Performance Bike vs. REI
 

From reading all of the threads, it seems like Performance is the Wal-Mart of cycling BUT

I was wondering if you think they sell quality bikes. I want to get a brand name bike but looking at the bikes there.. it seems like the prices look too good to be true. My price range is somewhere around 1200. It's my first bike. I don't want the cheapest and I don't want a bike to replace my car payments.

My choices come down to either:

Tirreno Razza 1000 Road Bike
-Lightweight AN6 alloy frame with carbon-fiber stays and a full carbon fork provides vibration damping and efficiency.
-Race-ready Ultegra 10 speed components
-Velomax Vista Wheel provide a lightweight stable platform for training
-TruVativ Rouleur carbon compact cranks give you power and strength without extra weight
http://www.performancebike.com/shop/...tegory_ID=3040

or my favorite store in the world:
Novara Divano Bike - 2007
http://www.rei.com/online/store/Prod...ory_rn=4500865

If you could give me a quick reply and tell me if Tirreno or Novara are decent brands, that would be great.

Just normal made in Taiwan bikes. Nothing spectacular about the brands. Ride them, see if the carbon stays are worth $400 (that's a lot of races paid for) and which is prettiest.

I like REI, but we don't have one here. Performance is generally pretty good, from my experiences of just one shop.....

It's not a Tirreno, but mine's a Scattante, another one of their house brands. It's a good bike-the frame is good, components are good where it counts, and the price was great.

Make sure you know exactly what size you need. That's the most important part of buying a bike online. If it's your first road bike, then understand that you are risking not buying the correct size or geometry by doing it online. I would suggest going to a bike shop and buying a bike there or pay them for a fitting.

While I like REI for a lot of things, they just don't cut it in the bike department. Case in point--I have an REI within walking distance of home, and I needed some Keo cleats the other day. I tell the guy I'm looking for some Gray Keo cleats, and he heads over to the little rack (where there are no gray Keo cleats) and hands me a pair of red Delta cleats. "These'll work, right?"

Ugh.

My experience with REI is mixed. There are a few that just don't have much depth in knowledge that tend to be less than helpful but very enthusiastic about what they think they know. We do have one guy, Ben, who seems intent on knowing what is good/bad, seems to have a wealth of knowledge, and is not intimidated by customers who have more. When I need something I can't find online I order it from REI making sure I speak to Ben about it.

REI ftw

If you haven't been in a Performance Bike, I'd go. They also sell a wide range of Fuji bikes in the price range you're looking with components similar to the Tirreno you listed from their website. I believe that Fuji prohibits vendors from selling on the Internet so that's why you don't see them advertised on Performance website.

I don't really care for REI's bike department that much though they do sell Cannondale.

Performance is to Cyclists what Radio Shack is to tinkerers and geeks.

Unless I can't find where stuff is, I decline the associates' help at Radio Shack .. same as Performance the 1 time a year (maybe) that I go into the store (don't have one close to me).

You could always buy a used bike ... get a bit more for your money, then after a year or 2 of experience, you might have a better idea of what you want & then get a new bike.

Service aside (the OP didn't ask about service), both bike brand frames are fine. The Razza has much better components than the Novara you listed.

The Performance bike looks a lot better for the price than the REI bike. I don't have a strong opinion about either store though.

In terms of bike quality, I'd say both offer well-built bikes. Personally I lean on my local REI more because the folks there really ride bikes (you can tell from there body build) and know what makes a good fit. With their suggestion, I correctly avoided a wrong size that had been suggested by several reputable LBS's in my area (of course, I too heard that REI's bike departments vary a great deal in their knowledge/skills, so check your local one first). In contrast, the Fuji bike that I purchased from Performance has one of the lowest prices, but it is poorly-fitted. So I sold it within a few months at a loss. I also had problems with several of their house-brand products in the past, but nothing similar with REI's house-brand products. Their return policy and customer service is second to none. Right now, their current 20% (until 4/1) will round your Divano to $720 before tax. They could also special-order bikes (e.g. a Surly) of your own liking. The bike so ordered is wonderfully covered by their return policy and at year end you receive 10% dividends out of it.

You talking about the one in that small strip mall? There is a gun shop in the same mall? (or at least there used to be).

Yea not my favorite REI in general. But I haven't had much better luck with bike knowledge at the Rockville store either.

-D

(Forewarning, I work at REI)
The Divano is a plain jane aluminum frame with nothing special about it, except that it looks better than last years, ands its runnning the new year Tiagra on it (which isn't half bad). Fit wise they run a bit longer top tubes than other manufacturers. Not my favorite handling bike but I always have prefered Cannondales. That said if your price range is 1200, you should be able to get a Strada or a 06 Trionfo for that kind of cash (06 Trionfo full Ultegra retails for 1199.93 at the moment).
The Tirreno, is better equipped but I don't know how it handles or how its construction runs.

