Great Lakes - I need your opinion!

I am looking at these bikes from bikesdirect.com, and I'm torn? I live in a small community with a local shop that does alot for advocacy. They cannot come within hundreds of the price for the bike I want, where as I can get exactly what I want for hundreds less from this online source.

If everyone shoped at these online stores we wouldn't have local shops?

Should I care? What do you think? Does anyone know anything about Bikesdirect.com?

HELP :rolleyes:

Buy local.....

Compromise, buy the bike online and buy all of the accessories at your lbs. They make more on racks, pannier bags, bar tape and service then they make selling bikes right?

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=138728

Not to say that happens to everyone but he does share some information that others have encountered the same issue

There's nothing better than being able to test ride the bike you're buying. Unless you're building from ground up I'd want to buy local. "Kick the tires" so to speak.
I looked at a lot of bikes before I bought mine, just getting back into biking and being older and heavier than I was 20 years ago. I price shopped, feature shopped, and narrowed it down to the shop which gave me the most attention and bike that fit my needs best. Then I road it around their lot. SOLD.
The extra you may spend will be for service you should be receiving. They'll be there 6 months from now when you need advice on accessories or upgrades. Or when you're not shifting 'just right'.
Find a quality local shop, make sure they treat you right, and enjoy your purchase.

Support your Local bike shop and local economy. They will support you.

If you buy your bike online you will have to assemble it yourself, adjust it yourself, and fit it yourself. Should you choose to have it assembled and adjusted at a bike shop you will be at a closer figure to the bike shop purchase price.