General Cycling Discussion - Where did you buy your bike?

I bought mine on a swap site. I'm too cheap and not experienced enough to buy from a LBS just yet.

Originally posted by benito
I bought mine on a swap site. I'm too cheap and not experienced enough to buy from a LBS just yet.

Bikes shops can have some pretty good deals. As far as experience goes, I feel that inexperienced cyclists have more of a reason to buy from a bike shop as the expertise in the shop will help educate and make sure the cyclist will have a good experience with their new bike. It's really only the experienced ones who should feel most comfortable about buying from obscure places.

I searched everywhere before buying my bike! The paper, net, ebay, every single LBS within 60 miles....I found the absolute best deal at one of the LBS's -I'm still in shock at the deal that I got.

This is my first bike so I felt it was important for me to build a bond with the shop - because I knew I'd need help with fittings and saddles and stuff. They've been great! Still in shock about the deal though :)

LBS all the way! I think I paid about $100 more on a $1300 bike, but it was money well spent! All my break in and maintanance issues were not an issue, thanks for an owner that supports his products 100%. :beer: <--- to the Local Bike Shops.

2nd hand!

eBay.

LBS - I knew nothing and found one I trusted, went with his fitting and ideas all the way. Now, 4 years later, absolutely love the bike (Lemond, of course), bike fits great, only raised the seat 1/4 inch 2 years ago, no other changes.

almost all components, frames, wheelsets, I order through my FBS(favorite LBS).

My current frame I built myself, but I got all components from the FLBS, and they helped me assemble the bike.. So its still LBS all the way.

LBS - from the used rack. Very happy with the bike, price and support.

cAPS

Bought my mountain bike this year from LBS and just bought my road bike used on Sunday. Looked around the last few weeks for a road bike and came across a '99 Specialized Allez Sport (all factory Ultegra for '99 and with very low miles & still looks new...bought it for $325) Once I know more about bikes, I feel I can buy something better from LBS or EBAY..when I'm ready.

First bike I got at a bike swap. My current bike I looked everywhere to find a good deal and my LBS ended up hooking me up with a deal I couldn't pass up.

I got my most recent bike at an LBS. I did research on the net and went to three LBS's before I choose the bike I got. I ended up with a killer deal on a new Fuji Cross. I am very happy.
/Duncan

LBS for my latest purchase and will always be my first stop for future purchases but I would consider other sources as well for my final decision.

My favorite bike of all time was purchased at an LBS (several years ago) during the beginning of the new model year. I bought a last years model at a substantial savings. Great bike at a great price. Including my children's bike I have bought nine bikes from LBS's over the years.

Bought two off of ebay. I haven't finished building either yet but I am very pleased with the deal I got. I think you have to be very knowledgeable about what you want when buying outside of an LBS.

Always LBS for bike and component purchases. The follow up service is incredibly important to me. :thumbup:

Normally online for accesories e.g. tubes, pumps, tires etc. Cheaper prices and normally no tax...

I just purchased my first bike about 3 weeks ago and did a lot of research. Looked at classifieds, e-bay, on-line shops, and all the LBSs in the area.

I found that there is a HUGE difference between the LBSs. Many of them just wanted to "move" bikes. They didn't care what kind of riding I wanted to do or if the bike fit well.

I ended up finding a really good shop that a lot of my co-workers buy from. The guy there spent a lot of time asking what kind of riding I was doing, what my budget was, etc. In the end I found a bike that fit well and was what I wanted.

To top it all off I got a sweet deal on it. Paid only $1250 for a 2004 Cannondale R800 with the Optimo Frame (MSRP is $1500). Also got a free Cateye computer and 10% off all my other gear.

A good LBS will realize that when they sell someone their first bike and take care of them, then they will be life long customers that will recommend the shop to other bikers. I've already directed a friend of mine there who ended up buying a Gary Fisher MTB.

The LBS great service and lay away. I also bought the accessories needed (fenders, computer, lights etc) from him. I always buy tubes patch kits, gloves on demand stuff from the LBS clothes I buy on-line as well as some accessories.

