[Closed] New Bike Shop Poll: Nottingham, Chesterfield, Leicester or different?

Tricky one. Not sure I would want to go up against JE James despite their many faults.

Nottingham always seems hit and miss for bike shops as does Derby! So that would just leave Leicester that I know nothing about. Apart from it doesnt seem to be able to support any quality outdoor shops (industry that I am in)

Thinking about it i really wouldnt want to suggest anywhere in the mids...

Sheffield too far? Nowhere I know of that's any good actually in the city. Since I've lived here I've had absolutely no qualms about going online for everything.

Nottingham have Evans and Leisure Lakes (I believe - no idea how good they are though), so a fair bit of competition. Chesterfield has an OK JE James. No idea about Derby or Leicester.

I'd go for Chesterfield, closer to the Peaks, and on many people's route to get there, so if you were well promoted and gave good service, you'd probably get a fair amount of passing trade.

Don't know about competition, but in Nottingham you've got a Leisure Lakes (ok), and an Evans (what you'd expect) and then Freewheel in town (knowledgeable staff but expensive). You've got Sherwood Pines Cycles just up the road as well.

In Derby, your competition would be Samways (don't know about the workshop, but I've always had reasonable advice in there.

Thanks chaps, all good stuff...

Yes, we did consider Sheffield,does seem to have a few shops listed though..and a JE James.

To be honest, we're not too fussed about competition...daft as it sounds...we're not looking to take over the world...just offer a great service, fair prices and good, quality lines (not an homogenous approach to filling the directors coffers!)...

Guess we best find out how many people in Chesterfield ride bikes then!!

The Notts Derby Chesterfield triangle has some major players which include Leisure Lakes, Evans, Freewheel, J E James, Samways, Stanley Fearns plus numerous Halfords and discount cycle stores so unless you are providing something different it will be difficult. Most of the big cycle manufacturers are already represented so it might be difficult to get a new franchise deal with one of the big names. Sadly lots of keen cyclists also use on-line retailers as well.
Sorry to sound so negative, but good luck anyway.

Belper. Obviously.

It is on the (busy) A6. You get hundreds of road bikers going past every day (and more on the weekends), it has mountain bike riding right nearby, and it doesn't have a bike shop at all. It is also dead cheap to rent shops in, especially on the A6 itself. The nearest shops would be Fearns (in Matlock), and Samways (in Derby).

Plus it'd be very convenient for me.

Joe

In Derby you've got;

- Samways, that stocks a wide range of kit from low end to high end, big names like specialized through to the likes of Cotic/ Charge. They are never cheap, but no more than most LBS's, and the shop staff are friendly enough most of the time, the workshop staff tend to look like they have a dog poo top lip, and treat you accordingly, but their work has always been good ime.

- Mercian Cycles, less stock but they sell Mercians and this makes them worth a visit alone. More of a roadie bias, but do MTB kit. Their wheel building is fantastic and decent chaps to boot, it's definately my shop of preference.

- The Bike Shop, seem friendly enough, but never seem to have in what I need (probably just bad luck), bit more low end than Samways.

- A couple of Halfords

- Lesuire Lakes down in Breaston which ain't far.

And if you are heading up the A6 to the Peak, you've got Stanley fearn's in Matlock.

So for a place the size of Derby, I feel pretty bike shopped up.

Edit - I think Joemarshall has come up good with that idea, but it might be worth finding out why Samways closed their shop there.

Belper....certainly very close to home for one of us!!...and there's the Amber Valley....the problem really is more about population density really, we'll still need to probably adopt initiatives like cyclescheme etc so will need quite a large, localish industry contingent...

Yes, that triangle is indeed quite well covered by some of the major manufacturers...but not any of the lines we're considering....well, frame suppliers anyway...

That's also going to be part of the model - matching online pricing, keeping the overheads down...we won't have the buying power of the larger chains, but won't have the o/heads either...

hmmm - all good stuff, maybe Sheffield is worth a visit!!

