What a Bicycle Shop in England is Like – (Chinese Bikes & Products)

In this video we visit BikeSoup in Westfield, London. It is located in the busiest part of London and they sell Chinese bikes, clothes, wheels and other components. We spoke to Cariern who is the manager of the shop to find out more about how and why they sell Chinese bikes, parts and products.
Join us for this and more.

In Association With:
BikeSoup in Westfields, Shepherds Bush, London @bikesoup
Videography/Editor: Myth @hotmythsinyourarea

Lameda clothing:
Lameda.cc

Avocado Cyclist (Rainier):
https://www.youtube.com/@avocado.cyclist

My Strava:
https://www.strava.com/athletes/142796968

Music:
Winter in Brooklyn
Wendy Marcini

November Is Here
Vendla

Night Falls
Hara Noda

Douglas Fir
Hara Noda

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:39 Who are BikeSoup?
01:51 Something for Everyone
02:51 The Location
04:03 Why Chinese Bikes?
06:08 Chinese Manufacturing
07:15 Which Brands?
09:59 Accessibility
10:43 Purpose of the Video
13:32 About China Rides
15:46 Bloopers and Having Fun

When you think about London, you probably don’t think Chinese bikes. And around 10 years ago, that would probably be true. However, a lot has changed since then. Right now, we’re at Bike Soup. We’re going to talk to Kieran and find out a bit more about how Chinese bikes became so popular here. So, come along with us. Let’s find out a bit more. Kieran, my man, how’s it going? How you doing, brother? You okay? Nice to meet you. You up for a little chat? Yeah, let’s let’s have a chat. And um yeah, welcome to Bike. Thanks, brother. It’s a lovely shop you got out here, man. The new the new [Music] car, my man. Have a seat. Lovely setup you’ve done for us, man. Look at that tour of France playing. Got the tour in the back. Second bikes. It’s almost like China with France inside it. We’re almost there. We’re trying. Um but yeah, like this is kind of like our cyclist lounge. Yeah. So this is like the chill out spot and whatever away from that kind of the bar and stuff downstairs. So yeah, should be a vibe. So to start with, let’s let the subscribers know who you are and what your shop’s all about. Okay. My name is Karen Clement Pascal. Been in the bike industry for probably 14, 15 years and whatever. And the concept for this shop was to create a true cycling clubhouse. Yeah. So that’s first and foremost to be a bike shop. You can buy a bike, get your bike fixed, we do ride outs, but ultimately the basis of cycling is about the community. So it’s like adding that community and social side into it and then just throwing that community social side on steroids by, you know, implementing our cafe bar where you can get your basic coffees, pan chocolates, your Danish pastries, but then you could also have a beer, you can have a pizza or one of our homemade salads. For me, it’s all about the experience. When you come here, all about the experience. And do you have like a membership or it’s free for everyone? Completely free. All you do is come in. It’s kind of like as we grow and stuff like that, it should almost feel like, you know, the cyclist pub in a way where it’s just a hangout spot and you know, you come down, you meet someone and it’s just like, hey, have a chat. I want noise. I want chaos. We just saw Ranier. Ranier is the avocado cyclist. I’ll put a link in the description. It just came in. It’s just like, hey, how you doing? We had a nice little chat. And it’s it has that feeling that everyone’s welcome and you see like high-end influencers and normal people and the highend cyclist and the mid-level cyclist and the commuter cyclist and that’s a really nice thing that you that’s exactly what we wanted and it’s just like you say it’s just like that hub that community where it’s just you come in and everyone’s welcome. Doesn’t matter if you’re on a 150 bike or a 15 grand bike, everyone is welcome and we are just one because we all share the two wheel code of a cycling. So no snobbery, none of that nonsense in here. This is like a place for everyone to feel welcome. And like it’s right in the center of London. So Westfield is the biggest inner shopping mall in all of Europe, right? And this is the only bike shop here. Yeah. How did you manage to do that? This was actually really interesting because first of all, when people found out that we were opening a bike shop in a shopping center, which is pretty much unheard of. Miss Westfield is the biggest shopping center in Europe. Very central. that it’s 10 minutes to hide park super super close but you know it presented a couple challenges because you know we don’t have exactly a ton of riders passing at you know the front of the store when we looked at the concept and it was just like we have to create a destination it needs there needs to be a reason that you come here versus your local bike