local bike shop vs online
- Thread starter fretted
- Start date
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AndyRM
XOXO
- Location
- North Shields
Yep, absolutely. You might save a bit of cash online, but the aftercare and future help/lend of tools/advice is invaluable.
AndyRM
XOXO
- Location
- North Shields
summerdays
Cycling in the sun
- Location
- Bristol
My LBS is small, old fashioned, shut on Wednesdays, no great big shiny display cases. Instead it looks fascinating, and you are welcomed ,given help and advice. Yes it's a slight irritation that it isn't open as much as others and it will be more expensive than online, but online wouldn't adjust my gears for free, or replace a broken brake during their lunch hour (when they also shut 
), give me advice or just have a chat.
But you have to find that good LBS and build up that relationship.
), give me advice or just have a chat.But you have to find that good LBS and build up that relationship.
ScotiaLass
Guru
- Location
- Middle Earth
My LBS are brilliant.
I bought my bike from them in February and it was the same price as online.
I get advice from knowledgable staff who are keen cyclists, they have a range of stock but are always happy to get things in for me if they don't have them.
It's nice to have an unhurried discussion too.
Oh and did I mention that I first went to a large chain for my bike. The first bike wasn't a good fit and was returned the next day. There were two other bikes I wanted but I was mucked about for a couple of weeks by them saying they could get them in but then not being able to.
I went into my LBS and tried a couple of bikes there. I got good advice in a relaxed atmosphere with no pressure to buy a bike that wasn't suited to me.
The bike I choose wasn't in stock and wouldn't be in the UK for over a month. They offered me the last bike on the shop floor (which was my size) which had just been built up the previous week.
In my opinion, when you get service like that you repay it by being loyal!
I bought my bike from them in February and it was the same price as online.
I get advice from knowledgable staff who are keen cyclists, they have a range of stock but are always happy to get things in for me if they don't have them.
It's nice to have an unhurried discussion too.
Oh and did I mention that I first went to a large chain for my bike. The first bike wasn't a good fit and was returned the next day. There were two other bikes I wanted but I was mucked about for a couple of weeks by them saying they could get them in but then not being able to.
I went into my LBS and tried a couple of bikes there. I got good advice in a relaxed atmosphere with no pressure to buy a bike that wasn't suited to me.
The bike I choose wasn't in stock and wouldn't be in the UK for over a month. They offered me the last bike on the shop floor (which was my size) which had just been built up the previous week.
In my opinion, when you get service like that you repay it by being loyal!
vickster
Legendary Member
Yes, but lots of inexperienced and not so inexperienced cyclists have bought bikes that are wrong for them online. That shouldn't happen in an LBS, but it can - don't rush into anything
It depends what you want and what your budget is ultimately
Buy from a shop, they'll set the bike up for you, fit accessories, you'll get a first service, somewhere to sort any niggles...I reckon that alone is worth £100+
Oh and you should get the opportunity to actually test ride the bike you want to buy
It depends what you want and what your budget is ultimately
Buy from a shop, they'll set the bike up for you, fit accessories, you'll get a first service, somewhere to sort any niggles...I reckon that alone is worth £100+
Oh and you should get the opportunity to actually test ride the bike you want to buy
RebornBumbler
Senior Member
- Location
- Barnstaple
It depends...
If you buy from a local shop, you're getting into a relationship - it might be good or bad depending on you, the shop staff and the combination of the two. Buying online you don't have that relationship, but will probably have considerably wider choice, better levels of available stock and significantly cheaper prices.
Local shops couldn't provide me with a Sora-equipped bike around 10kg for anything approaching the £450 I recently paid online - in fact they were hard-pushed to manage around £500 for a Claris-geared model including a fair discount, but I've *easily* spent that sort of money locally on tools, pumps, clothing, pedals, tubes and tyres etc. in local shops - where I needed the items quickly, or wanted help or advice.
If I hadn't been confident in buying the bike unseen/unridden and managing the build and any subsequent adjustments, then I'd probably have paid more money and bought it locally.
Local bike shops aren't all going to disappear due to online purchasing - it'll be the ones that don't provide a decent service (with a view to the long term) or know what to stock based on their local customers' requirements. If all I need to get me going is a new chain or tube, I'm not going to buy it online!
If you buy from a local shop, you're getting into a relationship - it might be good or bad depending on you, the shop staff and the combination of the two. Buying online you don't have that relationship, but will probably have considerably wider choice, better levels of available stock and significantly cheaper prices.