Buying from REI can be hit or miss, but if you have a store with a good bike department, you do gain the benefit that they will support the bike forever and should something go wrong, we have a life guarantee on everything so you can always bring the damn thing back (and people do...). Either way I hope you enjoy your bike.

REI's prices are far more expensive than Performance. For example, Ultegra pedals are $140 at REI and are around $110 at Performance, though Performance had a sale a few months ago at $100 and it seems REI doesn't have many sales on the cycling products.

I appreciate Pinky's candor and honesty.

There are a couple things to remember about REI. First, become a member. Thats a no brainer for a one time $15 charge. You will then get back a dividend at the end of each year, that is roughly 10% of your annual regular price purchases. This is not money, but store credit. Next is take advantage of the right sales. Right now for instance is 20% off any item, including their Novara bike line and K2 bikes. Or you can get 15% off just for joining the e-newsletter. If there is a big ticket item you want that can be a good deal but there are some limitations. Finally, they have a 100% satisfaction guarantee, like Performance I guess. So if you end up not liking something you take it back. Finally, check out the garage sales full of stuff people returned.

As for sales people, any retail store will have the good and the bad.

I was in an REI looking for clipless pedals, and a sales guy asks me what I was interested in? I said "clipless pedals for a road bike." He replies "Simple, buy Speedplays but you won't find them here." After a short conversation I took his advice. You've got to appreciate his candor (although I doubt his manager would).

I have a 2004 Novara Trionfo that I bought in 2005 so I got a great deal, even better than the 20% off all house brand and K2 bikes at REI. It's the first road bike I have ever bought so I have nothing to compare it to. However, that bike is badass! It's fast, handles great, smooth Ultegra stuff and did I mention that it's fast. Anyway, my bike and I just did a 30 miler with hills (I have no idea about the grade). I'm perfectly happy with it. My only complaint is that I should have bought a frame that was a better fit for me. I think it's a little too tall and long. A better mechanic/fitter would've noticed it but their main guy was off that day.

I spend way too much at Performance also. If I could, I'd buy a Fuji Roubaix because they look sweet!

Selected Performance stores carry Felt. not sure why this one (Fountain Valley, CA) would carry it...

http://www.performancebike.com/infor...fm?Store_ID=86

Personally, REI is overpriced for most the things they sell. I don't care about REI's rebate/ownership plan since it is not a rebate but rather a voucher/credit to spend more at their stores.

I was really happy dealing with Performance, I bought a Tirreno from them for under a grand with a 105 set. It was a great starter bike for me and they had no interest financing at the time which cinched the deal. Now im pulling all the gear off it for my new spectrum frame. Ill make it into a fixie I think.

Performance has been good to me in honesty, but I also think its important to support the LBS guys.

I purchased a Tirreno from Performance last summer. Its a " razza 2.0", basically an alum frame with carbon stays, and 105 components (but not the crank) for under $800. There have been problems with it (nothing major) but what prevents me from regretting my decision are the helpfull no pretense mechs. at Performance. I've developed a good rapport with them and I think that's a Huge plus. Check out what kind of guys are manning the store at both shops.
Good luck and let us know what you end up getting and where!

same story as mine exactly. I have a tirrenno 2.0 as well, black and red.


I figured the mechanics would be corporate but they were really cool and gave me advice on doing my own work. Id like to shop LBS but the performance by my house has a great staff..

We're "blessed" with both a Performance and a REI in Mountain View. Both stores carry a wide range of bike gear (Performance carries more because of its bike focus), and I've been happy with the deals and customer service at both stores. I think you'll find nicely built, competent bikes at both shops, but don't expect to find major bling-bling at either store if you're a fancy lad. My buddy won't shop at Performance because he has a fondness for the non-chain LBS stores. I really wanted to buy my 6 year old daughter a Specialized bike at the local Bike Spring (better build and fit), but she wanted the Schwinn at Performance because liked the purple frame color better. Pouting daughter won out over gearhead Dad. Her first bike was a REI kids bike that was set up well, and her second bike was a Specialized from Supergo (before it became Performance).

So how's the tirenno 2.0 working out for you?
We have a couple of LBS here, but they are owned by rich guys whose sales techniques and service are straight out of used car salesman manual :( Plus, the mechs at Performance are just regular blue collar dudes trying to make a living -- nothing wrong with giving them business...