shop on the high street that’s probably like quite small this is arguably London’s biggest multibrand bike store opening a bike shop very different but I think you know I think we’ve nailed it with this concept because the you know we trade the cyclists people wanted bike repair but then you know on the Thursday we’ll get just the local punters that finish work that come in for a drink and whatever. It all adds to the atmosphere and it all adds to like the melting pot of what we’re trying to create. You know, I’m a big fan of music. So, we’ve even had raves in here as well. So, it’s really about just pushing the boundaries of what a cycling a true cycling clubhouse really is. That’s what we’re trying to do. I noticed that like wherever we’re going around London, whichever bike shops I’ve been to, I haven’t lived here for like 14 years. So, it’s like it’s very new to me even coming back being from here. everywhere’s got these European brands and coming from China where bikes are like so cheap to them being so expensive is just mindboggling. So, can you talk me through how you got to working with Chinese brands and why you went into that? And was it a financial thing? Was it more about a performance or cost to benefit? Like how did that come about? So, to be honest, it all stems from I would say the vision of just being a disruptor. Yeah. a saturated bike market where traditional bike shops have been around for 20 years. How do you compete? Just cuz you’ve opened up a location that might be bigger. That’s not a recipe for suddenly, oh, everyone’s going to come. So, we have to do something different. Tried sort of not ruffling too many feathers by, you know, selling Giant, Villia, Scott. Scott sold really well for us. Again, you can buy that in other bike shops. We’re still missing like the true essence of why would I go to bike bike if I go to bike and I’m seeing giant but I can see that somewhere else whatever why are they going to come to this destination. So that kind of gave the first thought all right we need we need something different we need something exciting we add that into the way I look at just life and I look at cycling and then it’s like how can we make cycling more accessible is cycling turning into elitist sport sadly I think it is. So looking you know across the pond or a bit further across the pond I noticed there was a change. Yeah. I think the quality of products that China’s producing everyone’s fac we’ll do our own stuff. And that’s that’s what I’ve been noticing. So for me it was just like it was perfect, right? Let’s find premium. Let’s find the best quality and let’s show our community that there’s more out there than spending, you know, a ton of money on stuff that you can get a lot cheaper but under under a different brand. And not copies. We’re not talking about copies of it. We’re talking about homegrown innovation. They’re producing their own stuff to compete on the world stage. Cuz when you think about China, when we think about China, it should be in this way is that they have been producing the European competitive bikes for the past 30 years. They have the most experience in carbon manufacturing in the last two decades than any other country in the world. Yet the imagery that is created in the western market of a Chinese bike is so low. So, in my opinion, so they can sell European bikes at such a high price, right? And living there, seeing it firsthand, and you I mean, you and I met what, 3 weeks ago, so we have no agenda to promote Chinese bikes, right? It is startling the price difference for a very, very similar product, right? Sometimes even better. I would say sometimes even better. Yeah. Right. You know, there’s some stuff that are not great. And also, from what I understand, it’s like the mindset on the way they launch products to market. test out all the R&D, do all the product companies are actually really focused on their brand and what companies are just do volumes. Yeah. Yeah. So, yeah. Yeah. So, how did you come about like you you said to me you recently went to China, right? And you met with Seeka and other brands and I see you’re working with Cyber Seeker. Any other any other brands you’re working with? Yeah, so we’ve got a few. So, you know, like we’ve got like the super team. Obviously, we’ve got the the cyber stuff, which is quality. Like one of the things I love to do is now that I’m on this journey of like bringing the like the best of China into our store, it’s when cyclists come down like, you know, people finish a ride, I love bringing out the gadgets and I literally show them because also I’m educating. Should I take a look at Yeah, I’m I’m educating them as well because they haven’t seen this stuff or they’ve just seen it on YouTube and now they can touch it in the flesh which is making a massive difference. I think that is the