First, I'll say I have found one nice LBS in town, with a very approachable, honest owner. I have bought three bikes in two years from him, and I was happy until those bikes got stolen. In search of something new, I wanted to see some brands he didn't carry, so I hit three other stores this weekend.

Store one had the Madison for sale price of 599. Not good, not shocking, until the sales guy tried to convince me what a great deal that was, because the 'regular price' was 699. MSRP online is 629.

Store two had no price tags. But the sales guy told me the Pistas start at 950 or something, the Beatnik 850, and Sputnik was 1100. All stock, as far as I could tell, and well above list.

The third had a Beatnik for 499. I was ready to pull the trigger until I asked if it shouldn't come with brakes. The owner (at least he said he did all the ordering) said he'd give me a brake for 20 bucks. Shouldn't Jamis be sending him brakes in the box? What happened to the stock ones?

None of these stores are urban/fixie shops, so maybe I get what I deserve. But I was really trying to avoid buying something online, and support the locals. If I go back to the guy I bought from before, it's the Origin8 (no thanks) or a $200 '80s Fuji roadie that is too nice to convert.

Where are all the 2009 closeout deals?