Online Bike Shop

ianeverton
ianeverton Posts: 231
in Road general
Hi,
I have been away from cycling for a year or two as had a bad injury, anyway I am back and in the full swing of researching and buying stuff that I do not really need, but do really want...
I have noticed that the online bike shops I used to use a lot - Ribble, Chainreaction are not as good as they used to be, any new online shops out there that are really good ?
I do use Sigma Sports, however is a bit more expensive than other shops.
Thanks

Comments

  • mrb123
    mrb123 Posts: 4,819
    Merlin still pretty reliable.
  • sloppyschleckonds
    sloppyschleckonds Posts: 8,019
    They all appear to be price matching each other nowadays. Some may say fixing the prices.
    I'm sorry you don't believe in miracles
  • akh
    akh Posts: 206
    Depends what you want. Wiggle seem quite dominant now (they own chain reaction too), but they seem to focus more on higher volume or higher priced items. No real issue with them, other than they're crap for spares or consumables like chainrings, cables, hoses, olives, etc.

    For parts I've found Merlin and SJS good.

    I used to use Ribble, but they seem to have cut back and focus on complete bikes now.

  • joe_totale-2
    joe_totale-2 Posts: 1,333
    edited May 2020
    Merlin and Sigma are my go to places, they both use Royal Mail for delivery which is a big plus point for me. Wiggle/CRC use Hermes who in my experience are beyond incompetent.

    I've noticed since the Covid 19 outbreak that Sigma are selling many things at RRP where before their pricing was similar to Wiggle/CRC. They are still price matching though but it's a bit of extra faff.
  • dj58
    dj58 Posts: 2,223
    "This year I have mostly been using Merlin Cycles".
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,313
    Bought some stuff from Sigma with price match... it's an email exchange, but it happens fairly rapidly in my case... half an hour or so

    Not sure why you say CRC and Ribble are not as good as they used to be
    left the forum March 2023
  • imposter2.0
    imposter2.0 Posts: 12,028
    ianeverton said:


    I have noticed that the online bike shops I used to use a lot - Ribble, Chainreaction are not as good as they used to be, any new online shops out there that are really good ?

    Can you explain what you mean by 'not as good'..?

  • navrig2
    navrig2 Posts: 1,851
    ugo.santalucia said:

    Bought some stuff from Sigma with price match... it's an email exchange, but it happens fairly rapidly in my case... half an hour or so

    Not sure why you say CRC and Ribble are not as good as they used to be

    I haven't bought much recently but just had a look at the Ribble website.
    For example.

    They have 8 wheels for sale some a set and some a single. The cheapest was a single wheel at over £400.

    They have 3 tyres for sale.
  • kevin_stephens
    kevin_stephens Posts: 184
    joe_totale-2 said:

    Merlin and Sigma are my go to places, they both use Royal Mail for delivery which is a big plus point for me. Wiggle/CRC use Hermes who in my experience are beyond incompetent.

    Yes! I ordered from CRC on Wednesday paying for next day delivery and still waiting. Hermes sends me a message every day apologising for delay and falsely promising my order will be "on the move" within 24 hours. I appreciate couriers are very busy due to Covid-19 but Hermes seem to be the worst of them by far. I should have gone to my LBS again

    I want to climb hills so badly;
    and I climb hills so badly
  • manglier
    manglier Posts: 1,278
    I hear your pain. I have pretty much stopped using Wiggle/CRC simply because they use Herpes. Until I discover that they go back to using DPD Local (Interlink Express as was) I'll be steering clear.
    I'm getting a lot of kit from Bike24 these days, it's a German outfit but even at today's naff exchange rates the prices are pretty good.
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,313
    navrig2 said:

    ugo.santalucia said:

    Bought some stuff from Sigma with price match... it's an email exchange, but it happens fairly rapidly in my case... half an hour or so

    Not sure why you say CRC and Ribble are not as good as they used to be

    I haven't bought much recently but just had a look at the Ribble website.
    For example.

    They have 8 wheels for sale some a set and some a single. The cheapest was a single wheel at over £400.

