vol

Often the LBS's don't have many options. I can find some bikes in online catalogs but they are not carried by the LBS's. Mail order, however, will deliver the bike that requires you to assemble by yourself, which I have 0 experience and don't want to mess up things. Is there a way to buy a bike of your choice and have it assembled for you? It's not easy to carry it to the LBS for them to put it together, also they probably charge a lot $$$ so that will defeat a decently priced bike.

10 Wheels

Order a bike and have it shipped to your bike shop.

vol

That would be nice, but do most bike shops accept such arrangement? What's the average charge for assembling?

StephenH

It seems to me that part of the problem is that you're comparing apples and oranges. You like the cheap no-service-included price off the internet, but you want service included. If buying that bike off the internet automatically implies some other costs, you just need to factor them in, and if the thing is overpriced that way, then skip it and buy something different. Don't forget to allow for freight and for a possiblity that the bike will be the wrong size or damaged in transit or other similar problems that a dealer would normally deal with, that become your problems if you order it yourself. Even if you do the assembly and adjustments yourself, that has some cost in time to you. If you compare food prices at the grocery store to food prices at a restaurant, you'd see the same problem crop up.

You should be able to get a price from your local bike store to receive and assemble a bike, or even order it for you.

The bike I'm currently riding was one that my local bike store didn't stock, but they were a dealer for the brand, so they were happy to order it. When checking on it, I was looking at Surly's dealer list and discovered they don't have dealers as such, just any shop that wants to can order one up. On Jamis, I visited a local shop that was listed as a dealer, and couldn't see that they had a single Jamis bike in the store. I suppose they would order it up, also. So you may be overlooking some options from your local dealers.

I was able to identify about 8 different brands of bike with similar features and price. Buying what was actually available locally, rather than what was available off the internet, was helpful in narrowing the choices down.

Now, on the original question, where to buy bikes with more choices, that usually involves going to the largest bike store in the nearest big city. If it's not worth the trip, then you deal with the choices you have. You might ask in the regional forums about bike shops in your area or the nearest large metropolitan area.

vol

Thanks a lot, that is very helpful! Indeed, I forgot the 1 year free services that comes with the LBS purchase!

fietsbob

Bike shops put together bike tourist's own bikes all the time around here ,
the rider takes the Bus from the Airport,
and sends the bike in a box by parcel service.

vol

They are tourists? So when they return to their home, do they ask the bike shop to dissemble the bikes to bring back? Or perhaps they don't bring them back?

GP

I was at a Performance Bike last week and a guy came in with a brand new bike in a box. The guy behind the counter went over to the mechanics who confirmed that they'd assemble it. I was trying to eavedrop on the cost but didn't get it.

Machka 

Get experience.

If it is just a matter of putting the handlebars, pedals, and wheels on (like how you would pack a bicycle to take it to another country to do a cycling tour), that's easy and is something anyone can do (and is something most cycletourists know how to do). I've lost track of the number of times I've dismantled my bicycle and put it together again with all my travels. But the very first time, I rented a case from a bicycle shop and the guys at that shop showed me what to do.

However it is, in fact, a good idea to know how to do those things even if you're not going to travel with your bicycle. Removing and replacing the wheel is a key part of fixing flats.

If there is more to it ... i.e. building the wheels, running the cabling, installing the gears etc. ... then take some classes and learn how to do it. You can find classes at your local university/college, at places like MEC and REI, put on by your local clubs (especially touring clubs), and at bicycle shops.


Why don't you just go to the bicycle shops in your area and ask:
1) if they have bicycle mechanics classes and if not, if they can recommend where you might find one

2) if they ever assemble bicycles and how much they might charge for that.

Robert C

It has been a few years since I have purchased a bike at a bike shop; however, I do not remember ever getting free service on the bikes I purchased at an LBS (3 specializeds', 1 bikeE, and 1 LBS mongoose).

I have seen signs in bike shops, recently, that list prices. It seems that assembly is listed at about $100.

I also agree with what others here have said, it is not hard to assemble a bicycle and is a good introduction to the mechanical works of the bike. Knowing the basics of how to repair, and adjust, your bike is an extremely helpful skill even if you have no plans of touring.