scottfl

Beer + annoyed at LBS = really annoyed. The problem is that I don’t have a LBS (at least for touring gear). Touring in South Florida seems non-existent. It’s not hard to see why though. Anyone that lives down here knows that hardly a week goes by without someone getting barreled over by some raging old/blind/distracted person in an SUV.

So my “local” bike shop was up in Chicago. After calling around (for weeks) I found someone who had the bike I wanted in stock, the KWT. What a sweet bike. So that brings me to the point of all this. Those of us relegated to ordering over the internets depend on outstanding Customer Service. Well, these guys don’t have it. I didn’t ask for much. I gave them my hard-earned dollars and they were supposed to send the things I asked for. There should be no substituting right? So when half the things I order don’t show up and the other half is the wrong color I get annoyed. The biggest issue for me are the panniers. They are red. The ones I ordered were black. Tonight I find out I can’t exchange them through the place in Chicago because they can’t return the red ones to Ortlieb. So they’d have to eat the cost of them. My heart goes out to them.

I’m sure I’ll end up just dropping it. I’m a little worried about two things though. Stealth camping and not looking like a tourist. The camping I’m not as worried about-- I have a bike cover for that. Will red panniers act like big bull’s-eyes in developing countries? Or will the big Koga letters on my bike take care of that? Or is it not even an issue?

Can anyone recommend a really good bike shop that understands touring needs, has great service techs and can accommodate internet-based ordering?

Hopefully in the near future I’ll have everything in order so I can embark on a planned ride up to Alaska and then down through South America. It’s just frustrating to have to deal with problems from the last place I’d expect it.

vik 

www.thetouringstore.com is great for panniers and racks - Wayne will help you out.

www.wallbike.com - are good people.

www.peterwhitecycles.com/ - has given me good service

www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/ - as has Harris Cyclery

www.rei.com - is great for general camping gear

If you are unhappy with the panniers you can get the charges reversed on your credit card and then see if the LBS you ordered them from is more motivated to help you or just call Wayne and he'll sort you out.

I wouldn't be too worried about red panniers vs. black panniers from the standpoint of being noticed. First off riding a fully loaded touring bike will get you loads of attention, a Koga is a fancy touring bike that will get some attention and those red panniers will get dirty and dull looking after a bit of riding. So at the end of the day it won't be a radically different situation regardless of pannier colour.

Having said that I'd be quite likely to get my money back and get the black panniers if that's what I really wanted. I'm going have to look at them for a lot of years if they are Ortliebs.

Machka 

MEC
REI
Decathlon


I've also picked up touring stuff from:
Nashbar
Sierra Trading Post
Thrift stores
Dollar stores

nun

Here are some more good places

www.aebike.com

www.velo-orange.com

www.rivbike.com

Rivendell have a good selection of parts for touring and they are very helpful
and have excellent service