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The Wiggle/CRC problems got me thinking.
I mainly used wiggle as, having bought a few bikes from them, I permanently had the highest loyalty discount. My first new road bike was from them (Focus Cayo)
I am a big fan of the vitus bikes, the two I've had are great and I would buy another if they are still around when the time comes. I also liked Prime, Lifeline and DHB brands. Always happy. Most of my non club clothing is DHB. It would be a challenge to find another short brand that I liked that matched the price and performance for me.
I was wondering what other shops people use.
Merlin has been a go to for a long time. Used to be my LBS. My first proper mtb was one of their own brand Malts and I bought many wheels from them.
I loved Rose Bikes but Brexsh*t removed that option from me.
Who else would you go to for things like the brands above - Bikes I guess is the likes of PlanetX, Ribble, Dolan, Canyon. I've started buying a fair bit of stuff from Sigma Sport - the Vel brand seems to be very similar to prime/lifeline. What about clothing? Not just thinking summer jerseys but well thought out, all season wear for road and mtb?
Be interested to know peoples recommendations.
Wiggle/crc
Merlin
Velozone
Bikeparts uk
Recently
Merlin
Superstar Components
Planet X
SJS Cycles
Merlin
Biketart
Merlin is where I usually start.
Merlin, Bikeparts UK and SJS for me, in that order.
Used to use Merlin more that CRC/Wiggle back in the day but the CRC/Wiggle stock always seemed to be better.
I expect Merlin will see an upturn in business off the back of all this.
Merlin
Merlin, Planet X, SJS and Spa Cycles - the latter two for more specific parts.
Last few years Sigma have had most of my business, followed by Merlin and then occasionally Biketart, SJS, and BikeInn. Wiggle's demise probably won't change my habits much.
Merlin, SJS, Sigma for me.
Merlin, Tredz, Sigma, SJS for parts/accessories
Add Galibier, SportsPursuit and Start Fitness for clothes.
Keep Pedalling and Bikemonger are my go-to, but slightly niche stuff.
Merlin, biketart, slam69(though this was a scam site initially based on the name) and swinnerton have been my goto this year.
Plus 24mx.co.uk for protection which isn't UK based despite the URL.
I’ll add spa cycles. Always had good service. They have some stuff no one else has
I always liked Highonbikes.
Tredz, Sigma Sports, Bikeinn & Westbrook Cycles. Also seem to use eBay and Amazon for bike stuff more than I used to. Few bike tools and tpu inner-tubes from Aliexpress as well.
Bike parts = woolly hat shop?
CRC, SJS.
Another vote for Merlin who use the classic gotcha with the more you buy, the more you save. Make sure you check your account and see how much you have in vouchers/points, and if you split your orders smartly you can save a fair chunk!
And SJScyles - the place to go for widgets, wotsits and thing-ma-bobs.
Also a lesson to all in sensible web design, listing and searching for items of a complex/technical nature - all credit to the!
This year I've bought the most from CRC, then Merlin and Biketart in that order
SJS are great for their range of stock you can get, I occasionally use Tweeks
For bearings I pretty much only use Kinetic
Not bought much from Tredz for a while - they seem to have become quite expensive
SJS has become a big fave for me. They have the part you need and are really helpful if you’re stuck on what to get.
Merlin seems to be the go-to clearing house for surplus OEM stuff at the moment.
Whoever comes up cheapest on a google search, and doesn't look like a scam. I pretty often seem to buy from small bike shops I've never heard of before that way.
Decathlon for clothing. All of the above for stuff.
Merlin and Sigma these days.
Got a bargain Lezyne Super Pro from CRC/Wiggle around Easter for £27, don't think I've used PlanetX or ProBikeKit this year.
The online cycling store trends are changing.
Merlin Crc , Bike Tart. Inspiralcycles, Hopkinson cycles in Horbury (ive been delivering there for 20 years always do me a solid price ) bike24
I'd use Bike Tart more but it doesn't work on my Chromebook, and mostly I can't be arsed to get another laptop fired up.
As above plus Woods Cyclery, Cykel House, Fawkes and Leisure Lakes as it's within walking distance for emergencies 😉
Not seen Stif mentioned, not cheap but do good clothing brands. Also picked up some lovely Fox 36s in their sale.
Like many others, Merlin and CRC, particularly fond of SJS, and also buy a lot from Winstanleys (usually good price and good customer service when there have been issues).
Leisure Lakes sold me a very nice ebike. Also Pedal On for Bontrager stuff
SJS Cycles, by quite some margin
CRC/Wiggle has usually been my first port of call, but the recent site changes have made it less user friendly to say the least!
Merlin are great generally.
SJS for random bits.
Balfes bikes have had some good deals recently.
I avoid Tredz after previous issues.
Winstanleys used to be good.
Planet X...I haven't even looked at for months.
A bit like when the for sale forum here went 'bad', I imagine I'll save a chunk of money if CRC go under 🤔
Recent good prices and service from Saddleback, Tredz, Sigma, Ratio and Peatys. <br />Just waiting on Evans with their dirt cheap 5.10s….