Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

news

Get your bike serviced by... Kwik Fit? Car servicing company steps into cycling

Kwik Fit announced it will be partnering with bike repair providers Fettle, initially with focus on supporting fleets using e-bikes and cargo bikes

There is a new name in the bike repair game as car servicing provider Kwik Fit has announced that it will begin fixing pedal-powered transport too.

The news is not a great surprise considering last April the Dutch version of Kwik Fit started doing e-bike servicing, but today the company announced it would be bringing its bike repairs to three of its Bristol and London centres in a partnership with "faff-free bike repair" provider Fettle.

And while there will be many who will not be showing disloyalty to their local bike shop just yet, the step into the cycling world from one of the UK's largest car maintenance names remains significant.

kwikfit-e-bike-service

Cyclingindustrynews reports the initial focus will be on supporting fleets using e-bikes and cargo bikes, with it also suggested that the partnership could eventually see Fettle collection and delivery service from more than just the initial three Kwik Fit centres, with currently 600 in total around the UK.

"A growing number of our customers who operate vehicle fleets have been asking if we can support their expanding cargo bike operations," Mark Slade, Kwik Fit's managing director said. "Bikes and cargo bikes, especially electric models, are increasingly being used for short urban journeys.

"However, the fragmented nature of the industry's current network of largely independent bike shops makes it hard for manufacturers and fleet operators to secure reliable and consistent high quality servicing across their operations.

"By partnering with Fettle, we can offer its services and the expertise of its dedicated teams at Kwik Fit locations. Bikes are becoming more complex, and as well as the demand from fleet operators, the fact that many cyclists now buy through online channels means there is a requirement for the type of servicing and repair aftermarket that we are well used to in the automotive sector.

"Fettle has learnt a great deal over the last three years on the processes and skills required to tackle these trends, and a partnership between the businesses is a unique way to address this demand."

Jeyda Heselton, CEO and founder of Fettle added: "Over the past three years we have experimented and invested in skills, processes, systems and locations. This has enabled us to understand how to best meet the growing demand for bike servicing and maintenance by consumers, manufacturers and fleets to help see green travel succeed in the UK.

"Combining our knowhow with Kwik Fit's network and experience in the automotive sector was therefore a natural next step to accelerate our ability to service customers at scale."

Dan joined road.cc in 2020, and spent most of his first year (hopefully) keeping you entertained on the live blog. At the start of 2022 he took on the role of news editor. Before joining road.cc, Dan wrote about various sports, including football and boxing for the Daily Express, and covered the weird and wonderful world of non-league football for The Non-League Paper. Part of the generation inspired by the 2012 Olympics, Dan has been 'enjoying' life on two wheels ever since and spends his weekends making bonk-induced trips to the petrol stations of the south of England.

Add new comment

6 comments

Avatar
Awavey | 12 months ago
3 likes

Id never trust them with my car, and Im far more discerning about who touches my bike.

Avatar
Adam Sutton | 12 months ago
1 like

Its easy to be disparaging, but accessible and readily available maintenance is key to getting more people and indeed delivery companines onto bikes where appropriate. The only concern is taking business from small independents, but if their focus is cargo bikes, maybe they can work with smaller shops in some way.

Avatar
NOtotheEU | 12 months ago
8 likes

I'd rather take my bike to Halfords.

That's something I thought I'd never say!

Avatar
ubercurmudgeon | 12 months ago
2 likes

At the risk of showing my age, I can't pass a branch of Kwik Fit without remembering this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTEEKyTESiU

Avatar
ktache | 12 months ago
1 like

Well, you can't get better than a quick fit fitter...

Avatar
Steve K replied to ktache | 12 months ago
0 likes

What if you're cycling in Dutham though? (Now that really is an obscure reference)

Latest Comments