Bury St Edmunds: Bike shop Micks Cycles turns 50 during Covid-19 lockdown

It has been open 50 years, but staff at family-run bike shop Micks Cycles have never experienced trading conditions quite like the coronavirus.

Thankfully, the retailer in Bury St Edmunds has adapted to thrive during the crisis with increasing numbers cycling during lockdown.

Chloe Hailstone, granddaughter of the eponymous Mick, is now managing the shop and said her family is celebrating regardless of the pandemic.

“People throughout the day of the anniversary were so lovely and reminiscing about years gone by, which was great to hear,” said Chloe, who reflected that the celebrations had been toned down to some balloons and champagne.

“We have seen an enormous increase in people cycling,” she added. “During lockdown things have taken off in a way we could never have imagined, which is great as people are definitely cycling more.”

Micks Cycles has stayed open throughout lockdown, firstly by appointment only and now through social distancing.

It is all a bit different from when the shop established in 1970.

Mick and Jessie Hailstone began selling mopeds from a yard in Albert Street and switched to bicycles when opening a shop in Victoria Street.

The management passed down a generation when Mick sadly died in 1990, but when the business moved into its current St John’s Street premises in 1993, it kept its name.

Chloe said: “Mick created a great customer base while selling mopeds, and we still get customers coming in now saying they remember buying their first moped from him. It helped establish a large customer base, who we are still grateful for now.”

It was not Chloe’s intention to follow into the family business, where she worked weekends while studying childcare. But after leaving college, taking over seemed a ‘natural progression’.

“Interacting with customers to get them the right bike, learning about the bikes and carrying out repairs is actually really satisfying,” she said.

Chloe puts ‘changing with the times’ as a key factor in their success. In the past that has meant building a strong online presence, refurbishing a shop, and stocking up on new brands.

Now after 50 years the shop has adapted once more to thrive during the Covid-19 crisis.

Chloe said: “I want to say a massive thank you to all our customers, old and new, who have continued to support us. You have enabled us to continue doing what we love.”