Originally Posted by
hosehead
I buy a lot of accessories from Performance, but I'd never buy a bike there.
Internet forums are great for getting preliminary information, but there's no substitute to good, solid know how at your local LBS. What that "LBS" may be varies - maybe it really is Performance, maybe it's REI (bought a couple bikes there), maybe it's a locally owned shop (bought a bike there too, unfortunately).
You mean that bike shops that don't carry commuter bikes, almost never have any bikes in my size, and are often staffed by people who know less about bikes that I do? My local Trek store does actually have a Madone in my size - the first road bike I've EVER seen in my size locally.
Those are the shops I should be relying on for a good buying experience?
Unfortunately, we don't all get to live in a Bicycle Mecca. Don't take this as a defense of Performance, I don't shop there either. I would though if they were the only source of a bike I wanted.