I'd pick somewhere with a big student population, so go with Nottm or Derby from your list. Depends on the bias of your shop though. Roadie-touring-utility-mtb-bmx-electric will all affect your choice.

my 2 pence:

we won't have the buying power of the larger chains, but won't have the o/heads either

A leftfield location could be in the Wicker area - lots of cheap arches to rent near the motorway for passing trade from east of the Pennines...

Depends a lot on just how good your service is going to be and what sort of kit you're going to deal with. I live in Nottingham and I'm not overly impressed with any of the big local players. If someone was doing a proper job, I'd travel to them. However, Nottingham does have an opening for a shop with stock, knowledge and manners.

...an interesting observation Onzadog...and couldn't agree more with your sentiments.....hence why we want to do it properly...manners and all!!

I'd agree with the ohead proportion comment....but, there's not necessarily a need to work to a minimum high% margin if you don't have 4 non-cyclist profit-centric directors to feed!!....manufacturers RRP's notwithstanding....

Sheffield could be a good option though.

Really good points, thanks all.....we'll be looking for the same input when it comes to the finer service/product detail.

joemarshall - Member
Belper. Obviously.

It is on the (busy) A6. You get hundreds of road bikers going past every day (and more on the weekends), it has mountain bike riding right nearby, and it doesn't have a bike shop at all. It is also dead cheap to rent shops in, especially on the A6 itself. The nearest shops would be Fearns (in Matlock), and Samways (in Derby).

Plus it'd be very convenient for me.

Joe

None of the above helped Mark Anthony keep his shop open there - or was that just because it was poo?

who was the high end shop that used to be in Belper probably 15 years ago. Bikes down staris, clothing upstairs?

I'm struggling to think where else in the Amber Valley, most of the shopping towns are quite poor and some are just shiteholes, that are joined together by nicer bits. Whilst there are plenty of industrial estates around alfreton, for example which would beneift from being just off the M1, you would have to be offering something exceptional for me to get out there shopping. I always thought Ashbourne was lacking a good bike shop, fair bit of money around there and gateway to the peak and that. The industry bit took a bit of a turn for the worst when they shut Nestle, but they have replaced it with houses full of potential customers.

Onzadog - if you mean the one on bridge street, yep it did do some nice stuff, Kona's and Sunn bikes. I'm not sure if it became Mark Anthony's before it closed. Samways was on King Street.

Didn't 'mark anthony cycles' used to have a shop in belper?

Anyway, I live approx. 10 miles from chesterfield and 15 to 20 miles from derby and notts.
I've been to j.e.james in both chesterfield and sheffield, leisure lakes, evans and scamways (sorry, i mean samways) a fair amount. I wouldn't say i've had particularly good service from any of them, and thats the main reason i'd prefer to probably buy stuff online if i'm absolutely honest.

Now rewind the clock back 7 or 8 years ,and, the bike shop i used to frequent the most was roy jervis's in ripley. The cycle side of it was run by an enthusiastic rider and nothing was too much trouble.
If something broke or needed fixing last minute you could just turn up and he'd do his best to fit you in, not the 'bring it in 2 week on thursday' that you get from the other shops listed above.
If i wanted some new parts i'd let them know, and he'd get them in at the best possible price they could as soon as he could, which wouldn't be as cheap as your chainreaction/merlins but I don't mind paying a couple of quid extra for proper, helpful service!

I know thats no help on the location front, but if it was a decent shop, run by riders for riders, and reasonably local to me, then i'd use you no probs.

😀

I think JEJames have a lot of dealership rights tied up - trek, spesh, orange, kona etc. That said, they don't seem to do a lot of higher end stuff.

Considered doing the same in Chesvegas back in the day but I think JEJames has the market tied up for what people want there bike-wise. Service-wise it would be welcomed but not sure thats a strong enough business case. Not trying to be pessimistic, I wish you all the best if it works and I'll certainly pop in when I'm down that way.

