I dropped into my lbs today. The owner's a good bloke who, strangely enough, is in the industry because he loves bikes. He had a Pinnarello on the workshop stand and was building it up. He doesn't stock Pinnarello so I asked about it. A customer had bought it over the internet. Said customer, apparently, isn't a complete dill but isn't an expert either and in this case, his knowledge bumped into the cycling industry. See, he'd done the due diligence and research bit (probably talked to his mates and asked on the internet), then carefully ordered all the bits he needed ... which is why the fit's a bit off (neck I think), he got the wrong threaded bottom bracket, some obscure clip is needed for the front dr that he didn't know about, etc.

The lbs bloke reckoned he'd probably saved some money buying on the internet but by the time they're replaced some bits, got some extras plus paid to have it built up, it's unlikely he saved anything. He certainly missed out on the fun of building the bike himself (though I had the pleasure of watching a good mechanic at work).

I'm not having a shot at the bloke who bought the Pinnarello. I'm not making judgements about internet forums and bike shops. I'd just like to remind all those readers of this forum who insist on doing everything over the internet and who laugh at me for suggesting they look around the bike shops as part of the process, that sometimes, the professionals DO know what they are talking about ... then there are the pimply faced roadie wannabes who staff too many shops for my liking and who are fair game for ridicule (my partner now knows when to quietly move to another part of the shop )

So basically the guy should've bought a Kilo TT?

Probably made in the same factory as the Pinnarello

My main point is that bikes, while essentially simple, are complicated enough to get us into trouble with the subtleties (though not knowing an Italian branded bike would probably use an Italian threaded bb is fairly basic). How many of us have fallen in love with a bike we've seen, only to have that shattered when we climb on the thing?

With my bikes, I work on the principle that there's not much I can stuff up that my lbs can't unstuff ... though it sometimes costs a little

True, a good mechanic can be one of your most valuable assets.

Sounds more like the internet and no knowledge...

Before the Internet there were catalogues and magazines etc.

Sounds like the buyer got bored and did not want to look further.