what is the most inflential bike shop in the uk?

fattyatkinson
fattyatkinson Posts: 40
edited November 2007 in Workshop
hi. what is the most inflential bike shop or organisation in the uk?

Comments

  • Smokin Joe
    Smokin Joe Posts: 2,706
    I wouldn't say any shop is influential, they just flog the stuff other people make. Organisation wise, it would probably be the CTC.
  • Langenberg
    Langenberg Posts: 453
    Well Condor do their best to sell single speeds to commuters in London... but ultimately they are just reacting to a trend rather than creating it.
    =====================
    Pas de progrŠs sans peigne.
  • dannygcp
    dannygcp Posts: 151
    Edinburgh Cycle Co-op. They have proved that an employee owned business can be successful and dynamic.
  • sonicred007
    sonicred007 Posts: 1,091
    Langenberg wrote:
    Well Condor do their best to sell single speeds to commuters in London... but ultimately they are just reacting to a trend rather than creating it.
    I think Cannondale , Specialized, Willier et al are reacting to a trend - I think Condor nailed it age before the other mass produced brands realised the power of this niche market

    Plus, I never went to them for a single speed, I went for a road bike and a lovely red squadra later I was fully equipped

    I think with hte rapha connection they punch above their weight if that makjes sense
    My bike http://www.flickr.com/photos/68463844@N00/234032885/

    Leyton Rocks
  • Rich Hcp
    Rich Hcp Posts: 1,355
    Edinburgh Cycle Co-op, as said before.

    Wiggle

    Evans seem to have a big share via lots of shops.

    I still prefer my LBS for tech stuff,

    Edinburgh Cycle Co-op, Wiggle and UK Cycle Store for other things
    Richard

    Giving it Large
  • reverendmark
    reverendmark Posts: 67
    sonicred007 wrote:
    Langenberg wrote:
    Well Condor do their best to sell single speeds to commuters in London... but ultimately they are just reacting to a trend rather than creating it.
    I think Cannondale , Specialized, Willier et al are reacting to a trend - I think Condor nailed it age before the other mass produced brands realised the power of this niche market

    According to this article, Condor have been building road-oriented single-speeds for around 12 years. You do certainly see a lot of couriers on Condors.
    sonicred007 wrote:
    Plus, I never went to them for a single speed, I went for a road bike and a lovely red squadra later I was fully equipped

    How do you find the Squadra? I'm seriously considering one.

    Mark
  • sonicred007
    sonicred007 Posts: 1,091
    BIG SHOUT FOR CICLOS UNO in Gants Hill as well - nothing but helpful to me with advice the times I've been in
    My bike http://www.flickr.com/photos/68463844@N00/234032885/

    Leyton Rocks
  • top_bhoy
    top_bhoy Posts: 1,424
    A shop or organisation, to be considered the most influential in the UK, should operate throughout the UK, therefore it has to be British Cycling - who administer all aspects of the sport of cycling across several disciplines.
    Click here to view Top_Bhoys Pedal Force:
    Click here to view Top_Bhoys RC2:
  • blackhands
    blackhands Posts: 950
    The most influential shop by a long way must be Halfords who must shift far more bikes than any other and whilst they may be seen to be followers rather than leaders they may be influential in putting thousands of people off cycling!

    Whats all this about Condor being influential in selling fixed bikes? I've always had a fixed winter bike(for 50 years) and as far back as I can remember you could always buy a road/track frame from any number of shops or have one built. I've still got my original one dating back to 1957.
  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    For a while Condor were the only place you could buy an off-the-peg fixed bike - anywhere - and way before the big brands muscled-in. I wouldn't say Evans are influential - their growth is entirely down to venture capital funding rather than creating new markets. For me, the real champions are the guys that passionately stuck to road bikes about 15 years ago against the craze for mountain bikes.
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • Rob Sallnow
    Rob Sallnow Posts: 6,279
    Ribble Cycles is for me the most influential bike shop in the UK.....it influenced me to spend all my at Parker Mail Order.
    I'd rather walk than use Shimano
  • Fab Foodie
    Fab Foodie Posts: 5,155
    Monty Dog wrote:
    For a while Condor were the only place you could buy an off-the-peg fixed bike - anywhere - and way before the big brands muscled-in. I wouldn't say Evans are influential - their growth is entirely down to venture capital funding rather than creating new markets. For me, the real champions are the guys that passionately stuck to road bikes about 15 years ago against the craze for mountain bikes.

    I'd agree.
    Condor have carved an enviable position in the market place, a UK brand to be proud of based on a heritage of Italian design/styling, stuck with the world of the roadie. Condor has a certain cache and teaming with Rapha enhances the cool. I can dig that.

    Edinburgh Cycle Coop has also ploughed it's own furrow and has produced excellent value no-nonsense bicycles that do what they say on the tin and sell them through (apparently) excellent stores.

    I'd also nominate Pearson Cycles, in the early 80's when I darkened their doors they were making beautiful 531 and 753 frames. Though that has gone, they are still managing to come-up with very-good bikes of interest which considering their size (small) is no mean feat.

    Evans is just a triumph of good retailing...the Tesco of Cycling, but offers nothing really valuable.

    The real looser in all of this is Halfrauds. If they had had a bit of nous, not sold bargain basement cack for donkeys years and had actually employed some bike-staff that knew their onions they could have had a mighty position in bike retailing.

    Hey ho.
    The pessimists of this world are rarely disappointed....
    Fab's TCR1
  • mattiespec
    mattiespec Posts: 1
    Stif in Leeds are the centre of all things good in the north! Evans suck full stop
  • aracer
    aracer Posts: 1,649
    Dave Hinde :twisted:
  • Rich Hcp
    Rich Hcp Posts: 1,355
    Non cycling friends say they would go to their LBS if they wanted athey call a "proper bike"

    Rather than just a bike.

    I think a good LBS is key, I aso think if you like the guys in the shop, no snobbiness etc it makes you come back for more.

    I nominate Pauls Bikes of Hitchin

    (I have had bikes from their since I was a child, when it was called CJ Frost & Son, Graham retired and Paul took over and is doing a superb job :mrgreen: )
    Richard

    Giving it Large
  • giant_man
    giant_man Posts: 6,878
    sonicred007 wrote:
    BIG SHOUT FOR CICLOS UNO in Gants Hill as well - nothing but helpful to me with advice the times I've been in

    yes! Amazing aladdin's cave of a shop where they can get any bike and not over the top price wise too. Trevor is an ambassador in customer relations so no complaints there. Recommended! Either them or Paul Hewitt.
  • sonicred007
    sonicred007 Posts: 1,091
    reverendmark wrote:
    sonicred007 wrote:
    Langenberg wrote:
    Well Condor do their best to sell single speeds to commuters in London... but ultimately they are just reacting to a trend rather than creating it.
    I think Cannondale , Specialized, Willier et al are reacting to a trend - I think Condor nailed it age before the other mass produced brands realised the power of this niche market

    According to this article, Condor have been building road-oriented single-speeds for around 12 years. You do certainly see a lot of couriers on Condors.
    sonicred007 wrote:
    Plus, I never went to them for a single speed, I went for a road bike and a lovely red squadra later I was fully equipped

    How do you find the Squadra? I'm seriously considering one
    Hi Mark

    I love it. Went to test ride an Italia and because I was going from hybrid to road I also tested the Squadra to have something to compare the ride to.

    It's light as hell and almost flies up hill - although duration is limited to my poor fitness. But for the spurts I can manage it feels great.

    Arrange to ride one you'll see what I mean
    My bike http://www.flickr.com/photos/68463844@N00/234032885/

    Leyton Rocks

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