Why buy from your local bike shop?
Having a local bike shop within your community is a luxury often taken for granted. Your local bike shop can provide you with professional knowledge, and services within the community that are unseen.
With big chain shops able to make shopping a little cheaper, or online shopping providing discounted products, they are threatening local bike shops now more than ever before. We think having a local shop is invaluable to communities for so many reasons.
Why a local bike shop?
- Product knowledge and service – often local bike shops get to work with a larger variety of brands, which means they’ll have a vast book of knowledge on a lot more equipment and will rarely be unable to answer a question or solve a problem. They’re often filled with employees who are also fellow cyclists who have experienced many different challenges.
- Try before you buy – ever wanted to purchase something, but haven’t been sure on your size, ability to flex into a racier position, or just had too many questions stopping you from ordering a product? Well, your local bike shop might be able to order in the items you’re looking at and allow you to try them before buying.
- Supporting the local economy – buying from your local bike shop rather than online, makes sure that the money goes back into your community, helping to continue its growth and sustain it.
- Part of your community – employees and owners of local bike shops are often part of the community. They listen to the needs and wants, provide club rides and help organise events.
- A phone call away – they’re often some of the most helpful people you’ll meet, they usually have a stock of little parts that may fail at the last minute and if not, they can sometimes take the parts off of new bikes to get you on your way.
- Personal and quality service – many people deep within the depths of cycling will opt for a local bike shop over a big chain. They can give you more time and often make you feel like you’ve had a better service than one you get at a chain.
London recommendations
- Brixton Cycles
- Northern Heights Bikes
- Strype Street Cycles
- Hub Velo
- Fudge Cycles
- London Velo
North East
- Peddlers Cycles
- NRG Cycles
- Cycle Art
North West
- Wheelbase Cycles
- Twelve 50 bikes
- 4Play cycles
- The Bike College
- Leisure Lakes Bikes
- Edinburgh Cycle co-op
- Woodrup Cycles
- Chevins Cycles
Wales
- Alf Jones
- On it Sports
- The Bike Shed Wales
Scotland
These are just a few local bike shops that come in highly recommended, there are many more within the community, so go and check them out. And don’t forget to tell us in the comments below which is your favourite local bike shop and why!
