UKH

A bike shop has opened on Deansgate in October, it was opened by Wiggins and appears to be full of high end Pinnarello bikes and Assos clothing. I can't work out the business model of the place, I'd love to buy a £10k Dogma, but it ain't going to happen. It isn't cheap space they are in either.

Am I missing something?

In reply to The New NickB:

For the mid life crisis/MAMIL crowd, who else? I guess there's enough blokes of a certain age and soci-economic bracket to support this kind of place. Esp fresh from the wiggo/olympic effect.

Alternatively - give it 6 months & if its gone bust then you know they were wrong

In reply to The New NickB: I suppose if your going to spend north of £5k on a push bike, then driving for a few hours isn't too much of a hardship. Manchester makes more sense than London from that perspective to capture more customers of the elite machines. Also, isn't Manchester the home of British cycling (velodrome etc?)

In reply to The New NickB: Oddly enough there is only F W Evans on Deansgate whereas there are at least 5 walking/climbing shops. Harry Hall's is not too far away - probably the best bike shop in Manchester. Pinarello bikes are ridden by Wiggins - imagine they've done pretty well out of his success (as Trek did from Armstrong).
Dave

In reply to Phil79:

I just don't think there are enough of these people, especially if you are only carrying one brand of bike. No mountain bikes either. It wasn't just a couple of £10k machines, at least 2/3 of the bikes in the shop cost £6k+

In reply to Bjartur í Sumarhús:

There is one in the Westfield as well it seems.

In reply to The New NickB:
Saw it a few weeks ago but did have time to go in, not so much a bike shop, more a gallery. I do appreciate the aethestics of nice bikes but this seems a step too far. A bike is a functional machine, not a status symbol.

There's a place in Sheffield called "La Bicyletta" (or something like that) where you have to buzz to gain entrance. I got a very dirty look when I asked if they did mountain bikes....

In reply to Phil79:


yes some rich parts in Cheshire and if its flash enough you would be able to get people from the across the pennines as well.

Guess it depends what the profit margin is as well, might not need to sell many of them to break even and the clothing could be a nice sideline.


yes we need a report at the end of the year.

In reply to Chris the Tall:


really? That could be a fun place to visit. Do you reckon they do unicycles?

In reply to Chris the Tall:
A bike is a functional machine, not a status symbol.

Well, you could say the same for cars...

la Bicicletta i imagine...italian pretensions i suspect, even more of a status symbol if its italian

In reply to The New NickB:
Sportive Nation has opened a branch in hazel grove. I was surprised how expensive the bikes in there were (not really up to speed with bike shops, so I don't know if they are a "high end" retailer, but I was expecting cheap, especially given the location)

In reply to The New NickB:
I've purchased accessories and kit from Labicicletta as they aim to keep you on the road too.
It's a competitive market and in the rest of sheffield where especially the mountain bikes, but also the road bikes are on sale, you'll also see a good few price tags that are as ridiculous to me.


jimb

In reply to The New NickB: They're connected to yellow Ltd who are also the UK distributor for most of the brands stocked

http://www.yellow-limited.com/

In reply to The New NickB:

When I wandered past the other weekend it had some frankly ludicrous tartan Pinarellos in the window display.

There will doubtless be some 'I Saw you Coming' rich types willing to part with the cash.

In reply to lb1dej: keep pedalling in the northern quarter are fab if you like mechanically gifted folk sorting your bike out ... not stupid costs either.

In reply to 999thAndy:

location doesnt always mean a lot for bike shops though. I know i would be willing to travel a reasonable distance to a good shop.

Last time I was in Royle's Wilmslow they had a Cervelo reduced to £11k. Quite the bargain

In reply to The New NickB: you want to go and see Sigma Sports in Kingston upon Thames cheapest bike I saw was £4k lots of £7k+ bikes.

I strongly suspect that the manufacturers are subsidising this as a way of getting a show room for there products. Who wants to buy a bike you've only seen in a magazine or on telly??

In reply to The New NickB:

I strayed into one of these wanky new lifestyle cycling shops in Birmingham the other week. Had a good look around at all the nice carbon bling and Assos kit (Arckteryx for peddlers) and went next door to Evans, as they sell tools and Time cleats.

In reply to John Rushby:

The one in Brum does have comfy sofas and good coffee.