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]

@Crickey7 97345 wrote:

the mechanics were kind to the venerable Bad Boy and coaxed it through several more years even as they gently suggested its time had come.

If you’re feeling nostalgic you cold always support everything esmonde or district cycle works. Two of that shops best mechanics have their own services now.

[Author]

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