The Chainlink

I know you get what you pay for, but...

Does anyone else think that bicycle prices are just a little bit too high? (Insert Jimmy McMillan meme here) Several years ago, I bought a Gary Fisher MTB for almost $400 and thought at the time that that was a bit too much. Now that i'm interested in riding for exercise i've been looking at 'cross bikes and they average around $1000. Correct me if i'm wrong but in most of my research, most of the major brands manufacture their wares over  in Asia, do they not? I just don't get it. Maybe someone can explain what the hell is going on. Am i gonna have to buy a bike from Bikesdirect.com? Are they decent bikes? Sound off, people!!

Views: 2454

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by David Barish on October 25, 2012 at 8:46am

The thread has evolved here but the current topic is interesting- yea or nay- your local bike shop?

I am strongly yea. Certain items are much tougher to buy online. Bikes are one of them for many of the reasons Dug mentioned. I will admit I have purchased parts, clothing and accessories on line at times.  However, I cannot imagine buying a bike that way.  I recently bought a bike (big shout out to On the Route in Lincoln Square!) and would have had a much different experience had I gone on line. I had done a lot of research and thought I wanted one type of bike. I looked at ta lot of digital bikes.  I went into the store thinking about that type and was suggested to think about a different type of bike. I rode it around the neighborhood and slept on the notion. At first I thought it was bait and switch but overnight realized they were right and I am very happy with a much different bike than I had originally thought. 

I think a bike purchase is a no brainer. Other bike stuff is a tougher decision. I know local retailers need us to come in to buy tubes, lights etc from them rather than on line or at the big box bike depot.  I am sure most of us shop price for these other items and tend to to to the big box or on line. I am trying to work that out.  The first step in that direction was buying a pannier from the shop that sold me the bike rather than my favorite outdoor gear co op or that big box bike depot. Its a work in progress. 

Permalink Reply by Lisa Curcio on October 25, 2012 at 8:59am

When I decided to by a new bike this summer, I went to local bike shops.  Each of them was helpful although some were more helpful than others.  I could not have made an informed decision without those folks, and I wish I could have bought a bike from every one of them because their existence makes cycling easier in Chicago. 

As to other bike "stuff", I lean to the LBS because of my relative inexperience, because I want to see and touch the stuff before I buy it, and because I want a real person to answer questions.  On the other hand, as I gain a better understanding there are undoubtedly some things I will buy on line mostly because it is so much cheaper.  If there is no big price advantage, support the LBS.  Fortunately, I live near several and it is not the least bit inconvenient to go to one.

Permalink Reply by Doug Haynes on October 25, 2012 at 9:21am

This is not about any one shop; it is about local biek shops in general which is what Holly was refering to and you disparged.

Zoetrope said:

I don't make a habit of replying to your posts, Dug, but since you typed up such an extra long and ranty  one (with bullet points!), even by your standards, I'll happily indulge you.  As far as local bike shops, there are some I like and some I don't.  I've stated my reasons for not liking certain shops in posts past, I stand by those reasons, and you're welcome to go read them again and again until you have an aneurysm.  I'm sorry you felt the need to defend Rapid Transit again, but I really wasn't talking about any specific shop here; It was just a smart assed comment directed towards Holly.      

notoriousDUG said:

....

Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on October 25, 2012 at 9:30am

All the world is choices -give and take.  There are advantages and disadvantages to every choice.   Choose well.

For the most part my local bike shop is Niagara, Peter White, and Velo Orange.  I live in a large locality...

Permalink Reply by Doug Haynes on October 25, 2012 at 9:34am

Why would you order from Velo Orange vs. a local shop when the local shop sells at the same price and you don't have to pay shipping?

Seems like you are not very good at making informed decisions; did you even see if there was an advantage to paying online or did you just assume?

James BlackHeron said:

All the world is choices -give and take.  There are advantages and disadvantages to every choice.   Choose well.

For the most part my local bike shop is Niagara, Peter White, and Velo Orange.  I live in a large locality...

Permalink Reply by dan brown on October 25, 2012 at 9:42am

well said Doug.

 

I really like this part of your reply :

 

"And how many of those events are sponsored local shops or have staff from local shops working them?  I can't even count the free flat fixes I did at Bike The Drive this year. Your local bike shop supports the cycling community in Chicago, why shouldn't the cycling community in Chicago support local bike shops?"


DB
notoriousDUG said:

I really should know better than to respond to your trolling and bike shop hate but it really irks me the way you hate on local shops.

