Cyclelife is Closing

[rcannon100]

Word on FB is that Cyclelife is closing. I have also seen data that sales in retail bike stores are down.

So I was wondering – and I know this is an old subject that has gotten a lot of intensity from folk – LBS’s dont really serve us. LBS’s dont serve commuters.

Question: Why do you go to an LBS? What does an LBS offer you? What do you buy at an LBS?

In other words, what LBS business plan works?

I think – and many on this forum are proof of this – LBS’s cannot compete against Amazon or other online bike sales. If an LBS is going to make its profit off of jerseys or water bottles – and those things are available online for less – that’s a problem.

We – commuters – follow N+1. We have multiple bikes. We ride 1000s of miles. We spend $1000s of dollars on our bikes. We are repeat customers. And yet it seems that the business plan of LBS’s is to go after Freds and Poseurs with deep pockets – and not commuters who will come into their stores again and again and again.

So again – completely curious – and sort of thinking of writing up a blog post about this. Why do you go into an LBS? What part of their business plan works for you as a commuter? Is there an example of a good LBS that you think has a good business plan?

Or have you just bagged it and buy everything online?

Topic

[americancyclo]

From their FB page:

CycleLife USA

Yes it’s true and only a few know (up until now). Save up to 30% off on all inventory in stock. Specialized, BMC, Parlee, Assos, Castelli. Bikes, equipment and apparel. All sales are final. When it’s gone, it’s gone, so come in soon.

https://www.facebook.com/cyclelifeusa/photos/a.179730359481.122141.46911969481/10152429245269482/?type=1

I met a lot of good folks through there, and the shop helped me out when I first moved to DC. My first crabon bike and my first full kit from there. Best of luck to all the current staff!

[Brendan von Buckingham]

Mechanical repairs. Amazon can’t fix my bike. On the other hand, a shop better not just put the 15 year old kid on my bike. That might work on those over-priced overhaul packages for noobs, but…wait, those overhaul packages (replace breaks, inflate tires, fluff your pillow, etc.) must be a sweet gold mine. When I go to the LBS, I’m going for the mechanic, to fix what I can’t fix or don’t have time to fix myself.

[GB]

Great question. I think the future LBS is really a coffee shop / bar that services bikes and showcases gear. People come for the bikes but pay for the food. If Revolution and Java shack were co-located I’d spend more money at both. If Java shack sold beer I’d never leave.

[dasgeh]

@GB 94355 wrote:

Great question. I think the future LBS is really a coffee shop / bar that services bikes and showcases gear. People come for the bikes but pay for the food. If Revolution and Java shack were co-located I’d spend more money at both. If Java shack sold beer I’d never leave.

I was dreaming that the construction on the south side of Lee Hwy just past the entrance to 66W (and right beside the top of the bridge after the S Curve of Fun) would yield this. Alas…

To the original question, BicycleSpace. Great service, good selection, stand by the products they sell. The most recent bike I bought I could have gotten online, and probably saved a little, but I’m pretty sure Yuba would not have fixed all of the many problems, and BS has.

[DanB]

This is a good topic to think about. I think I’ll start with:

I’m so cheap … I would look through used parts to find a quick fix to get the bike back on the road. I have, in fact, while living in Germany, fished an aluminum crank out of a bin to replace the one where I stripped the threads. It would have been much more expensive to replace the entire bottom bracket assembly, and I would have had to go with steel instead of aluminum. (This was in ’93 or ’94.)

If a LBS could fit it into their business model to cater to those of us who aren’t afraid to tinker with their bikes, and help out when our tools or knowledge fail, that would be great. Oh yeah, and no snickering when we do something stupid.

BTW, I heard about a place (in Arlington or Alexandria, I think) that does in fact have used parts. Does anyone know if that’s true? I’d sure like to know what it’s called.

[Steve]

@dasgeh 94357 wrote:

I was dreaming that the construction on the south side of Lee Hwy just past the entrance to 66W (and right beside the top of the bridge after the S Curve of Fun) would yield this. Alas…

To the original question, BicycleSpace. Great service, good selection, stand by the products they sell. The most recent bike I bought I could have gotten online, and probably saved a little, but I’m pretty sure Yuba would not have fixed all of the many problems, and BS has.

