Wiggle Chain Reaction Deal to be Decided by June 30th

May 6, 2016 at 12:38
by Pinkbike Staff  
The Competition and Markets Authority is set to announce whether or not it will approve the Wiggle (Mapil Bidco ltd) purchase of Chain Reaction Cycles, with a ruling expected on June 30th.

The authority is currently looking into the landmark deal for the online cycle retail business, which includes the purchase of cycling distributors Hotlines Europe ltd and Decade Europe Ltd.

Those with a business interest in the merger have now been invited to comment by the CMA and have until May 18th to do so. The merging of the retail giants will, if approved, create a retailer with turnover in excess of £300 million.

Written representations on competition issues may be addressed here.


Wiggle and Chain Reaction Cycles


Read the original announcement about the merger here.

Original story from cyclingindustry.news

Author Info:
pinkbikeaudience avatar

Member since Jul 22, 2013
3,460 articles

63 Comments
  • 97 0
 Well Chainreactioncycles have a really streamlined website, refund and total package whereas Wiggle's website is unwieldy and everything is out of stock apart from their little packets of haribo. So lets hope CRC don't lose what they do well
  • 11 0
 Little packets of Haribo ahahaha that cracked me up! If you have not ever ordered from Wiggle they put a few bags in your order!
  • 4 0
 @CallumAlloAllanson: a few bags of sunshine ayyy
  • 3 1
 I'm really upset with ChainReactionCycles right now about warranty exchanges. See here: www.pinkbike.com/video/444298
  • 2 0
 @Macropod: Funny, but to be fair to Wiggle i live not far from their base and judging by the size of the place i doubt that they dont have anything in stock .
  • 1 0
 Agreeeeed.
  • 43 22
 Do any of you remember all those group rides with all the guys from Wiggle? Or when one of the dudes from Chain Reaction came down to a marathon race and stood for hours handing you food and drink every lap? And what about that trip to NZ with all your mates from Jenson, do you remember that?

Neither do I. LBS FTW!!
  • 18 7
 mmmmm great logic, just because they dont work at a local bike shop means they cant ride either, or have friends! everyone knows you can only ride and ride with friends if you work at a local bike shop.
  • 54 7
 Ah how good is my lbs world cup downhill team and their web edits!!?? Err not!

Fact is 98% of bike stores I've been too are shite and I wouldn't trust them to change a tyre. I'm a competent mechanic myself and can service my own suspension etc, bikes aren't hard to work on at all.
I've had brake pads fall out on my way home from my lbs, got my bike back in far worse condition than it went in after a service, had some young kid try to tell me a he'd set a brake up spongy and pulling to the bars because that how he liked it, not because it obviously needed bleeding. I've had a suspension fork come back and the last 2" didn't work any more; another guy wouldn't sell me tubeless sealant without trying to sell me stans rim tape, valves and new tyres despite me repeatedly telling him I was already running tubeless and just needed more sealant, he said the sealant would only work with stans tape and valves lol.... The list goes on.

