Old 06-10-14, 02:58 AM
  #19  
velorider562
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Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Long Beach, CA
Posts: 53

Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, S-Work Epic, Cannondale F29er, Intense ProXXL Cruiser, Electra Cruiser 1

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It is best if you are not experience or knowledge to build a relationship with a good LBS. Because you are not saving, service cost money and the hours you spent online choosing the right bike are hours not spent by an employee helping you select the right bike. You saved yourself money by doing your own research.

Assembly and service. All the knowledge you need is here in this forum to assemble the bike. If you do not want to spent the time learning, then your saved time will be traded for dollars paid to a LBS.

Many shops higher cheap help who have little knowledge in the core segments of their business and focus strictly on quarterly profit. Let market pressure handle them as you will find a good shop to service your needs. Any good shop should be happy to assemble your bike because there is profit in it. Not more or less depending on whether you got the bike there or not.

Perhaps this sounds like a diatribe about supporting your LBS, but it is not. Its about making good decision, understanding your position and willingness to take ownership. Knowledge is power. I understand the following is just semantics but if the question was about the difficulties of assembling a bike so the OP could make an informed descison about the trade of time verses out of pocket cost then the question is founded on gainig knowledge to make educated dicisions. Asking just the price doesn't afford the knowledge to know if you are getting a good deal. Many of the responses allude to what's included because many understand the real values to conclude an answer.

Minimum required tools: Allen's and probably a 15mm wrench.
Maximum required tools: Thousands in facing tools, cone wrenches, truing stand, etc.

Options are everything in between. What do you want? For shop owed inventory each has their own level. This is your bike, what do you want done. Cheapest ridable option or overly anal that won't really be noticed. Knowledge is power.


Enough of my online versus brick and mortar rant. Both are awesome, just need to know.
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