Online Bike Store Ratings

Big ole props to AMain performance cycling. I've been a fan of the E13 9-44 cassette since I put one on my Ripley a year and a half ish ago and several thousand miles ago. Decided to try it on my hardtail last week and since both bikes have dt swiss hubs it was a no tools 1 minute swap job. Guess what I liked the cassette even more on the hardtail and decided I wanted another. Googled it and the price from amain was like $50 or more cheaper than everyone else including Jensons and my local cash & carry guy. Seemed too good to be true and I had never heard of them but I decided to take a chance. Turns out they also had a $15 coupon code and free shipping so this was turning in to a ridiculous deal. Deals only mean something when you get the goods & I got the goods. Ordered on Friday, got a shipping confirmation a couple hours later and on Monday my parts were in the mailbox. Not sure what else they really sell but if ya want a smoking deal on an E13 cassette they cannot be beat...
 
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I've had great luck with JensonUSA. I feel no LBS guilt because I am often buying old stock, (10 speed parts, 2-3 generation old groupsan, 26" tires, etc) and because two separate LBS have said , "Just order that from Jenson."

Similarly, LBS often have trouble getting boutique parts, so I order from Fairwheel in Tuscon, without remorse. (Besides, they actually are a brick and mortar.)

It feels dirty to buy from Merlin, Wiggle, and Chain Reaction, especially when it is Shimano at absurdly low prices, but sometimes that happens. I feel no remorse if it is old parts, though. I usually stick to items I can install myself when doing this.

I've used Cambria, but wasn't impressed with their lack of communication and delays.

Amazon and eBay purchases happen on rare occasion, once again for stuff that isn't at the LBS.

I try to offset online buying by getting stuff at the LBS if they have it in stock, or by purchasing nutrition/water bottles/etc when I've gone to a demo day. I recognize that this isn't where they make their money, but I wasn't going to buy a $7k Giant or Spec anyway. Sometimes I will reverse showroom, where I research online and buy at the LBS.

I don't have the tools, knowledge, or workspace to do all of my own maintenance, so I don't balk at paying service rates at the LBS.

...I was looking for some new Arch MK3...$100 per hoop...Fanatik...$90...TF...$66
I'm a sucker for the custom and the shiny, so since Stan's only does black now, (I was lucky to get white Flows on the rigid bike and silver ArchEX on the road bike,) I have to get my Stan's from Project321 in Fresno, and pay $135-$150. Looooooove that shiny ano, so it's worth it to me.
 
I've had great luck with JensonUSA. I feel no LBS guilt because I am often buying old stock, (10 speed parts, 2-3 generation old groupsan, 26" tires, etc) and because two separate LBS have said , "Just order that from Jenson."

Similarly, LBS often have trouble getting boutique parts, so I order from Fairwheel in Tuscon, without remorse. (Besides, they actually are a brick and mortar.)

It feels dirty to buy from Merlin, Wiggle, and Chain Reaction, especially when it is Shimano at absurdly low prices, but sometimes that happens. I feel no remorse if it is old parts, though. I usually stick to items I can install myself when doing this.

I've used Cambria, but wasn't impressed with their lack of communication and delays.

Amazon and eBay purchases happen on rare occasion, once again for stuff that isn't at the LBS.

I try to offset online buying by getting stuff at the LBS if they have it in stock, or by purchasing nutrition/water bottles/etc when I've gone to a demo day. I recognize that this isn't where they make their money, but I wasn't going to buy a $7k Giant or Spec anyway. Sometimes I will reverse showroom, where I research online and buy at the LBS.

I don't have the tools, knowledge, or workspace to do all of my own maintenance, so I don't balk at paying service rates at the LBS.


I'm a sucker for the custom and the shiny, so since Stan's only does black now, (I was lucky to get white Flows on the rigid bike and silver ArchEX on the road bike,) I have to get my Stan's from Project321 in Fresno, and pay $135-$150. Looooooove that shiny ano, so it's worth it to me.

Yeah, I remember seeing those silver Stans rims....just had a hard time justifying $135 per hoop.
 
Yeah, I remember seeing those silver Stans rims....just had a hard time justifying $135 per hoop.

What's another few bucks when you're spending $7k on a build? :confused: When I built up my RIP I initially had those silver Arch EX rims on it.

Brand new:
IMG_0016.JPG


Current home:
IMG_2892.JPG
 
What's another few bucks when you're spending $7k on a build? :confused: When I built up my RIP I initially had those silver Arch EX rims on it.

Brand new:
View attachment 30407

Current home:
View attachment 30408

True.....but I wasn't building up a new bike. I wasn't even in need of new rims at the time. Actually the retail on the black rims was $90 each....so to pay the $45 premium for the silvers was outrageous. I do have an old set of Velocity Blunts in that silver though. Black has been overplayed.
 
True.....but I wasn't building up a new bike. I wasn't even in need of new rims at the time. Actually the retail on the black rims was $90 each....so to pay the $45 premium for the silvers was outrageous. I do have an old set of Velocity Blunts in that silver though. Black has been overplayed.

Oh I know, I was more poking fun at myself for playing into the whole "what's an extra $90" when building up my bike. Let's just say I'm a good customer (read: sucker).
 
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