Independent or Multi? ''USE US OR LOSE US''

I try to support the local independent cycle shops but it's sometimes easier and tempting to stroll into somewhere like Halfords with their decent range and easy car parking to buy stuff I want ....

......and.....?

I bought my x-byke from a small local dealer, and was not tempted to buy from a larger dealer. Very helpful, patient and knowledgable. You don't see a different salesman each time you back, and chats with me when I go to the shop (whether or not I spend money).

When gathering information to help make my choice another local dealer basically said anything they thought I wanted to hear (to the point I said some rather silly things just to hear what they would say). I later found this dealer had sold ebikes a few years ago then dropped them telling customers they no longer do them- Bye. He started selling again because he said sales were picking up again.

Some of the chains were knowledgeable but time seemed more of a premium if the wallet wasn't out.

Like all things find who you are comfortable with, and who helps you. And ask other cyclists in the area. It doesn't matter if the dealer is big or small so long as they do what you want.

Remember that discounted prices can mean less time and support from a dealer, and don't expect unlimited free support from one of the other small dealers if you don't get the support from whoever you bought from because you could save a few pounds. Pay a fair price- you should get the support when you need it.

Edited March 3, 200917 yr by alsmith

I try to support the local independent cycle shops but it's sometimes easier and tempting to stroll into somewhere like Halfords with their decent range and easy car parking to buy stuff I want ....

Other way round for me. Halfords, West Wickham, Kent, car parking is often jammed up and there's nothing or nowhere to lock a bike to except a gantry which leaves the bike blocking the fire escape door.

By contrast at my independent, BikePlus, South Croydon, there's a row of parking places always with space in front of the showroom window and stainless steel rails to lock bikes to.

I also use a one man bike shop even closer quite often, a few yards from some car parking space and with street furniture and a pavement bike rack to lock the bike to.

Photo of BikePlus frontage on their site here.

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Edited March 3, 200917 yr by flecc

I try to support the local independent cycle shops but it's sometimes easier and tempting to stroll into somewhere like Halfords with their decent range and easy car parking to buy stuff I want ....

Halfrauds not even cheap and don't sell much of the everyday bike maintainence stuff. They don't even sell spokes most of the time let alone anything vaguely unusual. The staff there don't have a clue, I don't know that much about bikes but they know less than me.

I try to support the local independent cycle shops but it's sometimes easier and tempting to stroll into somewhere like Halfords with their decent range and easy car parking to buy stuff I want ....

.... and spend money.

Other way round for me. Halfords, West Wickham, Kent, car parking is often jammed up and there's nothing or nowhere to lock a bike to except a gantry which leaves the bike blocking the fire escape door.

I found the cycle staff were helpful and knew what they were talking about, unfortunately they seem to stock some utter rubbish in the way of tools and spares so it tends to be a last resort place.

Local shops aren't really an option for me as I'm usually not there when they are open, shops local to work are Evans and CycleSurgery so hardly small independants.

ChainReaction are rather good at next day delivery on their free postage so my business usually goes there or Wiggle.

I'm not aware of a 'proper' bike shop in Harrow. There used to be one just up the road from me in Wealdstone (which is where I actually live), but it closed quite a few years ago. It's now a designer pub, which probably says it all!

On the other hand, there is a fair Halfords which is within walking distance. If I were presently in the market for a non-electric bike, they would be a serious contender.

As with all things, there are plus sides and minus sides - you need to make an informed decision before spending money, and not least is a good idea of what an item might cost elsewhere. Halfords have their uses, though trying to cater for a wide (mainly car driving) public does detract from what they can offer a cyclist. A much better range of mountain bikes than road bikes, for example. They know that a 'proper' cyclist would probably go to Evans, or some other specialist cycle shop.

However, they do seem to make a serious attempt to do a half decent job, and the Harrow branch has a thriving and busy bike workshop on the premises, so they're not JUST interested in shifting product.

Rog.

the problem with Halfords is not so much the supply of bikes, it is the odd bits.

At one time if you wanted the odd bolt or bracket you went to Halfords; I went in at the weekend to my local one in Stevenage which is one of the larger ones in terms of floor space. There was only one small wall area about 3 ft wide with clips and selftapping screws.

Getting the odd bits and pieces of bracketry can be a real problem these days.

Getting the odd bits and pieces of bracketry can be a real problem these days.

I found that asking one of the spanner monkeys can turn up unexpected things from the stock room.

I'm a tad ambivalent toward Halfords these days. I had no choice but to get my powabyke from them. They charged me £50.00 on top of retail though to be fair they did take the bike back and sort out some loose spokes with no problem. End of January I took it in for it's free first service. Got the bike back all lovely and degreased/lubricated, new brake blocks (paid for them, badly fitted) and rode away from the shop only to discover that for some arcane reason they'd dropped my saddle as low as it could go. I had a very uncomfortable 7 mile ride home.

A couple of weeks later I went to remove my rear light to change the batteries and after a few seconds of fruitless fumbling realised the release lever had been broken off. My guess is that it was broken at halfords when they removed the control box to get at the rear brake arms. They then dropped the saddle all the way down so that it wasn't immediately noticeable. Needless to say the bike won't be going back there again unless it's warranty issues.

The other thing that really pisses me off is that they put the bike department on the first floor. So you have to carry your bike up two flights of stairs. Try doing that with a 20kg bike. Not easy.

 

The other thing that really pisses me off is that they put the bike department on the first floor. So you have to carry your bike up two flights of stairs. Try doing that with a 20kg bike. Not easy.

They did that at the branch I mentioned too, shifting it from ground to first floor. It was then that they also got rid of their old cycle rack, so their message is clear, the bike business is a nuisance.

