Back in 2015 I bought a Norco Indie 4 on clearance from Evan's Cycles. It was one of those UK retailers where 'anything you bought would be a minimum standard', as they only stocked things of a certain quality and above. Not talking luxury or flashy things, but you know, things that won't fall apart. Unlike the odd cheap cycling accessory you'd find at a supermarket or big box retailer that sells everything.

I haven't cycled much over the years but in getting back into it... they were my first port of call to check the website of. They got bought by a discount sport store retailer 'Sports Direct' in 2018 it seems. Now Sports Direct appears to have muddied the waters by forcing it to sell a whole range of the sort of cheap, crappy quality budget fall-apart accessories...clothing / gear and even low end bikes amongst its own existing reselling of quality brands like Trek et al.

Has anybody else in the UK noticed this drop in quality? As someone without a tonne of experience in cycle brands / kit, it was good having something like Evan's where if I bought a cheap light... it would be basic, but not 'crap', you know? Any good advice or alternative bike shops worth their salt in the way Evan's historically was?