Rode at FOD Pedalbikeaway yesterday, Pedal Syndicate have just built a new shop , all premium brands under one roof ! Santa Cruz, Amflow , Pivot , Transition, TLD , Patagonia the list goes on . Good to see in the current climate and given the state of the bike industry ATM
I'm not sure if it was always the plan, or just the plan once the owner of Ace Bikes pulled out and it changed to the Pedal Syndicate... It's owned by Gareth who owns Pedalabikeaway anyway, and I know the retail unit they were in in Monmouth would have been VERY expensive... Consolidating your second business onto the same premises as your existing business, with a captive audience, seems a very sensible financial move to me...
I know Cannock Chase is looked down upon by many (mostly who haven't been) but provides great satisfaction to us locals who can find most of what we want there.
Anyhoo, the bike shop at Milford Common is a real jewel. A great selection of bikes, a great servicing facility and a bunch of lovely staff. Nice coffee too.
Run and Ride is the name, I understand they have a good online presence too, which I guess contributes to their success. My only gripe is they shut on Sundays.
@mboy now you explain it it does make sense, I quite like the other shop / cafe down the road at Parkend , Dean Forest Cycles , seem on the one hand a different set up but they do stock quite high end kit and the cafe is ace !
Also a frequent customer of Run and Ride at Milford. Great shop and great coffee. I don't know who it is owned by now - but I believe it used to be owned by Gary Foorde.
Blessed with a few good shops in the area of Cannock Chase , 2Wheels Only in Tamworth is mega and well worth a visit if your in the area .
I think having a good captive market from being in a popular riding location and higher end kit does seem to be where the money is still but it's higher risk too if they get stuck with any of it.
I regularly go to The Woods Cyclery down in Lyndhurst and they've got the location, riding and customer base to really thrive on the gravel/alt bike market and seem to always be doing well. They carry lots of smaller/niche brands, have a great cafe and run free social rides from the shop every Sunday through the year so it builds a community/customer base. There probably aren't many other locations that would work however as it takes so many factors to align.
I don't ride Surrey Hills much these days but Pedal & Spoke plus the shop opposite had a similar captive (and affluent) market back in 2018/19 - not sure if it's similar still, is it called Riders Hub or something now?
@mboy now you explain it it does make sense, I quite like the other shop / cafe down the road at Parkend , Dean Forest Cycles , seem on the one hand a different set up but they do stock quite high end kit and the cafe is ace !
I usually park down in Park End rather than anywhere near Pedalabikeaway, and often start or finish the ride in the Dean Forest cafe… Great little place.
@jamj1974 the guy who owns and runs Run & Ride is Matt, he’s a great guy, usually organises the Cannock Round of the NPS XC too…
2wheelsonly in Tamworth is indeed a great shop too…
@mboy I've stayed just round the corner at The Fountain and started from there a few times
Also a frequent customer of Run and Ride at Milford. Great shop and great coffee. I don't know who it is owned by now - but I believe it used to be owned by Gary Foorde.
nah, that was Mammoth, the now Specialized concept store. Matt Williams owns Run and Ride.