Are bike shops the worst? Well, Scott Murphy, the co-founder of e-bike subscription service Clover, certainly thinks so.
(I know what you’re thinking – he wants to sell short-term e-bike subs, of course he’s not a fan of bike shops, hardly a shocker. Anyway…)
On his LinkedIn account – where else? – this week, Murphy posted one of those classic long, pseudo-philosophical essays intrinsically associated with that particular social media platform… all about bike shops. And he divided the room, it’s fair to say.
“Bike shops are the worst,” Murphy, who manages Clover’s business strategy, posted.
“They flat out reject normal people. Walk in asking for a bike to actually get places, and they look at you like you just farted in a wine tasting.
“If you’re not dropping €10K on some carbon racing toy, they don’t care. Ask about racks, lights, or fenders, and they’ll act like you asked them to install training wheels.
“Most bike shops don’t sell transportation. They sell hobbies. They sell status. They sell identity. And if you don’t speak fluent gear ratio, you’re not part of the club.”
He continued: “It’s High Fidelity on two wheels, the record shop that sneers at anyone who just likes music.
“Except this time, it’s people who just want to get to work, grab groceries, or ride to the beach without owning a car. And that’s the real shame. Because until the industry stops gatekeeping and starts welcoming everyday riders, the car will keep winning by default.”
Judging by the reaction to his post, it’s safe to conclude that not everyone agrees with Murphy’s belief that snooty bike shops are silently propping up the car industry.
“I think you might need to find a better bike shop,” said Iain Montgomery. “Sure this is some, but it’s a bit like going into Gucci and asking for a t-shirt under $20. You just wouldn’t do it.
“Certainly know some snooty, and very expensive, bike shops, but they’re the exception rather than the norm.”
“I feel very much the opposite,” added Anthony Klick. “Bike shops are one of my favourite places to visit and the vast majority are very much welcoming.”
Meanwhile, transport planning executive Jeff Peel said: “This is not only an objectively bad take, but not recognising the importance of neighbourhood bike shops as a vital part of the transportation ecosystem that you’re hoping to develop your e-bike venture in is shortsighted at best.
“Bike shops have long been a critical part of ensuring bikes are part of the sustainable transportation mix. Doing away with them erodes the foundation you hope to build on, and in this economy, is really punching down at vulnerable small businesses. Rethink this, please.”
.JPG "Local Bike Shop in London (copyright Simon MacMichael)")
However, not everyone was rushing to condemn Murphy’s LinkedIn bike shops hot take.
Matt Johnson, the former president of Slipstream Sports, the management company behind the WorldTour team now known as EF Education-EasyPost, admitted that, even with his years of experience in the cycling industry, he “dreads” walking into a bike shop.
“I don’t really have a horse in this race, but I’ve thought for a long time that bike shops really struggle to welcome people. It is why this industry sometimes is its own worst enemy,” Johnson said.
“I hate to take my own experiences and say they are everyone’s. They are not. They are just my experiences, but I will share the majority of my bike store experiences:
“First, I feel I’m very qualified to be in a bike shop: Worked at a shop since the age of 12 to 15; Raced bikes for 15 years (three in Europe from age 15 to 18); President of a Tour de France team for 10 years; Raised more money for a US cycling team than anyone in history.
“That said, I’m so intimated to walk into any bike store. Boulder, Bay Area, or LA, you name it, somehow the experience is universal regardless of geography.
“Of course not all stores are like that and once you are on the ‘in crowd’ it becomes a blend of your sanctuary and cool kid club house.
“But you walk in without anyone knowing you and you need to buy a set of pedals or cleats, the average service experience is terrible in the US. In Europe, my experiences are much, much better. I dread walking into a bike store.”
Finally, Chuck Gorman offered this balanced perspective: “I think that there are many different types of bike shops… There are absolutely higher end shops, catering to the audience for high end road/mountain bikes, and they can be elitist.
“BUT the majority of shops (at least here) are ore open minded and are looking to get people on bikes, and while they can provide the higher end brands, do far more volume in the low and mid-tier range, and are starting to explore the e-bike space as well.”
What do you reckon? Are bike shops the preserve of elitist cycling snobs like Murphy claims? Or are they a key component in getting more people, of all backgrounds and cycling experience, riding bikes? Let us know in the comments…