To celebrate the first-ever Local Bike Shop Week Awards, we chat with the finalists to find out more about their bike shops.
The Local Bike Shop Week Awards are part of the newly launched Local Bike Shop Week, managed by the ACT.
Starting as Local Bike Shop Day back in 2018 (originally launched by Daniel Jones with support from the ACT), this year sees the ACT expand the event to a week, celebrating from 3-9 May 2026.
We chat with Michael Coleman of Mike Vaughan Cycles to find out more about their shop.
Every shop has a unique origin story. Tell us a bit about yours. How did it all begin, and how have things evolved over time?
Throughout the 1950s, the Vaughan family operated a number of shops across Leamington and Warwick, including a large department store on Swan Street in Warwick selling everything from sporting goods and fishing tackle through to toys and bicycles.
Current owner Mike Vaughan’s grandfather, Joseph Vaughan, purchased the current Kenilworth premises in 1957. Originally operating as a small department store selling bikes, toys and mopeds, the business gradually evolved into the dedicated bicycle shop it is today.
Mike Vaughan’s father officially took over the business in 1961, and Mike himself grew up living above the shop during its early years before the building became fully dedicated to the business.
Now over 60 years on, Mike Vaughan Cycles remains a third generation family run independent bike shop run by Mike and sister Nicky. While the cycling industry has changed dramatically over the decades, the core values of the business have remained the same: honest advice, good service and long term relationships with customers.
Today we serve both local riders and customers travelling from much further afield for specialist bikes, servicing and bike fitting, while still taking just as much pride in helping a child choose their first bike as we do building a high end performance road bike.
The family connection to cycling also continues today. Mike’s 13 year old son Tom is a keen mountain biker, so who knows, there may yet be a fourth generation of the Vaughan family involved in the business in years to come.
Is there a specific story or a particular customer interaction from the past year that perfectly captures why you do what you do?
One thing that really stood out for us over the past year was working with local schools during the Christmas period. We donated children’s bikes to three separate school raffles to help raise money for their PTAs and wider school activities.
For us, it wasn’t really about selling bikes or marketing the business. It was about being part of the local community and hopefully helping create excitement around cycling for younger kids and families. Seeing how genuinely appreciative the schools, parents and children were reminded us why independent bike shops still matter within towns like Kenilworth.
Cycling is one of those things that can genuinely shape childhood memories and family life. Many of us still remember our first bike, where we rode it and who bought it for us. Being able to play even a small role in creating that for another generation is something we take a lot of pride in.
A bike shop is just as much about the people behind the counter and in the workshop. Who makes up your team, and what do they do?
We’ve got a small but highly experienced team, many of whom have been involved in cycling for most of their lives. As an independent bike shop, everyone tends to wear multiple hats day to day, which creates a much more personal experience for customers.
Brother and sister Mike and Nicky Vaughan are the owners of the business and remain heavily involved in the day to day running of the shop.
Jamie grew up in a bike shop environment, with his dad and uncle having run Ride in Coventry for many years, while his grandfather was a multiple cyclocross champion. Russell previously owned Cycle Studio in Stratford-upon-Avon before selling the business and spending several years working for Shand Cycles prior to recently joining our workshop team. Ethan is a highly promising downhill mountain bike rider currently competing for the Contect Ridewear team. Together, they make up our workshop team and handle everything from everyday servicing and repairs through to electronic diagnostics, custom bike builds and high end road and e-bike work.
Mike C is relatively new to the cycle industry, joining the business in September 2025, and focuses on marketing, social media and sales, helping grow the shop’s presence both locally and further afield. Harrison is our apprentice mechanic and supports on the shop floor with sales and customer service.
If someone walks into your shop for the first time, what is the one thing they’ll experience with you that they won’t find anywhere else?
We’d like to think the first thing people notice when they walk into the shop is that they’re dealing with genuine cyclists and genuine people, not simply sales staff processing transactions.
Retail can feel increasingly impersonal, particularly online, so we work hard to create the opposite environment. Customers can have honest conversations with people who ride bikes themselves, understand the products properly and genuinely want to help them find the right solution, even if that sometimes means advising against a purchase.
Being independent also allows us to build real long term relationships with customers. We regularly see people bringing in bikes bought from us decades ago while, at the same time, we’re building high end performance bikes and carrying out advanced diagnostics and bike fitting.
