What's the current half decent online bike shop now?
I was a Wiggle/CRC customer back in the day but am now out of touch. Any advice appreciated.
There isn’t really a 1 stop shop any more. Hasn’t been for a while, even when CRC were still trading, made worse by the B word.
if I’m not buying direct, i tend to Google and buy from the cheapest, as i cba to go to the LBS.
Lbs is a good place - go make friends there and they'll get what you need. If you are too tight for that effort, Merlin seems decent and if you are really tight the European shops are good - r2bike, BikeInn, etc.
+1 for LBS if you have a good one, support local jobs etc and you'll be glad of them if you need a BB faced or some other task that requires a very expensive specialist tool.
Also be aware when buying from the EU that you may get hit for VAT, duty and customs charges.
Potentially still worth a punt if something is ridiculously cheap, unavailable in the UK or unlikely to ever need returning.
LBS normally but if he doesn't have it in stock he points me this way;
sjscycles.co.uk
If you have any doubts about the parts you need, they're very good at helping.
I google for parts (cheapest), but usually Merlin, SJS, SPA. SJS for anything a litle bit specialist.
LBS is great in theory but I have 4 of them and when I was building my bike recently I still had to get all the small parts on line.
I'd like to be able to try clothes on before I buy them but I'm not XS or XXL so there's never anything in stock.
That'll be because the common sizes get sold quickly...need to be quicker off the mark to check for sizing.
Merlin / Sigma / SJS. If that fail I just Google for lowest price.
Merlin are good, so are Balfes. Bikeparts.co.uk/Woolyhatshop have had what I needed recently + they have an ebay store that is often a bit cheaper/free postage.
Merlin seems to be best for consumables, if that fails I'll try a combination of the german sites, Mantel maybe, even Lordgun. Sometimes the stuff is so much cheaper than UK prices that the postage is worthwhile.
Mmm I tried ebay usually, hoping some LBS used it to sell their stuff. I like to think I kind of support them this way.
Thanks for the advice folks!