Whilst not that familiar with the inner workings of the UK bike business, I can't say that I'm impressed with what I've seen so far and here is one example.
Recent experience got me thinking about the difference between some bike shops in reality when you visit them and the impression given by their website.
The website portrays them as being an Aladdin's Cave, full of good quality (and expensive!) European style bikes, accessories and tools. Nice pictures, videos etc.
Which is what I thought I was visiting recently when I went to London to buy my next bike.
All I can say is that the site is a lot better than the shop. Expecting to see at least one of these particular bikes, there were none. And nothing of anything else either, just display models for customers to try out before ordering - if you wanted anything, you had to order and wait. They might deal in these bikes, they just don't stock them. I enquired about visiting another branch (they're opening a chain) but was told they wouldn't have one either. There were a few Brooks saddles and accessories but not much else. The shop itself is about the size of my lounge - not very big - not for a bike shop anyway. Might have explained the fact that there was next to nothing in there...
Now two things: one, this shop isn't the first disappointment: another (London) shop that imports high end German bikes didn't have much either when I visited and didn't seem to know much about a particular model I enquired about. Two, having an attractive website to draw customers has to be a lot cheaper than having a large premises especially in London with high rents and business rates.
But it's no good attracting customers to your shop only for them to be disappointed when they get there...
A good thing I didn't travel only to visit that specific shop; past experience has taught me to shop around, and I'd made a list of others to visit, which I did, finding the bike at the next shop over £100 cheaper than at the first shop. Still had to order it though...
Thursday 6 June 2013
Sunday 2 June 2013
Potential Cycling Benefits - Appreciating Your Neighbourhood
Now, I'm sure you've all heard about the benefits of cycling being the environmental and personal fitness, but for me, one of them is that I appreciate the place where I live where hitherto, I was indifferent at best.
This is one of the things I've noticed since getting back into cycling, and especially during my morning rides, covered in my last post. I've learnt to appreciate my neighbourhood. Prior to this, I, like many in the town, thought it was a dull concrete jungle - and, given the chance (money permitting) would move.
What changed my mind is that, on a bike, you can access areas closed to motor vehicles whilst covering distances which would be too far to walk. I've discovered parts that are really quite picturesque that challenged my perception of the town and places I had never been to before.
OK, OK, this isn't the whole story; the town (and much of the UK) has undergone extensive regeneration over the past few decades, the government have also built many cyclepaths, so it's much easier to get about by bike. When I see photographs of the town taken in the 1970s and 1980s, it was GRIM and fully deserving of its reputation. However, one of the parts that I cycle through regularly dates back to the 1880s through to the 1950s and the buildings have remained the same save for a lick of paint now and then. The town also has a reputation for poor nightlife (which hasn't changed) and the shopping is unremarkable (better than it was, but not as good as neighbouring towns) - but the latter two have little to do with cycling, well, unless you want to buy a town bike...
Would I still move? Well, yes; because I believe other locations have better amenities, as well as the same nice areas, trees and architecture, but my view of this town isn't half as bad as it used to be and this is because of cycling - learning to appreciate where I live.
This is one of the things I've noticed since getting back into cycling, and especially during my morning rides, covered in my last post. I've learnt to appreciate my neighbourhood. Prior to this, I, like many in the town, thought it was a dull concrete jungle - and, given the chance (money permitting) would move.
What changed my mind is that, on a bike, you can access areas closed to motor vehicles whilst covering distances which would be too far to walk. I've discovered parts that are really quite picturesque that challenged my perception of the town and places I had never been to before.
OK, OK, this isn't the whole story; the town (and much of the UK) has undergone extensive regeneration over the past few decades, the government have also built many cyclepaths, so it's much easier to get about by bike. When I see photographs of the town taken in the 1970s and 1980s, it was GRIM and fully deserving of its reputation. However, one of the parts that I cycle through regularly dates back to the 1880s through to the 1950s and the buildings have remained the same save for a lick of paint now and then. The town also has a reputation for poor nightlife (which hasn't changed) and the shopping is unremarkable (better than it was, but not as good as neighbouring towns) - but the latter two have little to do with cycling, well, unless you want to buy a town bike...
Would I still move? Well, yes; because I believe other locations have better amenities, as well as the same nice areas, trees and architecture, but my view of this town isn't half as bad as it used to be and this is because of cycling - learning to appreciate where I live.
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