ridethecliche

You forgot to spell 'bug' as 'bugh'.

Indyv8a

Here's something from a regular guy. I have a pair of growing kids, both want new bikes for next season. My 8 year old daughter is tired of her brother's hand me downs, and my 11 year old son has been riding with me this season. For next year he wants a drop handle road bike.

For working families, my wife and I are teachers, two bikes from an LBS is a big chunk. To get a roadie for my son will cost the full price of any other adult bike, except he is likely to outgrow it. Used small bikes are really no bargain, or tend to be high end ladies models. Which would be the better way to allocate my limited resources? A new Trek 1000? or a Dawes Lightning, since it is likely a one season bike?

TheJackMove

It is great to actually have someone from BD here so we can get their thoughts on there things.

Like a said before, I really don't care what kind of bike anyone else on this forum is riding, it is their business and if you like your BD bike that's great, you are happy and probably saved money over other brands that you can put to good use elsewhere I am sure.
But here is my question for Mike for BD: I understand the purchasing and licensing of brand names and how it happens everywhere...but isn't it a little misleading (and unethical, if anyone cares) to have one of the main advertising points of your bikes be the history of Motobecane and Mercier or whatever brands, since this company, aside from the name you purchased, has nothing to do with those who made those bikes and the actual history of the company? Being associated with this kind of history is the point of purchasing a name though, and I guess that is why the bikes sell well and it is a great business model. But to advertise that Motobecane won this and some other guy rode a Motobecane to victory in the the first bike race ever in third century BC, implying that this is an old company with a lot of great history, is, well, I'm sure you get the point.

I am sure this will piss off a lot of people here which is not my intention, I really just want to know what people (and Mike) think about this. Like I said, I don't really care what bike you ride, how much it cost, or why you purchased it, so please save the personal attacks. And on that note, it also doesn't matter what I ride to anyone but me.

seminole13

I applaud BD.com. So what if they offer bikes that many deem to be lesser quality frames with great components? It brings more people into this sport/passion because otherwise many people might hesitate to jump in with the prices of bikes. It can be intimidating to go into a bike shop, tell them you want an good entry level bike and they start their pitch with a $1500 bike. I visited over 10 LBSs in my local area and that happened almost half the time. Maybe the LBSs are the ones we should scold as there are (in my experience) more shady ones than legit! I think BD.com is doing a GREAT thing by offering nice bikes at a bargain. It pulls people into this sport and isn’t that what it is all about? The major manufactures keep increasing prices and lowering the components they put on their bikes. To get a full 105 bike, you need to invest $1200+ nowadays and that is almost criminal.

I find it comical that so many here get their panties in a bunch because some people own a BD.com bike or are looking at them and they feel it is their duty to scream “shill” and “junk.” As many threads as I’ve read here, I don’t see many actual OWNERS of BD’s products knock them. They are what they are and that is that. I personally wouldn’t purchase one online because I like the support and relationship that a LBS offers (fitting, warranty, having a biking ‘home’), but who cares if others don’t? I also happen to live in a city that has at least two LBSs that sell BD.com bikes, but I didn’t get the “vibe” from those shops – others might. Would I receive the same treatment if I posted a picture of my Moto even IF it came from a LBS? I bet so . . .

What really irks me is those that look down their noses at others and their bikes. Everyone is different and chooses to spend their money on different things. Does that make them right or wrong? I know some here would laugh at my bike, but I choose to spend my money on some other things. I own a nice home, I have an amazing espresso machine (I very well may have more money tied up in my espresso gear than some of you do in your Orbeas, Felts, Madones, etc.), I have a humidor that you could crawl into for my cigars, I have a nice selection of wines on hand at any given time – enough to supply a large gathering, I have a beautiful watch, I have some of the finest golf equipment made, I own nice cars, my two year old son’s college is already paid for (granted he goes in-state, YIPEE!!), and I own a “cheaper” road bike. Does that make me bad or a lesser person? Do I get less enjoyment from each mile I ride? Do I burn fewer calories and achieve less cardiovascular benefit? Some people choose to live in a small apartment but have a NICE bike, some people choose to drink crappy coffee but have a NICE bike, etc - I don’t think less of them for that. Why should others be judged by what bike they swing their leg over?

In the grand scheme of things we are all cyclists. It should be enough that we all enjoy to clip in and put on some miles. We should stick together and stop judging. I do know that given some of the posts I read here, I’d sooner ride with the BD.com owners than those on their custom Carbon and Ti bikes that think you have to spend $5k+ to be worth their time.

And for the record I ride an “entry-level” Trek 1500.

halfspeed

It's the deceptive marketing that is the core of the controversy. Note that many other "bargain" brand mail-order bikes and components made in Asia like Pedal Force and Leader are regularly mentioned here. They don't draw the heat that BD gets.

losmark

"The Nazis used to kill people who disagreed with them. Here, intolerant people resort to name calling and derision. "


Nazis employed both name-calling and derision along with murder. The Nazis were terrible.

nerobro

all I'm hearing here is "Waaaaa bikesdirect.com can't possibly sell bikes that cheaply, waaaaaaa." The only alternative to buying a BRAND NEW bike from BD, is to buy a used bike. That negates most of the benefits of buying a new major label bike anyway.

