Juan: 15 years running a bike workshop in Sant Feliu de Llobregat
Juan Antonio del Moral has run a bike workshop in Sant Feliu de Llobregat since 2010. His uncle José founded the shop in 2005, and Juan took it over five years later.
We talk about why he is focusing more on the workshop and less on sales, what he would tell someone who wants to open their own shop, how COVID went for the business, the tool he would save if the shop caught fire, and why you shouldn't wash your bike with a pressure washer.
We also cover urban cycling and electric scooters, riding around Collserola, how road bike technology has changed and how he uses BikeCRM day to day.
In the interview: Juan Antonio del Moral, who runs a bike workshop in Sant Feliu de Llobregat, and Oriol Jiménez (BikeCRM), who used to live two floors up and took his bikes there. Juan gave him advice and tested the first versions of BikeCRM.
The English audio is dubbed with enacast.fm from the Spanish original.
Summary
Juan Antonio del Moral talks with Oriol Jiménez about running a bicycle workshop in Sant Feliu de Llobregat, drawing on his experience taking over the business his uncle started.
Workshop life and the cycling trade
Juan says he took charge in 2010. He describes the workshop as the shop’s engine and says he has shifted away from sales, concerned that prices are rising while the quality of less visible components is falling. He also recounts problems with a recently sold bike.
“Patience, patience, knowledge, try to open your own business when you've had the experience of being in another shop so you know how to handle things.” — Juan Antonio del Moral
Advice, challenges and practical tips
Juan says direct contact with the public can be challenging, and that experience is important before opening a shop. He recalls a difficult bottom-bracket removal and reflects on how COVID affected stock and supply. His advice to mechanics is to maintain a good attitude with customers; for riders, he warns against washing bikes with pressurized water. He also shows the old tool he uses to straighten derailleurs without marking frames.
Cycling, place and personal life
The conversation turns to urban cycling, electric scooters and Sant Feliu’s nearby river and mountain terrain. Juan is wary of the cycling industry’s direction and prefers choosing a good frame and building a bike to suit himself. He also talks about balancing family life and the shop, inline skating and martial arts.
Technology and BikeCRM
Juan describes changes in road bikes, including disc brakes, electronic shifting and internal cable routing. He says BikeCRM helps organize workshop jobs, share photos and updates with customers, and explain what work will be done and why.
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