Brixton Cycles

Brixton Cycles
Company typeWorker Cooperative
IndustryBicycle sales
Founded1983; 42 years ago (1983) in Brixton, London, UK
HeadquartersLondon
ServicesBicycle sales, accessories sales, repair, servicing, workshop
Websitehttp://brixtoncycles.co.uk

Brixton Cycles is a workers co-operative bike shop in Brixton in the London borough of Lambeth, United Kingdom. It was established in 1983.

Its formation was part of an increasing trend in the 1970s and 1980s of a new cycling shops co-op movement across the United Kingdom.[1] Brixton Cycles being directly inspired by the Edinburgh Bicycle co-op.

The founders who were keen long distance cyclists apparently germinated the idea for the shop on a long ride from Lands end to John O'Groats.[2][3]

As well as selling products and fixing bike in store the co-op also run an online shop.

History

Coldharbour Lane 1983 - 2001

The shop first opened in a small space in 435-437 Coldharbour Lane two years after the Brixton Uprising, at a point that many other businesses had left the area.[3][4] A founding intention was to make a positive social impact in the area following the uprising.[5]

Early brands sold by the shop at this time included Specialized, Bicycle Chain, Marin and Kona.[6]

Stockwell Road 2001 - 2016

The shop moved to 145 Stockwell Road in May 2001,[4] sitting alongside Stockwell Skatepark the shop supported the local skating and BMX community who used the park.

The shop saw a boom in 2009 when demand for hybrid/commuter bikes outstripped availability.[7] In 2010 police officers who asked the shop to fix their bikes, left multiple bills unpaid.[8] In 2011 the shop saw a big increase in sales of bike tools as shoppers were moving towards building their own bikes.[9]

In 2014 the shop won the award for Best Small Retailer at the London Cycling Awards.[10]

The gentrification of Brixton in this era saw a rise in development, with the estate containing the Stockwell Road shop marked for demolition. Brixton Cycles quickly made a move to crowdfund to afford looking for a new shop premises.[11] The community support of getting Brixton Cycles to a new premises became part of the wider Reclaim Brixton anti-gentrification activism at the time.[12]

Brixton Road 2016 - Current day

With the shop rent tripling with the move to the Brixton Road shop, it at times it became hard for the co-op to stay afloat and open.[13]

With an increase of requests for bike building and repairs the shop changed its layout to double the size of the workshop.[13]

In 2019 the shop was nominated as one of the best bike shops in London by The Londonist with a testimonial supplied by customer and actor Michael Smiley.[14]

In the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown, bicycle shops were quickly deemed essential businesses and with an increase in cycling the shop saw a large surge in orders for bicycles and repairs. Priority services were provided for NHS staff working during the pandemic.[15][16]

In 2024 comedian and shop regular Chris Morris took to social media to promote the shop's crowdfunding campaign making up funds from a powercut.[17]

Business structure

As a workers co-operative staff are equal owners of the company and are paid an equal hourly wage. Decisions are made by consensus at the business' monthly meeting.[3] At times of financial crisis, staff have delayed paying themselves or had to work on alternative models.[13]

All staff work in the shop, stockroom and as mechanics in the workshop, so expertise is spread out and shared.[3]

Equality and inclusion

The shop has had a good representation of women, published author of Bicycle maintenance books Mel Allwood once being a member of staff and director of the co-op.[18]

The shop recognises its community connection, history and support as part of its success of survival.[5]

Workshops have taken place for gender diverse and LGBTQ+ cyclists to learn basic bicycle maintenance[citation needed] and an event in 2023 celebrated Black cyclists and their involvement in the shop.[19]

Stock and services

Brixton Cycles workshop

The shop specialises in bikes from Trek and Specialized amongst others.[7]

The advent of online shopping has had a negative impact on the shop, with online shops without overheads such as rent being able to offer lower prices.[13] Also the shop has felt they have been subject to showrooming.[20]

The shop offers discounts for NHS staff and London Cycling Campaign members.[21][10] It also takes the Brixton pound.[22]

The shop has bold iconic branding, utilising AC/DC inspired imagery for merchandising and bright yellow and black exterior signage.[23]

Cycling Club

Brixton Cycles has hosted the Brixton Cycles Club - a social club for cyclists with over 180 members in south London. Their ethos is "based on the principles of the co-operative movement".[24][25] It has a strong focus on inclusion of Black cyclists, with the club jersey being in the Pan-African colours of red, green and gold.[26]

