Road Cycling - buying a road bike online

Looking at Litespeed Capella Ultegra or Litespeed Vela online...anybody here ever buy their bike online? The Capella can be had for $1399 and the Vela for a couple hundred less. Any personal experiences good or bad with online shops would be appreciated. The Vela is all 105 components. Thanks for your assistance as I am doing a lot of research for my first bike road bike experience. A virgin here, so be gentle please. Ken Peer. :D

I've bought and sold a dozen bikes on-line and have always been pleased with the results, both ways.

If you are buying from eBay or some other individual, pay close attention to the feedback from others. Leopards do not change their spots.

If buying on-line from a business, as here in the forum about the particular business. Chances are you are not the first one to buy from them.

Happy Hunting!

www.qbike.com

Thanks for your assistance as I am doing a lot of research for my first bike road bike experience. A virgin here, so be gentle please. Ken Peer. :D

Have you had an expert, professional fitting? If you have not, the $75 or so that it will cost you is one of the best investments you will ever make. You will find out exactly what geometry you need. A good LBS that gives the fitting will not pressure you to buy from them. But they can give you the information you need to get what you need on line.

Rich

My advice, in a nutshell:

Fit is the critical thing. More important than anything else, to the extent that nothing else matters if the bike doesn't fit.

If you know that a bike will fit -- because you have ridden the same geometry or through some other certain means -- then you can successfully buy a bike sight unseen. It may not end up being your ideal bike, but it won't be a disaster.

But don't buy a bike online until you have determined your sizing needs, unless you know you can return it even after extensive test-riding. Airborne is the only online retailer I know of that lets you do that.

As a secondary consideration, I would personally not buy a bike online unless I either had my own tools and knew how to use them, or had established in advance that a good local bike shop would service the bike and give me warranty support (if applicable). The quality of initial assembly and adjustment, especially of the wheels and the bottom bracket/cranks, can have a lot of influence on the durability of a bike.

RichC

Even if you know nothing about bikes nor have any bike related tools, that is no big deal. Any competent LBS will do a minor tune-up for about $30 and do a major (true wheels, lube cables, clean and lube chain, all adjustments - but ask what all is included to make sure) for about $75. And how will they know where you bought the bike? For all they know you bought it new and just moved to the area. My LBS even put together a bike for me from parts I brought in. They didn't ask and I didn't tell. They were happy for the business. However, they didn't do that great a job nor do they ever. But I was in a hurry so let them do it and I tuned it up as I needed while I rode. So don't let LBS support hold you back. If you need service expect to pay for it. Just like you would if you bought the bike from them.

I just received my 2004 Look KG 386i from Competitive Cyclist (http://www.competitivecyclist.com/za/CCY?PAGE=HOME) a few weeks ago. You can build your bike exactly the way you want it.

These guys are first class individuals, my experience with them has been great!

Give them a call or browse there website.

So don't let LBS support hold you back. If you need service expect to pay for it. Just like you would if you bought the bike from them.

Warranty support can be an issue if you have to ship an entire bike to some out of state dealer to get it. And it can be a big issue if you bought a frame from an unauthorized dealer and you want to get it replaced.

The ongoing free service and adjustments you get with a new bike purchase from an LBS are worth something. Maybe not much to someone with the ability to do their own service and not much faith in the LBS; maybe a lot to someone who relies on others for all their maintenance needs.

It's a factor, and shouldn't be ignored. The last bike I bought online (my Fuji) came with wheels that needed work and other assembly issues (headset adjustment, for example) that would easily pass a casual inspection by an inexperienced rider but that would have caused premature failures had I not corrected them. But I expected that, and was equipped to deal with it.

This is not to say that an LBS might not be equally casual in new-bike assembly. Many are. But at least there when the premature failure occurs you have some recourse.

RichC

Hello. I have experience buying road bikes online. Are you looking at those bikes from Colorado Cyclist or Competitive Cyclist? Both of these companies are very professional. I purchased my last bike from Competitive Cyclist and am very pleased with all of their help. The only disadvantage I can think of is when you purchase a bike from a local shop they should be willing to do all the tune-ups free of charge. I am not sure what Litespeed you are in the market for however I have a Macalu Titanium(made by Litespeed) with full Shimano Ultegra for sale..I am selling this bike for around 1100. If you want more info feel free to contact me at bripeters@email.com or at 719-647-2487 ask for Brian

I just received my 2004 Look KG 386i from Competitive Cyclist (http://www.competitivecyclist.com/za/CCY?PAGE=HOME) a few weeks ago. You can build your bike exactly the way you want it.

Give them a call or browse there website.


You take that bike outdoors and ride it? That's a work of art!!! You've got one really nice ride there.