key, right? to get a for example I’m working with Alvas right now and a few other brands to get the product in so people can come and take a look at it because I’m a random guy on YouTube they don’t know my agenda right my aim is to just make people because I’m a cyclist I love cycling that that’s literally the reason I’m doing this I love cycling and I want people to love cycling and I want people to understand that it’s not an elitist sport it’s not snobbery your bike doesn’t need to cost 10 grand right and you can have an amazing product for half the price and that’s why I started on this journey and when I see things like this, it gets me excited. Right? So, if you could get products out here that people could get their hands on and look at and be like, “Hold on, this isn’t too dissimilar to the duray. It’s actually maybe better so on and so forth.” Right? Then they don’t have to do that guest stuff or should I buy this thing off AliExpress or not? Yeah. Right. That it’s like Russian roulette buying off AliExpress. So the thing about having it in store, it’s the biggest things that I know the community is crying out for is after sales care and warranty support. And this is something that we can offer. And I think this is why we’re getting some joy by showing these new products and stuff like that. You know, I’ve got some wheel sets that we’re looking at. So we’re constantly always testing. We do all the testing work and if it makes the cut, then we’re willing to sell it because for me, I get I get someone that’s passionate about cycling. I get them riding on quality components. Yeah. Showing you know ch like you know prime example like Nefest wheels absolutely fantastic. The quality of this carbon chef’s kiss. Where’s that from? Chinese. Chinese as well. Chinese. And you know they’re a big part about Nefest. They’re really focused on not adding vinyls to their wheel set. So everything is like laser X with their logo and super super light. Um the spokes are their own technology as well. And one of the biggest things that you know really kind of that I notic about this company, they sell to over 100 dealers in Japan, which to me really says something about the quality of their product. There’s a massive cycling uphill cycling culture in Japan because it’s all undulating. Yeah. So it’s like, you know, super super great quality. The fact that we can offer all these extra bits like, you know, warranty support and everything like that, you know, people are really interested in getting their hands on it and I want people to have the best experience. It’s almost like when you’re younger getting your first car. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, it doesn’t go too fast and it’s shaking. It’s the same with the bike. An entry- level bike is an entry- level bike. But as soon as someone gets on a bit more premium, they feel it. They really get the joy. And that encourages more people to cycle. And they say, “I don’t have to spend 15 grand. I can spend, you know, maybe two two half grand, which is accessible for most people. It’s just awareness. We need to create that awareness and provide people with a kind of safety safety net that oh okay we can go back to this place and get a refund. We don’t have to speak Chinese to be able to get this done. Right? So I think the point of this whole video for me and hopefully for you is to get rid of this mythology that Chinese the Chinese market is not so good. Right? Because yes you can get some absolutely terrible things very dangerous things that people shouldn’t be riding. Correct. But there’s also incredible products out there and hopefully working together over the next year or however long it’ll work from now. Let’s help to bring forth the good products to light and help help people feel cycling how we used to feel about it when we were young. I don’t ever remember thinking I don’t want to go on out on my bike or it’s too expensive or someone’s going to scratch my bike because it’s too expensive. Just get people to love cycling again. Yeah. No, no, no, no. Correct. I think people will love cycling again when they can get, you know, some exciting stuff. I think this is what some of these parts are now making super accessible. It’s making people go that extra mile on their on their bike and it’s more people cycling and that’s what we need. Build the community. I feel like, you know, in some parts it’s died off a bit, but some of the quality stuff that’s coming out and we have so many customers that come in here that, you know, they’re on fastport wheels or CRW wheels. We’ve had a couple of people come in cyber pranks and I just said all right I want to I want to get my hands on them and you know when I was overing for the Shanghai cycle show to me that was like bang eye opener eye opener before before like £50 it’s like what are you