Buying a bike online...... how much fiddling is to be done?

Stormbringer

Hello all. I need some advice about buying a bike online please.

I have been looking at the Cannondale's Caad bikes for about 18 months whilst I've been saving up to buy. And at the moment buying online would bag me a real bargain. I read the forum often and take on board the advice regarding the benefits on buying from my LBS.

However, even at this time of year my LBS are not really willing to offer the sort of prices I can find online. I have ridden a Caad8 around the car park of my LBS (they did not offer a test ride on Cannondale), and the fit was very good. I asked about price matching, but they would not go as low as prices online.

So, I've got two questions…..

1) Does anybody have any experience of buying bikes online from Tri UK?
2) They tell me the bike would be nearly 'ready to ride'. I just have to attach front wheel, turn handlebars etc. But how much fiddling would I have to do to get it ready?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated as I have my money burning a hole in my pocket, and don't really want to wait until next year, and the price hikes.

Antony :?:

harveyg77

I have bought a Stumpy HT online form "Bike Scene".

It (the bike) was delivered as stated by courier, the box was a bit tatty, but everything inside was working and not obviously damaged.

Assembly was easy. Simply remove all the plastic and card protection fitted everywhere, attach the wheels, handlebars seat post and pedals. The bars already had the levers and shifters attached, so it was purely a matter of fitting the bar to the stem. Bike has worked fine ever since.

However, I also have full-susser and cyclo-cross bikes which I purchased form a LBS. Though they cost slightly more, I have had peace of mind, being able to drop them in for any issues and problems to be resolved in the shop (setting the gears up properly, contaminated rear pads and rotor, air in the front brake hydraulics). All things you could do yourself, but it is nice to get them done properly yourself if time is a premium, like it is for me!

If you're handy with a spanner and don't mind putting things right yourself (should they occur) then the savings may be worth it. If you want secure peace of mind, knowing that you're only 5-minutes away from a LBS, pay more.

wombar

It really depends whether the difference in cost is worth the gamble. I've not bought from Tri UK, so I really don't know how their bikes come set up. I suspect it will just be a case of wheels on, handlebars on etc.

I have however bought a bike from CRC that was meant to have been checked ( according to the sign off sheet in the box). Setup was appalling and absolutely dangerous. If I'd ridden it out of the box, I would have damaged the bike and probably myself in the process. In the end, I've basically rebuilt the bike from the ground up because I kept finding stuff wrong.

If you're confident on the maintenance side of things, buy the bike over the internet. But if you've got a good LBS, I'd say count the extra money as an insurance policy. If you have any issues with the bike, you'll have someone to turn to. Obviously that's not the case with the internet.

My LBS are useless, but if I had a good one, I'd be inclined to support it.

cougie

I bought a bike from Planet X. As they say I just needed to turn the bars and put the wheel on and away it went. Perfect. But theres always a chance that yours won't be as simple.

richk

I've had two. EBC supplied a bike that was a simple turn bars, fit pedals & go (even wheels were already on). CRC supplied a bike that needed a bit more including fitting & trimming all cables (so also gear/brake set up, though they werent far out), fit wheels, bars pedals & go. I'd still buy a bike from CRC - it was a good price & not difficult.

Then, I have a bike being deliverd from PX today...

[Edit]

Email from MrsK : it's arrived Cant wait to get home.

[/Edit]

anto164

I've had one from TREDZ, literally as easy as rotate the bars and fit the pedals and you're away! (Apart from unwrapping the cardboard frame protection).

I personally wished it wasn't that easy, as i wanted to strip the frame and use my parts..

Stormbringer

All sounds encouraging so far.
I feel a purchase coming on!!

Antony

The Real Radioactiveman

Bought a focus from wiggle, no faff came with free tools and haribo. Just a matter of lifting out of the box ,fitting stem to steere and straightening bars.

Similar again when I bought my daughter a womens boardman from halford's except the box was bigger so stem and bars were fitted just had to loosen bolts position them and tighten. Also cam with appropriate tools although cheap nasty and more importantly no haribo !!!

LBS are ok if you can get the bike you want from them and at a reasonable price,you will never get interenet prices but you do get somewhere to take it back to. Sometimes you can even swap out components stems,saddles etc free of charge

danlikesbikes

Not bought a bike from Tri UK but have bought other items from them & all was OK, have been to their store too and are a nice, knowledgeable bunch of people. You could always call them if in any doubt as to what you would need to do to a bike once purchased and delivered I'm sure they wont mind chatting it through with you.

Nairnster

I bought a Giant Defy 2 from TriUK at the start of the month.

It came well packaged in a box within a box. The frame and cranks had foam padding on which was easily removed. The rear wheel was fitted, and there were plastic protectors on the rear mech, and in the fork droupouts. Also included is the PDI sheet signed by the mechanic. All I had to do was the following:

Fit the front wheel
Fit the handlebars into stem
Fit seatpost
Attach pedals (my own, as it didnt come with any)

The front brake needed slight adjusting, but apart from that, it was literally ready to ride. The gears were perfectly set up, and the tyres inflated.

Only took a picture of the box and none during the unpacking. But i was impressed, and even sent them an email expressing how pleased I was.

Stormbringer

Thanks for all your comments.

After speaking to the store, I've ordered a Caad10 105 from Tri UK for £950 (RRP £1300).

When I noticed that Cannondale are not only downgrading the brakes to Tektro for 2012, but also increasing the price by £100, it was a no-brainer.

I can't wait!

Antony