Ultimately, we want everyone to feel comfortable walking through the door regardless of whether they’re spending £10 or £10,000. We believe that welcoming atmosphere, honest advice and long term support is what truly sets independent bike shops apart.
The cycling industry has seen its fair share of shifts in recent years. What are the biggest challenges you face right now, and how are you adapting to meet them?
The cycling industry has changed massively in recent years, and independent bike shops have had to adapt quickly. Rising operational costs, increased online competition and a heavily discount-driven market following Covid have all created significant challenges.
At the same time, modern bikes have become far more technical, particularly e-bikes and high end road bikes, requiring major investment in workshop tooling, software and ongoing staff training. E-bike diagnostics and fault finding in particular can often involve significant workshop time behind the scenes, from software updates and manufacturer liaison through to detailed testing and repeat diagnostics. As an industry, labour pricing has not fully caught up with the true time these repairs can require, meaning independent shops are often absorbing additional time and costs themselves because we don’t always feel it’s fair or realistic to pass the full burden directly onto the customer in its current form.
Another growing challenge for independent retailers is the increasing amount of warranty diagnostics, repairs and customer support we carry out on e-bikes originally purchased through larger national chains or online retailers where the technical expertise and aftersales support is often far less accessible. As specialist independent workshops, we frequently become the place customers turn to when problems arise, particularly with more technical electrical or software related faults. While we’re always happy to help riders stay on the road, it can place significant pressure on independent workshops who are effectively absorbing additional warranty support, technical advice and diagnostic time for products that were not originally sold through the independent retail network.
For us, the focus has been less about competing on price and more about experience, service quality and specialist knowledge. We’ve invested in workshop capability, premium brands, demo events and customer support, while also putting far more emphasis on marketing, social media and community engagement.
Ultimately, we still believe the strength of an independent bike shop lies in trust, relationships and aftercare. As bikes become more advanced and expensive, customers increasingly value having somewhere they can return to for honest advice, servicing and genuine expertise.
In your opinion, how can the wider industry (manufacturers, distributors, and advocacy groups) best support bike shops? From your perspective, what role do shops like yours play in the ‘cycling ecosystem’ that deserves the most protection or support?
Independent bike shops are often the first step into cycling for many people. We do far more than simply sell bikes. We help riders choose the right bike, the right size and the right setup, while providing the servicing, advice and long term support that keeps people riding for years afterwards.
At Mike Vaughan Cycles, we’ve always seen ourselves as more than just a retail business. After more than 60 years in Kenilworth, we see the shop as a genuine community asset. We support local schools, events, clubs and charity initiatives because independent bike shops help create and maintain local cycling culture.
From an industry perspective, supporting independent retailers means recognising the value they bring beyond simply processing sales. Once local bike shops disappear, the industry loses expertise, accessibility, aftercare and an important connection to local communities.
Ultimately, independent bike shops are often the people introducing the next generation to cycling and keeping existing riders engaged in the sport. That role within the cycling ecosystem deserves protecting.
What are you most excited about for the future of your shop? Are there any new projects, community initiatives, or trends you’re leaning into for 2026 and beyond?
We’re excited about continuing to evolve the business. One of the biggest recent developments for us has been taking on Pinarello as a third premium brand alongside Trek and Specialized. It’s an exciting step for the business and gives our customers access to three of the most respected brands in cycling, all with their own strengths and identity. We’re proud to continue working closely with Trek and Specialized and remain hugely passionate about the products they continue to develop across road, mountain bike, commuter and e-bike categories.
We’re also excited to now have a settled and highly motivated team in place. That stability has allowed us to really focus on moving the business forward, improving customer experience and investing properly in the future of the shop.
There feels to be a growing sense of confidence slowly returning within the cycling industry after a difficult few years. We’re seeing more enthusiasm around events, commuting, group riding and premium products again, which is encouraging for the future of independent bike shops.
Looking ahead to 2027 and beyond, we’re planning further investment into the workshop, fitting services and community engagement, alongside continual store evolution to help modernise the business while still retaining the character and atmosphere people know us for.
Ultimately, we’re excited about continuing to move the business forward while staying true to what’s kept the shop going for more than 60 years: genuine customer service, strong community connections and a real passion for cycling.