Local bike shops: a vital part of the new normal

The bike boom during 2020 has been well documented. Even though it has been born out of difficult circumstances, the rise in cycling journeys and focus on active travel has been welcome – but if we are to make this new golden age of cycling continue, good local bike shops are vital. To celebrate these neighbourhood fonts of mechanical wisdom, Saturday 5 September has been designated Local Bike Shop Day.

The importance of bike shops in keeping Britain active during lockdown was recognised by the government, which gave them special dispensation to remain open as an essential service while most other shops and businesses were closed. As more and more people were encouraged to take up cycling by the empty roads and glorious spring weather, they realised that they needed help to get their neglected bikes back in running order.

“It’s no secret cycling is on the up, with data showing that cycling levels during lockdown rose by up to 300% on some days,” says Tabitha Walker, PR and marketing executive at the Association of Cycle Traders (ACT), the organisation behind Local Bike Shop Day. “This increased uptake in cycling combined with the government offering 50,000 Fix Your Bike vouchers as part of its Better Health campaign has certainly been reflected in the demand bike shops have seen over the last few months.

“All this is promising to see and shows that local bike shops are still valued additions to our local communities. Local Bike Shop Day was created to celebrate these businesses and spread the message further by helping the general public to recognise everything their local bike shop has to offer.”

Independent businesses have had a tough time in recent years, with internet shopping threatening their survival, and bike shops have been no exception. But bike shop owners we have spoken to say the increase in new and returning cyclists has highlighted the importance of having local expertise on tap. Arek Bartniczak kept his shop, Velo Times in Sale, Greater Manchester, open throughout lockdown. “We’ve been extremely busy,” he says. “Lots of people who had a bike that had been stored away made the decision to get it fixed up and start riding again.”

We've been extremely busy. Lots of people who had a bike that had been stored away made the decision to get it fixed up and start riding again

Arek Bartniczak, Velo Times bike shop, Sale

Velo Times started offering a basic free check-up, where people could bring their bikes in and he would explain what work needed to be done and why. “People really appreciate that,” Arek says. “It was a really good time to make contact with people and help to make them more knowledgeable and comfortable.”

Duncan Dollimore, head of campaigns at Cycling UK, echoes this view. “When I first worked in a bike shop as a teenager the range of products, services and bikes on offer was a fraction of what’s available now via online sales and the larger retailers,” he says. “While this suits some people, it can be daunting for those new to cycling, especially if you don’t know where to start when it comes to bike repairs or you’re thinking about cycling for the first time in many years. 

"That’s why local independent bike shops are so important, because they can provide a friendly and reassuring environment that gives novice and potential cyclists the confidence to ask questions and seek advice, and hopefully get and keep them riding.”

This year’s Local Bike Shop Day has two main themes: encouraging both children and adults to see cycling as a viable option as we return to school and to work; and to keep the nation cycling as we head into autumn. Both of these tie in with Cycling UK’s goals to support active travel as a natural choice for short journeys, and to get a million more people cycling.

Local independent bike shops are so important, because they can provide a friendly and reassuring environment that gives novice and potential cyclists the confidence to ask questions and seek advice, and hopefully get and keep them riding

Duncan Dollimore, head of campaigns, Cycling UK

We have asked Cycling UK staff around the country to nominate their favourite local shops: see some of their choices in the sidebar. One of these, I Want to Ride My Bike, in Cardiff, is a former winner of our Cyclist Café of the Year award.

Although the café and workshop had to close during lockdown, the owner, Jonathan Wright, found that there was increasing demand for repairs and spare parts from new cyclists as well as those getting back on their bikes. “We even had quite a few bikes coming in that had been bought and then left in a shed or garden and never been ridden – some of them hadn’t ever been built properly, so we were able to get them set up and ready for use,” Jonathan says. “Having that advice aspect is very useful to raise people’s confidence.”

“New permanent and pop-up cycle lanes have appeared all round Cardiff, and people have realised that they don’t need to drive.”

To support Local Bike Shop Day, find your nearest participating shop using the interactive map on the website and make sure to pay them a visit this Saturday. If your local shop is not on the list, support them anyway and suggest they join the initiative next year. Take a photo or write about what your shop brings to your community, and share it on social media using the hashtag #SupportYourLocalBikeShop.