The other option which has been mooted before is Hillsborough way where Langsett's is. Get the Wharncliffe DH crew onside and it could be a winner.

I can't remember exactly where that Belper shop was but I'm pretty sure it was pre-MA. I seem to remember it being the year of blue anodizing (right after purple). They guys in the shop had been playing around with getting their own stuff anodised and I had a very interesting chat with one of the owners about the effects of magnesium content in the alloy had on the anodising process.

How many people are going to be owning and wanting a salary from the profits of this bike shop?

The more people in the pot the less viable the chances of making a living. An average bike shop isn't going to make enough money to provide 3 or 4 £20k+ salaries. Hence a lot use part time student staff and weekend youngsters.

Wherever it will be, I'm sure the driveway will be amazingly clean 😉

I live in Chesterfield and I travel to Eighteen Bikes in Hope rather than go to J E James for anything other than maybe an inner tube.

I wasn't going to rant on about J E James but what the hell... I broke a spoke on my road bike and went in armed with a printout from the Shimano website; diagram, part number etc. The workshop guy sent me to the front desk and after a lot of huffing and puffing and trying find a catalogue and a pencil and a piece of paper Mr. front-desk tries to send me back to the workshop.

"This is just too much trouble for you isn't it?" I said.
He looks at me a bit sheepish, "Yes" he replied.

Exit stage left and ordered on-line from SJS Cycles. Spoke arrived next day.

So... in terms of location, don't worry about competition from J E James.

I live in Notts within walking distace of the city center. I go to Freewheel if I need something done, or something ordered in and I get stuff of the internet for cheap prices.

You would have to offer something VERY special to lure me away from freewheel. Possibly shorter repair waits?

Good luck, but I'm bike shoped up!

Martin

....clean driveways??

That's the point isn't it, the larger the shop/chain...the more the trouble/difficulty...too many contraints...

No, there won't be loads of staff taking those sorts of salaries, not the point of the excerise, nor could we offer what we want to offer by drawing so much out...we'd be back to a corporate service again otherwise....but, you'd be surprised how much some shops turnover...

So, Chesterfield or Sheffield should be given a bit more consideration then...

well, shorter repair waits...perhaps very short...are on the agenda....you never know, we may even come to you!!???

Freewheel is a funny one, they do miss a trick by a lack of parking, but get the city footfall....however, have to pay the location rates too...

Hopefully, we'll be in the position to price-match online instock prices too...

we hope!!

I know I mentioned Sheffield earlier, but I thought I'd answer a point raised about it:

Yes, there's JE James and a few others, but they're almost all either useless for decent kit, appalling on the service front or roadie-focused.

It's crying out for a shop with some decent stuff and good staff. There's a reason people go out to 18bikes...

don't come to sheff, although we don't have any good shops your bread and butter is the cheap crap so all that is covered. an yes the wicker is cheap but then you'll get flooded / robbed the day after you open.

plus anyone wanting stuff just pops over to 18

Before it was Mark Anthony's the bike shop in Belper (on Bridge Street) was called Cyclone and run by a chap called Andre (and another fella whose name escapes me). They were Spesh, Kona and Pace dealers.

I bought my first proper mountain bike from them, it was a decent shop even though Andre was a bit up his own arse - not sure what happened to him, I think he went of to 'find himself'!

[i]Now rewind the clock back 7 or 8 years ,and, the bike shop i used to frequent the most was roy jervis's in ripley. The cycle side of it was run by an enthusiastic rider and nothing was too much trouble.[/i]

Sounds like the time when Dieter ran the bike side of things - bloody good guy he was, the cycle-side of shop went downhill when he left to become a rep for Moore Large.

Vote here for chesterfield.

Like some have said you can get the passing trade into the peaks, and the local riding isn't to bad either.