The club has held events such as the Beastway series, which has had participants including Grayson Perry[27] as well as regular madison events at Herne Hill Velodrome.[28]

References

  1. ^ Cox, Peter (2007). "Activism and Market Innovation: Changing patterns in the cycle trade" (PDF).
  2. ^ Cox, Peter (2023). Cycling Activism: Bike Politics and Social Movements. Taylor & Francis. p. 193. ISBN 978-1-000-92188-5.
  3. ^ a b c d Walker, Peter (20 September 2013). "Brixton Cycles: 30 years of a bike shop where everyone is the boss". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Old Brixton Cycles building on Coldharbour Lane set to be demolished - urban75: art, photos, walks". 2012-08-02. Retrieved 2023-01-01.
  5. ^ a b This is Brixton - (S1, EP 1/4). 2018. Retrieved 2023-02-24.
  6. ^ "Brixton Cycles advert". The Times. 14 January 1989. p. 44. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  7. ^ a b Norman, Jason (January 2009). "UK Retailers Scramble to Meet Commuter Bike Demand". Bicycle Retailer & Industry News. 18 (15): 37–46 – via Ebsco.
  8. ^ Mark Blunden (2010-12-13). "Hefty bike bills for the not-so-thin blue line". Evening Standard: 24.
  9. ^ "Bicycle Frame Building in the USA" (PDF). 2011.
  10. ^ a b Dickens, Tim (2014-07-25). "Brixton Cycles named Best Small Retailer at London Cycling Awards". Brixton Blog. Retrieved 2023-02-24.
  11. ^ Urban, Mike (2015-08-18). "Huge 20 storey tower proposed on the site of Brixton Cycles next to Stockwell Skate Park". Brixton Buzz. Retrieved 2023-02-24.
  12. ^ Barton, Sam (2017). Alienation and Authenticity in Brixton: An ethnography of a changing neighbourhood (PDF) (PhD thesis). University College London. p. 88.
  13. ^ a b c d "How millennials have put a spoke in the wheels of Britain's bicycle shops". the Guardian. 2019-01-12. Retrieved 2023-01-01.
  14. ^ "Inside London's Best Bike Shops: Brixton Cycles". The Londonist. 19 May 2016. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
  15. ^ Urban, Mike (2020-04-02). "Brixton Cycles are still open for business, offering free bike checks and priority service for NHS staff". Brixton Buzz. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  16. ^ "'My parents helped me pack lube': from sex toys to bidets, the lockdown businesses that boomed". the Guardian. 2020-07-11. Retrieved 2023-01-01.
  17. ^ Shrubsall, James (2024-02-09). "Comedy legend steps in to help publicise London bike shop Brixton Cycles' crowdfunder". cyclingweekly.com. Retrieved 2024-09-03.
  18. ^ "Mel Allwood". Baker & Taylor Author Biographies: 1. 2000-01-05.
  19. ^ Urban, Mike (2023-10-16). "Celebrating the experiences and achievements of Black cyclists: panel talk in Brixton, Sun 22nd Oct 2023". Retrieved 2024-09-03.
  20. ^ "Letters". the Guardian. 2018-12-20. Retrieved 2023-01-01.
  21. ^ Katie Strick (2020-05-26). "Bring your bike back to life". Evening Standard: 17.
  22. ^ Ryan-Collins, Josh (2010). "Not so "Mickey Mouse": Lessons in the nature of modern money from complementary monetary innovations" (PDF). Economic Sociology_the European Electronic Newsletter.
  23. ^ Frankie McCoy (2016-07-04). "Wheels on fire". Evening Standard. p. 27.
  24. ^ "London's friendliest cycle club". www.brixtoncycles.cc. Retrieved 2023-02-24.
  25. ^ Burton, Maurice; Jones, Paul (2024). The Maurice Burton Way. Bloomsbury. p. 240. ISBN 9781399407397.
  26. ^ "Opinion: Marlon Moncrieffe on the Black British cycling community | Cycling UK". www.cyclinguk.org. Retrieved 2024-09-03.
  27. ^ "'Cycling is the perfect sport for transvestites'". the Guardian. 2015-05-02. Retrieved 2023-01-01.
  28. ^ Cobb, Jason (2024-06-10). "Photo Feature: Brixton Cycles Super Madison event at Herne Hill Velodrome". Retrieved 2024-11-15.