LCP Approved Wholesalers
A shop with an LCP rating will need to get its stock from proper wholesalers. The more wholesalers on this list a shop has an account with the more likely it is to be LCP.
JD Whisker
Whiskers are a small specialist wholesaler who sell quality products to the discerning shop. They don't do any silly stuff like handlebar tassles or spoke beads. It's all quality lightweight kit. Their paper catalogue has no pictures, you have to know what stuff is before you order it. They don't clear out obselete stock, they keep it in the catalogue and people buy it eventually. They don't have a website. They do have a telephone, but I'm not going to put the number here. If you want to know what it is you will have to ask another shop.
Raleigh
As one of the oldest cycle businesses still running, most shops will have an account with Raleigh. They do some Sturmey Archer and proper 26 and 27 inch wheels and tyres.
The Cycle Division
Something of a newcomer, this smaller wholesaler has been growing steadily by offering the bread and butter parts that shops need to do repairs at good prices. Its business model is alarmingly traditional, based on having stuff in stock, sending it out quickly, and invoicing accurately.
Though a relatively new company, many of the staff previously worked at J Hartley Dawson. Sometimes when you phone up you speak to the big boss, Martin. Some of the other staff still like sizes quoted in inches.
Hykeham Wholesale
A fenland business with many traditional parts in stock
The Chandos Hub and Rim Company
Now sadly defunct, Chandos used to make and supply replacement cones for hubs. These were much better than the cones the manufacturers used, and would break ball bearings. They were better at making things than selling them. I would ask for a stock list, and be told that every time they prepare one they make a new type of cone shortly afterwards, making the list out of date. Buying from them was like reaching into a sack, pulling something out and seeing what it was.
Many new bike wholesalers these days seem to be started up by posh boy hipsters with a line of credit and no idea what actually works.
JD Whisker
Whiskers are a small specialist wholesaler who sell quality products to the discerning shop. They don't do any silly stuff like handlebar tassles or spoke beads. It's all quality lightweight kit. Their paper catalogue has no pictures, you have to know what stuff is before you order it. They don't clear out obselete stock, they keep it in the catalogue and people buy it eventually. They don't have a website. They do have a telephone, but I'm not going to put the number here. If you want to know what it is you will have to ask another shop.
Raleigh
As one of the oldest cycle businesses still running, most shops will have an account with Raleigh. They do some Sturmey Archer and proper 26 and 27 inch wheels and tyres.
The Cycle Division
Something of a newcomer, this smaller wholesaler has been growing steadily by offering the bread and butter parts that shops need to do repairs at good prices. Its business model is alarmingly traditional, based on having stuff in stock, sending it out quickly, and invoicing accurately.
Though a relatively new company, many of the staff previously worked at J Hartley Dawson. Sometimes when you phone up you speak to the big boss, Martin. Some of the other staff still like sizes quoted in inches.
Hykeham Wholesale
A fenland business with many traditional parts in stock
The Chandos Hub and Rim Company
Now sadly defunct, Chandos used to make and supply replacement cones for hubs. These were much better than the cones the manufacturers used, and would break ball bearings. They were better at making things than selling them. I would ask for a stock list, and be told that every time they prepare one they make a new type of cone shortly afterwards, making the list out of date. Buying from them was like reaching into a sack, pulling something out and seeing what it was.
Many new bike wholesalers these days seem to be started up by posh boy hipsters with a line of credit and no idea what actually works.