Last time you bought a bike at a bike shop for yourself?
10-03-19, 09:12 PM
#1
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Last time you bought a bike at a bike shop for yourself?
So I was having dinner with Sis In Law tonight. She told me about having just bought a new bike at an area retailer. Shes’s happy about what she bought.
But it got me to thinking. The last time I bought a bike for myself off the floor of a bike shop was over 40 years ago. I’ve bought bikes for my kids, a bike for my wife, but for me? Hasn’t happened in decades. Not that I haven’t bought bikes for myself. But they haven’t come from a retail store.
Anybody else have a similar experience?
But it got me to thinking. The last time I bought a bike for myself off the floor of a bike shop was over 40 years ago. I’ve bought bikes for my kids, a bike for my wife, but for me? Hasn’t happened in decades. Not that I haven’t bought bikes for myself. But they haven’t come from a retail store.
Anybody else have a similar experience?
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10-03-19, 09:14 PM
#2
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So I was having dinner with Sis In Law tonight. She told me about having just bought a new bike at an area retailer. Shes’s happy about what she bought.
But it got me to thinking. The last time I bought a bike for myself off the floor of a bike shop was over 40 years ago. I’ve bought bikes for my kids, a bike for my wife, but for me? Hasn’t happened in decades. Not that I haven’t bought bikes for myself. But they haven’t come from a retail store.
Anybody else have a similar experience?
But it got me to thinking. The last time I bought a bike for myself off the floor of a bike shop was over 40 years ago. I’ve bought bikes for my kids, a bike for my wife, but for me? Hasn’t happened in decades. Not that I haven’t bought bikes for myself. But they haven’t come from a retail store.
Anybody else have a similar experience?
10-03-19, 09:32 PM
#3
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At least 40 years for me as well. I think a Trek 710 frameset bought through the shop where I worked as a mechanic was the last one.
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10-03-19, 09:44 PM
#4
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One of the LBSes makes the mistake (it's a mistake in our market) of offering $70 in trade-in value for used non-bicycle-shaped-objects; it's an incentive for new purchases.
As a result, I wind up buying a surprising number of bikes right off the LBS floor with alarming frequency...they're just all C&V. Either that, or they're interesting enough (Gazelle Whale) to justify the purchase.
-Kurt
As a result, I wind up buying a surprising number of bikes right off the LBS floor with alarming frequency...they're just all C&V. Either that, or they're interesting enough (Gazelle Whale) to justify the purchase.
-Kurt
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10-03-19, 09:53 PM
#6
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I bought my first new bike ever in May, through the shop I work part time at.
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My bikes: '81 Trek 957, '83 Trek 720, '85 Trek 500, '85 Trek 770,
10-03-19, 10:26 PM
#7
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1992? Schwinn Heavy Duti.
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10-03-19, 10:49 PM
#9
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I bought this Specialized Roubaix Elite from Spoke 'n Wheel, Woodland Hills, CA, as a left over, back in 2007, for $700 off MSRP. Couldn't pass it up. After ten years, the original Mavic Open Sports developed cracks around the spoke holes. I replaced them with Reynolds Stratus Elite, which transformed the bike. Still loving the old Roubaix. It is my last bike store bike purchase.
10-03-19, 11:11 PM
#10
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1968. I saved up my paper route money and bought a Raleigh Rcord 10-speed. I bought it from the Novato Schwinn Cyclery. The owner tried to convince my dad to convince me that what I really should but was a Schwinn Varsity because "if you back over it in the driveway the Schwinn will probably be OK but the Raleigh won't". Fortunately, we had just moved to the US from England and my youth had been spent speculating about which bicycle was the best for competing in the Tour de France. A massive 40 lb Schwinn wasn't one of them so I got the Raleigh. That was my first and last bike shop complete bike.
That said, I bought a new bike frame in 1981 after my Raleigh International (picked up used years after the Raleigh Record) was destroyed when I was run down by a pickup truck while touring through New England. I picked up a minuscule amount of insurance money and ordered a built-to-order Ron Cooper frame from the master himself. Although that was not a complete bike purchase, it is still my main bike.
That said, I bought a new bike frame in 1981 after my Raleigh International (picked up used years after the Raleigh Record) was destroyed when I was run down by a pickup truck while touring through New England. I picked up a minuscule amount of insurance money and ordered a built-to-order Ron Cooper frame from the master himself. Although that was not a complete bike purchase, it is still my main bike.
