Stif Mountain Bikes has announced that it will close its doors this September. The news was revealed in an Instagram post, which reads:
A Message to Our Community
After an incredible journey, we’ll be bowing out this September.
It’s been an amazing ride — from our very own Aladdin’s cave in Headingley, to the Covid boom, wild staff nights out, and everything in between. We’ve had the honour of supporting riders of every level, from local legends to household names, and even making our own bike along the way.
Opening our Bristol store was a huge milestone, powered by our DIY, can-do attitude and a passion for creating something truly special. At the heart of it all has been our cherished customer base — the lifeblood of everything we’ve built.
This business was never just about selling bikes. It was built on trusted relationships, honest advice, and top-tier customer service. We partnered only with brands we love and use ourselves, and that authenticity carried us far.
As we prepare to close our doors, we’re inviting you to help us clear the decks. There’ll be some amazing bargains to be had — a final celebration of the community that’s made this possible.
While we may be closing the shop, your support won’t stop. Warranty support will continue via our friends at Jungle, who will retain our systems records and even take on some of our fantastic staff.
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you – to every one of our loyal customers, and to every staff member who has made this place what it is. We couldn’t of done it without you. It’s never been just a job or just a business. It’s been a family.
With gratitude and pride, I’ve had the time of my life,
Sammy. Stif Mountain Bikes
Stif Mountain Bikes currently has a shop in Bristol, and a workshop/warehouse for its online operations in Summerbridge, North Yorkshire. Yorkshire was the original location, and Stif had a bricks-and-mortar shop there until it closed in 2024. Stif is owned by Jungle (UK distributors for Santa Cruz), and Jungle is owned by Santa Cruz, who is in turn owned by PON Holdings, the global manufacturing giant that owns Santa Cruz, Cannondale, GT and Cervelo. Further up the chain again, PON group also owns car brands including Audi, Bentley, Volkswagen and Porsche.
In a further statement Dickon Hepworth, Managing Director of Pon Bike Performance UK told us, “We are ultimately responsible for our UK business and this decision was made in order to concentrate our resources 100% towards our dealers and distribution business.”
Stif also had its own line of bikes, with the Stif Squatch proving a popular steel hardtail. There are some bargains to be had on those right now, alongside loads of other components and accessories, if you’re so inclined.
We’re sad to hear this news. All the best to Sammy and the team.
Singletrack Merch New Arrivals
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Bad Decisions Tee (White Logo)
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Bad Decisions Tee (Black Logo)
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STW Masthead Organic Beanie
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STW Zipped Hoodie (Mid weight)
£49.00
Sad face. My ’97 Orange C16 came from them. 🙁
Really sorry to hear this as some of my favourite bike shop memories have come via their various premises. From catching the X84 bus to the original Headingley barn to drool over the exotica whilst avoiding the windsurfs, to getting a lead for a second hand 89 Clockwork that became my pride and joy (when I realised I couldn’t afford a new 92) and then on to traveling to the next Headingley shop instead of the local supplier so I could have a Stif sticker on my 2004 Evo 4! Always enjoyed a visit to Summerbridge when working at the station across the road too, more so when they had the old bikes hung up around the walls but I always felt welcome and had some good chats.
I guess the writing was on the wall when they moved to Summerbridge as it always felt like a shop attached to the warehouse, especially after the original owner sold up to Santa Cruz/Pon. Why do they need a shop when they supply kit to plenty of others? The main business will keep going unaffected so it seems like a purely corporate business decision which is a bit sad when you look back to the roots and links to the UK pioneers.
I don’t need a Squatch, I don’t need a Squatch……..
Fifteen. Years. Ago.
I don’t need a Squatch … I don’t need a Squatch either …
Mmmm … Fruit Salad …
sad news. bought my 1st ever full sus bike from Headingley shop. a lovely Heckler.
it was a great shop.
Around 2011-ish I was talking to Liz (one of the owners) and she expressed concern that bike and gear prices were spiralling, the mid-range of the market was disappearing and whilst that was good for sales at the time, it would be a disaster if the bottom ever fell out of the market. I’m very glad she and Paul sold up and retired a while back, they put their heart and soul into Stif.
From 1998 when my Dad took me into Headingley for a new crash helmet until 2023 they were my main bike shop. I made friends in Whistler thanks to the Stif stick on my bike. They’ve been a pretty massive part of my life over the years (disclosure, I live a mile away from Summerbridge).
I also remember browsing the two page spread adverts BITD, and bought a 93 Clockwork frameset from them. Yet I’ve never bought online from them. Never even occurred to me. Not sure why.
