What's working in the world of cycling all about? Why did I get into it anyway?

Bit of a blurt this, but I thought I'd put it out there as I shall likely meet many of you at the Bike Shows we're doing over the next 3 months in London, Glasgow and Manchester.

I got into the cycling industry because my wife said I couldn't have a new bike.  I realised lots of people face the same problem from their non cycling partners so I offered some varied ways to solve it  Several years later, I had 103 demo bikes at my disposal.

Nothing is more successful at hindering your riding as running a bike business!

Something is not quite computing there wouldn't you say!?!?

For years my colleagues and I have focused on offering something that adds value.  Putting it frankly and openly, we have spent all our waking hours chasing sales and keeping people happy to the best of our abilities.  It becomes all encompassing.

The irony is that it whilst we've grown significantly, the pleasure has not.  That's largely due to the fact that the riding has been sacrificed too much.

Now, everyone else in a "proper" job will know that cycling is a fantastic de-stresser.  Not doing it is a distressor!  

Also, cycling seems to have become completely focused on showing off what new kit you've got AND how cheaply you managed to buy it for.

Feck that!  Cycling to me is about riding, either on your own or enjoying the company of others, but predominately about riding, making your own stories and adventures.

So for 2017, there's a new personal manifesto:

Set the business up in a manner that obligates riding more

Set up our Membership so that our efforts are focused upon helping those cyclists who quite literally buy-in to what we are offering

Discourage those cyclists who believe that they are somehow "entitled" to what we are offering from becoming Members in the first place

Make it easy for Members to get best value, a great experience and opportunities to experience much more from their cycling than they do currently

Keep making it better for the Members

I accept that it is human nature to look at the bottom line and want to pay the least amount for something.  So we've made that possible in a manner that rewards loyalty rather than "chasing" the people who themselves are simply "chasing" the lowest price.  The race to the bottom in other words.

It's about customer loyalty I guess, a very rare commodity in the world of cycling retail nowadays.  So, we're stepping off the race to the bottom and making it so that a really good price is always available to people who are loyal to us, even if we don't need to make it available.  Loyalty is a two way thing afterall.

Money is such a transient thing though.  How long does the buzz of buying something last until the next shiny thing comes along?  How long does the bloody money last for that matter???  Not long at all with cycling kit being soooo ridiculously expensive!

However, the memories, the stories and the fun does last longer, in terms of happiness, lower stress, and frankly, being able to be the real you.

So a lot of focus is being given to that.

We'll make our own stories and memories along with our Members.  That's a hell of a lot more fun than chasing after people's money.

It'll take some time to get it all perfect, but I think that it's a step in the right direction.

Thanks for reading the blurtings of someone who tends to wear their heart on their sleeve somewhat.

I look forward to seeing you at the London, Manchester or Glasgow Cycle Shows

Paul.