A real cyclist knows doesn't get loads of free advice from an LBS and then order the parts online to save 20%.

A real cyclist only orders online when he or she does not need LBS advice.

A real cyclist also makes an effort to learn how to improve his or her bike maintenance skills, whether those skills are beginner or advanced.

When a real cyclist sees another cyclist stopped on the side of the road or path, he or she stops and offers to help, preferably from a well-supplied emergency kit.

A real cyclist isn't a slave to someone's political correctness, gets his parts wherever he wants to get them, be it online or LBS and
doesn't worry about someone thinking lesser of him, regardless of where he makes his purchase.

Ummmm... I don't think that's what he meant... I see it at my LBS all the time... People who chew the ear off the guys and then don't buy anything. I make it a point to buy something... ANYTHING... when I go there, just so that I'm not chewing their ear off and walking out empty handed even though I know I can save some loot buying stuff online.

Amen to the above. That said I have been trying to get some small parts for my Salsa build and went right to 2 LBS in my area neither of which had what I needed but offered to order it for me and charge me full retail. Sorry guys if you don't have it I can get it just as fast if not faster off the net and cheaper as well.

A real cyclist teaches those around him/her about the joys of cycling and does what they can to be a mentor and an example to beginners and children.

A real cyclist shows that 12 year old kid in the neighborhood how to adjust the shifting on their $120 piece-o-crap without a thought of self righteous indignation.

A real cyclist stops his car and offers a ride to the broken down cyclist on the road.

A real cyclist....cares.

A real cyclist helps another when he's standing over his bike trying like hell to get a tire on over a new tube at 4:30 in the afternoon on a 40 degree Sunday with nothing but two plastic tire irons and a damn frame pump.

Not that that's ever happened to me, mind you... Just saying...

I don't mean a real cyclist should never buy online--I'm currently waiting for a shipment from Nashbar. But I treat the LBS markup as a consultation fee. If I don't need the consultation, I buy online. If I want the consultation, or if I want to be able to ask questions if/when I have problems, I buy LBS.

To put it another way, a real cyclist believes the LBS must earn its markup through advice. But a real cyclist doesn't cheat the LBS out of a markup the LBS has earned.

<shrug>, maybe he works at a LBS and has a beef, could be I guess. Otherwise, he can worry about where he gets his parts and I'll worry about where i get mine.

Best post I've read on the forums in a while...

It's not where he gets the parts, is the people who capitalize on free advice from a LBS and then buy the parts from somewhere else. The point is if you're going to use the expertise of the bike shop, you should buy your stuff from the guy whose expertise you used. You don't have to work at a LBS to see how f'ed up that is.

So i go to a car dealership and ask about a car,all the info i need but then the price,well i can get it 1000 bucks less somewhere else,where do i buy it.

Ethically or Financially? :D

Fair point. This is a gray area, not black and white. If the LBS people give me two minutes of advice, but then want to charge me $100 for something I can get for $50 online, that's one thing. But if they talk to me for half an hour, and then want to charge me $100 for something I can get for $80 online, that's another, especially when I know I can just drop by if I have any problems.

In the end, it comes back to deciding whether the LBS has earned its markup on any given product. If it has, buy it there. If it hasn't, go online. To get back to the thread's topic, a "real cyclist" tries to be fair when making this decision.

Bingo :D

Oh I don't know.
One guy I know had a LBS work on his bike....when he got it back there were Nashbar parts on it!!!

:rolleyes:

:roflmao:

Kinda makes the whole discussion moot!

a real cyclist doesn't hesitate to hijack a thread about passion and commitment to wear out a tired argument about LBS prices.

a real cyclist reads all forty posts in a thread called "A Real Cyclist" even though the last twenty or so are all about LBS prices.

and truly, a real cyclist might not even own a computer much less hang around at the same damned forum everyday - but all y'all are plenty real for me... even the ones that do get ripped off at the LBS! :p

:roflmao: :roflmao:

A real cyclist isn't afraid to ride with someone much better because a real cyclist knows that the only way to get better is to challenge himself.

A real cyclist pays double the price in support of the lbs{NOT!}.

A real cyclist can take a little ribbing.

A real cyclist buys parts USED because it's the only way to keep all 8 of his bikes in working order!

Or, is such a cool guy that the LBS loves him because of his friendly demeanor, and his willingness to help out the shop by referring new customer's there that he's given parts at a HUGE discount since he's such a value to the shop!

...nope...he'll either, 1st put the VCR on, then go & ride....or, get the trainer out & ride with 'em!

Hitchy

Or he has a floating account there, with a balance of around $800 each and every month.

A real cyclist does not hesitate to jump into a dumpster to recover a perfectly good bike that some spoiled brat threw out.