I know 2 mechanics in 2 different cities I’ve lived in who do that. 1 it’s not his full time job so he won’t take on a bunch of work and obviously he has to fit you in when he can. But does solid work and also does bike fits.
The other I think that’s all he does. But I think his wife works and he started doing more bike service when the pandemic started. He has a garage full of bikes to work on. So he seems busy but it’s word of mouth as I’m sure he can’t take on unlimited clients as it’s just him.
Agree with this as well as using the bike shop as a way to create community. Whether that’s race teams, coffee shop, indoor training studios, organize group rides, etc.
I am much more likely to go to a shop that I know the people there and actually enjoy being in the space than somewhere that just feels like a car dealership. Since cycling is a hobby for most people involved having a space that they can go and talk bikes with other bike people can be a huge reason to spend time in a shop and thus buy soft goods or bring your bike there for maintenance.
David’s World Cycles, a FL based bike store chain with probably 20ish location mostly in central FL, will now be a Trek store. This is not suprising since they were a Trek dealer anyways…
So apprently Specialized sent a letter to some of their top dealers last month, essentially trying to coerce them into allowing Specialized a “first right of refusal” if the owners want to sell their stores. It included a line about being able to ensure timely delivery of product, or something along those lines.
So basically, they were threatening to move dealers down the priority list if they did not sign this document as an addendum to their dealer agreement.
Are you saying Trek and Specialized are on a race to see who can fuck up the bike industry harder to make a few cents more now that the bikes are ridiculously expensive?
I heard it. I didn’t see that coming. I though they were a Specialized dealer…
I dunno if I would go that far…but I would say both are vigorously focused on short-term benefits for their companies and not so much on the long-term health of the industry.
I wonder if Specialized are trying to get to the point where they’re like Apple. Fewer local bike shop stores, but more “destination” stores. More sales are through their completely owned channels.
Then like Apple, those that want lower end products would shop elsewhere at more department stores etc type of thing.
The more “flagship” direction the stores go, the more I feel like everything in them is massively overpriced.
I’m also not liking how we have a few brands dominating the market in the US, and so many smaller brands have no presence or a few shops have the rights, but carry no stock.
I think that is certainly part of their strategy…but the flaw, IMO, is that brand awareness in the bike industry among consumers (as a whole) is a very low %. If not single digit, then very very low double digit percentages.
The vast majority of people still walk into their local shop and buy what is available. They don’t even know what brands are available usually, and if they do, are rarely so attached to them that they won’t buy something else.
One thing I like with Apple, is their staff are always friendly and super knowledgeable. Maybe I could come around to a Specialized flagship store if 1) I couldn’t buy the same/equivalent stuff online for less, and 2) if their staff were just super friendly and knowledgable.
But, like I’ve said a few times, I’m really not the LBS target customer. I’m thrifty with my money, I’m aware enough of what I need to order online, and I’m technically capable to do work or google what I need to.
You think? I would agree for someone’s first bike… or first bike of a different discipline.
The only reason I’m a spesh fanboy is the simple fact that the allez was my first bike. I’m not against a different brand but it would have to be a significant price difference or be in a cooler color.
The sole reason I own a speedmax. I hate matte black bikes but it was nearly 1500 cheaper than something else of equal caliber.
Absolutely…the industry is SO much bigger than the enthusiast side. Higher end bikes are a much smaller share of the industry than most people realize.
Sure, we all know the brands and will seek them out, but for the industry as a whole, they are largely brand agnostic.
It’s important to remember that Trek started this round, not Specialized. I’m not defending Spesh and what’s happening in any way, but when we discuss “what is Specialized’s motivation?”, I think a big part of it is not falling behind Trek. Both brands are at war right now.
Agreed, but they’ve been at war for decades….it used to be a bit more even when Schwinn was still in the IBD and Giant was on the rise, but now the IBD world is getting gobbled up by the Big 2.
