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Spelling Gert-Jan Theunisse
- Last week was a full week in Europe. 3 countries in 7 days with intermittent riding and enough wine to give me the notion of going to Halloween next year as my liver and, now, the wounds of jet-lag have me stupefied in a way that all the world's espresso can't reverse. Sleep is impossible. Catch up on work? I'm almost 10 days out of practice, so why start now? Instead, a few photos for you with blessedly little narrative --
London - Brick Lane Bikes
If whoever owns this store ever discovers Ebay, they will become millionaires many times over. The vintage 1985-1990 goodies are too vast to catalogue. Next time you're in London if you feel an irrepressible need to steal a bike, I'd suggest you try to fencing it here since it will surely get lost in the dusty, grimly-lit sea of inventory. If you can spell Gert-Jan Theunisse, this is a must-visit place for you. Intoxicating. And just down the road, I'm told, are some of the best authentic curries in London.
London - 14 Bike
14 Bike was described to me as a skate shop, but for single speed bikes. The space is big with an eclectic mix of urban-type single speed gear and intermittently-contemporary track racing paraphernalia. Of note is their house-branded bikes. It's as though the ubiquity of cycling in Europe makes riders less brand-sensitive, and gives shops leeway (via house-branding) to make some extra dough. Food for thought here. Big time food.
London - Condor Cycles
Known as the mother of all road racing shops in London, I got lost and made it to their doorstop 20 minutes after they closed. I was crushed! One glance through the window shows how strong their relationship is with Rapha -- you see photos of Rapha-clad pros, Rouleur light-boxes, and prominent placement of Rapha/Rouleur gear. Beautifully merchandized, and (like 14 Bike) heavy in private-label bikes.
Girona
Next was off to Girona for some riding. It's a town that stole my heart long ago. Mysterious in its origin, ever-expanding in its scope: a veritable universe of empty roads and enthralling vistas. Girona is an ancient-yet-timeless cycling paradise. Being November, we men could truly be boys. I was lent Bert Grabsch's old Paris-Roubaix-issue Giant, equipped with cantis and 26c tires. It was perfect for the dirt-and-gravel riding most prominent on our training menu. The main obstacle of the photos below was a 13km climb called Rocacorba, with its full-blown vascular system of dirt roads coursing up and down its sides making the mountain more like an amusement park -- a day's worth of disoriented & short-of-breath pleasure.
Frankfurt - Assos nucleoFrankfurt Store
From there was business in Germany, which brought me into proximity to an unusual spot: A retail store dedicated 100% to Assos. Unlike many things in the bike biz, this effort is absolutely, positively not half-assed. It is in the heart of high-end commercial Frankfurt. Just a few steps from the typical Cartier, Rolex, etc type scene, and down the road from the most amazing selection of Leica camera I'll ever see for sale, and a few doors up from the type of place that sells one-off crazy stuff like this (which reminded me of the 2004 Tour of Flanders, won by T-Mobile's Stefan Wesseman with a watch on his wrist the size of a Egg McMuffin. Can anyone find a good closeup photo of that watch?) Assos did beautifully with this store. It's not an outlet. It's not polluted with product other than Assos (a set or two of Lightweight wheels is the only exception). I can't imagine what the rent is & the possible economic viability of the effort -- but it is an amazing extension of their brand. Chapeau!
May 23, 2010
brick lane bikes will never make any money on ebay as someone who has lived in east london and been witness to there pricing I can tell you now that most of it is market rate or above what it is truly worth. If you want a real bargain then you will have to wait around on forums to get one. apart from that they are a ok bike shop. they do appear to be a victim of there own success now as they often seemed to be bogged down in work with no time for the average customer anymore..as for 14..ha ha that shop is a joke..fashion victims only..there in house frame is a taiwan knock off rebranded as there own...
- Daniel, Hove
December 01, 2009
Condor pics! You missed out!
http://picasaweb.google.com/jarrett.streebin/Condor#
- Jarrett, Berkeley
November 25, 2009
Performance and Nashbar have the low end covered, and Colorado Cyclist kind of covers the middle, but Competitive Cyclist created a high-end niche that would provide cover for a higher-end house brand (preferably NOT called Competitive Cyclist because that would be super lame). To live up to expectations, you'd have to do something that did not feel to the forum world like generic Asian frames at a higher price point. You would need to sell YOUR expertise in tube selection, geometry and joining technique so that it was perceived as a higher end bike at a lower price point. Squeezing that between Douglas and Gaulzetti would take a little finesse. The alternative is hitting the Scattante/Douglas price points but with perceived higher quality, also not a lay up. Getting good reviews in the rags you have previously trashed might also be a challenge. Perhaps house brands are not a lay-up in the US for your market niche.
