At the risk of sounding like an anti-capitalist, free-market hating snob, I can't help but feel like this cheapens Surly's brand. Yeah, the Motobecanes / Windsors / etc are decent enough budget frames. But there's no real company behind those designs-- they're the average stuff from China / Taiwan manufacturer catalogs.

While it's true that Surly's stuff is made in Asia (and, from what I've gathered, under ethically accountable conditions... is that also true for BikesDirect?), the designs aren't generic crap. They're the work of riders, of people actually spending time with the products and trying to push the envelope to make a little money go a long way in terms of functionality. Look at the Pugsley, the Karate Monkey, the Steamroller... all pioneers, more-or-less, in their class. Is putting those frames on the same page as a bunch of generic BikesDirect crud really doing justice to their designs? The hard work of those that designed and spec'd the frames?

I bet many times more heart and soul went into a Surly design than a neo-Motobecane / Windsor / etc. Thankfully BikesDirect can't undersell your LBS, or less-shady online retailers that sell Surly.