I have my eye on a '10 Cannondale CX Ultra at my LBS. When I compare components on the one at the LBS some of them are different than the components that I see on the Cannondale website for the same bike.

My question is: Does a LBS have the ability to purchase and stock a CX Ultra and specify from the manufacturer the grades of compenents that it is shipped with or would this be done perhaps against manufacturers rules by the LBS itself? Does the bike's serial number have any relationship to whether a CX is a 1 or a 2 like a car's VIN number does, which should then coorespond to the manufacturers stated components? I know that pricing is going to be variable from one LBS to another. One indicator of squirreliness on the LBS's part is their reluctance to discuss this issue.

One other thing...if a LBS has an '09 still in stock shouldn't I expect to pay a discounted price since the '11s are out?

I'm having a problem feeling that I'm comparing apples to apples, and while all of this componentry is pretty good stuff, better perhaps than I really need if truth be told, if I am paying for high end equipment I should be getting that. I'm not new to biking but am fairly new to 21st century bikes; I purchased a Quick5 two years ago and love the bike but now am lusting after better stuff like disc brakes like my Catrike has and who doesn't like buying a new bike?

Thanks for any advice folks

I have noticed the same thing, even on Big Box Store bikes to, unlike you, just never thought to ask. Richard

It's all about price point. the components all have price points.
they buy pallets of cases of components but Shimano has no favored bike company pricing.

so at the given price point, the component choices are going to be more similar than different.

A Cannondale CX ultra is only sold by a Cannondale dealer
and distributors only let dealers sell a particular brand of bike
in a market area that will be far enough away to not have them close to each other.

another brand of type and price-point will likely have the same sort of mix of parts.

[small print .. prices and specifications are subject to change without notice]

Every bike I have looked at has been equipped as the manufacturer's web site specified. Are you sure you are looking at the same model year in the shop and in the website? If the shop has a '10 and the website is describing the '11 that would explain the difference.

I don't think that the laws pertaining to motor vehicles and VINs have anything to do with any other consumer product. It is your responsibility as the consumer to verify that you are getting what the website claims you should get. I doubt that any true LBS can specify the build options on bikes that they get. Big outfits like REI (just to pick one, not saying they play any games) might have enough sales volume to do this but if they did I would assume that the modified bike would be given a "house brand" model number/name instead of one of the standard ones. In the case of REI they actually have their own house brand of bikes, Novara, so they don't need to do this with the standard brands that they sell and as far as I have seen they do not. More likely, I think, is that this particular LBS pulls components off one bike to "upgrade" another at a customer's request. The LBS does a great deal of assembly so this is not hard to do and it would explain their reluctance to discuss the matter. If that is what is going on and they are trying to pass off the downgraded model that results when they swap components with another bike as a factory fresh ABC brand, XYZ model bicycle I would steer clear of this shop. At the least I would confirm with the manufacturer that the component differences you see are official running changes from what is describe on the website.

And yes, most reputable shops are selling 2010 models at a good discount at this time of year, 2009 models should go for a deep discount. If you are not seeing that at this shop then regardless of whether they are pulling fast ones in other respects I think you owe it to your wallet to shop around a little. Most likely you can find a better price elsewhere.

Ken