Originally Posted by billyymc

Building / rebuilding a bike is not rocket science. I'm so tired of people acting like it is. Maintaining a bike is even less so.

Your comment about parts breaking in the first year is silly. It's not as if parts are breaking every other day on a bike -- if they are, you're doing it wrong. The value of tuneups in the first year is questionable -- tighten a few cables, adjust brakes and deraillers. Not too hard to do for oneself.

I will say that building / maintaining does require (at times) a few specialized tools. The cost of those tools may not be worth doing it oneself unless you plan to do all your maintenance and future builds yourself.

OP - Bikesdirect is a highly divisive subject here. There isn't anything inherently wrong with their bikes, and many people find them to be a good value. There is also value in having a relationship with your local bike shop, if they aren't a bunch of elitist wankers (many are). You have to decide for yourself what suits you best. Being able to maintain your own bike is a good ability to have regardless of where you get it.