Last edited by davester; 10-03-19 at 11:18 PM.
10-03-19, 11:14 PM
#11
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I was 35 (2000) , I had been riding a Costco purchased Motiv mountain bike (not counting that one as a bike shop purchase) with slick tires on the road, and watching my buddy glide up and down hills on his late 80s Panasonic road bike convinced me I needed a road bike. We were training for the STP so I was looking for any help I could get. I looked at Cannondales in REI and then found the size suggested to me at Pacific Cycles in Issaquah WA and bought the previous years model on sale a 1999 Cannondale R800 and rode it a ton for a decade before realizing it was too small, I had bought into the racer get the smallest frame you can ride mentality and bought a 54 cm. In C&V I ride a 58 cm 
I really did like that bike while I had it but if I had a bit more knowledge I could have gotten something used, a bit larger and saved a ton of $$ oh well. It certainly didn't sit in the garage unused. I did 3 STPs, a number of centuries and other charity rides on that bike in a decade of use. The first time I rode a steel bike in a larger size over the crappy roads in my neighborhood was a revelation.
Stock shot
I really did like that bike while I had it but if I had a bit more knowledge I could have gotten something used, a bit larger and saved a ton of $$ oh well. It certainly didn't sit in the garage unused. I did 3 STPs, a number of centuries and other charity rides on that bike in a decade of use. The first time I rode a steel bike in a larger size over the crappy roads in my neighborhood was a revelation.
Stock shot
Last edited by ryansu; 10-03-19 at 11:22 PM.
10-04-19, 12:01 AM
#12
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the last and only bike i've ever purchased from a retail shop was in '94: a purple GT backwoods from the peddler shop in memphis, tn. got a marzocchi xc-51 fork for it and felt glorious. now, meh...i just find'em used. just as rewarding and i pay a lot less....lol
10-04-19, 12:31 AM
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1996 Gary Fisher Hoo Koo E Koo from the bike shop on M Street in Georgetown (Metropolis?)
The internet definitely makes it easier to buy a used bike (new bike too I guess for that matter).
The internet definitely makes it easier to buy a used bike (new bike too I guess for that matter).
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10-04-19, 04:06 AM
#14
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About a year ago I picked up this closeout 2017 Fuji SL from Performance Bike in Ann Arbor. With its carbon fiber frame, Di2 shifting, and 2 x 11 gearing, it is the Ying to my C&V Yang.
Fuji SL 2.1 by cb400bill, on Flickr
Fuji SL 2.1 by cb400bill, on Flickr
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10-04-19, 04:08 AM
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Bought my C’dale Six (NOS) at the LBS in 2012 at employee pricing. Lusting after something new, but so far I’ve resisted temptation. I’m browsing CL (and C&V for sale) daily, just in case... Funny thing is I have little time for riding these days.
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10-04-19, 04:26 AM
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LBS Bike Purchases
At the end of 1973 I bought my first "all Campy" bike. It was a 1971 Gitane Super Corsa that had been hanging on the wall for several years at the shop where I was working part time. I got it for $150 during their year end clearance sale.
The shop owners sensed that the bike boom was coming to an end and started moving everything out the door. They were right! Six months later the 10 Speed Racing Bike fad was over.
I bought a number of C&V bikes from shops but most were from private sellers, eBay or as bare frames.
Here's an all original 1973 Raleigh RRA barn bike I bought from a LBS in 2016. Even the tires were original.
verktyg
The shop owners sensed that the bike boom was coming to an end and started moving everything out the door. They were right! Six months later the 10 Speed Racing Bike fad was over.
I bought a number of C&V bikes from shops but most were from private sellers, eBay or as bare frames.
Here's an all original 1973 Raleigh RRA barn bike I bought from a LBS in 2016. Even the tires were original.
verktyg
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Don't believe everything you think! History is written by those who weren't there....
Chas. ;-)
Don't believe everything you think! History is written by those who weren't there....
Chas. ;-)
10-04-19, 04:37 AM
#17
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1990 i bought a Trek 820 mountain bike after my girlfriend convinced me it would be great. It was entry level but so much nicer than the bikes i grew up on. I kept that bike and I'm going thru a resto on it thanks to the forums and youtube videos. Its coming together very nicely. Its been fun and inspiring. Short term plan is to get reacquainted with my bike and riding on rails to trails to see where it takes me. But I'm finding that as i get close to completing my bike that i have this itch to buy another project.
