Mountain Biking - Sad But True

Hey guys, been working on my current build. Just wanted to talk about an observation.

I decided to drive over to the San Francisco performance to see if they had anything I could use for my build. I looked around, and noticed EVERYTHING I was contemplating getting, even though onsale was 30%+ more than what I've found it for on the internet. Now I know some of you guys believe in supporting your local bike shop, but when your 19, have 500 in your pocket to cover your bikes its hard to drop money on more expensive things.

Now I will admit it's nice to be able to look and see everything as its much more awesome in person. The iron horse yakuza fs bike was onsale for 1100 instead of 1600. Anyways, maybe places like jensonusa and wheelworld are taking over in terms of bike parts.

Does anyone actually consider a performance store a "Local Bike Shop"... I don't.

I think buying shifters,derailleurs, cassettes n stuff like that are much more expensive than an online store.

Does anyone actually consider a performance store a "Local Bike Shop"... I don't.
Well let's break it down. They sell bikes, it's a shop, and it's close enough to be local. Furthermore, that's besides the point the other lbs that isn't a large company down a couple towns even sells parts for more.

I'm going to sound like a huge dick by saying this, but why did you have to share this with us? This isn't helpful, nor did you ask a question? We all see these types of things, and usually just store it in the back of our heads as reference.

JASON!!! Why do you attack EVERY SINGLE thread or post that Pheard makes??? Why do you have to always do this? He is trying to post an OBSERVATION!! He is trying to save everyone money!! That to me is helpful. If you chose not to follow it, don't!

Why are you so mean? Why can't you be nice? Do you have something for Pheard is that it? You do this to every newbie and Pheard. Please stop being so mean to others. PLEASE.

I'm going to sound like a huge dick by saying this, but why did you have to share this with us? This isn't helpful, nor did you ask a question? We all see these types of things, and usually just store it in the back of our heads as reference.
No reason, just thought it was kinda sucky I couldn't go to the lbs and get something decently priced like online.

I didn't know topics had a requirement of being useful/helpful or needing to have a question.

JASON!!! Why do you attack EVERY SINGLE thread or post that Pheard makes??? Why do you have to always do this? He is trying to post an OBSERVATION!! He is trying to save everyone money!! That to me is helpful. If you chose not to follow it, don't!

Why are you so mean? Why can't you be nice? Do you have something for Pheard is that it? You do this to every newbie and Pheard. Please stop being so mean to others. PLEASE.

http://www.ultimatenetnut.com/foamy/rant5.php

I just don't see the point in posting observations that mtbers see everyday.

If you don't see the point don't post. Who cares, I made the topic because I felt like it. You can post about my frustrations or post about something else, either way the thread is still here.

http://www.ultimatenetnut.com/foamy/rant5.php

I just don't see the point in posting observations that mtbers see everyday.


Okay Jason. *sigh* Thanks for not being a brat to me after I just yelled at you. Sorry. I just don't like when you two go at it.

Here's how you make a purposeful thread:

Tell us what parts you need to finish off your build. Get some pics to show how it's looking so far. Then you can say some meaningful observations that you noticed about bikeshops or online stores. And ask people what they think. It gets more people to read the post and reply.

By me starting on this, I've already succeeded in making this thread more interesting by adding some drama. Argue a point. It makes threads more fun to read.

Spice things up :D

Get some pics to show how it's looking so far.


Pix:D

My parts that I currently have aren't on the bike yet

I need a headset to put on the fork and stem, I need to cut the steerer and a bike stand would be nice.

+1 on bikestand. I always have to flip mine over on the handlebars.

So all you need is a headset?

I have the stem, frame, crankset, fork, front derailer, seatpost, and seat. That's it. Only thing I can put on right now is the front derailer , so there isn't much of a pic for the build right now.

So you'd need bars, wheels, cassette, shifters, rear derailleur, headset, levers, cables, grips,tires, tubes, and more...oucho. You know, you could probably save a crap load of money if you looked around for a used bike with nice components, salvage what you can, and put it on your build.

So you'd need bars, wheels, cassette, shifters, rear derailleur, headset, levers, cables, grips,tires, tubes, and more...oucho. You know, you could probably save a crap load of money if you looked around for a used bike with nice components, salvage what you can, and put it on your build.
Been trying that for the last 2 months :D good idea though.

You know you can probably buy a Trek 4300 new. :rolleyes:

Im Not A Mtn Biker But I Come Here Once In A While To Look Around, I Think This Info Is Pretty Valuable Considering I Dont Goto Bike Shops Much.

