Think Bike Closing

shaymouse

Just read on FB that Think Bike in Rathmines and Terenure are closing down.

I think it's a real loss, I bought a couple of bikes there, and various repairs, always thought they did a good job, and were helpful.

park500

Sorry to hear that.Used them for all servicing- v good,reasonable and always busy so that's surprising to hear.

extra-ordinary_

ahh…was only passing there the other day thinking great to see it still around - I bought a bike there over 20 years ago.

AndrewJRenko

Opening hours for servicing were very good, early starts and late finishes.

brokenbad

Sorry to hear this news. Have previously purchased 2 bikes from Think Bike. They always had a great selection of bikes and were very informative when it came to advice on choosing the right bike.

Wishbone Ash

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122600458#Comment_122600458

Busy ventures are often busy because they are under-pricing themselves and therefore not viable in the long run.

CramCycle

That is a shame, bought two bikes in there over the years and until I moved away would have been my preferred shop. Always highly recommended.

Rock Steady Edy

Might be indicative of a general slowdown in sales post COVID and a saturated bike-to-work market.

Bought my most recent bike from them only earlier this year.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122604417#Comment_122604417

A lot of businesses warehoused (Covid) debt with Revenue. If they were not making money this just kicked the bucket down the road. Now that Revenue are starting to look for the money the 'easiest' solution is to close down.

MojoMaker

Would have thought Think would have a steady trade alright, but as you say, may be more to this than is first obvious.

ted1

Sad to see them go and tough on the families of the staff.

Michelin

Sad news to hear the shop is closing. Unlike many other shops I enjoyed going in here. Bought a few bikes and plenty of accessories. The workshop was great as well. Really sound staff. Wishing them all well for the future. The shop really brightened up the approach into Rathmines as well. Ah like I said sad news.

QueensGael

Very sad to see this closing, John, Adrian, Tomacz and the lads are all so sound. I used to be in the bike club there also, some really great times. Best of luck, you'll be missed ❤️

fat bloke

Funny one. All the talk about bike prices soaring you'd think there would be no end of money in the biz. All the money I've spent on bikes and biking I never had cause to give them a cent. Location reasons really I suppose. Ironically the least likely place I'm ever going to cycle to is to a bike shop and you simply can't drive to Rathmines or Terenure. For that reason I drive to Hollingsworth Kilmacud or Cyclesuperstore even though there are bike shops much nearer to me but without parking.

Citizen2011

how’d you mean no parking? There’s loads of parking.

fat bloke

If you mean loads of parked cars then yeah I'd agree with you there.

wanderer 22

Sad news, bought 3 bikes there over the years and plenty of great spins with the club including Race around Ireland in 2015. Sound bunch of lads, wishing them all the best in the future

ted1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122606765#Comment_122606765

there’s parking in front of the Terenure store and beside the rathnines one.

fat bloke

Lads. Parking spaces yes. Severely limited and invariably occupied. And don't be telling me Rathmines is an easy place to drive to and a straightforward location to find parking because it most certainly is not.

at1withmyself

Could you not just leave the thread as a respectful one wishing the guys well. Take the parking issues to another thread please.

fat bloke

It wasn't intended as a parking issue discussion. The substantive point of discussion was why a slick looking, and judging by other comments above, popular bike shop would close in the current economic climate. If you want it to be an rip.ie condolence book then maybe chat to the mods. I think it's an interesting discussion on a cycling forum why bike shops open or close or thrive or fail. I live reasonably near the shop and could have been a customer but I wasn't. Our household biking spend is massive. It's way above our motoring spend. Bricks and mortar shops and online shops are all competing for the same dollars and there are reasons why shops are convenient or accessible or not.

For me, the main reason I go to an LBS is to drop my bike off for service or repair. Can't take the bike on the bus so I have to throw it in the boot of the car and that means I want to park near the the shop. Wandering around heavily trafficked, car funneled, no-left-turn etc laden areas like Terenure and Rathmines are a stress for me anyway so that's why I never went in there.

Bluejohn1

They lasted some 20 odd years, I don't think parking spaces was their down fall 💁‍♂️. Anyway bought the lads first bike there last year for Santa. Shame to see them go.

MojoMaker

UCD Bike Services perhaps has cannibalised some of the trade that would otherwise have drifted into Think Bike over recent years.

Rock Steady Edy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122607773#Comment_122607773

...that might tie in with the earlier comment of closing because of it being the easiest way to get rid of indebtedness / renegotiate rents and other contracts.

Since 1998, were they nothing to do with the bike shop (City Cycles??) in the same location before the Rathmines Shopping Centre was knocked and redeveloped into the current building?

Underpinner

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122607832#Comment_122607832

Thread here looking for a good mechanic on the northside. I live on the northside but had been using Thinkbike for servicing and any significant repair. That was after a good bit of looking around and a few bad experiences. They had proper mechanics and were always great to deal with. Really sorry they’re going.

Colonel Panic

Think Bike will be missed, I've brought many a bike for service there and bought a cargo bike from them too.

Pulled in to the Terenure store on my way home this week to see them closed.

All very sound lads so I hope it works out for them.

Lofidelity

Working from home must be a disaster for bike shops. Same as it is for city centre cafes and pubs.

Birka

Sorry to see them go. They delivered two kids bikes to me in Kildare during early covid. They've said that things didn't pick up after covid and that should be taken at face value. I don't think that there's a general appreciation of the greatly increased costs of doing business over the last few years. It's not easy out there.