Looking at Litespeed Capella Ultegra or Litespeed Vela online...anybody here ever buy their bike online? The Capella can be had for $1399 and the Vela for a couple hundred less. Any personal experiences good or bad with online shops would be appreciated. The Vela is all 105 components. Thanks for your assistance as I am doing a lot of research for my first bike road bike experience. A virgin here, so be gentle please. Ken Peer. :D

I don't know about the prices on the bikes. It seems for a new bike to be a standard rate you might be getting a deal, like I said litespeed is a new brand i'm looking into. But in terms of buying off the internet don't ever wire money. There's no guarantee really with this payment option. At least with credit cards you can have some protection. Maybe you can mention this to the seller & ask to speak to him over the phone just to get a sense of where he's coming from. Anything over 1,000 get's tricky & especially when they label the selling as a private auction. I see alot of those from sellers living in France, Turkey etc who've asked me to wire money to them etc.
good luck

Really appreciate all the very helpful posts. My agonizing decision is coming closer to the end. I am going to try one of the recommeded online stores and see if they can fit me with a bike I can be happy with.

Proton,

I just bought a road bike from IBEX last week. It was a close-out 2003 model. The only problems I had were the outside of the shipping box was a little scuffed (the bike was fine though) and I had to make a little adjustment to the rear derailler (sp). I called customer service and he walked me throught the process. I took it on a 35-mile ride yesterday and had no problems. I paid $500 plus $35 shipping for a bile with Tiagra/105 components. I figure I saved $300-$400 over what the big brands cost.

where can you get the vela online?

proton -

I've bought 2 litespeeds online now. One from Hi-tech bikes in San Diego and they were great. Helped me do fitting and measurements over the phone. Very patient in answering questions.

Just bought a second one from Colorado Cyclist. Had demo'd it before so knew the fit was good. They come partially disassembled, so if you're going to go this route you'll need to know how to put it together and possibly make some fine tune type adjustments.

If you're not prepared to do that, you should use your local bike shop and pay the extra cost. Good luck!

Last friday I got my Bianchi GIRO via UPS which I got from a Bike Shop in Chicago bidding on Ebay, a real "steal" really, brand new triple, 2003. It's my first road bike ever, don't know much about it , came disassembled, and took it to my LBS yesterday for set up, charged me $ 40.00, put it together, lubed it, and tuned it up. I got today looking beautiful, but can't ride it yet because of the god damn SNOW! No big deal.
Corsaire
P.S. keep in mind I haven't bought this bike blindly. Previously I had already rode tested it at the same LBS where was put together, so when buying on line I already knew my right size, and how this bike rode.

Last friday I got my Bianchi GIRO via UPS which I got from a Bike Shop in Chicago bidding on Ebay, a real "steal" really, brand new triple, 2003. It's my first road bike ever, don't know much about it , came disassembled, and took it to my LBS yesterday for set up, charged me $ 40.00, put it together, lubed it, and tuned it up. I got today looking beautiful, but can't ride it yet because of the god damn SNOW! No big deal.
Corsaire
P.S. keep in mind I haven't bought this bike blindly. Previously I had already rode tested it at the same LBS where was put together, so when buying on line I already knew my right size, and how this bike rode.
Some people would shot you for doing that.That is a big sin.Not to me but to a lot of others.

My LBS had the same Giro which I rode tested it, liked it very much, in two ocassions I had made an offer to the owner on the Giro, he's selling it for 1,250 or so, this bike retails for 1,500. I had offered first 1,000 cash tight on the spot, he declined, later I did 1,500 he still declined, I told him i really wanted to buy from him, he still declined, oh well I had said I'll have to find a better deal. So the chance came up on Ebay : $ 870.00 plus 50 shipping.
He saw the bike when I took it for set up, which he didn't mind et all....so where the sin dude!
you strike as one of those who like shoving people's throat their religious beliefs. It's supply and demand, just in case you didn't know.
Corsaire ;)

My LBS had the same Giro which I rode tested it, liked it very much, in two ocassions I had made an offer to the owner on the Giro, he's selling it for 1,250 or so, this bike retails for 1,500. I had offered first 1,000 cash tight on the spot, he declined, later I did 1,500 he still declined, I told him i really wanted to buy from him, he still declined, oh well I had said I'll have to find a better deal. So the chance came up on Ebay : $ 870.00 plus 50 shipping.
He saw the bike when I took it for set up, which he didn't mind et all....so where the sin dude!
you strike as one of those who like shoving people's throat their religious beliefs. It's supply and demand, just in case you didn't know.
Corsaire ;)
Not me,i'm on your side but its come up a million times,support your lbs even if it costs you more.Do not test ride a bike at a lbs and buy online.You will get a lot of people very,very mad at you,not me,i'm just reporting the threads i've been on that i said that is total BS.I buy where i can get the best price.I will test ride at a lbs and if they cant get close to what i can get online,they lose.On the other hand a ton of people belive that you should spend your money at the lbs even if its more because you need to keep them in business.Oh,i dont shove anything down anybodys anything.Thats what is cool about online,its blind.

