RA Cycles now open in Walnut Creek, CA

[Elefantino]

Originally Posted by CiclistiCliff

Happy to answer questions here
-Matias

.
Do you still hate Campy?

[PBWrench]

Purchased a C40 frame from R&A by phone many years ago -- delighted with the transaction. I was thrilled when I moved to Brooklyn last year and found that R&A was right around the corner. Prices are comparable to other LBS. Their stock is mass-produced high end gorgeous Italian and Swiss eye-candy. You get what you pay for. Including a little attitude. But fugettaboutit. I often pass another bike store to buy staples there because the stock is so drool-worthy and it is a treat to hang there for a little while. Props to Felix and Victor and Phil.

[CiclistiCliff]

Originally Posted by Elefantino

.
Do you still hate Campy?

I never did, just needed something to give you a hard time about

No attitude allowed. No ‘pushing sales’. We’re a diverse group that love bikes, that’s all. Do we stock a lot of high end? Yes. Do we stock everything else? You betcha.

Still cleaning up inventory, building demo bikes, refining our POS system and doing everything we can to make it a pleasant experience for both customer and staff.

[Elefantino]

Originally Posted by CiclistiCliff

I never did, just needed something to give you a hard time about

No attitude allowed. No ‘pushing sales’. We’re a diverse group that love bikes, that’s all. Do we stock a lot of high end? Yes. Do we stock everything else? You betcha.

Still cleaning up inventory, building demo bikes, refining our POS system and doing everything we can to make it a pleasant experience for both customer and staff.

Was giving you an equally hard time!

Good luck to you guys. Store looks great from the pix I saw. Hope you beat Mike's to a pulp.

[oldpotatoe]

Originally Posted by peanutgallery

11k square feet of real estate in Walnut Creek, all those employees they poached, "sponsored" collections of inventory, self warranty, cafe? All I see is overhead, what could possibly go wrong? Admire the bravado to swim against the current bicycle retail climate

The more expensive or niche the bike product, the crappier the profit margin. This'll be interesting to watch, they'll have churn a massive amount of inventory to tread water. Someone is going to have to buy shedloads of stuff. Nice looking store, though

It's already been mentioned..I'll bet the vast majority of stuff R&A sells is over the phone/interweb..Mailorder, like ExCel here in the republic.

As for margin..the margin on trekspecializedgiantcannodale is AWFUL..particularly was new models come out. Gotta move them and lose even more $. For exotic/expensive/niche stuff, that's hard to find elsewhere(like online), you can approach MSRP/MAP..No reason to discount any of it.

[Mike V]

Stopped by today. They have a very big showroom. Salesperson I talked to was from the Brooklyn store and was very nice. Parking was full and only three patrons. Didn't see a bike with Campagnolo. I want to go back in a month or so when they're up to steam.

[CiclistiCliff]

Heard your complaint about Campy.

Hope this calms the crowd. Should be ready on Thursday.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B9QPAnyllSX/

[enr1co]

Rained canned my SAT Am ride plans so good opportunity to stop by RA cycles, talk story w/ Matias and check out all the neato cycling candy

[enr1co]

More pics

[tv_vt]

Wow, that's like, what, a bazillion dollars worth of inventory there?!

[nobuseri]

Basically, this takes “presentation” to a whole different level.
Very nice shop. I will be sure to stop by when I am back in the area.

[peanutgallery]

I see overhead, lots of it

Definitely doing their way. Gotta respect that

[Hindmost]

Thanks for posting the photos. Been a long time since I've been impressed with a bike shop. Are there other bike shops with that impressive display of high-end product?

[CiclistiCliff]

Hi Enrico, great seeing you and catching up at the store. Thanks for the pictures too!

It was a crazy weekend for us, but fun. Hope everyone who swung by had a positive experience and looking forward to meeting more paceliners. Look for the really tall guy in the service department.

Lots of overhead? Of course there is. But it’s either continue the modus operandi of ‘let’s look at the monitor and talk about said product and order’ or it’s ‘let’s walk over and grab the THM or Bora or Zipp or F12 or tire and talk about it’.

Will it work? Only time will tell, but we’re a group of industry guys that love what we do, want to share our knowledge and love our community.

[Mikej]

Man, they are ALL-IN!