Celebrate your local bike shop this Saturday

Local Bike Shop Day (LBSD), the industry-wide initiative managed by the Association of Cycle Traders (ACT), returns this Saturday (30 April) to once again celebrate bike shops across the nation.

Since Local Bike Shop Day was first introduced to the UK more than four years ago, the cycling industry has united in showing support and working towards making it a household-recognised national event.

Supporters have consisted of a marvellous mix of retailers, suppliers, government organisations, TV personalities, Olympians, show organisers, cycling clubs, MPs, mayors, councils, non-cycling organisations, trade associations – and of course thousands of cycling enthusiasts across the UK!

The importance of the local bike shop

For many, the impact of the coronavirus pandemic helped bring to light the importance of bike shops in keeping Britain active. The sector was recognised by the government, which deemed bike shops as an essential service and so allowed to remain open while most other shops and businesses were forced to close.

The lack of gyms and public transport combined with the availability of empty roads and glorious spring weather meant that more people began cycling than ever before during the first UK lockdown.

Thousands of bike shops across the country braved the pandemic to remain open and serve the UK public, whether fully open or by appointment only, to ensure that the nation had a way of get from A to B while exercising and keeping a safe distance.

Local Bike Shop Day is a fantastic opportunity for us to thank our local bike shops for all that they do for us year round and all that they offer to our communities. The expertise and passion shown by an entrepreneur and their dedicated staff is something that cannot be matched by an online click of a button on a faceless website. 

An annual day of celebration

A key objective for this year involves welcoming people who are new to the activity and encouraging them to visit their friendly local bike shop. Bike shops taking part have been encouraged to host an ‘Ask us anything’ session, whether online or in store, whereby current and new cyclists can ask the questions that they might normally be more hesitant to ask.

An abundance of independent bike dealers has already got behind the campaign upon realising the endless benefits that is has to offer to them and the wider industry. We spoke to Patrick Healy of Buxton's Peak Ascent Cycles to determine what their shop interprets to be the most beneficial part of the event and why they would encourage other shops to join them in celebrating the day.

“We have been promoting Local Bike Shop Day for the last few weeks and I am amazed by the response and support we have had. With over 100 votes already it’s truly humbling to know how important we are to our local community and humbled by the kind words and reviews we have received.

We aim to have a great day with lots of fun, cycling tales and any advice required on how to enjoy your bike

Patrick Healy, Peak Ascent Cycles

“On the day we will be offering special promotions on a number of items including clothing and stock bikes, with an emphasis on reward deals for our regular customers. One customer is bringing us some cakes to give out on the day and a local balloon shop has made us some special Local Bike Shop Day and Peak Ascent Cycles branded balloons to dress out the shop with the addition of a special feature we can display at the entrance to the store.

“I will also be allowing customers to experience ZWIFT in store with a bike I will have set up for them to try out. The local council has given us some cycle trail maps of the surrounding area to give out free of charge to help our visitors experience the amazing bike trails we have on offer in the area. Other than that, we aim to have a great day with lots of fun, cycling tales and any advice required on how to enjoy your bike.”

If you’ve been thinking of visiting a local bike shop Saturday is the ideal time for it – you might even win a prize. Take a look at this year’s prizes and discounts on offer for customers:

• Vote for your local bike shop and win £200: vote for your favourite bike shop on the Find a Shop page and get entered into a prize draw to win £200 of freewheel.co.uk vouchers;
• Win a £250 bike shop voucher: redeem a Cyclescheme certificate on 30 April and be in with a chance to win a £250 cycling voucher for the store you collect the bike from;
• Get 15% off Freewheel: use code LOCAL-BIKE-SHOP-DAY-22 for 15% off until 1 May;
• Get £50 off Cytech Theory one: Cytech, the training and accreditation scheme for bicycle technicians, is offering £50 off Cytech Theory one until 8 May with the code LBSDAY22;
• Get seven-days free insurance: Cyclesure is offering all participating retailers a free seven-day insurance policy for every bike or e-bike sold during the period 26 April to 2 May 2022;
• Win back your spend with Maybe*: scan the QR code that participating retailers will have displayed in store, sign up and be in with a chance to win back the whole of your spend;
• Hundreds of offers across the UK: participating bike shops across the UK are holding their own offers this Saturday, ranging from free gifts such as inner tubes, helmets and water bottles, discounts on bikes and accessories, free safety checks, organised bike rides, free tea, cake and ice cream and more. Ask your local bike shop how they’re celebrating!