Read the above links to get more information regarding bikesdirect. The majority of people who purchase bikes from them seem happy with their bike. I plan to purchase our next bike, for my wife, from bikesdirect if the LBS is not cheap enough.

The confusing part about bikesdirect is that they operate under several purchased licensed names (motobecane, mercier, dawes, etc) and therefore these bikes do not come from the aforementioned respected companies. Is this a problem? No, but many people have a problem with it.