    They have 3 tyres for sale.
    Ah OK, I have to admit I haven't bought much from Ribble recently... I think they have become a lot more focused on their bikes, which are by all means really good and maybe they see that the market for bits and bops is overcrowded and not so profitable anymore, possibly?
    left the forum March 2023
  • mrfpb
    mrfpb Posts: 4,569
    Merlin and SJS for parts. I like dhb clothes, so Wiggle for them. They are not consistent with the Haribo these days, though.
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,313
    mrfpb said:

    Merlin and SJS for parts. I like dhb clothes, so Wiggle for them. They are not consistent with the Haribo these days, though.

    Neither they are with their sizing.... I've had Small DHB stuff which fitted too big as well as Medium that were way too tight
    left the forum March 2023
  • navrig2
    navrig2 Posts: 1,851
    ugo.santalucia said:

    navrig2 said:

    ugo.santalucia said:

    Bought some stuff from Sigma with price match... it's an email exchange, but it happens fairly rapidly in my case... half an hour or so

    Not sure why you say CRC and Ribble are not as good as they used to be

    I haven't bought much recently but just had a look at the Ribble website.
    For example.

    They have 8 wheels for sale some a set and some a single. The cheapest was a single wheel at over £400.

    They have 3 tyres for sale.
    Ah OK, I have to admit I haven't bought much from Ribble recently... I think they have become a lot more focused on their bikes, which are by all means really good and maybe they see that the market for bits and bops is overcrowded and not so profitable anymore, possibly?
    I think that's probably the case. The last few times I have been looking for stuff I haven't even looked at Ribble.

    I do like their new bike range and really hope they are successful in creating a "sexier" brand than they had previously.
  • ibr17xvii
    ibr17xvii Posts: 1,065
    imposter2.0 said:

    ianeverton said:


    I have noticed that the online bike shops I used to use a lot - Ribble, Chainreaction are not as good as they used to be, any new online shops out there that are really good ?

    Can you explain what you mean by 'not as good'..?


    Ribble are nowhere near as good for parts, kit etc. They simply don't have the stock they used to.

    They're obviously focusing their attention elsewhere which is fair enough.
  • ibr17xvii
    ibr17xvii Posts: 1,065
    dj58 said:

    "This year I have mostly been using Merlin Cycles".


    Merlin are spot on. They've really upped their game & even better 10 minutes from my house.
  • glyno1
    glyno1 Posts: 11
    I've recently discovered condorcycles.com who've been brilliant, both on service and on advise.
  • mike_butcher
    mike_butcher Posts: 4
    I recently bought a couple of items from Mantel (https://www.mantel.com/uk), based in Holland but still pretty quick delivery and cheaper than Wiggle/Evans
  • Darius_Jedburgh
    Darius_Jedburgh Posts: 675
    Condor are good.
    Merlin are good.
    SJS are good.
    All use Royal Mail/DPD.

    Wiggle/CRC are good but they use Herpes who give an extremely variable service. My last delivery from them took 4 days from being at local depot to delivery. They repeatedly deleted/changed status.
  • akh
    akh Posts: 206
    FrankYates said:

    Condor are good.
    Merlin are good.
    SJS are good.
    All use Royal Mail/DPD.

    Wiggle/CRC are good but they use Herpes who give an extremely variable service. My last delivery from them took 4 days from being at local depot to delivery. They repeatedly deleted/changed status.

    Never used Condor but spoke to them at the Cycle Show and they were really helpful.

    I've had no issue with Wiggle either, but I only use click and collect with them now. I live in a town and there are a few Tesco Express and McColls newsagents close by that are part of the scheme. You get a text and email when it's there and provide a barcode and ID to collect. It actually seems quicker than standard delivery too, usually next day.
  • dj58
    dj58 Posts: 2,223
    FrankYates said:

    Condor are good.
    Merlin are good.
    SJS are good.
    All use Royal Mail/DPD.

    Wiggle/CRC are good but they use Herpes who give an extremely variable service. My last delivery from them took 4 days from being at local depot to delivery. They repeatedly deleted/changed status.

    This is the reason why I rarely use Wiggle/CRC these days.

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