Originally Posted by PurpleK
If you go with a Randonee, make sure you live near an REI if you ever need servicing. Nothing ticks off a lbs quicker than someone buying a bike from a big box discounter to save bucks, then taking it in to the lbs for service.
I've bought a few pieces of touring equipment from REI (mainly because lbs didn't carry them), but I would never buy a bike from there. Gonna support the local wrench as much as I can. I need'em because I'm a mechanical dork.
eh? My lbs is happy to service my Randonee.
Most of the smarter ones realize that if they only service the bikes sold in that LBS they will be loosing out on a pretty large chunk of revenue. Anyhow, I would hardly call REI a big box discounter. More like a big box overly expensive store, with the exception of the randonee with a 20% off coupon.
Incidentally, that is how I purchased mine last March.