acassis

like many consumer items, i would suspect there is a good time of year to buy a bike, like when the new models come out, the old models are easily had for much cheaper. does this apply and if so, when is it? i currently do not have a bike, and although i am itching to buy one, i could hold off if its worth the wait.

Dave Mayer

In terms of selection, now is a good time.

In terms of price, now is the worst time. In November, when the sales and repair staff are bored, and the desparate shop owners are thinking that they may not have enough money to buy inventory for next season - that is the best time to strike a deal.

Worst time for service: likely last Saturday. Soccer moms lined out the door willing to wait 3 weeks and drop big dollars to get a 5 minute derailleur adjustment. Best time: November: shops will treat you like a lost cousin and provide roll-in, roll-out service.

Just like a ski resort: on the weekdays, the staff are friendly, no waits, lower prices. On weekends, staff call in sick, and those remaining are stressed and surly. You wait for everything, and pay more.

DowneasTTer

Add six months to the time line above for Florida

Lazyass

Labor day sales and of course Black Friday. Or look now for 2012/13 bikes.

Team Sarcasm

october/november are when year end sales happen.

If you're lucky you may be able to find a left over 2013, 2012, or older in a shop. Go in and ask the owner if he/she has any older bikes. You never know.

Some summer sales are pretty good though. A few dealers run nice sales around this time.

hybridbkrdr

I think some local sports stores (maybe not bicycle shops but sports stores that still sell recognized names) start having sales around August.

SundayNiagara

Cool, Performance is supposed to open in Miami in, (UGH) August.

acassis

Ok. Peformance has a 2013 fuji will full shimano 105 for 900 bucks. Cant tell if its a deal or not....

seymour1910

it is a very good price, if it is your size, it's a good deal.

xjustice09x

I've had good luck finding deals August to December.

Late summer is when I sometimes see shops starting to discount current year models to make room for next years bikes.

There are always deals to be had if you know where to look. Some shops have new old stock that is pretty heavily discounted.

Kameleon

First post!

But yeah I'm in the same dilemma I'm itching to buy a bike now but I heard 4th of July is when the first rounds of price drops happen.

I'm torn between 2014 BBQ caad8 ($1299) or caad10 ($1550) both on 105's.
I find myself leaning toward the 8 mainly because of price. So based on you guys expertise :

1) how much do you think the caad10 might drop to?
2) will I be stuck getting a discount on other colors because the BBQ is more popular?
3) or I'm I to look for 2013 models? (no stores around me seem to have them)

Northwestrider

IMO if you don't already have a bike, now is the best time to buy one. It is not worth the wait. Get a bike now, and concern yourself with the date of your second bike purchase.

Kameleon

Not to hijack a thread but along these lines....

Is there a certain time of the year we'll see a bigger amount of bikes for sale on Craigslist?
When new year model come out?
Kind of like when a new iPhone comes out?
Or
Later in the winter when bike shop throw deals and the "2nd bike" buyer upgrades?

MRT2

In my neck of the woods, anytime after November through the New year. I was getting some emails from my lbs last season for up to 35% off the week before Christmas.

The problem with cycling is, because it is such a seasonal thing, I have never bought a bike in November or December. Almost every bike I have bought in the last 17 years has been from April through early July, or exactly the time when I was least likely to get a good deal.

chil2makefun

September is fine as well. I bought my last bike in september and got a 1500 dollar discount. As far as CL goes, I don't think that a new model (bike or gears or ...) will make a difference in price. The only difference you'll notice is the number of offers. For example: New DA 9000 equals more DA 7900 offers.

MagicJade

There is a small drawback when waiting for the prices to go down. Some sizes go out of stock much quicker. So if you are within most popular size range, you might have something left till then. If not, already now might be too late with this year models. I was looking into Specialized Roubaix and found out that there is no stock of my size in the whole region (Central-Eastern Europe) already now.

merlinextraligh

+1. Even if you have a bike and want a new one, the best time is still now. You're typically not talking a huge fluctuation in price in the off season. So if you're not on an extremely tight budget, the added use from getting it now likely mroe tha offsets any price advantage from waiting.

Bujajuja

I just bought a full carbon Scott foil 40 for 1800$ 2013. Last years model few months into the next year awesome prices good luck

Vicegrip

Just got one for the wife. (Best trade I have made in a good while!)

It rides nice and is well set up for the money. House brand seat, post H bars and stem. The wheels are good solid performing wheels. I had a set of the same wheels on an SST and they stayed true for 3000 miles. They are my back up set. $900 and 10% back in performance bucks to get some bidons and holders.

Bacciagalupe

Buy it when you need it.

If you need it, there isn't much benefit in waiting. If you don't need it, you're wasting your dinero.