Brixton Cycles is a workers co-operative bike shop in Brixton in the London borough of Lambeth, United Kingdom. It was established in 1983.
.jpg) Brixton Cycles at 296-298 Brixton Road, London. | |
| Company type | Worker Cooperative |
|---|---|
| Industry | Bicycle sales |
| Founded | 1983 in Brixton, London, UK |
| Headquarters | London |
| Services | Bicycle sales, accessories sales, repair, servicing, workshop |
| Website | http://brixtoncycles.co.uk |
It's 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
editColdharbour 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 it's 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
editAs 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
editThe 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 it's 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
edit
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
editBrixton 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
edit- ^ Cox, Peter (2007). "Activism and Market Innovation: Changing patterns in the cycle trade" (PDF).
- ^ Cox, Peter (2023). Cycling Activism: Bike Politics and Social Movements. Taylor & Francis. p. 193. ISBN 978-1-000-92188-5.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b "Old Brixton Cycles building on Coldharbour Lane set to be demolished - urban75: art, photos, walks". 2012-08-02. Retrieved 2023-01-01.
- ^ a b This is Brixton - (S1, EP 1/4). 2018. Retrieved 2023-02-24.
- ^ "Brixton Cycles advert". The Times. 14 January 1989. p. 44. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
- ^ a b Norman, Jason (January 2009). "UK Retailers Scramble to Meet Commuter Bike Demand". Bicycle Retailer & Industry News. 18 (15): 37–46 – via Ebsco.
- ^ Mark Blunden (2010-12-13). "Hefty bike bills for the not-so-thin blue line". Evening Standard: 24.
- ^ "Bicycle Frame Building in the USA" (PDF). 2011.
- ^ a b Dickens, Tim (2014-07-25). "Brixton Cycles named Best Small Retailer at London Cycling Awards". Brixton Blog. Retrieved 2023-02-24.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Barton, Sam (2017). Alienation and Authenticity in Brixton: An ethnography of a changing neighbourhood (PDF) (PhD thesis). University College London. p. 88.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Inside London's Best Bike Shops: Brixton Cycles". The Londonist. 19 May 2016. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "'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.
- ^ Shrubsall, James (2024-02-09). "Comedy legend steps in to help publicise London bike shop Brixton Cycles' crowdfunder". cyclingweekly.com. Retrieved 2024-09-03.
- ^ "Mel Allwood". Baker & Taylor Author Biographies: 1–1. 2000-01-05.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Letters". the Guardian. 2018-12-20. Retrieved 2023-01-01.
- ^ Katie Strick (2020-05-26). "Bring your bike back to life". Evening Standard: 17.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Frankie McCoy (2016-07-04). "Wheels on fire". Evening Standard. p. 27.
- ^ "London's friendliest cycle club". www.brixtoncycles.cc. Retrieved 2023-02-24.
- ^ Burton, Maurice; Jones, Paul (2024). The Maurice Burton Way. Bloomsbury. p. 240. ISBN 9781399407397.
- ^ "Opinion: Marlon Moncrieffe on the Black British cycling community | Cycling UK". www.cyclinguk.org. Retrieved 2024-09-03.
- ^ "'Cycling is the perfect sport for transvestites'". the Guardian. 2015-05-02. Retrieved 2023-01-01.
- ^ Cobb, Jason (2024-06-10). "Photo Feature: Brixton Cycles Super Madison event at Herne Hill Velodrome". Retrieved 2024-11-15.