Of course inexpensive bikes come with pedals, but once you start looking at "good" bikes, the manufacturers do not include pedals, presumably under the assumption that the buyer may have a personal preference on which system they want to use. But should that be the case with saddles as well? Would it be too much of a hassle for the retailer, or would you prefer that manufacturers did not include a saddle so that you can buy the one you want, without having to deal with a trade-in offer or having to buy another?

Yes, they should come with a saddle of commensurate quality as the bike.

It's bad enough they don't come with pedals!

That's actually an interesting question. I think it makes sense that pedals are not included simply because there are so many standards (Shimano, Look, Time, Speedplay) that it needlessly adds to the cost of the bike. Saddles on the other hand, I think need to be included. Granted, most people have a preference but I've found that I usually adapt quickly to a new saddle and end up not replacing it.

I assemble new bikes at my LBS. Most bikes come with basic plastic platform pedals and all include at least a basic saddle. Both are required for a test ride, after all. For the few bikes that don't come with platforms in the box, we'll add a set from our stash.

I estimate that half of the customers upgrade the saddle, pedals, or both at the time of purchase. We give the customers a credit for the saddle (I don't know about the pedals), and add the returned ones to our stash.
If the customer wants to, they can buy a discounted saddle or basic pedals from our stash (some like to rummage), or of course we'll sell them a new saddle or pedals.

Obviously, the shop (or seller, if we're talking used bikes) should provide a saddle and pedals for a test ride. But I guess it's OK if the saddle and pedals are loaners, or price negotiable.

Along these lines, should bikes really come with wheels? Everybody has their own preference on those. The fat guy needs really strong ones, the anorexic guy needs light ones so he can still lift his bike, some people want a power meter in their wheel, other people already have one in their pedals.

Should bikes come with crank sets? A lot of people are experimenting with shorter crank arms than what comes with most bikes these days.

You know, some people like Shimano and others prefer SRAM, nobody likes FSA. Is it right for bikes to come with components?

Too funny!

What about handle bars? On touring/commuting i prefer trekking bars or similar - for road bikes gimme drops. Yeah, the list could go on and on... and yet bike manufacturers want to keep costs down (understandable) and prices up (again, understandable), but there comes a point...

They Do! Every Bike out of the carton has a saddle in the box ..

Clearly define : "good" what price level is beneath you?

get over yourself.. shouldn't you be working Now?

Are you suggesting every bike should be built from the frame up? taking things a step further, every cyclist is proportioned just a bit differently . Maybe we should start out with a bike salesman and a tape measure.

I haven't bought a road bike with components since 1990. All five since then were either production (Bianchi, Guerciotti, Colnago) or custom (IF, Engin) frames built up to my specifications.

No, because at least some of them would be wrong.

When I bought my road bike it didn't even come with a fork.

Next time I'll probably start without the frame too.

When I say "good," the manufacturers define that by not including pedals with some bikes. I do not have an attitude about it; I'm just curious to know if people care one way or another. Yes, they could delete wheels, tires, handlebars, whatever. But the fact remains some bikes don't come with pedals, so why not saddles as well? OR maybe all bikes should come with the appropriate quality pedals too? Do people feel cheated, or at least mystified that pedals may not come with the bike?

That's funny, I was thinking the same thing while bike shopping. It's a much more personal thing than pedals yet they feel it's worthwhile to leave the pedals out. At least on most bikes, the saddles they include are low cost so it serves the same function as plastic test pedals.

Personally, I wouldn't mind if they sold unfinished bike kits; give me frame, groupset, cabling, etc. I can pick my own wheels and finishing kit. Cheaper than buying all of the high priced items separately, but save me money on having to change out bars, saddles, wheels.

One built to order company, Bike Friday will sell you a saddle and pedals they have there, but wont if you dont ask .

Name them what bikes brands and models specifically?


Start from a Bare frame and fork and Nothing is included ..80'S Italian Pro Steel frames the final prep was left to the Dealer.

