Originally Posted by
TLock
@ awfulwaffle: thanks for the input and link.
@ Bandera: Yes that is absolutely my intent. I will also have the bike shop build the bike I buy online when it arrives, and dial in the fit for me. I intend to be honest about my aims from the moment I talk to the salesperson at the bike shop. Are you suggesting that this is unethical? I imagine that people test ride bikes all the time that they don't intend to buy.
Perhaps there are people who do this, but that doesn't make it right. But it is a problem generally in retail, where customers use retail stores as a showroom, then buy products for less online. Moral hazard.
There is an honest way to ride a bike you have no intention of buying. Ask the LBS if you can rent a bike for a few hours.