Wiggle used to be a great place to find stuff when you weren’t sure exactly what was the range of stuff available. Does anyone compare now? The sites I’ve seen are ok for when you know the exact item you want, but not so much if you’d like to see alternatives. What’s your go-to?
Tweekes, to try to keep my money in Wales. Likewise Tredz but they have let me down too many times.
Swinnertons and Whinstanleys have been pretty good.
Plus of course, LBS.
Biketart and Bikeparts.co.uk for components
SportPursuit for clothing
I was saddened recently to see the Chain Reaction site/brand is completely gone now. Trying to navigate to it just takes you to Evans
Mainly now I use Merlin, Balfes, Sigma Sports, Lordgun etc
Winstanlys have been very good the times I’ve used them, postage incredibly quick on a set of cranks recently.
Also Merlin have been good.
Merlin, winstanleys both localish. As in I’d drive to them both.
Then tredz, tweaks, biketart, bikeinn
Plus google and wherever that sends me. The death of LBSs is happening at an ever increasing rate, which is unfortunate but I don’t see it stopping. The bricks and mortar bike shops that I do visit tend to have a cafe so I’ll call in with my wife and little lad and have a wander and grab things whilst there. 3 peaks cycled at settle and Jack Parker cycles in Burscough have both got cafes.
I do miss the old Merlin when it was in Leyland proper, when they were know for their wheel building, they were so bloody helpful as well. I need this little plastic bit from an xyz. Here have this one for free, it was in a mechanics tools box.
I usually know exactly what I want so I just go with whoever has it for the best price. However, BikeTart, Balfe's and Uprise Bikes are my main go-tos. I'll also use Tredz if I absolutely have to and don't mind waiting until they can be bothered to ship.
My two LBS are both franchises (EBCo and Evans) so I don't feel any affinity to them.
Merlin, Biketart, Leisure Lakes, Sigma Sports, CycleStore... also try SportandLeisure and StartFitness, sometimes have decent stock, but not always. Then, I use AI, which can come up with suppliers you don't expect - like Evolution Bikes, based in Bangor, who supplied some Specialized shoes that were hard to find in my size. It ain't as convenient as the CRC days
I use bike-discount.de as I am in the EU so maybe not much help to you post brexit.
Merlin and Tredz are my normal go-to.
Sometimes Sigma Sport.
I have two good LBS as well, main one that I use a lot and then one slightly further away which is the only place locally to get my Bosch-powered e-bike plugged in.
I try and use bike shops local to where I happen to be. So Merlin as I work nearby, Leisure Lakes as I can pop in, and Sigma Sports and Rutland Cycles as they have shops local to my parents.
However, they don't always stock what I'm after, so I also use Superstar Components, Banana Industries, Planet X and Biketart.
SJS for small odd spares. I try and use them for other stuff as well if the price delta isn't too great as they are a resource I'd hate to lose
Winstanleys have some good prices, for example Caracal Race gravel tyres, but their dispatch times for items supposedly in stock rather than in supplier warehouse and communication isn't great.
Merlin, but they aren't often many bargains for the bits I'm after these days.
Sigma Sports, but again, I don't frequently see bargains there for bits I'm after.
Tredz sometimes have some bargains, but rarely for stuff I'm after/need.
Halfords sometimes, but helps if you have BLC, British Cycling membership discount etc.
The world of cycling store bargains seems very small these days compared to pre-covid since Wiggle/CRC were bought by Ashley; Rutland stopped doing online store for at least bikes; ProBikeKit vanished and PlanetX changed to at least partial staff ownership and Dave set up his Banana Industries.
As above, a variety of those posted already, but probably Sigma more than the others ones mentioned.
Mostly merlin, though winstanleys or sport and leisure.
SJS is fantastic for obscure parts. I recently bought new hoods for ancient sti's.
I gave had good luck with Balfes and Certini of late
Sigma mostly these days, but to the OP's point about seeing what's out there I'd say they're not as good for that as Wiggle back in the day. I don't think any of the other usual suspects mentioned already are either. BikeInn have a very wide range I suppose
SJS for small odd spares. I try and use them for other stuff as well if the price delta isn't too great as they are a resource I'd hate to lose
This for me, too. They've supplied me with hassle free Mavic and Hope freehub spares, Shimano lever bladders, crank arm bolts etc over the last six months. I try to save up items for a biggish order every few months.
Generally Merlin and Sigma Sports, between them they cover most of what Wiggle used to (of stuff I'm interested in anyway). If they don't I just google and end up places like Balfe's and Tredz. Usually check Sport Pursuit first for clothing but its a bit like the Aldi middle aisle and I end up buying twice as much as I planned on other stuff I don't really need...
Bike Tart & Merlin are my go-to. Anything else (if they don't have what I want in stock) I just have a google and pick the cheapest (used Tweeks, Tredz, Winstanleys, bikeparts etc in the last few months). Don't have a decent LBS who stocks a range of mountainbike stuff, just town/roadie bits mainly.
I generally use most/all of the above - Google search, then price/availability
