Great service, Fast shipping, and GREAT product!
Written: Sep 27 '10 (Updated Dec 26 '10)
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I have had a great experience with BikesDirect.com, from start to finish- And got an EXCELLENT deal in the process!
A BikesDirect Bike might be a good choice for you IF:
1) You have some basic bike knowledge
2) Know your correct frame size, or how to measure for it.
3) You have at least some basic mechanical skills, and tools. Some bike- Specific tools and knowledge are helpful.
4) You want to save some SERIOUS CASH.
If this is you, Read on...
A BikesDirect bike might be a poor choice if:
1) You know ABSOLUTELY NOTHING about bikes, and are not willing to do your research ahead of time.
2)You don't have a clue how to fit a bike, or that bikes even COME in different sizes.
3) You don't know a wrench from a screwdriver, or think a cassette tool is used to unjam your 8 track player
4) You are stuck up on having the same stickers and paint jobs that the pro teams have on their rides.
If these apply to you, You'll be better off going to the local brick-and-mortar bike shop. They'll be able to educate you on different bike types, fit you properly, and get you set up to ride.
I happen to fit in the first category, however. I have ridden a LOT of bikes. I know what I like, I know what 'fits'. I can read a frame geometry, and have at least SOME idea how I'm going to feel on the bike.
I started shopping for my bike where I normally would, the local bike shops. I was replacing my DREAM bike- A Titanium Litespeed. I had to sell the bike, and really missed it. I wanted to replace it with something similar, but just couldn't justify $4,000 for a bike at the moment.
Looking at what was available in stores, I found I was going to have to spend at LEAST $1200-1500 minimum to get a decent aluminum frame. And, I just couldn't find one that 'fit' right- My litespeed had a nice, slightly more relaxed riding position than most road bikes, something that I really missed. The more exotic materials- Carbon fiber or Titanium- were simply out of the question budget wise. I couldn't touch them for less than $2,500 or so.
Then I started looking online a bit. I found BikesDirect.com, and checked them out. The prices were certainly NICE- Well speced bikes, starting for about 1/2 what they would cost at a bike shop.... Aluminum bikes, ready to go, starting in the $350 range- and Carbon fiber for a bit over $1000? Could it POSSIBLY be true?
Now, there are a LOT of things I buy online. Books, DVDs, even my pet food... But, there are a lot of things I have NOT bought online. Just about anything that I have to fit into or on, I like to try in person- And bikes are ALL about fit. So, I was a little unsure about this aspect of the whole thing. But, Following the fit information on the BikesDirect web page, combined with some other online fit calculators, I settled on the 'correct' size for me.
I also read a lot of online reviews- About both the company AND the products that they sell. I found that the majority of the reviews were positive- Most people seemed to be pretty happy with their experience, and with the product that they received. They also have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, which is also reassuring.
One major cycling magaine compared one of the bikes I was looking at to one that cost over $10,000.00- Naturally, the more expensive one got higher ratings, but the writer concluded that while it was nicer, not nearly enough to justify the difference in price... So, I decided to place an order.
I ordered the bike LATE on a tuesday night. I used PayPal to pay for it, as I felt a little more comfortable doing it this way than giving them my credit card number.
The next day, I recieved a notification that my bike had been shipped- along with an estimated delivery time, and a tracking number. The company ships UPS, with no charge for shipping. My box arrived the following Monday, in perfect shape.
So- Now for the 'fun' part. The web site advertises the bikes as '90% assembled'. I am not new to bikes by any means, and do a lot of my own mechanical work- so I'm not intimidated by doing a little work, especially if I'm saving this much money.
The bike was packed VERY well, and, as advertised, mostly assembled. I took it out of the box, put on the front wheel & brake, installed & adjusted the handlebars, installed the seat, and was pretty much ready to go. The wheels required a bit of adjustment, as did the derailleurs- But it was pretty easy to do. I'd say that if you have even average mechanical ability, a few basic tools, and an internet connection to read one of the many excellent pages on the subject of bike adjustment, you'll be just fine!
Once I got it assembled and tuned, it was time for the test ride. Luckily for me, it was a gorgeous day- So I headed out for the open road. I hopped on, and was immediately impressed! The ride quality was as good, if not better, than my Litespeed that had cost many, MANY times more. It felt similar to other carbon bikes I have ridden, and the fit was PERFECT.
All I can say is I am one VERY satisfied customer. I got far more bike than I'd have ever been able to buy elsewhere for the same money- And, it was delivered right to me, with no sales tax. A deal that can't be beat!
I DO want to address one of the major concerns that I've heard from people out there- That there is limited contact information on the web page, and that it's difficult to get ahold of a 'real' person there. True, it's tough to find a phone number on the page- Only Emails and Fax #'s. I suspect that they have a VERY limited staff, and pass that savings on to you. If you do need to get in touch with them, they answer their emails in a timely manner, and seem to know what they are talking about.
UPDATE
I've had the bike for several months now- And I'm still quite pleased with it. I have several hundred miles on it, Including some LONG (at least for me) 50 + milers in. I'd have a LOT more on it, but winter came all too fast this year.
Each ride, I like it better and better. The ride quality is amazing. It's light and LOVES to climb, and feels solid and secure when I'm descending FAST. It's got snappy, responsive handling, without feeling squirrely.
I DID have to bring it in to the bike shop once. The bottom bracket started to loosen up. I could have fixed it on my own, if I would have had the tools with me- But I didn't have my specialized bike tools with me, since I was away from home on a business trip. It only took the shop a few minutes to get it done.
Recommended:
Yes
What product did you purchase or try to purchase? Motobecane Century
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About the Author
Location: Florida & Tennessee
Reviews written: 86
Trusted by: 3 members
About Me: Merchant Marine officer, Aritst, and Traveller.
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