Buying your frame or complete bike online?

[Pete Subs]

I recently bought 2 bikes but I am thinking to get a TT bike. I was researching some recent posts and it seems like that most of you guys don’t have the best experience with the LBS and moved towards buying online. What would you guys recommend when buying a bike online, anything that you can recommend? I don’t want any of the big brand names. Thank you for the input.

 

[The Gnome]

I have heard positivethings from friends who have bought from both Neuvation and Pedal Force...not sure if either does tt bikes...but from the few folks I know who have bought bikes from both they say good things...

 

[DirtyWorks]

I recently bought 2 bikes but I am thinking to get a TT bike. I was researching some recent posts and it seems like that most of you guys don’t have the best experience with the LBS and moved towards buying online. What would you guys recommend when buying a bike online, anything that you can recommend? I don’t want any of the big brand names. Thank you for the input.

Whether or not you use an LBS is dependent on life circumstances.

Many of us make the time and have collected the tools to do the work ourselves. That kind of person has more or less outgrown the LBS. They also have the patience to work through some of the problems of assembling from various bits and bobs.

Others do not have the time or interest or the inclination to work on their own bikes. In that case, find a shop that has people you trust and let them handle the bike stuff. That means getting a complete bike from them too.

Neither choice is better than the other. Just enjoy riding.

As for minor brands in the U.S., bikesdirect.com sells quite a few complete bikes much to the dismay of the leading bike brands in the U.S.

If you want to start from frame-only, then there are a few bike frames from China via Taiwan on ebay through different sellers.

 

[Indurain]

If you know what your doing maintenance wise, online for sure. Save a packet. Probably helps to know something about the different types of carbon, geometry, etc. If you get it wrong it can be costly.

I bought a pedal force. Love it. Next time will probably go a Chinarello (Team Sky Forest Green).

 

[Pete Subs]

Thats what I thought. I was looking into consumer direct brands not no name brands from China. They still offer better prices.

My thought was to purchase the bike direct online and when I have some major repair I would go to the LBS. I think they are happy to do repair even if you havent purchased through them?

 

[The Gnome]

they should be more than happy to work on the bike if you havent bought it from them...money is money and work is work...if they seem to have an attitude via that sorta stuff just find another bike shop...

 

[Bustedknuckle]

Thats what I thought. I was looking into consumer direct brands not no name brands from China. They still offer better prices.

My thought was to purchase the bike direct online and when I have some major repair I would go to the LBS. I think they are happy to do repair even if you havent purchased through them?

The smart bike shops are like car repair places..they will fix anything. NOT like a car dealer, who generally only fixes the brand they sell.