This is the final part to the “Buying A New Bike” series. For a complete list of the series, check out the first post titled “Buying A Road Bike-The Search Begins “. It will give you all of the information you need in order to start the process of buying your next bike.
Now that you have decided on the type of bike you want to get, done a test ride (or two) on the bikes you are interested in and gone through the fitting process you are now ready to make two more big decisions. You will need to decide on the bike you want to buy and then you will need to decide where to buy the bike.
Which Bike
Making the final decision on which bike to buy might be difficult. You might have several bikes that seem very similar but you will need to pick one. I’d suggest picking the bike that “felt” the best to you over the test rides, fits you, and that best meets your budget. You have to trust your gut a little in order to make the decision.
Buying Local
Most road bikes are still purchased at the local bike shop (LBS) and for the great majority of people that is the best choice for a number of reasons. Here are two good ones:
- Convenient- Buying from a local shop means that it will be easy to get service, adjustments, and repairs. Most shops will give you a discount on their services if you buy a bike from them.
- Knowledge- A good local bike shop will have lots of knowledge about bikes that you can benefit from. They can help you become a better cyclist by directing you towards the best equipment for your needs.
If you are new to cycling and want some help, or if you just appreciate being able to walk into the shop and get your bike, then the local bike shop is the way to go.
Use The Web
The internet has presented many opportunities for people to purchase complete, high quality road bikes from merchants around the world. If you are an experienced cyclist or know exactly what you want/need, the internet route might be right for you. There are some advantages to the internet:
- Selection- The selection available online is almost limitless. There are many quality vendors for you to choose from. The choices can be overwhelming so you need to have a good idea of what you want.
- Price- Buy over the web can save you some serious money, if you know what to look for and what to avoid. Don’t let price be your main criteria because that will often lead to disappointment.
Many people use the internet to do their initial research and then visit local bike shops to test ride and buy. This is what I did and it worked out great for me.
Whichever route you choose to buy your bike, make sure you are comfortable with the decision. There have been many people who have purchased a bike online only to find out that it wasn’t the right bike or had problems getting the bike adjusted, etc.
What I Would Do (and did)
My recommendation is that you should purchase your bike locally if at all possible. It will just be a lot easier to get adjustments done and if there is a problem, get it taken care of. Use the web for research and to help you narrow things down then buy locally.
Congratulations
When you make the final decision and take delivery of your new bike make sure you know how to properly use the bike. Have the fit of the bike checked one last time before you leave the shop, just to make sure. Also, you should plan on getting the bike tuned up with the first 30 days or so after you buy the bike as cables, etc. will stretch and gears will need to be adjusted. Most quality shops will do this as part of the bike purchase. If you find that you need to make some fit adjustments after you purchase the bike your shop should allow you to swap out things like stems or saddles in order to dial everything in.
Now get out there and enjoy your new bike!
