Where did you buy your bike?
08-24-03, 04:15 PM
#26
Vello Kombi, baby
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Bikes: 1973 Eisentraut; 1970s Richard Sachs; 1978 Alfio Bonnano; 1967 Peugeot PX10
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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.
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.
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08-24-03, 10:13 PM
#27
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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.
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.
08-25-03, 07:39 AM
#29
Life is good
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My first bike was purchased at a bike shop that has since gone out of business. 
Good service and friendly people.
My second bike was purchased at a bike shop that has expanded to three shops.
Also good service and friendly people.
Good service and friendly people.My second bike was purchased at a bike shop that has expanded to three shops.
Also good service and friendly people.
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The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. - Psalm 103:8
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The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. - Psalm 103:8
I am a cyclist. I am not the fastest or the fittest. But I will get to where I'm going with a smile on my face.
09-05-03, 05:04 PM
#30
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Originally posted by grasshopperNC
I searched everywhere before buying my bike!
I searched everywhere before buying my bike!
either way is fine as long as person is happy in the .
END
09-06-03, 12:00 PM
#31
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My last was at performance.Before that is was supergo.Performance took longer but were nicer and lifetime tuneups.
09-06-03, 12:33 PM
#32
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Bikes: Orbea Enol roadie, Fly Micromachine BMX, Fort Track fixed
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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.
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.
09-06-03, 08:23 PM
#33
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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!!!
this bike probably was 3rd-4rd hand before came to me
i got it for under 6 dollars
i'm really cheap!!!
09-06-03, 08:44 PM
#34
Approaching Nirvana
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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.
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09-07-03, 04:03 PM
#35
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Gregg's Greenlake Cycle in Seattle, WA. Great service there...Couple of yahoos but most of the people there are helpful.
Teski
Teski
09-07-03, 09:25 PM
#37
Senior Member
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Roadbikereview classifieds. What can I say, I wanted more bike than I could afford to buy new.
09-08-03, 12:03 AM
#38
I drink your MILKSHAKE
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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 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.
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09-08-03, 03:40 PM
#39
Project 1 , 8000 & T100
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hummm, I buy mine directly at the bike companys Midwest Distribution center (I work for a bike co).
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Oh to be just a little bit faster....
Oh to be just a little bit faster....
