I've been riding bikes all my life, but have just recently gotten into road biking. I'm hard pressed for cash, so I decided to look what prices might be online. I am very scared about buying something online, but th prices seem like something I can't pass up. I'm not worried about repair and maintinance on my bikes, I do that on my own, so thats not really an issue. What I'm trying to get across here, is bikesdirect.com too good to be true?

No, it's not. Search the forums and you'll find plenty of information about them. You'll get a decent bike for a low price, but make sure to check everything out before riding it.

Yes, they are totally too good to be true. DO NOT ever buy anything from them!

Why do you say that?

If you search the forums you can even find posts by the guy who owns BD. He posts here occasionally. You will also find a bunch of people who are pretty happy with their bikes (though to be fair, most of the people who sing the praise of BD bought the $750+ models, which have much better components than the $199 models).

I'd be scared about buying something online that you haven't ridden. The last thing you want is a hot deal on a road bike that rides like a brick or just doesn't fit you.

There are some things I would only consider buying in person -- a bike is one of them. Pay a little more at the LBS and walk away knowing you'll have something you'll like, will fit you, and if you have any issues you have support.

I know what size I need from them, and I'm pretty decent with a wrench, but I dont really have the extra money to spend at a LBS. They can't come close pricewise, and they have nowhere near the selction.


I'm not so much worried about those issues. I was more worried about it being a big scam, or there being hiiden charges, or the bike being something other than what they advertise them to be.

I bought a BD high end hybrid over a month ago, and used the savings over a simular type LBS bike, to upgrade and customize the BD bike to my specs. I personally would not ride their bikes "box stock", but then again, none of my Treks are "LBS stock" either. Be aware that if there is any problems or damage to the BD bike, BD cannot give the personal service that a LBS can, and it may take days or weeks to resolve. My BD bike came with a damaged front derailler and a very flexible stem, both were replaced as upgrades. If online bikes concern you, the stay with the LBS or a good used bike, I see a lot of newer good quality bikes on my local Craigslist that have very few miles on them, and that is probably the next avenue I'll take when I looking for my next bike, now that I am not pressed for a new customized bike.

Bikesdirect is not a scam. Most of the warnings about bikesdirect come from worries about new riders who don't know what they want from a bike, seeing the low prices, and getting one that doesn't fit, or a bike that they don't know how to fix or tune.

If you know the size you need, can look at the geometry of the bike and see if it's good or bad, know that warranty issues won't be as easy as going to your local shop, and can do your own wrenching, BD is a perfectly fine way to get a new bike for a good price.

Sounds good. It looks like they have some bike with a little bit more relaxed geomtery, which is more what I'm looking for.

There are some local shops that sell the Bikesdirect brands like Windsor. You can try to find them near you to see the bikes in person.

I bough my Windsor track bike from BD. Very happy with the bike and the service.

I plan on doing the same as soon as they arent sold out anymore

got 2 bikes from bikes direct..well actually Chikabike on ebay that sells BD bikes for a little cheaper and she ships faster, and has a high cusomer satisfaction rating. i own the dawes lightning 1000