“It’s never been just a job”: Legendary UK mountain bike brand and retailer Stif Mountain Bikes to close after 41 years
The British bike brand and trusted bike shop, once a mainstay of magazine parts listing pages in the pre-Internet era, will be no more come September, but will be clearing stock with some big discounts promised
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Stif Mountain Bikes, the legendary Bristol and Yorkshire-based bike shop and bike brand known for its radical hardtail mountain bikes, has announced that it'll be closing its doors for good in September after 41 years in business.
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Since opening in 1984, Stif Mountain Bikes has made its name for being a friendly face within the UK MTB scene while stocking bikes from some of the world's most sought-after brands, such as Santa Cruz, Cervelo, and Forbidden. The brand's adverts were also a mainstay throughout cycling magazines in the pre-Internet days, as fondly remembered by some of our more 'mature' colleagues across off.road.cc and road.cc. Our sales director Elaine reckons Stif was one of the biggest print advertisers for cycling magazines in the early to mid-90s, along with Chain Reaction Cycles.
Not only did Stif sell other brands' bikes, but it also brought two of the UK's most respected hardtails to the market, the Morf and, more recently, the Squatch, which remains one of our all-time favorite steel hardtails. The Squatch, especially, brought an aggressive but very rideable geometry as well as a host of UK-friendly features, making it an excellent choice for those who were after the epitome of a winch and plummet ride.
Although the brand will be closing its doors, it promises that customer warranty support will still be serviced by Jungle, which will even be taking on some of Stif's staff.
From now until September, Stif will be clearing stock at a reduced price in celebration of the community that's made everything 'Stif' possible.
Sammy Smithson, general manager at Stif, said in a statement: "From the bottom of our hearts, thank you - to every one of our loyal customers, and to every staff member who has made this place what it is. We couldn’t of done it without you. It’s never been just a job or just a business. It’s been a family.
"With gratitude and pride, I’ve had the time of my life."
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2 comments
Really sad to see this. I bought 4 Santa Cruz bikes off them in the last 25 years. Their service was always excellent.
It was during the halcyon MTB'ing days in the late 80's that they really came about..