So Billy’s in Cambridge is closing down due to lack of trade. Shame to see another LBS close, spent a lot of my teenage years in and out of there and always found them helpful. Anyway.

http://www.billys.co.uk

Some big discounts on ‘in stock’ items eg:

Identit mogul frame with RS vivid RC2 shock : £560 (rrp £1200) – almost worth it just for the shock.
Rental fatbar/fatbar light £45

It’s not the best website but if you do a bit of digging there’s some real bargain to be had. I’m sure there was renthal stems in the mix and I noticed there was 50% off hope stuff in the display cabinet too.

http://www.billys.co.uk/english/group.php?prod=VARRN8331

Saracen Ariel 161 £799 (rrp £2600!!!!)

Used to get a couple of things from them. Then I got tonnes of spam to the email I used for them.

Think part of their problem much of the stuff they sold isn’t mainstream stuff, though also was an advantage in that they had stuff the big boys weren’t selling.

Yeah I know what you mean, they were almost a specialist, but tried to be a specialist in everything whilst following the latest trends and were a bit quirky. I think it’s probably the same story as many others, they just can’t compete with online prices with the Cambridge premium on top. Spamming certainly won’t have helped there online sales!

Luckily all the staff have got other jobs locally which I think is good to know.

Shame to see a company go to the wall, but that website is terrible!

Theres a few different Apidura frame bags, bar bags etc

Just the retail side? Are Ison Distribution still trading?

Real shame to see them go. More to come I’m sure as too many people buy on price alone these days.

Ah that’s a shame, bought from them a few times and every time it’s been things I couldn’t find anywhere else. Mark of a good shop that though, otoh, also implies I never bought anything from them I could find elsewhere…

But now where will I buy slick honey?

To be fair the spam wasn’t from them, just email address I used exclusive to them got leaked to spammers. Actually checking my emails for the address I used I’d forgotten about their site being hacked last year. Thankfully not bank details which is done via an external payment processing site.

Still though, all got sorted out and… Garmin VIRB – £75. That’ll do nicely 🙂

More than that, Hero 3+ Black at £180 seems a cracking deal!

Sticking with the VIRB though as want the pairing with my Edge, easy data overlay and don’t really want to spend £180 on a video camera even if it is a major bargain. Only want a cheap toy really 😀

Sunrace mx3 11-42 10 speed cassette 50 quid

Just what I was after, shame tho as I used to live in Cambridge and bought some of.my 1st ever bike upgrade there, dmr v8 pedals, DCD chain device, panaracer fire xc pros; everything that made an early 90s MTB cool!

Just tried to use the website. Any way of filtering on “in stock”

Bargain CX/gravel/caramac bike for someone large-sized…
http://www.billys.co.uk/english/group.php?prod=varrn9511

Press release says box and skate sales have dropped so Billys will close and Townsends remain. So ison not foundering.

Good news – thanks johnnystorm.

Hmmm such a shame as a great shop. And glad ISON not gone too. 🙁

http://www.billys.co.uk/english/group.php?prod=fmsu-insti tempting.

Billy’s…would we call it a LBC as per OP? Was doing a lot of mail order pre interweb days, used to used them for BMX parts in the 90’s!

I always remember Billy’s ads in BMX mags back in the late 80s, early 90s. Shame to see them go.

Interesting choice of bikes – those all city bikes get pretty poor reviews online.

Do retailers read the reviews of the bikes they sell before trying to sell them or just get good deals from manufacturers?

Or are they the retail arm of the importer? 😉

I used to buy skateboarding stuff from them in the 80s too. I’d have had a Virb if they’d had any in stock

I probably grabbed the last VIRB then 😀

That Hero3+ has gone too.

That Hero3+ has gone too.

That would be me thanks for the psa

🙁 I used them loads BITD for BMX stuff too.

Bargain half price Saracen Avro road bike on there in a 54

Thanks rockstar101 and cloudnine, just bought an Apidura frame bag and seatpack; saving over £45. Bargaintastic!

^ Grrrrr
Was looking at them last night, thought I’d sleep on it, came back this morning and you nabbed them 🙁
Oh well looks like Alpkit gets more of my business

There is a 1/2 price Hope Pro 2 evo front hub there if someone wants a red one

I looked at that Saracen Avro for a moment, can’t afford it really but it would be great for a dedicated winter trainer/commuter. Upgrade to fully hydraulic and you’d have a 105 carbon proper stopping bike for under a grand. Bargain, fill yer boots.

Bargain CX/gravel/caramac bike for someone large-sized…
http://www.billys.co.uk/english/group.php?prod=varrn9511

Saracen “56” is actually a 54, and the “56” frame sticker even has “54 C-T” printed on it.

Noooo.Billy’s was great.
Unlikely to be the last in 2016….especially in these parts.

But now where will I buy slick honey?

SRAM butter is the same stuff in different packaging.

Love a bargain, lack the patience to use that website

twohats – Member

SRAM butter is the same stuff in different packaging.

It’s not, my judy butter’s thicker (genuinely slick honey feels like honey, and judy butter feels like butter). I think they’re both slickoleum products but they’re not identical.

I’m not talking about Judy butter as that’s not been made for years!
Current SRAM fork grease is just called SRAM butter, it even says its made by Slickoleum!

Ah, ok- didn’t know they’d changed it! Top tip that.

RSP Slick Kick. Probably not exactly the same stuff, but does the job for me. TF Tuned sell it amongst a few others (and I guess is what TF use in their servicing).

That’s a shame. It’s a great shop, but I did have to wonder how they kept in business when competing with a new Evans and a lot of other discount shops. Their stuff did always seem to be a bit more niche than the other shops in town.

They don’t have everything in stock still, even if you’ve ordered it. I placed an order and half of it was already sold

I used them loads BITD for BMX stuff too.

+1

🙁

That’s a shame. I bought my first ever skate board setup from them, a Sata Cruz Jason Jessee ‘Sun God’ board with Gullwing trucks and Acid Drop Pacer wheels.

Used to save up my pocket money, get the bus to Cambridge and splurge it all at once in Billys. 🙁