Originally Posted by
Panthers007
1. - If you are not a skilled bike-mechanic and have a full compliment of tools and a working knowledge of how these things work - and you have built a bike up from just a frame before - add at least $200 to the price of their bikes. The $200 is around what a shop would charge to build it for you.
Unless b-d are being VERY deceptive, no. Looking at the example of their site (
http://www.bikesdirect.com/instructionhelp.htm) all you'd need would be a pedal spanner and a set of hex keys, and assembly. They sell an assembly tool lit for $20 - this is not "a full set of bike tools" - it's not what I'd carry on a bike on a tour - and the process they show would take about 10 minutes. Screwing on the pedals would be the worst part. (Btw - you should use "assembly paste" when you do this or they may be unremoveable.)
2. - You will not have a warranty behind the bike. So after it's built, expect to pay for a tune-up from a bike-shop shortly after you get the bike built for you. Things like cable-stretch and derailleurs needing adjusting are normal. If you bought your bike from a bike-store, this service would be free. Buying your bike off the internet means you are on your own.
It's easy to tweak a derailer yourself, and if you fail a local bike mechanic should do it for a few bucks.
And b-d do provide a warranty, at least on the bike I looked at. Obviously it will be a pain to use.