calliebear9

Hi All!

Looking to get a road bike. I have heard that LBS's follow a cycle where they have sales in the late summer and early fall to make room for new inventory coming in for the next year. Does anyone know when/if this kicks in for the Bay Area dealers? Anyone have any deals they would like to share? Looking for sub $2k endurance with mid level (105's) components, open to frame material.

Thanks!

treadtread

My friend saw a 2011 Roubaix for about $1400 at his LBS. He is on leave this week, I'll ask him the name of the LBS when he comes in next week. I just know that the shop is somewhere in the South Bay.

DiabloScott

Bike shops are always advertising sales - they know nobody buys so many bikes that they'd know the difference between the sale price and the everyday price anyway, and MSRP can be anything from a firm number to a ridiculous number for discounting. So while there might be legitimate price drops at legitimate stores, I don't think there's a particular time when they all reduce inventory simultaneously.

The way to do this, is to find a bike you'd be happy with that's a little higher priced than you want to pay.

Example: $2300.




Then you shop around the LBSs - bring photos and the spec list and everything. You say "this one is my favorite so far - do you have something equal or better at a lower price?" That's the best way to tell the dealer that you're on the level, ready to buy, looking to make a smart decision, and you respect his time so he'll want to work with you.

johnny99

This time of year, many stores are discounting leftovers of this year's models to make room for next year's models. However, expect your selection of models and sizes to be spotty, especially for popular models.

hhuytho

I just relocated to the Bay Area and was looking for a new road bike. Chain Reaction in Redwood and Los Gatos is having a sale on 2014 Trek Domane 4.7 for $2399 plus $200 to spend on accessories. The MSRP for this bike was more than $3k but I don't know if this is true or not. I am not in anyway affiliated with this shop but they are very friendly and the service was great.

linnefaulk

Trek dealers are having their summer sale through tomorrow, July 28.

Roadrash3

Chain reaction always has a good sale price bike if you are looking. That same Domane and a Madone were that same price at Livermore Cyclery also. I always shop at Livermore Cyclery for the best deals and best service, but have been known to shop endless cycles in Castro Valley and Chain reaction (Even though they are far from me. Those are the best shops and offer the best prices and service. Mikes bikes is close here but they never offer any good sales and seem very corporate feel, they can't offer anything

goaliedad30

I just picked up the new Domane 4.7 I've been eyeing. It was marked down (2014 model), and beyond the substantial discount, included $200 of free accessories (in my case, Speedplay pedals, a couple of cages, and the DuoTrap sensor). Out the door, I got the 4.7 for what I would have paid for the 4.3 earlier in the season. They even had in stock the frame size I needed .... so the bike is now happily home with me!

nuke_diver

I picked up my CAAD10-3 at Sports Basement last year in Oct mainly because it was a 2013 and they were moving them and it was 30% off their regular price and I get an additional 10% so it was a really good deal for me. The only trouble was that inventory was limited...for example I might have gotten a similar %age deal on a CAAD10-5 and it would have been less $$ but there simply were none in a size that might fit me in the Bay Area. The CAAD10 I did buy wasn't even at my local store...they sent it down from the SF story so I could test ride it

treadtread

Just got the name from my friend. Talbot's Cyclery in San Mateo - Specialized Roubaix Compact - Talbot's Cyclery - San Mateo, CA

calliebear9

The deal is real. I went to that store. It is definitely the deal they are pushing and based on numbers and specs it is a good one. I was just hoping to spend a bit under $2k.

I found a 2014 Giant Avail Comp 2 for $1300 marked down from $1850, which I think is a good deal. I am trying to decide between that and the Trek Lexa SLX or maybe, if I stretch, I found a Trek Domane 4.3 for $1999. But that number worries me a bit when I still have to get peddles, water bottle cages, and a tire kit, etc and have to add in the wonderful CA sales tax (so hard coming from Oregon where there was none- ouch!). The Chain Reaction stores are having a promo where I would get $100 toward accessories for a bike under 2k (really $1??? maybe I can talk them up or pay them an extra dollar to get $99 back). So that $100 would cut down the Domane total all in price a little if my accessories total that amount.

