Originally Posted by
fietsbob
People seem to ignore their local bike shop, any reason?
You got all the tools you need to do your own work?
and assembly and tune up skills then, Blkes Direct [from China manufacturing sources]
may be OK ,
theres only so much you can do from a keyboard, you still need wrenches.
But Bob, cycling is an Asia-centric sport from a manufacturing standpoint. My BD bike is great, and as good as any LBS model of equal build. My Nashbar FB-1 is made in Taiwan. True, knowing how to work on your own bike helps, but the LBS can do that if you are so inclined. A 105 bike for $400 less than a Tiagra bike makes all the sense in the world, unless the CAADX comes with free maintenance for life. That would be the only game-changer.