Talking shops
hen we first dreamt up the idea of finding the best bike shop in the country we weren’t sure how much traction the idea would get. With so much retail now taking place online we didn’t know if you were still so bothered about your local shop as to take some time out and tell us about it.
It turns out, you are. Incredibly we had over 21,000 votes cast in our poll. Clearly many of the shops out there remain an integral part of the community. Rather than just selling bikes, they offer essential services, get involved in local events and offer their customers a level of support that keeps them coming back again and again.
For many places in the UK the humble bike shop is at the centre of the cycling scene in their area.
There were so many shops that we couldn’t possibly visit them all, but we had to go to the winning store. This accolade goes to the Edinburgh Bicycle Cooperative store in Bruntsfield. Not only was this store a clear overall winner, but their other stores won three of the 12 regional awards.
How they, and the other popular stores have adapted to meet modern demands is fascinating. Turn to page 20 to find out more.