Manchester bike shops v online

If, like me you've ever bought anything from an online retailer, your email inbox will have lit up recently with a blizzard of messages encouraging you kit yourself out for the Autumn / Winter season.
I much prefer going to local independent shops for cycling bits but being in work, getting dragged to visit the in-laws and watching shite football teams which never win anything, tends to limit my opportunities to pay a visit to my favourite shops.
So, more often than not, I find myself shopping online for stuff - clicks and mortar as retail sector wonks annoyingly call it.
There are some pretty good ones out there too: Parker International, Tweeks cycles, Wiggle, Chain Reaction and many others.
These are good operators but the world would be a much more uninteresting place without bike shops.  So, I'm resolving myself to re-double my efforts to support independent retailers and spend my money locally.
Obviously, Ken Foster's will be the natural place to start and I'll try a squeeze in a trip to Harry Hall soon - spread the love and all that.
There are loads of other shops about too - I might do a review of them all actually - as a secret shopper or something.
Ride safe, shop local

The Amber Nectar, in Chorlton