to be offering something exceptional for me to get out there shopping. I always thought Ashbourne was lacking a good bike shop, fair bit of money around there and gateway to the peak and that. The industry bit took a bit of a turn for the worst when they shut Nestle, but they have replaced it with houses full of potential customers.

    theboatman
    Free Member

    Onzadog – if you mean the one on bridge street, yep it did do some nice stuff, Kona's and Sunn bikes. I'm not sure if it became Mark Anthony's before it closed. Samways was on King Street.

    jackal
    Free Member

    Didn't 'mark anthony cycles' used to have a shop in belper?

    Anyway, I live approx. 10 miles from chesterfield and 15 to 20 miles from derby and notts.
    I've been to j.e.james in both chesterfield and sheffield, leisure lakes, evans and scamways (sorry, i mean samways) a fair amount. I wouldn't say i've had particularly good service from any of them, and thats the main reason i'd prefer to probably buy stuff online if i'm absolutely honest.

    Now rewind the clock back 7 or 8 years ,and, the bike shop i used to frequent the most was roy jervis's in ripley. The cycle side of it was run by an enthusiastic rider and nothing was too much trouble.
    If something broke or needed fixing last minute you could just turn up and he'd do his best to fit you in, not the 'bring it in 2 week on thursday' that you get from the other shops listed above.
    If i wanted some new parts i'd let them know, and he'd get them in at the best possible price they could as soon as he could, which wouldn't be as cheap as your chainreaction/merlins but I don't mind paying a couple of quid extra for proper, helpful service!

    I know thats no help on the location front, but if it was a decent shop, run by riders for riders, and reasonably local to me, then i'd use you no probs.

    😀

    jimmy
    Full Member

    I think JEJames have a lot of dealership rights tied up – trek, spesh, orange, kona etc. That said, they don't seem to do a lot of higher end stuff.

    Considered doing the same in Chesvegas back in the day but I think JEJames has the market tied up for what people want there bike-wise. Service-wise it would be welcomed but not sure thats a strong enough business case. Not trying to be pessimistic, I wish you all the best if it works and I'll certainly pop in when I'm down that way.

    The other option which has been mooted before is Hillsborough way where Langsett's is. Get the Wharncliffe DH crew onside and it could be a winner.

    Onzadog
    Free Member

    I can't remember exactly where that Belper shop was but I'm pretty sure it was pre-MA. I seem to remember it being the year of blue anodizing (right after purple). They guys in the shop had been playing around with getting their own stuff anodised and I had a very interesting chat with one of the owners about the effects of magnesium content in the alloy had on the anodising process.

    Anthony
    Free Member

    How many people are going to be owning and wanting a salary from the profits of this bike shop?

    The more people in the pot the less viable the chances of making a living. An average bike shop isn't going to make enough money to provide 3 or 4 £20k+ salaries. Hence a lot use part time student staff and weekend youngsters.

    walleater
    Full Member

    Wherever it will be, I'm sure the driveway will be amazingly clean 😉

    DWH
    Free Member

    I live in Chesterfield and I travel to Eighteen Bikes in Hope rather than go to J E James for anything other than maybe an inner tube.

    I wasn't going to rant on about J E James but what the hell… I broke a spoke on my road bike and went in armed with a printout from the Shimano website; diagram, part number etc. The workshop guy sent me to the front desk and after a lot of huffing and puffing and trying find a catalogue and a pencil and a piece of paper Mr. front-desk tries to send me back to the workshop.

    "This is just too much trouble for you isn't it?" I said.
    He looks at me a bit sheepish, "Yes" he replied.

    Exit stage left and ordered on-line from SJS Cycles. Spoke arrived next day.

    So… in terms of location, don't worry about competition from J E James.

    tall_martin
    Full Member

    I live in Notts within walking distace of the city center. I go to Freewheel if I need something done, or something ordered in and I get stuff of the internet for cheap prices.

    You would have to offer something VERY special to lure me away from freewheel. Possibly shorter repair waits?

    Good luck, but I'm bike shoped up!

    Martin

    SigmaF
    Free Member

    ….clean driveways??

    That's the point isn't it, the larger the shop/chain…the more the trouble/difficulty…too many contraints…

    No, there won't be loads of staff taking those sorts of salaries, not the point of the excerise, nor could we offer what we want to offer by drawing so much out…we'd be back to a corporate service again otherwise….but, you'd be surprised how much some shops turnover…

    So, Chesterfield or Sheffield should be given a bit more consideration then…

    SigmaF
    Free Member

    well, shorter repair waits…perhaps very short…are on the agenda….you never know, we may even come to you!!???

