At one time, your local bike shop (LBS) was the only place you could go to buy a bike, pick up some spares, or get yourself the latest cycling gear. However, local bike shops are increasingly under pressure from on-line retailers, who with their bulk purchasing, high turnover and minimal overheads can afford to undercut the humble LBS.

Lots of bike shops have given up the fight and have shut up shop, simply unable to compete. Even the big retailers are struggling, with Evans Cycles recently revealing a gigantic hole in their finances and seeking a new backer to inject over £10 million into the business.

Here at SPOKES, we are big fans of the LBS and actively encourage our members to use them by offering a 10% discount on new cycles and parts at most of the retailers in our area. If you need convincing, then here are some of the key advantages that a LBS has over the on-line retailer:

1. Bespoke advice – The staff at your LBS will ask relevant questions to assess your cycling needs and ensure that you buy the bike / part / item of clothing that is right for you.
2. Try before you buy – Unless you go and try out a new bike, you’ll have no idea whether it will fit, or how it feels on the road / out on the trail. Bike shops give you the chance to try before you buy in a way that on-line stores simply can’t. Even more importantly, they will make sure it is set-up properly before you leave the shop.
3. Servicing and repairs – Yes, some people have the time, inclination and all the tools to carry out servicing and maintenance themselves, but for the rest of us, it is easier just to take it to the shop to get it serviced or repaired.
4. Technical expertise – Whatever the problem you have with your bike, the mechanic at your LBS will have seen it before and will know how to fix it. Also, they will be able to advise on what replacement parts are compatible with the existing drive train on your bike, saving you from inadvertently buying the wrong item.
5. They’re great in an emergency – Sometimes you can’t wait for an item to be delivered and a trip to your LBS is the only option for getting you back on the road quickly.
6. Community – A good bike shop offers more than just sales and servicing. Many now offer everything from a coffee shop to group rides and even workshops to help you get more from your bike and to feel part of the local cycling community.

We realise that we are very lucky here in West Berkshire to have so many local bike shops. But we’re not complacent and we realise that retailers of any description needs to continually evolve if they are to remain relevant and interesting to their customers.  Therefore, we have put together a quick survey that asks a few questions about your recent experiences with your LBS. This gives you an opportunity to sing their praises and to highlight what they could do better / differently. We will share the anonymised results with our LBS and work with them to address any gaps.

It doesn’t matter if you ride thousands of miles per year and spend all your time and money with your LBS or if just tootle to the shops and back at the weekend and spend a few quid on an inner tube once a year, we want to hear from you. Just click on the link below to be taken to the survey. If you needed an incentive, then we are offering one lucky participant the chance to win £50 to spend at the LBS of their choice:

https://www.westberkshirespokes.org/quiz/local-bike-shop-survey/