- Dobbin, Horse Country
November 25, 2009
While living in Italy for 7 years (and watching the Giro pass by my home on more than one occasion) I rediscovered cycling. My first good bike was an Ennio Salvador house brand brazed filleting Columbus EL frame (w/ a mix of Campy/MIche/Mavic) that simply floated across the pavement. In Italy, and for that matter many other European countries, it is common for bike shops to offer "house brand" frames. In northern Italy where I lived, these were supplied by the many small frame shops in the area. It is also common for ex-pros to open their own bicycle shops, such as Ennio Salvador (who finished 5th at the 1987 Giro di Lombardia), or bicycle companies (Fondriest - a friend of my neighbor in Italy - comes to mind). In Europe the markets for house brand frames are typically smaller, local, and in many cases custom. Here in the US I think the only viable route would be to go custom (custon ti lugged carbon frames?).
- Chris, Shalimar FL
November 24, 2009
FYI - Assos have concept shops in Australia, one in up market Eastern Suburbs of Sydney and one in Melbourne.
- Armon, Sydney
November 24, 2009
I'm with J$. I race on a Cervélo (bought from you guys) but commute on a CAAD3 from 2000 with a mix of 6600 Ultegra and 7800 Dura Ace. It'd function fine as a racer (and did for a few years), but the frame's got close to 25,000 miles on it and is nearing the end of its useable life (it has an uncanny ability to loosen the bearings of any rear wheel within two months of riding). I'm too spoiled from high-end stuff to start commuting on a heavy steel frame with Sora components, but I'd love an aluminum thrasher with a Rival build I could ride daily and not have to worry about crashing, riding in snow and salt, heavy rainstorms, etc. Definitely with a BB30.
Also, house brands are not just for Performance and Nashbar - we got NYC bikes here in Brooklyn (but their frames aren't any better than P or N). However, my hometown store in south eastern PA makes their own custom aluminum, steel and titanium frames - very nice stuff.
- Chris, Brooklyn
November 24, 2009
gotta sober up
- e tothe f, maui
November 23, 2009
so I guess Garmin is switching to Mavic wheels.
- Ted, Mamaroneck
November 23, 2009
Add me to the list. I'm tempted to buy a Gaulzetti just because I like his writing and think he just 'gets' what cyclists need/want in a bike. He has a Sram Rival build for just over $3K. I think that's competitive. Ditto with the Condor bikes.
but if CC made a bike it would move from contemplation to lining up the reasons why for the Mrs.
- adam, hamilton
November 23, 2009
House brands in the US are limited to places like Performance and Nashbar. I think Americans are a bit more brand-conscious...but a "Competetive Cyclist" branded frame (or whatever name you choose, just make sure it doesn't include the word "scat" in it, like the Performance house brand) would not suffer from that. Additionally, (and I know this goes against your stance on "pro" stickers being huge and cool) the decals should be minimal, above the clear coat. I think you could offer three models: a CAAD9-like aluminum bike, a carbon one, and (don't laugh) a utilitarian, classic steel frame, lugged or not. I myself commute on my CAAD9, but would gladly buy a semi-light steel bike that I could put fenders on for the winter. All should come in very plain, basic colors (black or red) and standard seatposts etc should work with all frames. Probably BB30 on carbon and aluminum, but perhaps not on the steel one.
- sleeper, Pittsburgh, PA
November 23, 2009
You've got enough contacts and clout in the biz to pull off the house brand, and you absolutely should, but not expensive and boutique. You guys have that covered already. Personally what I would be interested in, is an honest to goodness crit frameset with just enough plushness to get you through a stage or long distance ride. There's a pretty big monetary gap between CAAD9/Planet X and Spooky that you could fit right in. You want a list? -Aluminum -BB30, nice but not a deal breaker
-$800-900 frameset
-enough clearance to run 27's -go cheap on the paint save some dough and let it be known this thing is to be thrashed, daily.
-S,M,L Think solid affordable trainer that could be outfitted with Ultegra, 7800, or Rival and throw down with the big boys. Better yet, envision training camps with young riders on clapped out team left overs ripping the legs off everyone to earn their place in the squad.
Need more? I've got plenty of opinions I'm willing to share anytime: hetmalen at gmail dot com
- J$, ATX
November 23, 2009
A Garmin hater taking a Columbia rider's bike out for a spin with David Millar & friends. Irony anyone?
- Josh, NY
November 23, 2009
Actually (not to be too dickish) Redwing is kind of in the same part of the culture - it's become a very hip (and influential) brand after years in the weeds: same irritating fixie-riding urbanites are the ones driving the Redwing revival - might be a lesson there for bikes, too. Hmm, house-brands: works for a lot of retailers in a lot of different categories, but just remember the extra margin is needed, because you can't return inventory or negotiate better payment terms with the supplier - if the product eats it, you've got no one to share the risk with...just some insight from what I do...
- Roadent, Toronto
November 23, 2009
David Millar was smiling in the photos, so he must not read this blog. You can tell it's been a long, LONG time since Millar has paid for cycling equipment: He laid those DA 7900 levers face-down in the gravel!
- AH, Indy
November 23, 2009
Love the juxtaposition of Assos next to Redwing Shoes. Two icons on opposite sides of the the cultural spectrum
- Sean, Golden Valley, MN