    Freewheel is a funny one, they do miss a trick by a lack of parking, but get the city footfall….however, have to pay the location rates too…

    Hopefully, we'll be in the position to price-match online instock prices too…

    we hope!!

    Brown
    Free Member

    I know I mentioned Sheffield earlier, but I thought I'd answer a point raised about it:

    Yes, there's JE James and a few others, but they're almost all either useless for decent kit, appalling on the service front or roadie-focused.

    It's crying out for a shop with some decent stuff and good staff. There's a reason people go out to 18bikes…

    thepodge
    Free Member

    don't come to sheff, although we don't have any good shops your bread and butter is the cheap crap so all that is covered. an yes the wicker is cheap but then you'll get flooded / robbed the day after you open.

    plus anyone wanting stuff just pops over to 18

    the-muffin-man
    Full Member

    Before it was Mark Anthony's the bike shop in Belper (on Bridge Street) was called Cyclone and run by a chap called Andre (and another fella whose name escapes me). They were Spesh, Kona and Pace dealers.

    I bought my first proper mountain bike from them, it was a decent shop even though Andre was a bit up his own arse – not sure what happened to him, I think he went of to 'find himself'!

    Now rewind the clock back 7 or 8 years ,and, the bike shop i used to frequent the most was roy jervis's in ripley. The cycle side of it was run by an enthusiastic rider and nothing was too much trouble.

    Sounds like the time when Dieter ran the bike side of things – bloody good guy he was, the cycle-side of shop went downhill when he left to become a rep for Moore Large.

    stewmtb
    Free Member

    Vote here for chesterfield.

    Like some have said you can get the passing trade into the peaks, and the local riding isn't to bad either.

    You will have a customer here anyway, hopefully you will be within riding distance 🙂

    the-muffin-man
    Full Member

    Another plus for Belper (and that A6 corridor, and over the Coxbench side too) is that it has lot of riders who commute into Derby as its a very easy flattish run.

    And 18 Bikes proves* that footfall isn't the only option for a shop, as they started in Bakewell (as Bespoked I believe) which is always silly busy especially at weekends, but then moved to Hope and went from strength to strength – people will travel if the shop has a good reputation.

    (*as does Sideways Cycles)

    MoreCashThanDash
    Full Member

    Ilkeston, obviously. Hell, if Dave Brailsford's home town can't rustle up anything better than a teeny Bikehut…

    (Obviously Mojos is a local secret we don't talk about….)

    Kramer
    Free Member

    Sideways is a great place, completely disorganised, but great advice and very friendly.

    18 bikes also very good, and adept at parting me from my wallet.

    joiner
    Free Member

    Chesterfield/Sheffield gets my vote………

    18bikes
    Full Member

    so, we should have a 2nd branch in sheffield then?

    Optifaff
    Free Member

    vote here for Leicester….true we have to travel to ride, but with the exception of one small non-specialist shop by the Uni, there's nothing else nearby.

    joemarshall
    Free Member

    It is annoying, there is nowhere in Belper you can get bike bits. Closest thing is cheap inner tubes in Wilkos, but if you need a chain or a tyre or something else specialised, you have to mail order. There are tons of riders around there, so it is a bit odd.

    Joe

    Jamie
    Free Member

    18bikes – Member
    so, we should have a 2nd branch in sheffield then?

    Yes. So when i come down to Sheff on the train to see me sis i can pop in as i can never get over to Hope 😉

    jimmy
    Full Member

    18bikes – Member
    so, we should have a 2nd branch in sheffield then?

    I think you'd be onto a winner. Unless someone gets there first with 19bikes.

    Blackhound
    Full Member

    In Derby you also have Holt's on Nightingale Road. Less high end stock but workshop is super quick and reliable. Especially compared with Samways or Mercian.

    As the-muffin-man says it was Cyclone before MA and I bought a Kona and a Sunn from there and loads of bits. Andre's sidekick John was an expert in samurai swords or something! Andre wanted to do something different as he had run the shop for ~10 years. Miss that shop…..

    Belper (or Duffield) could be good as reasonable population, east access to Derby / Peak though parking can be an issue in Belper. Something with a cafe? Get people in for an espresso and muffin and sell them some carbon wheels!

    The wait at Samways for maintenance has got long, and Mercian is worse so there is space for a good workshop to match Holts. Once people are in the door you always have a chance of a sale.

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