What do you think of the Giant? Is that a good bike for a good price? I rode it, and it seemed fine. I can't really tell all that much of a difference between the bikes except if I get on one and know I really don't like it....I want 105s or better and I really want good breaks. I don't think the frame material matters too much to me. The Lexa is Alum but has the Iso-decoupler, so I guess that works similar to carbon to dampen the road noise. I am hoping to ride all three back to back to back with appropriate bike shorts to see if I feel much of a difference. 2 of the 3 are the last pieces in inventory so they may go before I decide. I was going to wait until fall but now am worried I will not get any good deals in my size in the fall.....There aren't many 2014's left in my size I am finding....

DiabloScott

Something doesn't look right about this bike... I don't know anyone who has one. The higher end Giants are a really nice design, but this one is a little too weird for my traditional eye.

calliebear9

Avail Composite 2 (2014) | Giant Bicycles | United States

This is the bike....I am not sure what the silver one is...although I think it is pretty. Are you saying it looks weird because of the color or is there something on the actual bike that looks weirdly placed?

nokia8860

Maybe the super slopping top tube or the wheel cutout in the seat tube mated to a long chainstay where you would traditionally have short stays to get the rear wheel tucked in there?

@calliebear9, I'd look at the 2015 Cervélo R2 which comes with Shimano's 11-Speed 105. MSRP is $2,500 but I'm sure Sharp Bicycle in Lafayette can work something out. Sure you'll go over your $2000 budget but its a nice bike based off the R3 sub 1000g frame.



For the money, the R2 is a pretty good buy for a pre-configured bicycle. Do post back with photos of the bicycle that you eventually purchase.

bobonker

I've purchased 2 bikes from this place and would definitely buy from them again.

goride - Close Outs

Sonny

DiabloScott

It's the tubes and angles. I realize this is a woman's design frame and sometimes they have to make some concessions for small sizes. But it looks like they used the design for a really small frame (with concessions) and then scaled it up to a normal size frame - the angle between the chainstay and the seatstay looks too small. Maybe it's just the one in that photo; the smaller ones may look more proportionally balanced. If you really need a small or X-small frame then this looks like a good choice; if you can ride a 52cm or larger maybe just look around a little more to be sure before you decide. If you like how it looks and how it rides then you should just ignore my minor gripe.

danec99

The Trek and the Giant are pretty similar bikes. I guess this "Giant Composite Technology" is carbon fiber. Both bikes list themselves as "Shimano 105", but as usual they don't go all out. The Crankset and brakes are usually lesser; however the Trek at least retains the official 105 brakes. Most brakes function pretty well and by simply replacing the pads with Kool-Stops you will get improved performance. The Lexa is equipped with Tiagra, so the price point should be much lower (I would lean to the Giant over this.) All in all it is about how you like it, if it fits and rides to your liking that is all that matters. Nothing wrong with the Giant at all.

calliebear9

The Lexa SLX has 105s except for the rear cogs,

Trek Lexa SLX T - Women's - Chain Reaction Bicycles- Los Altos, Redwood City, CA

The Giant has a Tiagra rear casette, which I think is the same as cogs, maybe??

Does that change your leaning toward the Giant at all?

danec99

I did not see the SLX on the Trek site.
Lexa SLX - Alloy with carbon fork vs the Avail and Domaine which are carbon. That is a personal preference; I have not ridden a carbon bike so I cannot comment. I do long rides on my scandium (fancy aluminum) with a carbon fork and have no complaints. Yes, cogs=cassettes. They cut corners on "groupsets" by replacing a few items with lesser (but certainly functional) parts, that cassette will be fine. The Lexa has the same brakes as the Giant I think? Unbranded Shimano's. Again, pads are more important. The Lexa has lower gearing; a road triple crankset with a 12-30 cassette will get you up the steepest of hills. The other two bikes have the (now) more common compact crankset (50/34). My old legs would prefer the gearing of the Lexa. All 3 will get you where you to go. I would recommend pushing to the edge of your budget - get the best/most for your dollar. However, as you mentioned you still need some other stuff - plus a new saddle might be needed as well. OEM saddles are not always that great, work that in at time of sale. If you can ride all three - do it. However the $1300 for the Avail seems pretty good...