So this week I hope to give a few pointers that should help you to find, and your bike shop to deliver, the best service around.
There certainly is an unparalleled choice of cycle shops in Jersey, and there has to be one that meets your criteria. If there isn’t, then there is always the internet and mail order.
After all, a lot of internet providers can have the goods with you before a local shop has even had a chance to create an order that will meet their wholesaler’s minimum order criteria. For many this way of obtaining a bike, parts or even clothing will be OK, especially if you have a good idea of what you want, what size it is, how it fits, whether you need anything else to make it work , and of course, you have the knowledge and the tools to fit it.
Don’t forget, some shops are quite happy to fit parts that have been purchased on the net, or indeed elsewhere. They still make money from fitting the stuff, and what do they gain by refusing?
The ‘Rule of Two Hundred’ says that if something unpleasant happens to you, and you convey this to your immediate circle of friends, 200 people will have heard about your bad experience before the news stops rolling.
Most businesses should know that by now. What bike shops can’t do, is guess that you’ve forgotten to buy that special something without which your part won’t work, that is until they try to fit it. How often have the innocent bought things from private sales on the web, only to fine that they are broken, missing parts or plain worn out?
If your knowledge is limited, or you can’t really be bothered ferreting around for the cheapest on the internet and you don’t really know how to fit the stuff anyway, then try a shop.
If you’re looking for a bike, most shops in Jersey should have a good selection. Whatever you do, don’t imagine that they stock every model, in every size and colour, which their suppliers advertise! No one sells bikes in those quantities or that fast to make it work. Not even retailers that have 30 shops nationwide can afford to do that.
So if you want something special, expect to pay a deposit and wait. The big advantage of an actual shop, apart from the free advice you get, is that you can actually sit on the bike and maybe even try it out. If you would like to try a bike out, and from a salesperson’s point of view this is a great help in making the sale, please don’t be offended if you’re asked to provide some security or even pay before you leave the shop with the bike.
Customers often get very upset about this, especially the ones who have never been robbed; unlike most bike shops that usually have been. Also buying from a shop will ensure that you get a bike that fits properly, and if there is any fine tuning needed, it can be done then and there.
And after you’ve ridden away on the bike that fits you perfectly; that’s been properly assembled; that has had the accessories of your choice fitted on it; and that doesn’t have any scratches or marks on it, your dealer will then offer you a free service after a month or so to check that everything is running well. And if it doesn’t, well the shop will still be there tomorrow to sort it out.
Next week we’ll look at repairs.
Braking News
January’s bad weather damages the Cycle Trade.
The latest report from the Association of Cycle Traders paints a bleak picture of the cycle trade in January. The bad weather meant that many dealers saw core sales fall by 17% against last January’s figures, and over 53% of businesses surveyed, said that the overall sales volumes shortfall was 40%.
These figures are not produced from online sales or the very successful Cycle to Work scheme. As one might expect online sales didn’t suffer as much, whereas even the Cycle to Work scheme saw an unusual fall-off in demand.
With February traditionally the quietest month for the trade, dealers are hoping that they can maintain some cash flow between now and the spring.
Teenager designs cycling-themed Olympic Games coin
16-year-old, schoolboy, Theo Crutchley-Mack from Halifax, is the winner of a nationwide competition organised by the Royal Mint, in April last year, to design a London Olympic Games cycling themed 50 pence piece. Theo, a keen cyclist, was chosen as the winner from over 3,000 entries. His design showed a track rider in a velodrome.
As part of his prize, Theo was presented with a gold ‘striking’ of his design, and his school, Rishworth School, was awarded a £10,000 prize from the Royal Mint. The school proposes to use the prize to help not-for-profit cycling clubs in the area.
Richard Burton immortalised on Welsh cycle path
Actor Richard Burton, comedian Rob Brydon and Afan Forest ranger Dick Wagstaff are the first to be immortalised in steel; as part of the Sustrans’ plan to erect sculptures on cycle paths throughout the United Kingdom.
The Portrait Bench art initiative has been created by Sustrans using a £50million grant from the Big Lottery Fund. It’s proposed that about 80 such sculptures will be in place around the country by 2013. Each will be specific to the area in which it is put up, and residents of the Afan Valley were the first to choose their subjects. Sculptures of the three gentlemen should appear on the Port Talbot to Afan Forest cycle path by the spring.
Sprint Bonuses
- Former England rugby captain Lawrence Dellaglio has just set off to ride from Rome to Edinburgh to raise funds for Sport Relief and the Dallaglio Foundation.
- Also raising funds for Sport Relief is the London School of Diving who have set up an underwater turbo trainer. Divers pay £100 to see who is the fastest over an underwater mile.
- Decathlon is opening a pilot ‘Urban Mobility’ store in Lille, in France in June. This will sell everything from cycle clothing to walking boots and inline skates.
- NeilPryde, the windsurfing brand, is bringing out a range of road bikes during 2010. The brand will be sold directly to consumers online.
- Tesco the supermarket giant is allegedly ramping up its bicycle offering in larger stores around Britain.
And Finally,
Do you remember 27-year-old Lindsey Cole, who was on the lookout for a companion to cycle with her to South Africa? Well, from the 400 replies, Lindsey has chosen three young chaps to escort her on her 8,000 mile trip.
Arthur Lamy is a freelance writer who has written books, guides and articles for, among others, IPC Media, Ottaker’s Bookshops, Seaflower Books and Jersey Tourism.
He is a Blue Badge qualified tourist guide specializing in cycling and walking tours.
He is also a keen photographer – Joint winner of the 2009 Jersey Telecoms ‘Front Page’ competition.
More information can be found on his website: www.arthurlamy.com