You will have a customer here anyway, hopefully you will be within riding distance 🙂

Another plus for Belper (and that A6 corridor, and over the Coxbench side too) is that it has lot of riders who commute into Derby as its a very easy flattish run.

And 18 Bikes proves* that footfall isn't the only option for a shop, as they started in Bakewell (as Bespoked I believe) which is always silly busy especially at weekends, but then moved to Hope and went from strength to strength - people will travel if the shop has a good reputation.

(*as does Sideways Cycles)

Ilkeston, obviously. Hell, if Dave Brailsford's home town can't rustle up anything better than a teeny Bikehut...

(Obviously Mojos is a local secret we don't talk about....)

Sideways is a great place, completely disorganised, but great advice and very friendly.

18 bikes also very good, and adept at parting me from my wallet.

Chesterfield/Sheffield gets my vote.........

so, we should have a 2nd branch in sheffield then?

vote here for Leicester....true we have to travel to ride, but with the exception of one small non-specialist shop by the Uni, there's nothing else nearby.

It is annoying, there is nowhere in Belper you can get bike bits. Closest thing is cheap inner tubes in Wilkos, but if you need a chain or a tyre or something else specialised, you have to mail order. There are tons of riders around there, so it is a bit odd.

Joe

18bikes - Member
so, we should have a 2nd branch in sheffield then?

Yes. So when i come down to Sheff on the train to see me sis i can pop in as i can never get over to Hope 😉

18bikes - Member
so, we should have a 2nd branch in sheffield then?

I think you'd be onto a winner. Unless someone gets there first with 19bikes.

In Derby you also have Holt's on Nightingale Road. Less high end stock but workshop is super quick and reliable. Especially compared with Samways or Mercian.

As the-muffin-man says it was Cyclone before MA and I bought a Kona and a Sunn from there and loads of bits. Andre's sidekick John was an expert in samurai swords or something! Andre wanted to do something different as he had run the shop for ~10 years. Miss that shop.....

Belper (or Duffield) could be good as reasonable population, east access to Derby / Peak though parking can be an issue in Belper. Something with a cafe? Get people in for an espresso and muffin and sell them some carbon wheels!

The wait at Samways for maintenance has got long, and Mercian is worse so there is space for a good workshop to match Holts. Once people are in the door you always have a chance of a sale.

Another Nottingham-ish resident and never felt that the place suffered from a lack of bike shops.

Always had great service from both Evans and Freewheel in town, tend to use Evans more because it's open late and on Sundays. Now I don't work in the city centre Freewheel's not so convenient. Got a local bike shop in Hucknall that is pretty decent and friendly too.

Plenty of other bike shops just a bit further out - Leisure Lakes (yuck), Decathlon, Sherwood Pines

I live near Leicester, but always end up travelling to Leisure Lakes (Notts), Evans (Notts) or Internet for most of my many bike related purchases - so that tells you something about the level of decent bike shops in and around Leicester!!

Only real options in Leicester are Julie Cycles, good size shop, fairly well stocked, wouldn't use their workshop, & Websters Cycles small shop, but good workshop & wheel build service. There is a small shop in Loughborough, but only has limited stock.

Understand what people say about passing trade, however I very rarely buy bike stuff when passing through, i.e. when we go riding in the Peaks etc, unless I have a mechanical & need to fix it there and then. Also, will be fairly restricted to weekend trade. I prefer to make more expensive purchases closer to home for better after sales service. Hence I think being close to a high population density would be more beneficial.

Good luck in your venture.....

Melton Mowbray cuz I currently have to drive to Rutland Water, Notts or Leicester!

... and if you could get a site with a patch of ground to build a test track with some good freeride stuff on it that would be an added bonus!

Selfishly

Pete

...all interesting comments chaps...

A couple of things that we want to do have already been mentioned which is good to hear, hopefully we'll be on the right track..

Certainly difficult to know which side of Nottingham to give more attention to, I suspect we'll look at Chesterfield/Sheffield and the Amber Valley...

