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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Issue 162
£10.00 -
STW Performance Ride Jersey
£42.00 -
Nothern Soil Fan Pack
£10.00
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There’s no doubt a recession in all but name happening at the moment and the Cycling / MTB market has it’s own issues thanks to the Covid bump and post-Covid slump.Â
IMHO Wiggle / CRC didn’t fail because of a slow-down or anything like that, it was gutted by it’s former owners. Both entities traded profitably for years, held cash reserves that could have weathered the downturn. It seemed to me at as it went through it’s various merges and buyouts it was saddled with more and more debt to buy itself and when it was no longer viable, the holding co that had sucked out the last of it’s value said it could no longer “support it" and let it collapse owning suppliers and tax payers millions. Â
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Unless I’m mistaken, PON don’t own those or any car brands: they are an importer of them.
I feel bad for any staff losing jobs or security – genuinely.
However, whilst I do mourn the loss of Stif old – in Headingley, the friendliest, best stocked, most wondrous shop that I spent so many times (and so many £££!) in over the years, almost weekly at points, truly feeding my hobby – I cannot feel sad about the loss of Stif V.2 who seemed to simply push customers away and had no interest in service unless you were buying off the peg £10k bikes for the family. Being told to I was effectively not welcome to browse was the last straw.
Again, sorry to individuals but as a shop, you make your own luck.
‘ Further up the chain again, PON group also owns car brands including Audi, Bentley, Volkswagen and Porsche.’ No they don’t. VAG is a German owned multinational megalith compared to the PON Group pebble.
That’s a shame (understatement of the year?) as I remember browsing their advertisements for hours in mbuk way back in the early 90’s and buying wheels, kool stop brake pads, onza brakes, filte saddle, tyres etc…..…
I thought they’d always be there and around for ever…..
😐
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.
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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.Â
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.
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Goodbye and thanks for most of the memories.
Cheers DT one of the founders.
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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.
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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.
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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.Â