I know and understand very well, IDEALLY, in a perfect world I'd love to support the small guy and give him my business; unfortunately we don't live in a perfect world, in this society, our society: money talks and the BS walks - is it fair? NOT, hell no, but in the end money dictates the buy; capitalism my friend, capitalism......besides I have to make my HARD earned money worth it.
Corsaire

Very sweet. Makes me want to call them tomorrow!

Since I could maintain my own bike, the decision is much easier for me. I have no problem supporting my local LBS, BUT there prices are just to high! That's why online shopping is great and will always be supported. There are pros and cons to online shopping as well, but I'm willing to accept them. The biggest advantage to buying from your LBS is INSTANT GRADIFICATION, something I have no problem waiting for my online purchase to arrive.

Also, I live in New York and really don't like paying 8.625% on top of a $3000 bike, for city and state taxes.

There is no money tree in front of my house, I work hard for my earnings.

Sorry but times are changing!

proton -

I've bought 2 litespeeds online now. One from Hi-tech bikes in San Diego and they were great. Helped me do fitting and measurements over the phone. Very patient in answering questions.

Just bought a second one from Colorado Cyclist. Had demo'd it before so knew the fit was good. They come partially disassembled, so if you're going to go this route you'll need to know how to put it together and possibly make some fine tune type adjustments.

If you're not prepared to do that, you should use your local bike shop and pay the extra cost. Good luck!

Skiahh,

How would you compare Hi-tech bikes vs. Colorado Cyclist as far as customer service, parts selection, price, etc.? I bought my '01 Litespeed classic from C.C. and was very pleased with their service. Hi-tech is just down the road from me and I'm down in the S.D. area all the time.

Bobsled -

I was extremely pleased with both customer service and price from Hi-tech. I hadn't had a road bike in years and they coached me through the measurements, guaranteed the fit - if it didn't fit right, they'd exchange the frame for the next size down since I was close, but they were spot on, and never got frustrated with lots of phone calls I made. When the bike came, the stem was one size too big for my taste after a couple rides, so they put one in the mail that day (they did charge my card, but refunded it immediately when they received the original stem back).

The CC bike came with "partial assembly" required, including wrapping the bars and installing the front brakes while the Hi-tech came basically ready to go. Put on the front tire and straightened and tightened the (already wrapped) handlebars and I was off.

Hi-tech tossed in a couple of upgrades for me since I had to wait for the frame to come from Litespeed - nothing drastic - but it was a nice touch.

Hank's great and I'd happily recommend his shop to anyone and everyone!

It may save you a few dollars to buy a bike online, but what about your relationship, service, etc with real people in your neighborhood? Are you going to have your service done online? If you are buying a higher end bike, spend a few extra dollars to know a reputable dealer with a good mechanic. You will save money in the long run. (just my opinion)

It takes an awful lot of service to make up for the many hundreds and even thousand(s) of dollars saved shopping on-line. And finding a good local mechanic is very hit-and-miss. Most are underpaid young men who probably mean well but don't have much idea of what being a "real" mechanic means. They can change out a part. But they generally can't fix squat. The best mechanic out of my three local LBS is me. And I work in my basement. The only time to go to the LBS for service is when they have a $100+ tool you don't want to buy. IMHO it is always best to shop on-line.

It may save you a few dollars to buy a bike online, but what about your relationship, service, etc with real people in your neighborhood? Are you going to have your service done online? If you are buying a higher end bike, spend a few extra dollars to know a reputable dealer with a good mechanic. You will save money in the long run. (just my opinion)
I dont have a relationship with a bike shop.Its a place of business,not church.

Thanks Skiahh.

Bobsled,you dont have enough bike shops to choose from,supergo,performance which has a big sale on 03's,jaxs,twowheels one planet and at least 25-30 others,i know,i'm in lakewood.

I'll buy from my local LBS (Anchor Bay Bike & Fitness). The owner is not just a LBS owner, but also has been a very good friend for many years. His pricing has always been very good. Even when the economy was (is?) in the toilet here in Michigan, he did very well because of good prices, and great service. BTW, I don't know about the rest of the country, but the state of Michigan is getting ready to start requiring that Michigan sales tax be collected on all online purchases shipped to Michigan residents.