My vote is for Ambergate. Then you would get both the passing A6 traffic and A610 traffic.

Close to major road networks for deliveries etc. and some excellent riding on the doorstep.

IMO you should find a popular or new trail centre without a shop and open up there, opportunities for sales, repair, bike hire, cafe...

Notts city centre is pretty tied up with evans having the corporate approach that you'd expect with added numpty factor that my friends and I have encountered when trying to get good advice:-
"Do you have anything like this?"
"Yes, this one which is cheaper"
"What's the difference in quality etc"
"um I dunno, but it's cheaper"

Freewheel are clobbered by their indie status and city centre location therefore not having massive buying power to drive down prices, but definatly the best workshop in the area (I know people who travel from S.Yorks to use the workshop).

There are also Bunnys bikes, Decathlon, Sherwood Pines and several road specialits shops on the periphery like Langdale lightweights.

I think Somewhere near the good rding sights in Derbyhsire is the best bet.

so, we should have a 2nd branch in sheffield then?

Yes Si ! The number of people who drive out to your place from Sheffield is amazing, and that shows how far people will go for good service. Combine your good service with a Sheffield location, cycling distance of Student areas.....and a cafe... instant success

Cafe will keep you afloat whilst biking side builds up

that you feel happy to browse in/have a chat etc

How would you describe your "ideal" shop?

Biketreks out of all the bike shops I have visited is probably my "ideal" BUT there is little I would actually buy(sorry Andy) I have done when the price is right btw, just not down there often enough.

Also like Alpinebikes in Edin.

I have a selection of lbs around me and a couple 30mls away that I use. They are all hampered by people using internet shops. Being unable to decide what to stock and finance. I am more of a make do type than a knowledgable bling type so maybe not being fussed helps me get by without having problems with one or other shop. With one exception!

well, shorter repair waits...perhaps very short...are on the agenda..

This one always gets me....I am more important than they guy who has been in for ages^^^^^^^^^talking knowledgable stuff and the bike needing service for the owner to collect or the wheel needed by someone that evening...As if workshops are just standing about waiting for [u]you[/u][i]to come in 😈

An 18 bikes or similar in Sheffield could do well. It would have to be well executed to really attract enough business from the existing shops. Certainly if it went for the linked cafe angle and had a social aspect - nights rides etc it would have a chance.

Worth searching on here for the thread about Parkwood springs as there was mention of a Steve Peat designed trail on the site (although a few years off). If the shop was located in the right place it could provide a great test ride loop possibly bike hire opportunities and be a real additional USP.

...why would you go and buy online if you could buy from the store at a competitive price, there and then? True, many stores are now promoting the notion in order to centralise inventory etc but again, depends on the stock levels you want to carry.

It's true, your lbs can't carry endless lines for the obvious inventory/cost of capital reasons - but ideally, if they have good stock of good, key, quality (and perhaps, contemporary) lines, that's really the best you can hope for, moreover, enough to satisfy the majority of consumers, maybe!!

Not sure I'm with you on Biketreks, spec inner tubes at full price (no 3 for £10 options) even though the offer is direct from spec uk...charging full price because they can, hmmm.

I live in south yorkshire and my current 'LBS' is in Rutland! No guesses to which one.Its crazy I know but those that can come up with the goods/service get my hard earned cash. (The others can go under) Seriously its sad news in these parts for propper gear and stock levels. James is closest in R/ham or Seff, but either only get my dosh when i am desperate! Look closer at this area including the 'sunny delights' of Doncaster, then come and save us!Not sure what Lincoln and S****horpe are like these days? These areas are all largly(ish)populated and serve many cyclists!

One thought on the Sheffield plan. Go and have a look at [url= http://www.labicicleta.co.uk/ ]LaBicicleta[/url]. They've built a reputation and store on boutique road bikes, just down the road from JEJames. There is definitely scope for an MTB equivalent.