First off there is no denying that going to your local bike shop is going to be more expensive than purchasing online. I also get that and understand that there are people out there who buy based on price alone.  However, I still like to think that there are lots of people in the Chicagoland bike community that understand that when you purchase from your local bike shop you really are getting something for that extra money; not just the warm fuzzy feeling of helping a local brick and mortar store or helping keep people in the local cycle community employed.  If those benefits are worth the extra coin to you is your own deal but even before I worked in the cycling industry I was a staunch supporter of my LBS for a variety of reason:

  • First off there is the ability to lay hands on, or even test ride, something before you purchase it.  If you purchase at your LBS you get to see what you want to buy before you actually buy it; nice on most stuff but even more important when buying a bike.  Having all those things in stock, the bikes assembled and space for you to come look at them costs shops money so the same stuff is going to be a little more.
  • You also get the support of knowledgeable staff you are, at a good shop, going to help you make an informed decision and make sure you get the right bike/part/accessory the first time.  Nothing sucks worse than ordering what you think you need or want only to have it be wrong and then deal with sending it back or selling it.  Your local shop is going to make sure you walk out the door with exactly what you want.  This is especially a big deal when it comes to something like a bike.
  • Of course mistakes still happen and things still might be what you expected which brings to light the next big benefit of buying from the LBS; you have a simple return process and don't have to ship anything anywhere.  I don't know about other shops but where I work you have 30 days to return anything you buy no questions asked.  Wrong parts or you don't like the color?  Return it for what you want or a refund!  Your special order Pugsley feels a bit to small?  Bring it back and get the one that fits!  Decided that you don't really want a Nature Boy?  Bring it back and get a refund!  Can you do that with Bikes Direct or other on-line retailers?
  • Of course no one retail shop can stock everything you want but you can have your LBS special order it without extra shipping charges (most times) and often get in in the same, or less, time than you can ordering online.  Yeah, you can probably get it cheaper on-line in about the same time but this goes back to the return thing; if you don't like what you get how easy is it to return it to some guy on Amazon or e-bay vs. bringing it back to the LBS?  Most good shops will take a return on a special order with no extra charge as well same as with in stock stuff.
  • There are also benefits other than customer service stuff.  If you buy a bike from a LBS unless you pay to have your bike assembled by a professional or are a very good home mechanic with a lot of special tools the bike you get online is not going to be as well put together as the one from a shop, same goes for wheels.  Good bike shops put a lot of time and effort into building bike, or prepping a wheel, for sale.  Bottom brackets and headsets get pulled apart to be greased better, wheels have tension checked and corrected (all but the nicest bikes and wheels are sub-par when they come in), cables are stretched and everything is checked out to make sure it is perfect because...
  • Your local bole shop is going to stand behind that bike.  I don't know what other shops do but we offer a year of free service on all the bikes we sell; you buy some accessories or decide to change stuff around on your bike in that first year all the labor is free.  You wear out a chain or brake pads and the labor to replace them is free.  We even stand behind the bike as far as defects go even when the manufacturer stops... This week I am rebuilding a stock wheel that came apart on a customer after 5 or 6 months; they are getting a new, better, rim and spokes for free because we stand behind the bikes we sell.  If a Bikes Direct bike has a quality issue like that after 6 months who fixes it for you and how much does it cost?
  • Never mind all the free air and quick fixes everyone gets at the local bike shop.  The internet is not out there giving people hardware that fell our of their rack or fenders or doing minor adjustments for free.  I cannot tell you how many times in a week I give out free hardware or do a quick adjust on a shift cable or bottom bracket.  Most shops I know take good care of their regulars and people that live and work around them.  I've given regular customers tubes to fix a flat when they have no cash on them and helped out people who couldn't afford to replace a blown out tire because it's important to me to keep people in Chicago not only on bikes but to try and help make cycling enjoyable for them.  I am not sure if there is anything I like more about working in a bike shop more than helping out and taking care of the people I see out on rides and events. 
  • And how many of those events are sponsored local shops or have staff from local shops working them?  I can't even count the free flat fixes I did at Bike The Drive this year. Your local bike shop supports the cycling community in Chicago, why shouldn't the cycling community in Chicago support local bike shops?

As to people who like local bike shops wanting to see fewer people on bikes; that is total bullshit and you know it.  Some of the people who are staunch supporters of, or even own, local bike shops do more than anyone else I know when it comes to advocating for cycling in general and trying to get people out there on bikes.


Zoetrope said:


Anyway, I'm not so sure I want you to speak for me when you say "I hope I speak for most of us here when I say that we at the Chainlink are not Bikesdirect people."  I'm not familiar with the site, but by the look of it it seems like a cheap place to get a bike.  At the risk of sounding like a naif, what's the problem?  I suspect you're another LBS foamer who would rather see 100 less people on bikes in the city if it meant you never had to buy a bike part/accessory from a shop that isn't on Damen or Milwaukee Ave and has a one syllable name (like "Cycle" or "Pedal" or "Ride")...but I really try hard not to read weird motives into peoples actions.  