doing I wouldn’t trust those but I mean I wouldn’t trust those but it was like for me I’ve only ever really been to Europe and to me I was like a this is amazing stuff like that but going over to you know Shanghai cycle show honestly what I saw there wasn’t n’t just cheap stuff. I didn’t look at it. Yes, there is, you know, really competitive price stuff. The biggest thing I I took away from that trip is that these Chinese manufacturers, they are now interested and it’s probably a different generation from the generation before. They’re focused on building a brand. They’re literally made in China and they’re proud of it. Made in China. They’ve assess what the Western brands are doing, whatever, and they’re just going toe for toe. And the way I looked at that, I was like, with a mindset like that, I don’t know how western brands are going to be able to do that. I think that’s what ties into you and your personality as well because you’re all about brand. You you want quality alongside coolness, right? I think brands like Quick, brands like Seka, they producing that premium thing, but also giving you a feeling of prestige and premium. Anyways, that was educational. Yeah. Yeah. No, no, good. Um, [Music] oh no. Oh no. Thanks a lot, Kieran. Yeah, nice one. Lovely, man. Take care. [Music] 20 minutes. Good luck. 20 minutes. You got to condense that down. Let me ask a question about you. Um, so what what made you start up China Rising? Cuz I know you said you’re a cyclist. You’ve been living out in China. You know what? I did the ride from the ride across England, the Chase the Sun. It’s from Isa Shepy to Western Super. And I spoke to about 200 people on that ride and everyone’s like, “You’re out in China. Have you heard of this brand? Have you heard of that brand? Have you heard of this brand? Can I trust it? Can I trust it? Can I trust it?” And I came back and I thought, “There’s a massive gap of information.” And I love cycling. I would love to be able to provide that information to people. Right. So far, no one’s paying me. So, I’m just being like just as honest as possible. The only brand we’re working with is Lameda and they just produce our clothing for our channel, which is just really nice of them. Yeah, it’s just I I want cycling to feel I want people to feel what I feel when I’m on a bike. That was my main thing. Problem was that it’s not so easy to talk at a camera, you know, and learn all those editing skills and this skill and that skill. But it seems to be doing well. It seems to be like people care. And I think if you are genuine and you love what you do and people can feel that you’re not fake, it will work out. Yeah. I think that’s that is like the big thing. Funny enough, you know, we we we met like 3 weeks ago and I was just like I think I watched one of your videos about 2 weeks before that randomly. Randomly like popped up and then it was just like a random how, you know, the path was crossed. But then, you know, from speaking with each other and then, you know, kind of understanding that, you know, we’re both passionate about actually we’re passionate about cycling, but passionate about getting more people cycling. And we know that there’s parts out there that people love to get their hands on. And like you say, there’s like an educational gap. Yeah. People see it on YouTube or see it through other like YouTubers and whatever, but then it’s like, where do I get it? How do I get it? Can I trust it? And how do I get after sales and all those kind of things, right? And what I noticed from your channel is like, you know, you’re going into the factories and you’re kind of getting that behind the scenes look and you can just tell it just seems really authentic that, like you say, you’re not getting paid for it. You’re not biased. I’m not planning anyone there. Nobody knows me. I’m just some random foreigner going into their company, right? Which is which is good. So, no, I I love the stuff. I want to see want to see a lot more of it. And then uh yeah, hopefully we can do do some things in the in the future. I think it’d be great. Can I get you something? I’m not very good at anything. I’m not good at anything. So I might be happy. What’s your favorite type of coffee to make? Latte. What’s your latte? One out of 10 in all of London. Nine. Nine. All right. Can I have one, please? Uh, you better give me a latte now. Do you want a latte? How many coffees have you had? How many coffees have you had? Uh, today six. [Music] So, Niaz has bought us a coffee. N out of 10. He was right. It’s brilliant. Um, and that’s it. That chat with Kieran was educational. I learned a lot about the bike market here in England. I didn’t know much about it and it was really a pleasure to get to know how England and Europe is opening up to the Chinese market. Hope you had fun. See you in the next one. Peace.