The only posts i've read that says anything of substance are from purchasers of bikes from bikesdirect. You'd think they'd be crying a lot more if the bikes were that bad.

I think I know what I'm missing by buying a bikesdirect bike. I am not concerned with service by the bike shop. I don't NEED service by the bike shop. That would seem to put me in the ideal situation to buy a mail order bike. So I did.

Why should I have made the choice to buy a bike from the LBS? Could I have gotten a Base level road bike for $450? What more would I have gotten in the deal? I asked very similar questions in another thread, and they remain unanswered. Please, enlighten me.

shogun17

OK. The people that move to town we help as much as possible. They weren't in town and now they are here, chances are they will buy from us again. We don't treat them with 'attitude', we remain polite and courteous to all customers, there is no sense in being a prick. If we can't help them, eg they don't hold a warranty with us (or anyone) or we don't hold their brand, we recommend the best possible place other then our own shop to allow them to get their bike fixed as quickly as possible. Not holding a warranty is a big drawback of web buys, but if we can help, we'll usually give a discount to anyone in trouble.

We don't 'sneer' at anyone, except the people that come in, test things out, ask for fittings etc., then go and buy it off the net. That leaves a sour taste, and even then, we 'politely' turn them away, we don't give them attitude. We can't afford to because his/her bad impression will be transmitted across the club. And I spend most of my time with a set of tools in front of a bike. We have a personable boss who can find a way to help with nearly everything... for any large purchases or warranty issues.

And don't come into our shop shuffles, it is in Western Australia and would be a long, boring, slightly pointless trip for you. And remember, a bike shop is a bike shop, we do what we can to make money, and that includes being nice to everyone.


Oh, and as to the crash, a web bought, chinese made relabeled 'carbon' frame (which looks suspiciously identical to one of BD's previous offerings) would flex so much under moderate power that it would shift the RD. In a crit, this interesting property = big crash out of a corner.

ridethecliche

So if I buy elsewhere and come to you guys for a fit service, you'll turn me away?

Great way to get customers I must say...

thelazywon

COLNAGO

indygreg

Props to Mike for coming in and posting in these threads. Also props to Mike for IMHO being so open to customers, potential customers and haters. What do I mean? He has always talked about what we gets these frames made for . . . and it is not much. He does not have to disclose this. It sometimes backfires. He talks about $30-50 being a high end alum frame and people laugh. They act like the big OEM Asian Alum frames are so much more.
As to ridethecliche, you found some crappy carbon China frames . . . so this means that Mike's Taiwan frames are also junk? That is a bit of a stretch.

ElJamoquio

I'm still waiting for my colnogo ride.

elemental

I don't really see the problem. I just bought a bike and budget was the main issue. I chose to go with my LBS because they'll give me a free fit and tune-up, and the price of my Scott was actually so good that the comparable BikesDirect bikes actually come out to the same price before I pay to have a LBS to at least give it a once-over, not to mention a pro fit. Ultimately, a Motobecane or Mercier would have cost me more for the same spec. However, I don't have any issue with BikesDirect, and I think what they're doing is great for cycling because they address a market the big-name LBS brands have neglected: Those just getting into cycling who find it much easier to shell out $400 than $750. Buy from BD or your LBS, as far as I'm concerned, a bike is a bike and the more cyclists out there the merrier.

elemental

Oh yeah, props to Mike for coming out here and defending his brand and business model to us. I find that impressive.

thelazywon

me too actually

CastIron

Best poll in months. The rest is just fodder.

elemental

Me three. This is stupid, I would rather be on the outside of the BD hater group.

thelazywon

If BD offered a lugged steel frame made from columbus SL or similar, I would buy it I think.

IchBinDarren

To the OP: Okie Dokie?

MOTORFIRE

what the LBS missing is the bike came from the net but i need pedals shoes shorts shirts water bottles and all the other stuff but i guess they didnt went to sell to me

dcbikeguy

Punctuation is your friend.

ILUVUK

BD offers two or three bikes with Columbus aluminum tubing. I thought Columbus tubing was top notch. Is there something wrong with these frames too in the eyes of BD-haters? I'm just curious.

elemental

I'd be pretty tempted if they'd do something with the SRAM Rival group. If they can do a special SRAM Force SL, how about a Le Champion with the Rival group. Should be around the same as Ultegra pricewise, right? You listening, Mike?

I've always wanted to try a SRAM group. If BD could do a Rival around what their aluminum Ultegra stuff goes for, I'd be in.

shabbasuraj

sure pal whatever you say

texascyclist

Someone could say the OP is an LBS shill. The same (lack of) argument applies.

I say go for it to anyone purchasing a BD bike. You get a lot of nice groups with some of the frames. The higher end of these bikes will not limit a single one of you significantly in a race. So stop whining and mind your own business. All this mess about welds is from folks who couldn't identify anything approaching an aerospace grade weld if it could save their life.