Buy a Bike from a Bike shop Its ready to ride .. Bring your clipless shoes and pedals if you want ..

they all have saddles and pedals .. the mechanics all test ride every assembly.

Take off saddles are those bike buyers didnt want and bought something else

a $5000 bike will not come with a cheap saddle on it , it may not be your favorite saddle , but thats your problem.

You should be working now. ?

Bike factories get component parts cheaper because they buy them by the Millions at a time,

and are delivered by truckloads to the factories (also in Asia)

I think the problem with pedals is, different types of clipless pedals are mutually incompatible. Whatever the manufacturer supplies will be completely useless to a majority of customers. The stock saddle might not be the best, but it is good enough for the customer to ride the bike out of the store, rather like stock tires. At least with the saddle, if the customer does not already have a preferred saddle to put on the new bike, the salesman can suggest the customer try the stock saddle out for a couple of weeks before making a decision. So in this way, stock saddles are more like tires than they are like pedals.

You are yelling because ... ? Have you ever been in a bike shop? Virtually all "good" bikes do not come with pedals.

No, that is a flat out lie, or you are delusional. All bikes do not come with pedals. Not every bike gets test ridden either.

I am not working today, and I am making discussion on a discussion forum. Is that okay with you?

I think one occasionally finds an old Raleigh with the original 50 year old Brooks saddle on it.

I'm one that will ride a variety of saddles. Every bike I've owned, I've ridden the saddle that came with it. I've worn out a few saddles, so the second saddle might be more customized to my whims. Unfortunately, if I find a saddle I like, it will be obsolete by the time I need to buy a new one.

I suppose, if I'm buying a bike at the LBS, I'd expect it to be configured to my desires before I ride it out the door. Saddle, Pedals, Bars, Stem, Wheels, Tires, etc. I wouldn't be that concerned with exactly what was in the manufacture box. I'd want a bike customized to my needs. Hmmm, it almost sounds I should go for custom builds and frame-up builds. I'm also not beyond getting E-Bay frames.

When I bought my Bike Friday, it had to be "packed" to get it home. So, the pedals came off... so I asked the seller if he wanted to keep them (no money either way).

For that matter, should bikes even come with a frame? You never know what style of frame someone might want. We should have to pay for a bike, then extra for a frame, forks, wheels, handlebars, crankset, chain, derailleurs, seat, shifters, cables, cassette, spokes, tires & tubes.

All those in the one I work in (now part time) Have all the parts , and have for the last 30+ years Ive been around shops

You dont think most bikes are good enough for your professional level standards .

lets see Your list of Good.

WTF, are you bitter or what?

Trek has their Project One, lets you get a good bike to your spec. I don't know how popular this sales model is.

scott s.
.

So , "good" only start at Dura Ace and Campag Record for you ?

Koga Signature line you pick every part from Menus . and they ship it to your nearest Koga Dealer .

US you have to leave the country to get it.


Bike companies like Taiwan sources better. Here

I don't have my original Raleigh Sports, Sprite, or Superbe bicycles from the 1960's and 1970's anymore, but I still have and use the original two Brooks B-72's and B-66 with which they were equipped when new. All work well, are comfortable and never, ever, have required any maintenance or been subjected to any special oil or wax treatments of any kind.

Who said anything about DA or Campy? Just a quick glance at Trek's catalog shows that any bike over $1000 ... call them good bikes, enthusiast bikes, or whatever ... don't come with pedals. Yes, a person can choose their own, or bring the pedals from their old bike. But if bikes don't come with them, why do they come with saddles? What if those same bikes came with pedals but no saddle? Is it a different issue, or the same?

Anyway, it is just an innocent question. Not looking to start an argument or prove one way is right or the other wrong.

Sure would make test rides more interesting if they didn't

I remember Johnny Carson once saying, "May you jump on your bicycle and find your seat missing."