Performance Bike Is Done, Son

[drevil]

Any other current/former employees of Performance here? Me: ’93-’97, Annandale shop on Little River Turnpike (which they eventually closed then opened the Bailey’s XRoad store). Full time sales then assistant manager. The most important lesson I learned is how little most employees in the bike shop industry make, which prompted me to finish college

[hozn]

@VikingMariner 182879 wrote:

Unsecured debts owed to trade suppliers include:

…
Eliptigo: $200,000
….

I’m going to go ahead and mentally blame Eliptigo for this.

In seriousness, this is really too bad. Performance Bike has a reputation for being a “budget” shop and maybe for their sales staff having less expertise than the high-end shops, but their prices were always really great and I always had good experiences with their customer service. And if their sales people may have been less informed they were also not jerks; I’d always choose that over a knowledgeable, condescending jerk.

And honestly, some of their stuff (e.g. their bib shorts and carbon road pedals) are really excellent value. I already have a spare set of pedals (back before I realized these road pedals would be happily humming along 12k miles later). But I’d better go stock up on shorts.

[Tania]

I just got two pair of winter tights, two jackets and a pair of winter gloves from Nashbar for $100. Going to try to make it out to Performance in the new few days.

I’m kinda sad about this – performance brand clothes have always been a good value.

[MFC]

The article is a little confusing, but I read it as indicating that Performance will try to keep most of its stores open. So maybe they will recover, or maybe they will die a slow death like Sears, I’ve found the persons who work therer to be generally fairly nice, although I stopped getting repair done there because of the wait.

[Emm]

I hope some of the local shops aren’t on the closure list. I really appreciate how Performance stores have an actual women’s apparel section with a variety of items, and not just 1-2 tiny racks of just road riding stuff that many of the other local shops have. Their house brand was also a great value.

[n18]

I was at their Bailey’s Crossroads location today, and it has 70% off everything(75% off clothing, limited number left), including bikes, but the store is half empty. You don’t have to be a member to get the discount. Only 4 road bikes left(see below), and about 10 to 15 Schwinn-type bikes. Most of what’s left are helmets, sunglasses, two Planet Bike fenders, one set of Forte Titan II Wheels, U-Locks, all OnGuard brand. No winter gloves, just fingerless gloves, bike seats, seat posts, seat bags. No panniers. Most bike tools are gone. 10-Speed Forte Dropbar Shifters(2 or 3 left, $33 per set after the discount).

Road bikes left:

Fuji Touring Disc Road Bike – 2018(Size 58) $1,080($324 after the discount)
Fuji Finest 2.5 Road Bike – 2018(Size 50 and 53) $495($149 after the discount)
Fuji Finest 2.3 Women’s Road Bike – 2017(Size 56) $450($135 after the discount)

[ImaCynic]

This is not a good sign for cycling as a whole when one of the biggest bicycle retailer in the country cannot not be sustained. Perhaps this also suggests that DC’s rather vibrant cycling scene does not truly reflect the health of the bicycle retailing business. I really hope PBS can turn the corner.

[mstone]

@f148vr 182909 wrote:

This is not a good sign for cycling as a whole when one of the biggest bicycle retailer in the country cannot not be sustained.

They’re only one of the biggest because so many others already failed. I don’t think “budget bike store” is a desirable market–you get squeezed by the big box stores on one side and the internet on the other. The only way to differentiate yourself is service, but “budget bike store” precludes that. So you’re basically paying rent to be amazon’s showroom. I don’t see that model as sustainable.

[phog]

Thanks for the heads-up, re: the Bailey’s location; they close for good at COB Sunday 11/18/2018. I went today and got a cheapie knockaround bike (but complete with Chomoly frame/steel fenders/rear rack/bell/kickstand/Simano rear/braze-ons) for $299.97, -209.98 = $89.99. The Breezer Downtown EX.
Also got a variety of inner tubes since I’m the default go-to guy for repairs of kids’ bikes from the block. Also got:
OnGuard Bulldog U-lock 34.99 – 24.50
Xport universal bike mount 24.99 – 17.50
Spin Doctor Quickshot inflator w/ CO2 cartridge 24.99 – 17.50
Sundry socks/bungees/bell.

[n18]

Saw today that Vienna store(In Tysons Corner) has “Store closing” sign with 30-50% off. It was after hours, so I couldn’t tell what’s on sale.

[mikoglaces]

@n18 183279 wrote:

Saw today that Vienna store(In Tysons Corner) has “Store closing” sign with 30-50% off. It was after hours, so I couldn’t tell what’s on sale.

Everything’s on sale. I bought the stuff you always need-tires, chains, tubes.

[Tania]

Gaithersburg is closing too.

[VikingMariner]

But Reston will remain. Got that info directly from them last month. Just normal sales going on there.

[LhasaCM]

@VikingMariner 183294 wrote:

But Reston will remain. Got that info directly from them last month. Just normal sales going on there.

According to the website, all stores are holding store closing sales. https://www.performancebike.com/shop/importantupdate has more information on what’s being said (centrally, at least).

[n18]

@LhasaCM 183535 wrote:

According to the website, all stores are holding store closing sales. https://www.performancebike.com/shop/importantupdate has more information on what’s being said (centrally, at least).

They are not allowed to call it “Store closing” sale per a judge order. See this other thread.

[Author]

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