10-04-19, 04:50 AM
#18
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Back about 1973 I bought a Raleigh 3 speed for school and paper route. Unfortunately haven’t owned it for years. Anything since has been second hand.
10-04-19, 05:12 AM
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During my life I bought 2, the first was in 1968, UO-8 or what ever was equivalent at the time in Frankfurt, Germany.
PBPeugeot, on Flickr
Picture from 1971.
My second was in 1998, Specialized RockHopper as a left over from 1997.
RKHPRDrivSideW, on Flickr
Picture from 2008.
PBPeugeot, on Flickr
Picture from 1971.
My second was in 1998, Specialized RockHopper as a left over from 1997.
RKHPRDrivSideW, on Flickr
Picture from 2008.
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10-04-19, 05:31 AM
#20
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1976, a new Motobecane Mirage from a dealer in Oceanside, CA. I'd just been stationed at Pendleton and needed transportation. Rode that bike many miles throughout my five years of active duty, from 20 mile round trip commutes to long club rides including centuries around SoCal and Baja.
Wish I'd kept it, mostly for nostalgia.
Never bought another new bike. All mine are orphans, pound puppies, strays, rejects and ferals. Just like my cats. Suits me just fine.
Wish I'd kept it, mostly for nostalgia.
Never bought another new bike. All mine are orphans, pound puppies, strays, rejects and ferals. Just like my cats. Suits me just fine.
10-04-19, 05:35 AM
#21
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10-04-19, 06:01 AM
#22
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Around 1998.
I had gone to Turin in Evanston with the idea of getting a Gunnar frame to build up a touring bike. While I was working out the details, the saleswoman took a long phone call, which allowed me to wander around the showroom. I spotted a Bianchi Volpe, which looked like it would be perfect for touring.
When she got off the phone, I told her I wanted to try the Volpe. It was great, so I ended up getting that instead of the Gunnar. On top of that, the complete Bianchi cost about the same as the Gunnar frame. Taking that call cost her about $500 in sales...
Anyhoo, I did a bunch of touring around the Midwest and then ended up selling it when my touring dropped off. Sold it for $75 less thsn what if paid, so I did OK.
Here's a pic up on Traverse Bay.
I had gone to Turin in Evanston with the idea of getting a Gunnar frame to build up a touring bike. While I was working out the details, the saleswoman took a long phone call, which allowed me to wander around the showroom. I spotted a Bianchi Volpe, which looked like it would be perfect for touring.
When she got off the phone, I told her I wanted to try the Volpe. It was great, so I ended up getting that instead of the Gunnar. On top of that, the complete Bianchi cost about the same as the Gunnar frame. Taking that call cost her about $500 in sales...
Anyhoo, I did a bunch of touring around the Midwest and then ended up selling it when my touring dropped off. Sold it for $75 less thsn what if paid, so I did OK.
Here's a pic up on Traverse Bay.
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10-04-19, 06:08 AM
#23
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I buy a new mountain bike off the floor of the LBS every few years. I still teach bike patrol classes and urban stuff beats up a bike. It's been a while since I bought a new road bike, mainly because they don't make what I like anymore.
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10-04-19, 06:44 AM
#25
Full Member
New bike is only one, in 1998: Peugeot Country 400 trekking with Shimano Altus-STX mix equipment.
To this day, this is my daily general working horse with some replacing parts.
Used bikes there were several. (But these are specialized shops for used bikes) :
Bianchi Vento 606 / Campa Veloce,
Pinarello Veneto Donna /shimano 105 (for my wife)
Bianchi Genius / DA 7402
Puch (Austro-Daimler) Superleicht/ Campa NR
Pinarello Montello/ shimano 6400
In private trade, I prefer to buy just frames, which I would like to fit with parts myself.
To this day, this is my daily general working horse with some replacing parts.
Used bikes there were several. (But these are specialized shops for used bikes) :
Bianchi Vento 606 / Campa Veloce,
Pinarello Veneto Donna /shimano 105 (for my wife)
Bianchi Genius / DA 7402
Puch (Austro-Daimler) Superleicht/ Campa NR
Pinarello Montello/ shimano 6400
In private trade, I prefer to buy just frames, which I would like to fit with parts myself.
