Tell Me Bike Shops Online Please !!

cambriabike.com
adrenalinebike.com
rscycle.com
downcycles.com
airbomb.com
go-ride.com
ride-this.com

thats all I can think of off the top of my head

EDIT: Speedgoat.com is good too

It's really disappointing to see riders send their money of their community to feel like they are getting a deal. Most shops can match those prices if you pay up front, which you are paying up front when you buy on line anyway.

Unless you live outside of civilization, why don't you try to go through and educate your local shops??

The shop I work at will match online prices if you pay before the part is ordered. If you can, show your LBS some love, but all shops are different.

I try to buy local whenever possible, if I need something that the shop doesn't have in stock and it isn't something they normally stock I'll usually shop online. Most of the shops I've been in are pretty incompetent when it comes to special orders, especially if it's something like a hub or bottom bracket where there may be 3 or 4 different sizes to choose from, even if I tell the shop monkey exactly what size I need chances are they will either forget and order the wrong one, or they will forget and just not order anything, not only will they not order anything they won't call and tell me they forgot what size and didn't order it so when I go in next Monday they won't be able to find any record of recieving any parts but they won't be able to find any record of not ordering the part. That's when I order online, price matching has not worked well for me unless the local shop was some place like Performance. The issue that arises isn't that the shop doesn't want to compete it's that they can't compete, it's cheaper for them to order from an online shop than to order it from their supplier in some cases.

Good online shops in addition to those already mentioned are:
universalcycles.com
jensonusa.com

If you are looking for something pretty generic like a water bottle you can try:
performancebike.com
they are kind of the wal-mart of the cycling industry, I generally don't support them online or in their retail stores unless they have one of their house branded products on a stupid low clearance.

Depending on what part of mexico you are in it might be best to buy from a shop in Texas, I knew a few guys down there who had done that in the late 90's.

Most local shops here in Santa Cruz are incredibly over priced and are not willing to go lower on the prices. I do 99% of my shopping online. I only buy at shops if I absolutely need something that day and they happen to have it in stock. Because I dont work at a shop or have friends at shops who really are willing to 'hook me up' with their discounts I really dont have a choice.

Great example, I ordered a seat post online recently. I ordered it on pricepoint.com because they had the SDG I-Beam seat post for about $40. Once I got that price, I checked all of the local shops. Highest price was $110 lowest was about $65 and none of the shops were willing to lower the price. It wasnt on a crazy sale or anything on pricepoint.

ah forgot jenson

www.cactusbike.com

Greenfish.com
Blueskycycling.com
Alfredebikes.com
Fullcycles.com
Chainreactioncycles (UK based, but you get free shipping if you spend X amount)

I've ordered from all almost all of them and Jenson, PP, Full, Cambria, Ride-this, Go-ride and Bluesky have all been good.

These are the few that I use probably 99% of the time short of Ebay if I can find it. These shops I've had excellent luck with ordering things are:

Ride-this.com
Go-Ride.com
Universalcycles.com
Pricepoint.com
Performancebike.com
Jensonusa.com

Shops I've had so-so service from is

Beyondbikes.com

LOL..........sorry it's just one. And the so-so service is just from the lack of tracking your order and waiting for things to come in stock. Otherwise it's worked great as well.

My LBS will match some things, but within reason. I'll always pick up the little pieces and bits at the LBS. I can't expect them to match mail order on a frame/fork of some sort that they online site bought 200 of and my LBS has to buy one at a time. Quantity in alot of the cases is what causes the prices to be so high/low. Places like Jenson/Beyondbikes/Pricepoint can buy 1000 tires where the LBS might buy 10 if they are popular. Go-Ride is probably the exception to this. They do I'm guessing a large amount of their sales online as well as in house. So they may stock more DH/FR stuff per say than the other companies.

Lots can get the products quickly though. I know some say ships in 1-2 days. So they order it from BTI or QBP and then ship it to you. Which is totally fine. I usually order stuff ahead of time, wait on it, and save some $$$.

One of the reasons that a lot of shop are ignorant about DH type of things is because people post things in forums like: "Tell Me Bike Shops Online Please !!"
Give shops a chance. Make them want to work with you. The reality is that most things aren't too much different than they are online. Usually the only real difference is closeout items. The new stuff tends to be about the same in most cases.

www.dropnzone.com

Allen will get you what you need!

well anywhere except beyond bikes. they totally suck kcid. if you can buy from a shop because besides usually free instalation. if it doesnt fit or gets messed up. ITS THEIR PROBLEM. online shops usually cant give you the same support that a real shop can.

WWW.FULLCYCLES.COM
Will and Gary are great, fast and know what parts are needed to go with so it comes complete. They got me all set up today on my formula oro biancos, they ordered them and I'll have em by friday.

_bp said:

One of the reasons that a lot of shop are ignorant about DH type of things is because people post things in forums like: "Tell Me Bike Shops Online Please !!"
Give shops a chance. Make them want to work with you. The reality is that most things aren't too much different than they are online. Usually the only real difference is closeout items. The new stuff tends to be about the same in most cases.

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read his post!! he is in Mexico!...ever been to a bike shop in Mex??

stinkyboy said:

www.cactusbike.com

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I would be very happy to have them for a LBS!!

When I visited PHX I bought some spokes and a rim from them to build a new rear wheel. Fish offered to let me use his shop.

Mike

SPINTECK said:

It's really disappointing to see riders send their money of their community to feel like they are getting a deal. Most shops can match those prices if you pay up front, which you are paying up front when you buy on line anyway.

Unless you live outside of civilization, why don't you try to go through and educate your local shops??

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Becuse Performance Bike SUCK!!! They think the Giant Faith is a top of the line Downhill racer. When it comes to anything in depth, I travel 50 miles to my closes "local downhill shop" to get the real info. I also pay there 50% mark up, just to have the knowledge of what I'm buying WILL actually help me.
So thanks to www.downhillzone.com

davep said:

read his post!! he is in Mexico!...ever been to a bike shop in Mex??

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No, you are right. I did read his post and knowingly cheated a little on that. But my point stands, and you know where I was going with it.

Here is the deal. If the people at your lbs are rude or the like, bail on them. You likely won't be the only one, and their success will follow. If the shop is just a little ignorant, get in there and force them to educate themselves.

If I know more than the guys at the shop I have little need for the guys in the shop. That's like saying you should have a professional prepare your taxes even if you think you can save money and get a bigger refund by doing them yourself, are you the kind of guy who takes their car to a mechanic to change the air in your tires or to replace a muffler bearing just because the mechanics need the practice? I don't think it's my duty as an American (Mexico is America too so this is relevant) to help out people who don't care enough about their job to get the proper OJT and shop owners who don't care about their business enough to train employees. If I am more competent than the so called professionals and have the available resources to do something myself why shouldn't I. I don't owe anybody the privelage of my business just so they can figure things out, that's what training is for and I'm not one to waste my time and money so someone can get trained, the business owner should take care of that and roll it up in overhead expenses.

www.BIKEPARTS.com

They have damn near everything

Kornphlake said:

If I know more than the guys at the shop I have little need for the guys in the shop...

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No I am not saying you need to explain to them what a through axle is I am just saying that if they see there is a demand for something they will respond. They can educate themeselves. I still stand by shops need to earn your business. If they refuse to learn, screw them. But if you want them to stock the cool DH stuff, you can't exclusively buy online.

go-ride.com

dhbuilder said:

go-ride.com

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I'm so glad those guys are my LBS.