New bike shop - central london

Anonymous

Not seen it before but I think there is a new bike shop - CycleRepublic just behind Leadenhall Market in the City.

I think this is the 'bike' only brand of Halfords?

Sells the middle and top end Boardmans up to the £8K elite SLR with super record 11, Pinarellos up to the £6K F8 with ultegra mechanical and also stock some nice looking cinellis and Bassos. The new bike smell is lovely.

Seems well stocked and well laid out. Except for the one thing I wanted. I think there may be a sale on as well.

wandsworth

Yes, it's Halfords. One has also just opened at the roundabout end of Wandsworth bridge. Didn't seem to have the higher-end bikes when I went in there but it was a few weeks ago, just after they'd opened, so maybe they do now.

ex-pat scot

Yeah I spotted it last week. Lots of high end stuff.

Halfords trialled the "Cyclerepublic" dedicated high end bike store concept about 5 years ago, in a few places including York and Norwich.
They lasted about a year before being closed down. If I recall, they didn't yield sufficient gross margin. Frankly, they missed the entire road bike explosion - couldn't' have timed it worse!

I presume this new store is a resurrection / new pilot of the concept again.

whatleytom

There's been one open about a year up near where Tottenham Court Road meets Euston Road.

Always seemed ok when I went in to get the odd bit.

cruff

I visited the one off Regent St before xmas (was actually on my way to CycleSurgery but they were giving out vouchers on the street so went in for the value)

Handy if you just need some stuff (tubes, gels, chain, a multi etc). Same clueless staff as in H@lfords though. Sample dialog from my visit:

"My brother has one of those" (pointing to track bike on sale)
"You should always replace the cassette as well if your chain is worn out" (despite customer saying cassette and chain were replaced together last time)
"Your gears need re-indexing" (despite customer telling him chain kept coming off when in small cog, clearly indicating either bent derailleur or limit screw adjustment needed)

I give the place about a year - the rent must be astronomical off Regent St, and they're competing with Evans - who are just as sh1te but more established

bigmat

https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/membership/article/20160114-membership-static-Halfords-Cycle-Republic---discounts-for-members-0?utm_source=British%20Cycling&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=6640217_Member%20News%2014%20January%202016&utm_content=Halfords%20Cycle%20Republic&dm_i=BM6,3YBMH,2LN0UX,E9HGF,1

Anonymous

Went in there today to get some bar tape and cable ferrules and it turns out one of the guys there used to be the manager at my local Evans.

Interestingly they have a loyalty card where you provide your email address and in return:

£20 voucher for every £100 spent
50% of a service once per annum (gives the full service of £80 down to £40).

itboffin

Would you have your bike serviced at halfords or Evans even of it was free?

CiB

coriordan wrote:

50% of a service once per annum (gives the full service of £80 down to £40).

Half a service then?

Is it worth paying even £40 for someone to adjust the brakes, index the gears & squirt a bit of oil on the chain? Always struck me as a colossal waste of money paying for a bike service. There are much better things to waste money on surely.

Anonymous

If they're gonna strip, rebuild, recable and re-grease and clean then 40 quid is worth it for my time. (I'll provide the cables)

itboffin

CiB wrote:

coriordan wrote:

50% of a service once per annum (gives the full service of £80 down to £40).

Half a service then?

Is it worth paying even £40 for someone to adjust the brakes, index the gears & squirt a bit of oil on the chain? Always struck me as a colossal waste of money paying for a bike service. There are much better things to waste money on surely.

beer?

spasypaddy

coriordan wrote:

Went in there today to get some bar tape and cable ferrules and it turns out one of the guys there used to be the manager at my local Evans.

Interestingly they have a loyalty card where you provide your email address and in return:

£20 voucher for every £100 spent
50% of a service once per annum (gives the full service of £80 down to £40).

the director of the cycle republic brand within the halfords group is ex-evans. they have been trying to bring in a load of the evans staff

rick_chasey

Anyone had experience with getting servicing etc with this lot?

anonymousblackfg

I know of someone who had quite a nasty 'off' post a service by these guys, where adjustments to a mudgard made it go into his front wheel, he's a very easy going so took it no further. i'm still happy with a load of you tube videos, a maintenance book and a decent knowledgeable LBS when I need something specific doing.

elbowloh

Noticed that one of these is soon to open in Purley, near my gaff, if any of you are heading down that way. Looks like it will be a pretty big store.