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I'm not aware of a 'proper' bike shop in Harrow. There used to be one just up the road from me in Wealdstone (which is where I actually live), but it closed quite a few years ago. It's now a designer pub, which probably says it all!

 

On the other hand, there is a fair Halfords which is within walking distance. If I were presently in the market for a non-electric bike, they would be a serious contender.

 

Rog.

I live 300 miles away but a google search brought up at the top of the page

The Bike Shop Racing Bikes and Cycle Clothing from Questbikes 511 Pinner Road Harrow, HA2 6EH

followed by

Bicycles Cash And Carry 279-281 Kenton Lane Harrow HA3 8RR

Cycle King 451 Rayners Lane Pinner HA5 5ET

Sustain Cycles 176 Station Road,HARROW,HA1 2AE

etc...

As said I am not from your area but it seems there may be some choice (but I have no idea what they are like).

Edited March 4, 200917 yr by alsmith

I live 300 miles away but a google search brought up at the top of the page

 

The Bike Shop Racing Bikes and Cycle Clothing from Questbikes 511 Pinner Road Harrow, HA2 6EH

followed by

Bicycles Cash And Carry 279-281 Kenton Lane Harrow HA3 8RR

Cycle King 451 Rayners Lane Pinner HA5 5ET

Sustain Cycles 176 Station Road,HARROW,HA1 2AE

etc...

 

As said I am not from your area but it seems there may be some choice (but I have no idea what they are like).

Well, yes, thanks for that. I didn't doubt that there would be bike shops in the London Borough of Harrow, as it does cover quite an area. I was really referring to Harrow 'proper'.

The last one in your list - Sustain Cycles - is somewhat surprising, as it's actually about midway between here and Halfords, and I could swear I've never seen a bike shop there. Of course, web sites and references sometimes outlast those who created them by many years!

Out of curiosity, I'll take a look for the others.

Rog.

Sustain are an online trader who've previously sold items other than e-bikes. A bit over a year ago they started selling the Synergie models under other names, dropped them after a while, but have now restarted. I wouldn't consider them a cycle dealer whether they have a shop or not.

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My nearest Halfords is MILES away.

My little local independent are marvellous.

They even came and collected the PB for repair last time.

Hi

Good job they can bring you a spanner

thx

Bob

I have 2 local bike shops and they are both excellent. Halfords is a tad closer but they really don't compare. I don't find there's much difference in price if any. Also the choice is much better and the advice is excellent.

On that note Tenderbehind, and with reference to an earlier thread, Halfords had a very limited range of Topeak pumps, today, and my branch only stocked the mini version. They did have a very large range of Halford pumps though.

Sometime ago I wanted a replacement dustcap, and a pedal reflector. I couldn't find anything at Halfords. Actually I couldn't find anything at the LBS either. But when I asked they took the time to find some old ones and gave them to me free of charge.

On occasion I've also used internet suppliers for Bike stuff. The transactions have gone very well.

Last time I went into Halfords I witnessed a member of staff remove a crank arm with a hammer.

Last time I went into Halfords I couldn't find any staff to 'witness'.

Perhaps they were all out the back vandalising the stock.

Last time I went into Halfords I couldn't find any staff to 'witness'.

 

Perhaps they were all out the back vandalising the stock.

Halfords bashing at it's best. Made me laugh

To be fair my local branch is OK.

Halfords bashing at it's best. Made me laugh

 

To be fair my local branch is OK.

It's 'horses for courses', isn't it? Of course, with any multi-branch retail outlet like Halfords, you'll find good ones and bad ones. The local store manager must make a huge difference, and if he gets someone running the bike workshop who is interested in bikes, again it makes a big difference. If you need the workshop, that is. I'd be doing my own TLC, as then I'd know what's been done properly and what has not. Rather like I've always done with motorbikes.

There are good savings to be had at these places if you're patient and selective. 'Proper' bike shops tend to be rather more pricey overall. They can't help that - they need to keep a large stock of high-value bikes and specialized kit for indefinite periods, with probably a peak in sales prior to Christmas, and another peak when the days lengthen and it hopefully gets a bit warmer - and not all that much for the rest of the year.

Rog.

 

Of course, with any multi-branch retail outlet like Halfords, you'll find good ones and bad ones.

 

Rog.

And they can be both at the same time. My one has a cussed idiot of a manager and a tech man who, unusually for Halfords, really knows his stuff.

As I sometimes post though, available at all good bike shops and Halfords.

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I try to support the local independent cycle shops but it's sometimes easier and tempting to stroll into somewhere like Halfords with their decent range and easy car parking to buy stuff I want ....

Halfrauds are rubbish, their range is also rubbish, I went in looking for spokes recently and they dont sell them - cassette tool (of which they stock one), sold out. A good LBS is owrth its weight in gold but they are a bit like builders or plumbers - you really have to get a recommendation so many of them will rip you off.

Halfrauds are rubbish, their range is also rubbish, I went in looking for spokes recently and they dont sell them - cassette tool (of which they stock one), sold out. A good LBS is owrth its weight in gold but they are a bit like builders or plumbers - you really have to get a recommendation so many of them will rip you off.

They certainly sell spokes in my local branch, they didn't have the right ones but then niether did any other bike shop I called.

Some of the stuff Halfords sells is good, I bought an own brand multi tool in there and use it regularly to service my bike - it's a good bit of kit. Unfortunately for most stuff I want there is little choice and a lot of rubbish.

Cassette tools are a specialist part that most people would never want people who do would only ever buy one or two in their lifetime. Couple that with a few different types available and I'm not suprised they didn't have it. When I wanted a freewheel removal tool very few online shops sold the one I needed, I certainly wouldn't expect it to be in stock in an LBS.