Come along to the Grand Opening of Milford’s new cycle shop, Velo Bavarian (VB) in the former Co-op/Just Ice building on the A6, on Saturday March 9 10.00 until 4.00. Come for a look round, meet the VB team, Matt, Luke and Jimmy and visiting cycle suppliers. Cycle (and car) park entrance on Foundry Lane.
Matt from Velo Bavarian, Milford
Here are more photos of the new shop.
Jimmy The Mechanic
Shop interior
Front view
Side view
Here is a history of Velo Bavarian from when it was first set up in its former home on the A6 in Flaxholme, Duffield, from owner Luke.
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The End of Chapter 1… |
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I’m not a very sentimental person, but currently reflecting on our last day trading from 113 Derby Rd, Duffield. After getting into cycling as a way of filling a rugby-shaped hole in my weekends, I started to get involved with Velo Bavarian. VB was a business started by my dad around 2013, which like all businesses, had good years and bad years. Around 2019 the world of online bike shops was booming and the shop was struggling – losing money in a competitive market and coming close to closing it’s doors on numerous occasions. Around this time I started helping in the shop in my free time and was starting to get more and more passionate about cycling. I thought I had an opportunity to rekindle the business with a fresh approach. I wanted to make cycling more accessible, more inclusive and less intimidating. So I put a lot of effort into organising social rides, and encouraged as many of our customers to join as possible. The shop had some decent brands on board, but I knew there were more powerful names in the world of cycling so I went after them and tried to sell them my vision. In 2020, a combination of covid and the above meant we were getting busier and I decided to take the plunge and quit my job to go full time at VB. My dad told me I would never be able to pay my mortgage…challenge accepted. Together we incorporated Velo Bavarian Ltd and ever since I have wholeheartedly worked to grow the brand, never doubting it would work out. In the last 12 months I have been joined by two members of staff who both share my beliefs about making cycling as inclusive as possible, serving our customers to the best of our ability and working hard to create the best business and therefore service, we can. In the space of 4 years, we are moving to a site about 5x the size and looking to grow the team further, creating a cycling hub with more opportunities and services. We now have what I believe are the best cycling brands in the world, in our shop, a dedicated team of staff and a VB community full of amazing people. I can honestly say I am truly grateful to my dad for taking a risk and believing in me, (actions speak louder than words) and I can’t wait to see what the next chapter of business, and riding has to offer… |
Chapter 2…09.03.24, Milford… |