Local shops couldn't provide me with a Sora-equipped bike around 10kg for anything approaching the £450 I recently paid online - in fact they were hard-pushed to manage around £500 for a Claris-geared model including a fair discount, but I've *easily* spent that sort of money locally on tools, pumps, clothing, pedals, tubes and tyres etc. in local shops - where I needed the items quickly, or wanted help or advice.
If I hadn't been confident in buying the bike unseen/unridden and managing the build and any subsequent adjustments, then I'd probably have paid more money and bought it locally.
Local bike shops aren't all going to disappear due to online purchasing - it'll be the ones that don't provide a decent service (with a view to the long term) or know what to stock based on their local customers' requirements. If all I need to get me going is a new chain or tube, I'm not going to buy it online!
MattMM
Senior Member
- Location
- Southern suburbs of Glasgow
My LBS is small, old fashioned, shut on Wednesdays, no great big shiny display cases. Instead it looks fascinating, and you are welcomed ,given help and advice. Yes it's a slight irritation that it isn't open as much as others and it will be more expensive than online, but online wouldn't adjust my gears for free, or replace a broken brake during their lunch hour (when they also shut
But you have to find that good LBS and build up that relationship.
Yep, mines the same. Bought my sons first bike there, went there for my hybrid when I started late last year and had great advice. Support afterwards in terms of maintenance and first fettle (with free brake pads) has been brilliant. Always go there for consumables, the owner remembers my kids names, and you can have great banter and advice from the guy. I'm lucky I guess, not everyone has a bike shop like this nearby.
e-rider
Banned member
- Location
- South West
I have found on many occasions that the service provided by LBSs is terrible and the aftercare is nonexistent - not sure what planet you are living on? For me it's online every time. More choice, cheaper prices and no bullshit
hobbitonabike
Formerly EbonyWillow
- Location
- Furness, South Lakes
I got my first road bike from Evans. It was arranged over the phone and drove an hour to test ride and purchase. I was a total novice. Vague advice on fitting and that was about it. I now have a fantastic relationship with my LBS. They are friendly, reasonably priced and the shop has a great atmosphere. I wish I had bought my first bike from them and I am pretty sure any subsequent bikes will be purchased there. All from their great attitude and customer service.
HLaB
Marie Attoinette Fan
For a first bike the ehop is definitely the way to go; infact all my bikes have been bought out of a lbs, although most of my endline components have been bought online.
Learnincurve
Senior Member
- Location
- Chesterfield
I've just had this exact same dilemma. I had many, many, people tell me that I could get a much better bike for my money new online or on ebay second hand and discovered you cannot really buy a new one cheaper online than in my local bike shop, halfords, or evans (first two even have discounts if you reserve online and pick up) . This may sound strange but I may not know much about bikes but I am a bit of a ebay nerd and can tell you it's because of the home delivery factor. Very simply bikes are one of the items people people will pay the same money for for home delivery so they don't feel the need to add on any more discounts than you would get in a bricks and mortar shop. Second hand is another thing though, if you have a local shop then you should be able to find a bargain but ebay is a dangerous place, I made a concious decision not to use ebay because I have no way of knowing if that bike is stolen or not and I would rather ride a cheaply made bike than somebody else's baby. It all boils down to trust. Weirdly I trust our local halfords (chesterfield) because I know the youth with the floppy hair is good and actually takes a lot of pride in his work, but halfords is very hit and miss so your youth may be a feckless slob.
My advice is to have a look in all your local bricks and morter, not just at the bikes but to see if you would trust the people who work there to put your bike together properly.
also what is it with the British and begrudging you something new? The last bike I bought was in 1994 and it was a second hand mountain bike bought with my £50 birthday money and I just wanted to buy a new one is all, and yet people (in real life) have been acting like I've stood there burning money.
My advice is to have a look in all your local bricks and morter, not just at the bikes but to see if you would trust the people who work there to put your bike together properly.
also what is it with the British and begrudging you something new? The last bike I bought was in 1994 and it was a second hand mountain bike bought with my £50 birthday money and I just wanted to buy a new one is all, and yet people (in real life) have been acting like I've stood there burning money.
stuee147
Senior Member
- Location
- north ayrshire
local normally best if its a good shop but it can be worse as you will be able to see and touch things so you would prob spend more lol