A "one-man" e-seller I deal with was telling me that the bicycle business, as a whole, is down about 30% this year. He said that is the reason we are seeing structural changes such as Shimano and Chris King being very strict with their distributors and taking their lines away from discounters. They are doing so as the bicycle manufacturers don't want to give up the profits involved with selling fully built bicycles. That is one reason we are seeing more and more bicycles with Shimano from the factory. Campy has so far not rolled over for the bike companies. We'll see how long they can hold out. But is tough with Trek and SRAM buying up all the lines that they can. Our choices are shrinking.

Bobsled,you dont have enough bike shops to choose from,supergo,performance which has a big sale on 03's,jaxs,twowheels one planet and at least 25-30 others,i know,i'm in lakewood.

For parts I like Circle Cycle and for maintenance I like Downey Cyclery (actually in Los Alamitos).

Looking at Litespeed Capella Ultegra or Litespeed Vela online...anybody here ever buy their bike online? The Capella can be had for $1399 and the Vela for a couple hundred less. Any personal experiences good or bad with online shops would be appreciated. The Vela is all 105 components. Thanks for your assistance as I am doing a lot of research for my first bike road bike experience. A virgin here, so be gentle please. Ken Peer. :D

my reply...i bought a vella from collorado cyclist--best price out there-nice bike--fit was bad-it was over 100 bucks to return it--i wish i had at least gone to a local dealer an tried some of the bikes out for fit-would not do it again without knowing what i want. i returned the small-got the medium-- (150 extra bucks later)--seems now that i needed the small and a larger stem, but i was not sending it back for another 150 bucks...i just made it fit. I CAN make YOU a good deal on a medium vela...if your just a hair longer then me

also-i bought a Q roo tri bike from tri-tech in san diago--i love them--they'll fit ya nice and won't just sell you something.

my history with on-line...also pieced out some great component deals on e-bay and bought a bike on there--all i picked up in person too as they say-buyer beware

I bought my two Bianchis: Vigorelli and Volpe on line, no problems, great experience.
Corsaire

nancyinky - the problem wasn't with CC or the bike. It was with you. You didn't do your homework and bought the wrong size. CC didn't sell you the wrong size. They had no way of knowing. They sold you what you told them to sell you. If you are a novice and don't know what you are doing, then you only get what you paid for. But that is not necessarily what you want. So don't buy on-line if you don't know what you want well enough to purchase correctly. But once you do, then you can't beat the prices. Like my new Alpha Q Sub3 fork for less than $200.

Good point! you gotta know ahead of time your size and have tested the model you want. I knew and had tested both models before searching the net for bargains, paid:
Volpe $ 580.00
Vigorelli $ 1,100
Corsaire :)

As to the Vela and Capella,
both great bikes
both share the same frame
vela-105
capella-ultegra
I purchased the Vela last year
@ LBS for $1300 and feel like I
got a steal. This thing is a freaking
rocketship, it accelerates like crazy,
because the frame is very stiff. How
ever it seems to soak up a lot of the
road buzz. Go get fitted @
LBS w/ fit kit and order away.
You will not be disappointed with
the bike. Just make sure it fits.

I just bought my first on-line bike from bikesdirect.com. Great company to work with. Customer service was awesome. No tax, no shipping. Because I bought on-line I was able to buy all the extras I wanted to get with the money saved from my on-line purchase. I still have a great relationship with my LBS. They get enough of my money through the years with all the toys I get to buy from them.

Bought my first bike from LBS - no problems, coupla mistakes from them when fitting new tyres (wrong size from the ones I specifically asked for - who replaces 700x28s with another pair of 28s, instead of the 700x23s I paid for?!?) and when recommending a godawful, GODAWFUL fender set, but apart from that, nice people.

My second bike was bought mail order, coz no-one locally sold it. At all. One Bianchi dealer in Northern Ireland, cheapest they did was £775, vs. £449 mail order. I will get my LBS to service this new bike, and pay them accordingly for it.

What I would not do however, is to go to the LBS to get properly sized, and then buy the same bike online.

That's just wrong dude. :D

Nothing wrong with going to your LBS to get fitted. Just pay them for their time if you know that you will buy on-line. That is only fair to them.

It may save you a few dollars to buy a bike online, but what about your relationship, service, etc with real people in your neighborhood? Are you going to have your service done online? If you are buying a higher end bike, spend a few extra dollars to know a reputable dealer with a good mechanic. You will save money in the long run. (just my opinion)

Ah, you mean the people who size touring bikes like racing bikes? The people who charge vastly more for wheel =parts= than it costs to buy custom built wheels on line? The people who screw up derailleur and brake adjustments on new bikes? THOSE people?

When it's a crap shoot at the LBS, there's no point in =not= ordering on line.