Thats true about Parkwood-1st phase is small though, Wharncliffe now has green light for funded development, The Peak on the doorstep... Sheffield could be a couple of years away from becoming a bit of a MTB Mecca (not that it isnt already)

I'm surprised no-one has mentioned sssssssShokwave yet? Are they no more? They always used to be a cool shop, stocking Mountain Goat, Manitou (when Bradbury used to machine stuff with his beard in a shed....), Bontrager etc and sponsored a team with the people who went on to create AQR....

Just make sure your not near another shop thats sells the same bikes
you want to sell, and if so contact the manufacture to see if they would sell to you if your nearby first.
What would be good is a small comfortable area to sit down and have a coffee and go over a brochure.
Just make sure its a descent auto machine.

come south young man.....Northampton is a black hole were bike shops are concerned.....I even know the perfect building/workshop which I have had my eye on just in the of chance 6 numbers come up on a saturday night hey I'll even run your workshop for you 🙂

LOL Irish if I have 6 numbers il be riding the bike
not selling them

SShockwave are still going strong.

Simonm - good news on Wharncliffe, any details available on the plans? I'd be interested in finding out more and getting involved in some way

Hi Sigma,

Good luck with the plan, here's my 2 penneth form a man that lives almost in Nottingham City Centre and spends far too much on bikes and gear.
Freewheel - Great advice, good workshop, good staff - too little stock & too expensive, far too expensive in fact.
Evans - Good stock, price match - poor workshop from what i've experienced
Leisure Lakes - Awful, ignorant staff, sometimes nip in when i'm in the area and the place has absultely no vibe at all - feels like a morgue at times

All of the above are close to me (within a few miles) but i travel to Sherwood Pines. The reason they get my dollar is because the workshops do a good job, do great rates and do their best to price match, and i don't mind travelling for it - 25 miles btw.

Roifer, as I know more, and things get to the stage where a volunteer group an be involved, then I'll update the website and do a cry for help on here ! As usual with FE...things take a while...

Thanks Si I'll keep an eye out for it

Its odd how peoples perceptions of bike shops differs, i've always found Liesure lakes to have very knowledgable staff, good stock and a very good helpful worshop. Their prices are good as well if you haggle with them and they also do an MOD discount which helps me out a bit.

One other shop in the Amber Valley area which no one has mentioned yet is Stanley Fearns in Matlock. Its a true olde worlde style shop with probably the best workshop in the county plus Aiden there builds all my wheels for me and does a cracking job.

Just to throw some weight behind Chesterfield, mate of mine went throught the motions of setting a shop in chesterfield and found some of the big name brands (kona springs to mind) were keen to give him their kit to sell as J E weren't promoting the bike, more interested in the kiddie/roadie kit.

not sure whether that's changed, but I don't think J E James have the monopoly on chesterfield, just there's nothing else to compete against it in town

Somewhere on chatsworth road would be ideal.

Oh and my mate went down a different route and may be a chap worth chatting to as well regards bikes to stock

cheers

woop on the Wharncliffe stuff, I to am more than happy to help out when things are ready.

wouldn't opening an 18 in Sheffield halve the hope trade?

Derby or Belper could do with a nice bike shop. Samways ok but not enough choice for other brands than Spesh or Trek (although I saw an advert for Cotic a while back). BikeShop (Giant franchise IIR?) in monk street aint up to much and overpriced (really really bad web site). Leisure Lakes aint bad.

Belper really needs one, but business there seems to come and go thru the A6 (wasnt there a bike shop in belper years and years ago?)

You can't beat Stanley Fearns in Matlock. Whether its a couple of bolts or a new bike they bend over backwards to help.

simonm - keep us posted too, can chat with RTP too. little while no see, how's you?

Sheffield shop, I'd love to, would work better for me, we'll see. In the meantime- if anyone needs anything from the shop and can't make it down, I'm happy to bring things back/meet of an evening, where possible - just ask.

Si