Yea, tho who knows if they are actually doing well, you know, financially. There’s probably a difference between what we as consumers want and think makes a shop good, and what actually works for a shop in the long run. We want a huge selection of random things, with super experienced mechanics, for a not-too-huge premium. I don’t know, it just seems hard.

Like GB said, making the shop more than a bike shop is probably becoming necessary, because buying accessories at a bike shop just doens’t make that much sense.

[Steve]

@DanB 94358 wrote:

BTW, I heard about a place (in Arlington or Alexandria, I think) that does in fact have used parts. Does anyone know if that’s true? I’d sure like to know what it’s called.

Velocity Co-Op in Del Ray (Alexandria) certainly does. My guess is Phoenix Bikes (Arlington) might also.

[Steve]

@GB 94355 wrote:

If Java shack sold beer I’d never leave.

They do, but they call it Northside Social .

I’m sure that comment will invite some NS hating, because it’s a bit over priced and a little more stand-offish than Java Shack, but they have really good coffee and coffee related drinks, a surprisingly good beer selection, some decent wine, and a sizeable patio. What more can someone ask for?

[rcannon100]

@Steve 94362 wrote:

What more can someone ask for?

For someone to organize another happy hour there.

[dasgeh]

@Steve 94362 wrote:

They do, but they call it Northside Social .

I’m sure that comment will invite some NS hating, because it’s a bit over priced and a little more stand-offish than Java Shack, but they have really good coffee and coffee related drinks, a surprisingly good beer selection, some decent wine, and a sizeable patio. What more can someone ask for?

Well, better service. But you knew that.

[Greenbelt]

Sales have been up the last two years at my wife’s LBS. But it’s hard to know how much of that is that people just have more money in their pockets now that the Great Recession is finally (sort of) over, how much of it is new commuters (definitely a growing area), or whether it’s better inventory or service or just dumb luck. Also, she’s in an area with excellent but not-too-well-publicized bike trails, which may be getting better known finally. That could be why more local people are riding in general, and commuting in particular.

I think the main energy in cycling right now is very simple: women. Lots of women have decided that in-the-car-all-the-time life is not for them, and that’s really changing things. Just a little bit more protected infrastructure on the roads (we have virtually none in the Maryland burbs) and connections to the trails (some, but could be way better) would lead to a big increase in bike transport mode share over the next few years.

[dkel]

The only bike shopping I’ve done is for commuting, and I’ve had good luck with REI for seeing options in stock, plus they have a great return policy. They can’t always beat Amazon for pricing, but sometimes their sale prices are good, and their member dividend is nice. As far as LBSs go, I’ll say I have loved Bikenetic! They may do all those things mentioned in this thread to make sure they get paying customers through the door, but I have gotten expert advice on anything I have wanted to know related to my commuting and maintenance issues. Even if it’s not something they stock, they seem to know about it, have experience with it, and can get it if I want it. I don’t mean to gush…but I do appreciate what they offer me as a utility-type cyclist, so I think they do serve me, as opposed to a racing shop or a shop for recreational/casual cycling. (Bikenetic also has Dirt, so ’nuff said!)

[jabberwocky]

I do almost no shopping at local shops (not just bikes, but everything; if I need something my default action is to check amazon). But I’m an antisocial shut in. Anything that saves me the horror of having to go to a store and interact with people is worth it. The fact that its cheaper is just the icing on the cake.

[Subby]

I feel like Bikenetic has this figured out, and I know absolutely zilch about their profitability. The owners are likeable and around. They try cool stuff. They support the local cycling community with cool stuff. THEY EMPLOY DIRT.

Seriously, I just feel like they get it. Seems like a fair number of folks here have bought bikes from them, too. All they need to do now is add a back patio and serve beer/coffee.

[lordofthemark]

I am not sure if I am good customer for LBS (because I never buy anything bike related from Amazon) or a bad customer, because I buy too little period (well I did just buy a new bike, but it wasn’t high end, and in the succeeding 8 months have only bought a helmet, a lock, and a light.)

I am old fashioned and like being able to look at stuff before I buy it, and I also like advice (despite all the good advice here.) Preferably advice I can trust. Of course I liked my experience at Bikenetics, but my last purchase was at Spokes which is really close to me.

[Author]

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