I’m looking to buy my wife an entry level road bike, but I’m having trouble pulling the trigger on a Bikesdirect/Nashbar bike. There’s just that fear of the price being too good to be true. Anybody got any opinions on it? Also if you have any leads, she’s 5’10 and I don’t want to go over $600 shipping included.
Nothing really wrong with those frames, but the components leave a lot to be desired. More like avoided.
I’d say find some cycling buddies you trust, maybe even Tarck, and find something used. Even look at quality downtube shifters. I take it she’s not racing?
I’m looking to buy my wife an entry level road bike, but I’m having trouble pulling the trigger on a Bikesdirect/Nashbar bike. There’s just that fear of the price being too good to be true. Anybody got any opinions on it? Also if you have any leads, she’s 5’10 and I don’t want to go over $600 shipping included.
The BD bikes are very low quality frames. Heavier than basic aluminum frames with similar components from a bike shop. Would be fine for someone who has never ridden anything nicer. The Allez steel is a pretty cool bike for the money. It probably weighs about the same as one of those BD bikes does, but probably rides a lot better.
I like that Allez alot. It reminds me of my Allez Epic and I can swap the dt shifters for my 8sp brifters if she really wants em. I’m already looking at buying a mountain bike at my lbs so hopefully buying this at the same time will give me some extra haggle.
You can get bikes for similar prices from performance too. Just gotta wait for a sale.
The '09 GTR series 4 was on sale not too long ago, then with a 20% discount it came out to like mid to upper $400s shipped.
When my friend went to check it out in person, they price matched a Shwinn Le Tour, and she ended up getting it.
The frames aren’t TOO bad in all reality. Not the finest materials, but not junk. What typically IS junk are headsets, straddles, seat posts, clamps, stems, etc. They sell you on a recognizable name in components (105 with Ultegra FD!!!), but skimp on the smaller things.
Statement: The BD frames weigh exactly as much as the frames they are otherwise badged as. The major components are exactly what they are listed as, though I have heard they are often a few years old. The website has spec sheets so you can see what you are getting. Also, what Jim said about the lesser components. Those are the things that I usually change out on any complete bike I get, though it is shitty to get a shitty headset/BB on a new bike.
Caveat: I have had only one experience with one BD bike and that was years ago. I rode that thing a lot, I was living car-free and had a 20+ mile/day commute and a 4+ mile/gf, bar, shop combo. It was dependable. It was even fun. I sold it to someone for less than $100, who loved it and I made a fast friend. I believe it has since moved on to a new owner.
Summary: If you want an inexpensive and reasonably reliable (you may have to / want to change out a component or two) transport, and you don’t have the time, inclination, or proximity to a used-bike market, then BD may be a valid and satisfying option.
The truth about bikes direct bikes… NONE OF THE THREADS ANYWHERE ON THE BIKE COME GREASED. Basically you need to rebuild the entire bike when you get it. Which to me isn’t a huge deal but to others it could be.
What typically IS junk are headsets, straddles, seat posts, clamps, stems, etc. [/quote]
This should be bold/underlined. The bolts are the worst possible steel/al, they strip if you look at them funny. all of these parts should be replaced if possible… or just be careful w/ assembly and run it till it fails.
^Truth. Guy came in to shop to have his BD motobecane cross bike assembled and was kinda mad at the estimate I gave him for assembly and adjustment. Still had me do it, though, cos he wasn’t goin’ anywhere w/o it assembled.