I've only had 1 lbs I've trusted and that gave good service in 30 yrs and 3 different countries I've lived in, I've HAD to use CRC that whole time and they've been flawless!!!!
Lbs are dying because their prices for simple things are extortionate, they underpay their staff so only end up with teenager employees and they have no clue how to fix a bike or give good advice or customer service.
  • 8 1
 @ctd07: we recently took a trip down to our lbs for the first time in ages and the overall impression, for us, was boredom. It was all 29ers and middle of the road bikes speccs along with clothing for commuters. High viz Endura jackets etc. It's obviously where they make most of their money so they can continue but we wanted to see more 'gnar' but there wasn't any. And to start another debate they had about 5 26" tyres in total and all six of mine and the other half's bikes are still that. It'll be a long time before we go back again, we need Chainreaction and all the other on liners.
  • 5 7
 @ctd07: But how many times have you sent your bike off to CRC for a service ?,so you can't say whether they are shite or not at servicing bikes.LBS need to be around for people who can't service their own bike, and how many times have you been going out on a ride the next day and come to give your bike a final check and there is something wrong that needs a part that your LBS may have.Also LBS are like any other shops some people recommend them others don't ,you said you managed to find a decent one so there are some out there.There are a lot of shops in Sheffield to choose from and like all other shops some people highly recommend them others say don't go near them.It's just general opinion that you have to go and find out yourself.Nearly all shops I go in price match as well as long as it is in stock at that shop online.
  • 1 0
 I take my bikes to my local Halfords, I used to work there and have good relationships with the cycle mechanics there, the mechanic that actually handles more than just the bike building is superb and by far the best mechanic I know and I would trust him with whatever he feels comfortable to do to my bike. The only reason we dont ride together is because we simply live and move in different social circles (he's also 20x better than me lol).
LBS in england are not a cause for concern because they make a fine living off what they have, and I am not part of that market, I dont think they really care either, and they certainly dont embrace MTB culture which is fine by me because they can do them and I'll do me.
  • 2 0
 @SteelCityMTBer: That bike shop I liked was actually in my hometown in England, I've never found a decent shop outside of the uk, I'm sure they're there, but who knows where!? I've searched each town I lived in and been disappointed most the time. I'm a mechanic by trade, so I hate fixing my bike, I've done enough fixing stuff in my life I try to do as little as possible at home, but I have to fix my own bike as I cant trust my lbs to do a good job :-/ don't get me wrong, id still rather pay to have it fixed as I'm lazy as
  • 21 0
 Thats actually the most incorrectly informed tripe ever about CRC - They started in a small shop in Ireland and founded a local DH race series (first in NI) and supported local riders, this was years before they became the giant they are now.

Take a look and educate yourself - ride.io/news/the-history-of-chain-reaction-cycles

So no, CRC didnt go down to a marathon and hand out waters or whatever you would like them to do to earn your respect, they just organised an entire race series instead.

Its business, what do you want them to do, stay small so they can hang with your bros in NZ? CRC seem to still have plenty to do with the industry, they have shops in Ireland that deal with servicing etc, sponsor lots of riders and race series, sponsor trails in NI. - What more do you want?

Wiggle on the other hand, they seem to be a pure money maker from the start unless anybody has info to suggest otherwise.

Knock outfits like CRC all you want, they are here to stay, unlike the LBS if they dont adapt their business model to suit (Which some shops have done and they are doing really rather well....)
  • 1 2
 @Racer951: terrific ignorance-bashing session guys, these should happen more often.
  • 3 1
 @SteelCityMTBer:
From my experience, whenever my bike needs repairs beyond the basics(usually suspension servIcing) there are a lot of local specialists who operate our of their home or small office, that don't need a storefront to offer excellent service. Additionally the work is usually excellent and prices very affordable.
  • 2 0
 @Racer951:

Wiggle started from a local bike shop in Portsmouth, Butler's Cycles. Then they just got bigger, and bigger, and bigger!

Was a cool shop when I was growing up with all the Ringlè stuff in the glass cabinet and a full range of Marin hardtails. A world away from today
  • 5 4
 I don't care their roots, I can't pop in and try on a new helmet or get an emergency brake bleed the night before a race. And there's a special place in hell for people who go try stuff at their LBS and then purchase it online. If you don't get good service from an LBS, you tell the owner or manager.
  • 8 0
 @iamamodel: If you lived in NI, you could get those last minute services performed at CRC as they have 2 shops in NI where they formed and remain to operate from. That's like me slating your LBS in NZ because I can't get my brakes bled there, even though I live on the other side of the world. And your LBS has never been at any of my local races either.
  • 6 0
 Actually almost every national mountain bike race here from XC to DH is sponsored by either Vitus, Nukeproof, or CRC
  • 2 0
 Woops, just noticed you're in Aus (damn tiny little flag thumbnail), but the point still stands.
  • 3 0
 Guess you've never lived in South West England or Northern Ireland then. I get that what you really mean is "buy local", but you're stretching it too far by slagging off companies that probably do more for cycling than most LBS, just because you don't know half as much about them as you thought you did.
As for being able to complain to the store manager if you don't get great service when trying on the latest and greatest of everything at your LBS, and getting your brakes bled at midnight before a race:
1) "sorry, we don't have that helmet in stock, but we have this cheaper model at $30 more than you would pay for the top of the line at..."
2) "sure we can order the one you want, at full RRP, plus freight, you can pay us in full in advance. Did we mention it would take about two weeks."
3) [manager to mechanic] "I wonder if this customer has any idea that if he wasn't such a pain, you wouldn't spit in his brake fluid, and he wouldn't need to pay for a bleed before every race"
  • 16 1
 German websites like bike-discount etc are a lot cheaper than CRC on certain items - sometimes by more than 30%.
So let them merge if they jack the prices - more people will do their shopping with ze Germans.
  • 6 1
 Bike discount is my go to now. I'm reluctant to buy from CRC after they f*cked up an order really bad and mishandled it terribly. Really left a sour taste. I get maybe 25% from CRC and 75% bikediscount or jensen.

