toolba

I want to by some more cycling clothes. Sporting goods stores don't have much inventory. LBSs charge outrageous prices. Web sites seem to have better prices, but are their products any good? Where do you buy your clothes? Which web sites are the best for buying clothing?

OPC

LBS to figure out what size you wear, then web. Some good sites that I have bought from include:
performancebike.com
nashbar.com
bikeworld.com
rei.com

What is good? I like Descente, Pearl Izumi, Nalini. Some pricier brands include Assos. House brands like REI and Performance have their fans, too.

Machka 

I get my clothing from:

https://www.mec.ca/Main/home.jsp

https://www.nashbar.com/

https://www.velotique.com/storey.htm

I like the inexpensive house brand stuff.

I have also picked up an item or two from an LBS when I find a really good sale.

Cyclist0383

That is totally dishonest! You want the service of an LBS without paying for it. I hope one day you work in a business where people come in, use your facilities, ask questions, and then go else where to save a few dollars. If you want the service of a business you should pay for it. The LBS is not there as your sizing department for Nashbar. Shame!

BTW, I have no problem with ordering from websites, just don't step on the neck of an LBS to do it. If you want low prices you get low service, as service costs money.

Cyclist01012

I,m going to have to agree with Ziemas, if you want the services from your LBS buy there. Maybe not you entire kit but if you go in and try on a half dozen pairs of shorts. then you should be walking out with a pair. If youre going to order online then figure out on your own what you need.

twilkins9076

Ditto the idea of using your LBS if you need services as well. Don't use them and then not give them any business. We need them around!

I frequently make a lot of my purchases on-line for best selection and prices, but keep in mind that if you don't get the size right the first time and need to send an item back that you're probably going to lose most of the price advantage that on-line dealers give us in return shipping.

OPC

Actually, that is not what I meant. I do not believe that a dressing room will really provide an indication of proper size. One needs to buy the product, put a in few miles with the clothing in question, then decide if the it works for you.

Either way, you will not get me to lose any sleep over whether or not a LBS gets my business. I am not here to enable them or make a profit for them. If they provide a competive price for the product or service I am looking for, then we are both happy. If not, then we part ways.

-Jose

Cyclist0383

And then do you return it? I don't understand what you mean. Do you buy one example of a product from a given maker and then try to size all the rest to it? Do you buy one item from an LBS use it, and then buy further pieces of the same item off the web? What do you mean?

Cycliste

https://velowear.com/

Check your LBS for sales, you'll be amazed how many great deals you can find. Also, more and more LBS feature these on their web sites too, that's a great move.

If you ride with a local club, check their merchandise.

OPC

No, I do not return it nor did I suggest that. The OP is new to cycling clothes, so s/he will need to buy some stuff locally to see what works for them. Sizing can vary across manufacturers and certainly not all chamois are made/designed the same. To bib, or not to bib? None of these questions will be answered in a dressing room, so buy it and keep it. After they get an idea what they like, then they can buy subsequent items on-line.

Why are you so determined to take offense?

-Jose

Cyclist0383

I'm not determined to take offense. Your posts are very unclear. It seems that I'm not the only one who misunderstood you. Thanks for clairfying what you meant.

merlin70

ebay can also be a great option, once you have a little more experience in your sizing and what brands you want.

Michigander

My reccomendations already were mentioned, but what I will say is there is no reason to get excited about ordering a bunch of useless overpriced garbage because its official biking gear. My theory is, I have some good jerseys, 2 nice pairs of shorts, and one inexpensive pair of Shimano SPD shoes. Other than that, regular socks do just fine, so do $20 sunglasses, and cheaper, but superior quality Iron Clad summertime workgloves available from home depot.

ken cummings

Home Depot, now that is interesting. Maybe one of the things the OP needed. I afforded a new rainsuit last weekend. I cruised the above on-line shops to get a feel for what features were available at what price. REI and Nashbar were good. The wife likes the local REI more than the LBS. While I prefer to support the LBS I do not have to live with it . They had a good jacket but all their rain pants are now black (and one gray). Even their on-line store had dropped the bright pants colors. So back to the bike shop where I am ready to pay a premium for the service they can provide. What is with this black thing? So it does not show dirt. Whoopee. I ride at night and black is an insane color for outerwear. A benefit most LBS offer that I have not seen mentioned is the club discount. 10% or more off retail. Brings things towards a level playing field. If needed start your own club.

lrzipris

Because several LBSs are very supportive of my bike clubs and our local cycling community, I like to repay them (and help keep them in business, as I need their mechanical expertise!), so I buy just everything from them--except for clothing. I make this one exception because their clothing tends to have a lot of logos and I prefer plain, simple styles.

I agree with Ken that when you factor in the club discount versus shipping/handling, LBS prices aren't all that different from catalog prices. However, I have found quality differences between Performance/Nashbar "house label" products versus high-end brand names; on the other hand, the clothing I've gotten from Voler and Boure have uniformly been excellent. Sometimes, you do indeed get what you pay for.

As Michigander suggests, some clothing isn't bike-specific--think of gloves, layering undergarments, balaclavas, for example--and can be found on sale in sporting good stores, outlets (both mail order and real-life stores), etc.