Well, I've run the full gauntlet of buying bikes. Used out of the paper, from a friend, at a shop, eBay, mail-order..etc.

I've also worked in a shop since I was 15, and privvy to a wealth of knowledge (my own and co-workers). I usually buy wherever I can get the best deal. Sometimes on-line is cheaper than my shop discount.

From what I've learned, I would suggest that a beginner should definately buy from a LBS, even if it's a used bike at the LBS. Being a newbie, there are a lot of things you may miss if buying off of eBay or on-line.

For someone who's experienced, and knows exactly what they want, the proper size, and doesn't mind last years stuff, then buy on-line.

Of course, buying from you LBS helps support the local economy and what not, so I'm a bit torn on this issue, but I've seen some crazy deals.

L8R

I bought mine at a semi-local LBS, but the owner was a real jerk afterward, so I have another LBS down the steet that I get my service and extras through.

My first bike was purchased at a LBS. I knew nothing about bikes and it was the best purchase I made. That folding bike has become my beater bike and most of my knowledge came from that cycle.

I've also purchased a bike from Ebay but this was basically a beater that I sold after several months. I would never purchase a $1,500.00 dollar bike from Ebay. Never.

In fact, if you're going to spend more than $700.00 dollars on a bike, you're better off buying new. Buying a used bike means giving up warranty repairs and fee adjustments. If you don't know how to fix or tune a bike or what size would fit you, BUY NEW!

I would venture to suggest that the choice of shop is as important as the choice of one's bicycle; indeed the shop may singularly influence the choice of bicycle. Unless one is knowledgeably experienced, much less a novice, I wouldn't recommend anything but an LBS, no matter how apparently good a deal presents itself. Hereabouts (Tampa Bay, Pinellas County) there are, remarkably, numerous excellent shops distinquished by thoughtful, committed management, good service, a preference for customer satisfaction rather than sales volume. My LBS has been exemplarily responsive and supportive, moreso their restoration of their premises has improved the historical district of my town, and, unusually, they are even attached to and associated with a bar that is a premier venue for progressive rock and roll (www.theneptunelounge.com). Although I ordered from the catalog knowing precisely what I wanted my last purchase, I still wished my money to go to a shop with whom I've a satisfying ongoing relationship and to benefit my community.

Bought mine from a bike shop. After doing alot of research online, I went to try out several different brands / models.

Basically, the shop had the best price and nice down to earth service.

Originally posted by ngateguy
The LBS great service and lay away. I also bought the accessories needed (fenders, computer, lights etc) from him. I always buy tubes patch kits, gloves on demand stuff from the LBS clothes I buy on-line as well as some accessories.

Since I have 4 of the suckers one I bought from the LBS which had great service until I picked up the bike and now that service has evaporated but so have I a new shop opened up down the street and I frequent another in in town on one of my regular ride routes. two of them I bought second hand and one was a gift from my employer. All of them fit me fine and one of the used ones I have had since 1991

LBS - on sale 23% off bike plus 20% off accessories and clothing. Great deal that I couldn't pass up.
Next purchase might be from a custom steel builder.
My MTB was a close out at a LBS plus 20% off accessories and clothing.

Capo: yard sale ($20!)
UO-8: bought frame new while working at bike shop
PKN-10: newspaper ad
Bianchi: neighbor/friend, who had bought it new at my favorite LBS
Schwinn: newspaper ad

Two years after I bought it, I passed another cyclist while riding the Schwinn on a damp morning. When I told him this was my foul weather bike, he replied, "I know, I sold it to you!" I told him I had altered the gearing and replaced the chain and had been thoroughly enjoying the look and feel of the bike.

I like to tinker, a habit which started when one of the local shops laughed at me when I came in looking for a part for an old French bike. After laughing in my face (literally), they had the gall to try and sell me a new bike. I note the bike is still on the road, but that particular shop is gone. Oh, well. My contact with LBSs has been fairly minimal since, although I do go in looking for the occasional odd part. My bikes have been bought via ebay, local thrift stores, and my old PFN10E was bought at a LBS when I was living in an entirely different city. That's my only bike bought new, and it was in 1979.