More Reason To Stay Away Now.

Nice caps.

You know you can probably buy a Trek 4300 new. :rolleyes:
Funny thing is that this bike is going to have xt/lx drivetrain. I don't want crappy components, I should have just gotten a different frame.

Right now I have xt crankset, lx front derailer, my stem is partially carbon, the fork is pretty good, and I ordered xt shifter/lever combos.

Nice caps.
WHAT THE **** IS UR PROBLEM *******

Getting this thread back on the original topic, you may find an individual parts lots cheaper at a given online shops but you rarely find all of the parts you need cheapest at one place so you have to figure in the shipping costs for each item. I've done the mental math and found that when I can catch stuff on sale at Performance, combined with my Team Performance 10% kickback, I can get prices as good or better than online and I don't have to wait a week to get it.

WHAT THE **** IS UR PROBLEM *******


Exactly what I mean. Jason picks on the new people. See?

Your post to sunv Jason, was only to berate him using caps.

Not a very nice way to welcome the newcomers. noope

WELCOME ABOARD, SUNV!!!! :)

I myself find Pheards thread quite helpful considering I will be starting a build soon.

I looked around, and noticed EVERYTHING I was contemplating getting, even though onsale was 30%+ more than what I've found it for on the internet.

You have a keen perception of the obvious, my friend.

Do you know WHY this phenomenon exists?

Exactly what I mean. Jason picks on the new people. See?

Your post to sunv Jason, was only to berate him using caps.

Not a very nice way to welcome the newcomers. noope

WELCOME ABOARD, SUNV!!!! :)

When you see a post like this:


Im Not A Mtn Biker But I Come Here Once In A While To Look Around, I Think This Info Is Pretty Valuable Considering I Dont Goto Bike Shops Much.

More Reason To Stay Away Now.

you know (or the few conceptual readers here know) that the person tried to make everything capitalized and it got caught by the filter.

Now, sunvs post doesn't even warrant all caps, let alone all caps are useless in forums.

Welcome sunv, but learn how to post by reading others. Please.

Siu, you may have your vindiction but in all honestly, Jasons post was more useful then sunvs.


I myself find Pheards thread quite helpful considering I will be starting a build soon.

And what have you learned? That things are cheaper online? Anyone who has properly shopped online knows that, and it's practically common knowledge in the computer users realm.

Defiance, my post and his second post came up with capitals. Or do you mean that he had it on cap lock? Anyway, it shouldn't matter if he had it on capitals..........

Jason saying "nice caps" (or however) was helpful? Gee for a second there I thought there was some fancy valve caps posted that I didn't see!

And as for airpressure, He has to learn sometime, just like we all have. Everybody starts somewhere and we should help them not put them down for learning. We should all help each other. I learned a lot here from others and I think we should pass the knowledge on without being mean. There may be something that we have heard over and over again but it might be a first time for someone else. :)

I'm Testing This To See If This Works. If This Comes Out As In Partial Caps, My Point Is Proven.

EDIT: See? Try posting with caps lock on. That is what happens. That is what the guy tried to do, and it was fairly idiotic.

Jasons post may not have contributed to the thread, but neither does this. However, it proves a point that some people need to think before they post whether they are new or not.

Hee hee Defiance! That was cute :D I THOUGHT is was because of cap locks...

Anyway. I never shop online. I like to support brick and mortar shops. My nephew owns one (LBS) and if it wasn't for his regular customers, his business wouldn't exist.

You have a keen perception of the obvious, my friend.

Do you know WHY this phenomenon exists?
Yessir I do, it was just a complaint which I suppose alot have.

I assume because when ordering online we're eliminating the middle man. I don't know, maybe you could explain it to me.

I'll go out and get a threadless headset and start the build so people can see.

Is it just me or................. nevermind.......

i don't believe in supporting my local shop. sorry, business is business. will they support me when i am panhandling on the street?

+1 to everything Defiance just said :roflmao:

It's really a good observation, Pheard. I have purchased a lot of parts online and many from LBSs too. With many of the parts I bought online, at the time I did not cry too much over taking the business from the LBs, as they were deals that could not be duplicated anywhere. I voted my wallet. Also, LBS I was dealing with was a local "chain" of 3 or 4 stores that at various times had very helpful, personable managers, but the owners were another story.

This of course changed when I connected with Tim at Bicycle Butler and not just because he agreed to sponsor me. He is truly a super guy and (I think) atypical of most LBS owners in our area.

