Should I buy online?
Comments
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Slow Downcp wrote:
You could buy online and then get fitted later as suggested, but if you get the wrong size bike, it could be that no fitting session can get it correct.
Not being funny but as most bikes seem to only come in 3 or 4 sizes now you would have to be really unlucky to get the wrong size.
Or just go to any LBS and try a bike that has comparable geometry then buy online.0 -
NWLondoner wrote:Slow Downcp wrote:
You could buy online and then get fitted later as suggested, but if you get the wrong size bike, it could be that no fitting session can get it correct.
Not being funny but as most bikes seem to only come in 3 or 4 sizes now you would have to be really unlucky to get the wrong size.
Or just go to any LBS and try a bike that has comparable geometry then buy online.
10,9,8,7........................................"There's a shortage of perfect breasts in this world, t'would be a pity to damage yours."0 -
NWLondoner wrote:Slow Downcp wrote:
You could buy online and then get fitted later as suggested, but if you get the wrong size bike, it could be that no fitting session can get it correct.
Not being funny but as most bikes seem to only come in 3 or 4 sizes now you would have to be really unlucky to get the wrong size.
Or just go to any LBS and try a bike that has comparable geometry then buy online.
But if you're LBS isn't that good, and just want to sell you what they have in stock and need to get rid of...
I agree some bikes only come in 3 or 4 sizes, but many still go up in 2cm increments and it can make a difference.Carlsberg don't make cycle clothing, but if they did it would probably still not be as good as Assos0 -
At the very least, using your LBS (or a good not-so-local BS) will allow you to test ride bikes. This was invaluable to me, as the size that several on-line retailers suggested turned out to be wrong/uncomfortable.
If you speak to most folks working in LBS, they will acknowledge that they can't compete with online stores for components, but the price difference on complete bikes is normally less significant. The LBS will want your money and most will try to give you the best deal they can. Ask for something of the MSRP - if you don't ask you don't get.
If you can afford (in the short-term) to write off a few quid here and there and buy stuff from them, and get any servicing/repairs done that you can't do yourself, there are normally deals to be done and overall spend becomes suprisingly similar.
Plus you get to support local business, and actually talk to real, live humans about bikes (amongst other things)...0 -
Monkeypump wrote:, and actually talk to real, live humans about bikes (amongst other things)...
does that include halfords and evans???0 -
Hi all- thanks for all your input- I found a shop in Hertford that was not trying to either sell me something way above my budget or tell me that I should go away and think. Marshall's were great! I got a Giant Defy with Sora (is it the Defy 3) at the end of the 2009 range at a discount. I went round the block and felt like I was Brad Wiggins (compared to me on my MTB!).......
2 minute run before the rain tonight- loved it.
Thanks again
Ben0 -
Hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoy my bike.Justice for the 960
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Okay - I see a lot of bad press about Evans on these forums and from my mates as well, so I thought I would relate my experiences, because it's relevant here.
We operate a cycle to work scheme, with an online-only provider (wheelies), which has caused me a lot of grey hair over which size road bike to order - my first road bike. On top of that, 50% of comments say that Cannondale run big, 50% say they run small.
What to do?
I went into Evans Wandsworth down the road, and came clean - 'I categorically can't buy a bike from you, but if you can help size me up on a CAAD frame, I guarantee I'll buy enough bits, gear and services from you to make it worthwhile'. The guy spent half an hour with me - stuck some pedals on the frame, pumped up the tyres and let me take the bike out for a ride. I would have offered him £20 for the test ride if I'd had to, no worries.
Bike arrives Weds - I know it's the right size - Evans and I both happy (bought a bunch of bits from them today and had my MTB serviced with them this week). They're not always the most articulate guys around, but they've been pretty decent to me.0