Replacement Pace springs when the originals broke?
MTB standards have been largely stable for a good few years now.
Boost wheels, tapered fork steerers, metric shocks and threaded BBs have come back.
Don’t let that put you off.
You mean minimum wage rising and/or employer NI contributions?
If we’re taking uneducated guesses, I’ll say they’ve had a couple of flat or negative profit years in the current downturn and the beancounters have decided not to bother weathering the storm.
Well as a customer, it mattered to me. Number of times I went to the old shop from York = multiple (moreso when I was half living in Leeds). Number of times I visit local bike shops = multiple. Usually a couple of times a month at least whether its for oil or tyre sealant or something bigger. Could be a proper LBS, could be Halfords, could be Leisure Lakes. They’re convenient.
Number of times I visited Stif in the middle of nowhere in the last 15 years = zero. Went once (as I was passing) and it was closed on a weekend.
Goodbye and thanks for most of the memories.
Cheers DT one of the founders.
Freehubs? Rear mech mounts? Special stems and headsets for cable routing? Chainlines?
Shimano Microspline came out in 2019. UDH may be required for the new SRAM leccy gears, but still works with other setups. “Cable tourism" doesn’t count as a standard. And chainline is generally a non-issue IME.
What’s your point? Mine is that it was at that point the bike shop itself became less important than the warehouse and wider distribution so became expendable. You don’t move from Leeds to Summerbridge if you are still concentration on bricks and mortar.
Bought my first and last Santa Cruz from Stiff in 2001. First proper trip was across Ecuador on one of those Macmillan charity events (and before the haters pile in, I paid for the “holiday" part) and then off to Morzine for my first alps trip in 2003. 160mm/140mm rotors and Hope Minis weren’t quite up to scratch there!
Great service from the shop tho. Shame to see them go
Back in the day when I was still working in Bike shops they were seen as the gold standard, something to really aspire to. Shame to see them go.
Well, they’ve settled down a bit, but there’s still a massive sprawl. It’s definitely not like you can buy spares and be confident of using them on any bike, or of a bike you might buy in a couple of years time.
When could you ever? My 89 Clockwork couldn’t share many parts with my 99 GT XCR, or that my 09 Orange 5, or 2021 Stage 5.
Bad news for any business to shut ,it affects so many people.
It cannot help with the over stocking the last few years and you see bikes discounted so much and you see a brand new bike costing less than the ex demo you bought and are still paying for.
Its not really the shops fault. But they can not absorb any downturn in sales.
Hopefully they can restart on a smaller scale and rebuild again.
That ‘writings on the wall’ normally means impending doom for a business. That they managed another 15 years post move suggests it was the right decision at the time, despite what all the Leeds locals thought.
A good few LBS’ have opened then shut in that time.
When Paul Morphet sold out the name lost it’s soul, going appointment only in Summerbridge was 2 fingers to those that supported th store and brand, I fail to see what their usp so closing it’s doors is.no great loss as there are plenty of other local LBS that do it a great deal better.
This is so sad. I bought my first Santa Cruz from the headingley shop and have been using the Bristol one since getting back into biking 12 months ago. The staff in Bristol have been so helpful and I hope they all get sorted with new positions very soon.
An iconic shop that is no more
Summerbridge went downhill for me when little Rob left. He was the only assistant that greated me with friendly chat and he knew my name.
As said before most of the other staff didn’t want to entertain you and were hard work even when I was spending money!
Rob told me they were part of jungle who had the next unit to them.
So the Santa Cruz bikes just came from next door and possibly those in the shop were owned by jungle and must have kept stock finances lower.
They then stopped dealing with Sweet protection and it all went downhill from there.
Yeah, Stiff moving out of Headingley was a loss personally to me because it was a great shop. First time I visited must have been getting on for 30 years ago. We drove over from Macclesfield during my A levels for a special trip with all my bike mad mates and oh my gosh the gear they had was unbelievable.This was mid 90s at the height of annodized fragile bling.
Then after that I happened to move to Headingley as a student and from thereon (until they moved) I would use the shop regularly and also go in and drool at stuff.
When they moved though…they just became another online shop.
I’ve browsed the website a few times but never bought anything. It’s a shame, but not surprising, and I think I’ve done my grieving already.
Whether my inner tube purchases would have supported them staying in Headingley in an alternative past is unclear
Such a shame. Bought a couple of bikes from Headingley in years gone by and more recently used Bristol for servicing and parts etc. Found both shops really helpful.
Couple of pics of my Bullit & Heckler from yesteryear;