I would say that a shop owner, like ANY merchant, has to EARN your respect and business - - that the mantra of "support your LBS" just because they are local rings hollow if they do not reciprocate and treat you with respect and as a valued customer.

I guess in my long-winded way, Pheard, is that I can relate because I've been in your shoes. Bike stuff is expensive and when every dollar counts, sometimes you have to follow the $.

I only support 1 or 2 of my local bike shops. There are a few around here with really really rude employees. Mike's Bike Shop is my favourite. I don't think I'd buy anything there that I could get cheaper online though. I'd probably only buy Bontrager stuff, or whole bikes there. Everything else I buy comes from ebay.

My Friend recently bought all of the parts to a bike he was building up from our LBS and later we went to pricepoint and figured out how much it would have costed him there... he would have saved over 700 bukcs just by using pricepoint.com. ah well

You guys think Mountain bike parts are expensive...try getting trials parts. An entry level trials bike would cost around $1500 Canadian to put together.

Dang, I had no idea they're so expensive.

There's an advantage of buying from you lbs though. At my shop, we know who the big spenders are, the people that come to us for their parts, and our regular customers. If they come in and need sometihng adjusted, we'll take care of it on the spot no charge, saving the customer like $20. We'll also occasionally give the regulars a discount on parts and what not.

good point, Matt

I'm going to sound like a huge dick by saying this, but why did you have to share this with us? This isn't helpful, nor did you ask a question? We all see these types of things, and usually just store it in the back of our heads as reference.


What's your standard? I'm assuming you would agree with me that people posting pictures of their bikes is ignorant. No questions there. Nothing learned. Big deal, you have a bike. We all do. Oh great...you have this or that component or these tires. Wonderful, I saw all those at the bike shop. Who cares? Am I supposed to be envious that you have a high credit limit on your credit card so you can buy these things?

What's your standard? I'm assuming you would agree with me that people posting pictures of their bikes is ignorant. No questions there. Nothing learned. Big deal, you have a bike. We all do. Oh great...you have this or that component or these tires. Wonderful, I saw all those at the bike shop. Who cares? Am I supposed to be envious that you have a high credit limit on your credit card so you can buy these things?
1. You used the word ignorant incorrectly.
2. Not all of us get to see bikes on a regular basis. By us seeing what people have, we can learn about new components and advance our knowledge of biking on the whole.
3. I'm not pitting against components or bikes. I'm just saying the thread was rather pointless.

Are you going against me or with me? From this post it's hard for me to tell.

gezzz drama, drama, drama!!!

If you think a thread is pointless, DON'T READ IT!!!!!!

1. You used the word ignorant incorrectly.
2. Not all of us get to see bikes on a regular basis. By us seeing what people have, we can learn about new components and advance our knowledge of biking on the whole.
3. I'm not pitting against components or bikes. I'm just saying the thread was rather pointless.

Are you going against me or with me? From this post it's hard for me to tell.

I did not use "ignorant" incorrectly.

The question is if you are with me? If your justification for "here's my bike, so drool everyone" threads is that you don't see bikes on a regular basis, then you agree that his thread was useful because not everyone can see cool components or go to the bike store enough to keep track of the latest sales.

He didn't post anything useful or informative. Frank you're really beginning to confuse the hell out of me.

There's an advantage of buying from you lbs though. At my shop, we know who the big spenders are, the people that come to us for their parts, and our regular customers. If they come in and need sometihng adjusted, we'll take care of it on the spot no charge, saving the customer like $20. We'll also occasionally give the regulars a discount on parts and what not.

I really hate to be an antagonist, but I think people here romanticize the LBS. Your shop sounds alright, but you cannot generalize. Local bike shops can be dicks, because the are people. On the other side, the chain stores have done repairs for me for free before. Even if your LBS will save you money on repairs, my experiences is that they will compensate with parts. My LBS, who I go to often, was going to charge me $80 plus for a XT front derailleur, but I bought it for $35 from Performance.

Whether you support your LBS or not is strictly a moral a decision. To support LBSs in general on instrumental terms is to mystify reality. If there is any instrumental rationale, it is a case by case basis; you can't make a generalization that LBSs are a better deal.

Frank you're really beginning to confuse the hell out of me.

In 5 to 10 points, what is your criteria for a worthwhile post?

In 5 to 10 points, what is your criteria for a worthwhile post?
It's on the first page.