While other parts of the economy might be having a tough time, the cycle industry is booming if the number of new bike shops opening is anything to go by – the latest is the UK's first Trek Bicycle Store which opened this morning in Milton Keynes.
As you'd expect the new store, is big, 3700 square ft, and it's packed with all things Trek - from their full UK range of bikes plus all the Bontrager components, wheels, shoes, helmets accessories and clothing anyone cyclist could ever need. The new store also boasts state of the art workshop facilities and a dedicated Project One area where you can sit down in store and customise your new Project One Madone to your heart's content.
This is Trek's first foray in to stand alone stores in Britain, Giant and Specialized both already have chains of their own stores in this country.The Trek store follows a similar model being a partnership between Trek and and an established local cycle retailer - in this case East Street Cycles. In many ways it is a similar model to the one in the car industry where local dealers, and even chains, are tied in with one manufacturer.
The new store is right next to Milton Keynes Central train station, and is part of the even bigger 22,000 square ft Cotswolds Outdoor Explor More store which also includes a branch of Costa Coffee… handy for those cyclists that never like to be too far from possible refreshment. There's on-site parking too.
“Milton Keynes is an ideal location for a Trek store. With miles of redways, quiet
lanes for road riding, and local trails nearby for mountain bikes, there’s a bit of
everything. The city has fantastic demographic diversity, great people, and a
promising future,” said Bird. “Trek is a marquee brand that consistently produces
market-leading product. It was a perfect combination for a new store.”
It probably doesn't do any harm that Trek UK are based in Milton Keynes too, so stocking shouldn't ever be an issue either.
In other retail news Cycle Surgery yesterday announced that they will be opening two new central London stores, one a 4000 square footer in Ropemaker Place on Chiswell St in Moorgate and the other a Spcialized Concept store in a new retail development in Covent Garden. Meanwhile onling retail giant Chain Reaction Cycles has announced it will be opening a bricks and mortar store in Belfast the company's second shop – it already has what must surely be the world's best stocked bike shop attached to the giant warehouse at its Northern Irish HQ.
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If parking is a problem, you could always catch a bus.
-foxie_ has beaten me to it. I've added the bit about parking in to the story as well
@jimc101 the new Trek Store has on-site parking
Not exactly the best place in MK, a long way to walk from the Centre or Xscape, or having to battle with the train station for parking, will stick to Phil Corley when going to MK
There's loads of free parking down here (with a 3 hour time restriction to prevent station users clogging it up). Also, some sheffield bike stands out the front to lock your bikes to. I've also sent the saturday lad out to "time-trial" the ride to/from Xscape, I reckon it's only a 6-7 minute redway ride from CMK.
Anyone outside the bike business and looking in might to tempted to think "Recession? What recession?".
It's certainly a good industry to be in. With people looking for cheaper alternative forms of transport and cycling infrastructure undergoing constant improvement; the humble bicycle should make a resurgence.