Some things on bikediscount are WAY cheaper too.
  • 2 0
 bike discount may be cheaper than CRC but the delivery is like 10 or 11 quid back to Ireland, plus shipping takes longer.
  • 2 0
 I usually will shop around for the best price before buying usually jenson or crc, I'll have to check out bike discount, havent heard of them till now
  • 2 1
 If Brexit happens though.. watch the pound devalue by 30% initially for quite a while and then CRC/Wiggles orders go through the roof.... They are not daft
  • 6 0
 @jeffrupert: There's also www.bike-components.de one of the other my go to websites
@Dave5555: Good point it would bring it down to the level of worthlessness euro has been experiencing lately ha
  • 1 0
 And bike24.com. All the German sites price match each other which is handy
  • 12 3
 Chain Reaction is not the problem here. It's the fact that 90% of the products we use in our sport are made overseas with cheap labour. LBS have built there business around products that consumers can now get directly via an online store like CR. They cry and moan " but if you don't buy your goods here there won't be anybody to change your flat" I call B.S.
When the market changes you must adapt or become extinct. Where I Live there is a mobile bike shop that shuttles around to all the events. That's innovation.
Here are your save a domestic job options. 1. Have your goods made in China and pay 30% markup via your LBS and save 5 jobs. 2. Have your goods made here, buy direct online and pay 30% more for fair wages and save 50 jobs.
  • 16 3
 What a load of feckin bollocks this is.feck off wiggle.
  • 5 0
 Yeah I've gotten some killer deals at CR especially on Sidi shoes; saved hundreds. Hadn't shopped Wiggle until recently, got a Fizik Gobi M1 saddle for half of what they sell for here in the US. The two companies competed against each other keeping prices low, so now they are one.
  • 2 1
 Try ze Germans. Germany beats Britain Smile bike components.de,
  • 8 3
 Having been scorched by one of those companies (cough, cough, CRC, cough), I've fully linked my ridiculous bike spending habits to my excellent local bike shop (Rock City Cycles). I am never going back to online shopping. It was a bad habit I picked up when living in tiny towns with few or no shops anyways, and I never felt good about it even then. Now that I am close to an excellent shop, the service, support and general goodwill I get locally is worth whatever extra money it costs me. Except, I don't even think it costs me extra money. My LBS seems to price competitively and after factoring in the duty, hassle and total lack of customer service from online retailers, I have to conclude there's no bargain there at all. Local all the way!

TEMPLE
  • 4 1
 crc customer service second to none, wiggle will never have the respect crc gained over the years . finance investors dont make a respected business
  • 1 0
 CRC in Doagh is my lbs and their mechanics are class. Best I've experienced around Belfast and I've had warrenty claims with them all resolved without issues! You want to pay a grand for a hardtail running 3x9 alivio etc go for it, but why should you when you can get so much more for your cash here!
  • 3 0
 Should be called Wiggle Action
  • 2 0
 Let chain teach wiggle that supercycles don't belong.
  • 1 0
 Thought that was a done deal already? Probably won't end well for somebody if the deal gets blocked
  • 3 0
 We're doomed
  • 3 2
 Bike industry is already referring to the new coupling as "Wigglechain" Wink
  • 14 1
 or Chiggle
  • 13 2
 @Alexkid: niggle
  • 2 5
 Wigglereaction
  • 3 1
 I'd much prefer a concious uncoupling.
  • 2 2
 last time i ordered from crc was 6 years ago. Bike24 has has all my money since then
  • 1 0
 Why? Never used bike24 before, sell me on em.
  • 3 2
 @therealtylerdurden: let me tell you right now fella,I ordered m442 rims of them 8 days ago and the feckers still haven't landed.shiteFrown
Below threshold threads are hidden







Copyright © 2000 - 2024. Pinkbike.com. All rights reserved.
dv65 0.036000
Mobile Version of Website