Buying "on line"

JohnieE

I'm going to be controversial here. Why would anyone, in their right mind, spend enormous amounts of money on a bike they cannot test? Having read and read the fora here I have just spent a large wad of cash at my LBS, satisfied that the bike I have paid for is the one I want.

I bought sometihng which is a big brand and almost certainly heavier (yes, apparently grams do matter) and more expensive than something I could have bought on the web, but I looked at it, rode it and liked it. Perhaps those in bike clubs can borrow friends Planet X / Ribble etc bikes, but many more just take a punt. Why??

Moomin23

I agree for a first bike, but after a while you get to know the brands you trust, and which not to trust and learn to block out the BS in the ad's and get to the bits you're interested in, I suppose the discounts you get online are the payoff for all the money you waste with trial and error!!

ALaPlage

Online savings and I guess most (I accept not all) people will have tried the bike at LBS or Evans and know what they want and size etc.

I bought my bike from Classified ad in cycling weekly - got to try on short test ride before I parted with the cash but already knew what I wanted having tried friends similar model and other bikes at Evans. Would of bought offf Ebay if what I was looking for came up and bidded within budget.

Local LBS gets sales from me on bits and will be sevicing the bike so I feel I support them too but could not afford a new bike in sec i wanted so had to look elsewhere.

DomPro

Wiggle do a 30 day test ride. If you don't like the bike they will pick it up from you, no charge.

kingrollo

I actually found it pretty hard to get a test ride - unless you buy one of the big brands.

cjw

And what is a short test ride going to tell a newbie...

Saddle is different to sitting in an armchair or a car seat - won't tell over 10 minutes if good or bad; probably won't be able to tell even after a month Bike feels like, well, a bike... probably different to the chopper they last rode as a kid.

Online gives (often) 30 days to test, or at least a week. Plus is cheaper even if you have to pay to ship back if after proper test ride you don't like it.

fungus_the_muffin_man

Not everyone has a good LBS worth giving their money to. My LBS is shite with a capital S

Pokerface

I've bought all my bikes online. And we're talking over £10K's worth.


Savings talk. LBS walks.

SCR Pedro

I bought my SCR from a LBS. They didn't offer me a test ride, and he pretty much took one look at me, and told me to get the large frame. I trusted his judgment, because I didn't know better at the time. A year later, I bought my medium size TCR online. It fits perfectly, and the savings sealed the deal.

I don't think LBS' are for everyone.

Pedro

cjw

Come to think of it thinking back over the last 2 years or so... there is almost nothing I buy from 'real' shops anymore.

Bikes etc - 100% on line
Clothes - 100% on line
Electronic Goods - 100% on line
White Goods - 100% on line
Furniture - 100% online
Food Shopping - 75% on line and delivered, only visit local speciality shops (fish, game etc and even there can get same stuff online)

Even bought Ice Skates for me and little girl on line couple of months back. Knew nothing about skates but did a bit of online research, selected the ones we wanted and ordered (they also had a try and free return policy.

rick_chasey

Probably because they hate all their LBS's.

They don't like the way they're treated, and their extortionate prices.

Often there's not much choice when it comes to your local bike shop.