Herppy berkwernter everyone   :D

 

Holly said:

I stand corrected. The OP is an innocent naif who doesn't know why some things cost more than others.

Permalink Reply by Tricolor on October 25, 2012 at 10:20am

So much rage and hate.  I'd rather discuss the lack of decent diesel options in the US car market!  Though the Chevy Cruze is supposed to have a diesel in the next year or so...

Like Jim said, there are advantages and disadvantages to any bike purchase, and you go with what you like or suits your need.  Just do the research on frame materials and components, and know that there are also differences in assembly and service.  For some things I'll go to a store and for others I'll go to Amazon or Performance Bike.

Permalink Reply by Kevin Mulcky on October 25, 2012 at 10:40am
Plus, many shops give discounts for your active trans membership. This makes prices even
More competitive.

notoriousDUG said:

Why would you order from Velo Orange vs. a local shop when the local shop sells at the same price and you don't have to pay shipping?

Seems like you are not very good at making informed decisions; did you even see if there was an advantage to paying online or did you just assume?

James BlackHeron said:

All the world is choices -give and take.  There are advantages and disadvantages to every choice.   Choose well.

For the most part my local bike shop is Niagara, Peter White, and Velo Orange.  I live in a large locality...

Permalink Reply by Gene Tenner on October 25, 2012 at 10:43am

Epic cat battle on a ladder

Permalink Reply by Holly on October 25, 2012 at 11:09am

Zoetrope: I support local businesses. Why would someone who supports a local business want their shop to have 100 less [sic] people on bikes in the city? The fewer people who have bikes, the less likely I'm going to have a local shop to support. 

I'm of the mind that no one working at the shop cares that much where you get your bike fixed or where you shop until you bring them your problem to fix and/or expect them to do it for you for nothing--especially if you've never even been in their shop.  (I'm told this happens all the time -- even at those shops that have one syllable names.) For the sake of brevity let's just say that cyclists and bike stores mutually benefit when there's a relationship between the customer and the shop. Let's use an example to illustrate that. I was just at my LBS the other day when the shops phone rang. A customer was at the train station and needed help. Another bike was parked next to the customer's bike and they'd locked through the brake cable. This person didn't have tools. The mechanic rode to the bike and fixed it on site. BOOM! This is what makes me want to be their customer. 

What was the original post about  again? Oh, right. Why are bikes made in Asia and why do they cost so much? Sound off!  

Permalink Reply by Skip Montanaro 0mi on October 26, 2012 at 1:41pm

> Does anyone else think that bicycle prices are just a little bit too high?

Coming (apparently) late to this thread...  I ride nice vintage road bikes (I have five and counting).  I rationalize their cost because I keep them a long while.  The same goes for other bikes I no longer have that I bought new.  If you plan to ride a bike for 10-20 years, what does it matter if you pay $500 or $1000 for it?  It's going to pay you back many times over in terms of improved health and lower costs compared to alternative means of transportation (cab, car, bus, train).  You will probably also find a higher quality bike more enjoyable to ride, so you're likely to do more of it.

Just my $0.02.

Skip

Permalink Reply by mike w. on October 27, 2012 at 11:45am

>" Does anyone else think that bicycle prices are just a little bit too high?"

 

Hmm, well speaking for myself, it's more a question of having too long a memory...

When i first really got into cycling, an entry-level 10 speed ran about $120 -in July of '72 i was hanging around Turin waiting and waiting for a delivery fom Raleigh... i had my heart set on a Grand Prix. At the time that model was built by Gazelle of Holland- Steel rims, Weinman CP brakes, Simplex derailleurs, QR hubs, steel cottered crank, etc. The delivery was delayed and i wound up with a LaPierre for about $115- a young fortune at the time for a poor student. Pretty much the same layout equipment-wise. This was a typical basic tenspeed of the era. You could get a Raleigh Pro full Campag & 531 frame for about $415 (try finding one used nowadays for under a grand, but i digress...)

Anyway, the entry-level 10-speeds (now 12, 18, &up) have been steadily improving component-wise and getting lighter (in '72, 26lbs was considered a lightweight.) The new entry level bike blows away most of the mid-level and some higher level bikes of yore. The prices have risen considerably given inflation and the apparent fact that everything gets more expensive over time.

i was appalled at first when i returned to racing after a hiatus to find that a $400 track iron had become $1000, entry fees risen from about $5 to over $20, etc... but then, i'm making more an hour these days, as i'd venture to guess most people are. Hell, my first apartment in RoPark was $75 a month for that matter. Good luck getting so much as a parking space around there for that much today.

 

So, are (new) bikes too expensive these days? To geezers like myself, yes, but only because we can remember when...

RSS

Groups

© 2008-2016   The Chainlink Community, L.L.C.   Powered by

Disclaimer  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service