That said, if you don't know how to wrench your way around a bike, I'd go to a LBS to buy one. And I've been known to recommend a couple of them for service, because they've done friends right.

LBS all the way for purchasing a new bike, plus learn to do your own maintenance and repairs. There are usually a number of repair clinics or coops where you can learn basic to advanced repair skills and/or rent/use specialized tools. A basic tool kit, including a variety of specialized tools such as cone wrenches, bottom bracket wrenches, spoke wrenches, crank and freewheel extractors is not that expensive to assemble. An inexpensive but sturdy repair stand is a real plus, as is a wheel truing stand.

For good used vintage bikes, which are real popular in Portland now, garage sales are the way to go. Good vintage Schwinns of all types, older European ten speeds, and 3-speed English racers can all be found this way, and all make great commuter or cruiser bikes. Many of the older Euro ten speeds can be converted to one-speed track bikes, also real popular for street riding w/ a certain crowd.

The folks that are into little bikes for grins, or cheap bikes to do chopper and tall bike mods on tend to haunt the local thrift store discount warehouse, where an endless supply of cheap bikes for less than $10 seem to always be available.

LBS. I went in looking for a $400 bike but I bought a $600 bike and I still feel like I got a good deal.

My first bike was purchased at a bike shop that has since gone out of business. :cry: Good service and friendly people.
My second bike was purchased at a bike shop that has expanded to three shops. :beer: Also good service and friendly people.

Originally posted by grasshopperNC
I searched everywhere before buying my bike! :)

I bought mine first, then searched, and realized what I bought ;) :D
either way is fine as long as person is happy in the . :)END (http://www.angelfire.com/linux/mikhail2/travel/end_sign.jpg) :)

My last was at performance.Before that is was supergo.Performance took longer but were nicer and lifetime tuneups.

Well in an ideal world I'd support my LBS without fail. Madgetts is a great little place, caters for all tastes from hardcore MTBs and racers to shoppers and folders (no 'bents though), and has excelent service.

However, a good deal still hard to beat. For instance, my Orbea was 25% off at another LBS (last year's model), and was right at the top of my budget. I knew I wouldn't get a better deal elsewhere, so I went with it.

And when I was looking for a new set of cranks for my BMX a few months ago, the set I wanted was so much more expensive to order through my LBS that even without the required Euro BB conversion kit it would've still been cheaper to ship the whole lot in from the States.

I bought mine in thrift dollar store and and was half the price

this bike probably was 3rd-4rd hand before came to me

i got it for under 6 dollars

i'm really cheap!!! :D :D :D

I got my first bike from my wife as a gift. She got it from the semi-LBS. It fit me well and I enjoyed it. My second bike I got from the same shop for a really good deal I found out from another bike shop owner. Plus the service is nothing less than great and the people are friendly.

Gregg's Greenlake Cycle in Seattle, WA. Great service there...Couple of yahoos but most of the people there are helpful.

Teski

Jeffs Bike Shop, these guys are awesome. If you ever find yourself in Huntington, WV and need a tune up, Jeff's is the place to go!

Roadbikereview classifieds. What can I say, I wanted more bike than I could afford to buy new.

Originally posted by robtfink
I would venture to suggest that the choice of shop is as important as the choice of one's bicycle; indeed the shop may singularly influence the choice of bicycle. Unless one is knowledgeably experienced, much less a novice, I wouldn't recommend anything but an LBS, no matter how apparently good a deal presents itself. Hereabouts (Tampa Bay, Pinellas County) there are, remarkably, numerous excellent shops distinquished by thoughtful, committed management, good service, a preference for customer satisfaction rather than sales volume. My LBS has been exemplarily responsive and supportive, moreso their restoration of their premises has improved the historical district of my town, and, unusually, they are even attached to and associated with a bar that is a premier venue for progressive rock and roll (www.theneptunelounge.com). Although I ordered from the catalog knowing precisely what I wanted my last purchase, I still wished my money to go to a shop with whom I've a satisfying ongoing relationship and to benefit my community. I really need to get to Tarpon Springs to check that joint out.

hummm, I buy mine directly at the bike companys Midwest Distribution center (I work for a bike co).:beer: