texbike
09-22-2006, 07:10 PM
I've listened to these rants for more than a year now concerning BikesDirect and wanted to drop my $.02 worth in.
A couple of notes up front:
1. I have very few postings and may be considered a shill because of it,
2. I do not own a Motobecane or other BikesDirect product, and
3. I do not plan to own a Motobecane or other BikesDirect product.
Mass market bikes just aren't my cup of tea whether they be Treks, Giants, Specialized, Mercier/Motobecane, or whatever. I'm a lover of old, lugged steel hand-built machines and currently put most of my miles on an old Merck MX Leader. I've had all manner of hand-made, Italian classics and am a bit of a snob when it comes to bikes like this.
However, I see a very fitting place for BikesDirect and the bikes that they offer. Does it kill me that they are using some of the classic names such as Bottechia? Absolutely! Never-the-less, I truly believe that these guys offer a good product at a good price and are a valid option for bike buyers to take a look at.
Just over a year ago my brother ordered one of the Le Champion SLs w/Ultegra 10, American Classic 350s, FSA, WCS, etc. The bike arrived within days of the order being placed. He paid for a professional fitting and exchanged the seatpost for a carbon fiber unit to dampen a bit of the road shock. Other than the seatpost and different tires, the bike is stock. He absolutely loves it! We've probably logged 1000 miles together in the past year. The only problem with the bike that he witnessed in this time period was a hub issue on the American Classics. An email or two and the problem was quickly and efficiently resolved.
So, my only experience with the company/brand has been through his experience as well as that of another friend who bought another SL at the same time. He too experienced the hub issue, but had it quickly resolved.
I have many friends, co-workers, neighbors, etc. who often ask me for advice on buying a bike. Along with a couple of LBSs, I usually suggest BikesDirect as an option coupled with a professional fitting.
Personally I like the fact that these guys are here. They are pushing the envelope of equipment that is readily available at a certain price point and making it more affordable for the general populace. I think we can all agree that a bike with better equipment (to a certain point) is more enjoyable to ride. The more enjoyable the riding, the more riding people are likely to do. Let's face it, our country could use a lot more bike riders on so many different levels.
With that said, I think the cycling community should cut these guys some slack. They are engaging in good old American capitalism by offering an equal product at a lower price to the public. They have adopted an efficient business model and made it work to their advantage (the proverbial better mousetrap).
I think we should be happy for them and also be appreciative that they are pushing the pricepoint/equipment levels that they are. Even if we don't buy a BikesDirect product, we as cyclists should all benefit from their efforts in the long run.
BTW, I've attached pics of two of my non-BikesDirect bikes. I hope they serve to give me a little credibility. :)
Texbike
A couple of notes up front:
1. I have very few postings and may be considered a shill because of it,
2. I do not own a Motobecane or other BikesDirect product, and
3. I do not plan to own a Motobecane or other BikesDirect product.
Mass market bikes just aren't my cup of tea whether they be Treks, Giants, Specialized, Mercier/Motobecane, or whatever. I'm a lover of old, lugged steel hand-built machines and currently put most of my miles on an old Merck MX Leader. I've had all manner of hand-made, Italian classics and am a bit of a snob when it comes to bikes like this.
However, I see a very fitting place for BikesDirect and the bikes that they offer. Does it kill me that they are using some of the classic names such as Bottechia? Absolutely! Never-the-less, I truly believe that these guys offer a good product at a good price and are a valid option for bike buyers to take a look at.
Just over a year ago my brother ordered one of the Le Champion SLs w/Ultegra 10, American Classic 350s, FSA, WCS, etc. The bike arrived within days of the order being placed. He paid for a professional fitting and exchanged the seatpost for a carbon fiber unit to dampen a bit of the road shock. Other than the seatpost and different tires, the bike is stock. He absolutely loves it! We've probably logged 1000 miles together in the past year. The only problem with the bike that he witnessed in this time period was a hub issue on the American Classics. An email or two and the problem was quickly and efficiently resolved.
So, my only experience with the company/brand has been through his experience as well as that of another friend who bought another SL at the same time. He too experienced the hub issue, but had it quickly resolved.
I have many friends, co-workers, neighbors, etc. who often ask me for advice on buying a bike. Along with a couple of LBSs, I usually suggest BikesDirect as an option coupled with a professional fitting.
Personally I like the fact that these guys are here. They are pushing the envelope of equipment that is readily available at a certain price point and making it more affordable for the general populace. I think we can all agree that a bike with better equipment (to a certain point) is more enjoyable to ride. The more enjoyable the riding, the more riding people are likely to do. Let's face it, our country could use a lot more bike riders on so many different levels.
With that said, I think the cycling community should cut these guys some slack. They are engaging in good old American capitalism by offering an equal product at a lower price to the public. They have adopted an efficient business model and made it work to their advantage (the proverbial better mousetrap).
I think we should be happy for them and also be appreciative that they are pushing the pricepoint/equipment levels that they are. Even if we don't buy a BikesDirect product, we as cyclists should all benefit from their efforts in the long run.
BTW, I've attached pics of two of my non-BikesDirect bikes. I hope they serve to give me a little credibility. :)
Texbike