Last time you bought a bike at a bike shop for yourself?
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
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?
Likes For Mr. Spadoni:
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 5,791
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1020 Post(s)
Liked 463 Times
in
293 Posts
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?
#3
Old fart
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Appleton WI
Posts: 24,786
Bikes: Several, mostly not name brands.
Mentioned: 153 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3588 Post(s)
Liked 3,400 Times
in
1,934 Posts
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.
Likes For JohnDThompson:
#4
www.theheadbadge.com
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Southern Florida
Posts: 28,513
Bikes: https://www.theheadbadge.com
Mentioned: 124 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2422 Post(s)
Liked 4,395 Times
in
2,092 Posts
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
#6
Senior Member
I bought my first new bike ever in May, through the shop I work part time at.
__________________
My bikes: '81 Trek 957, '83 Trek 720, '85 Trek 500, '85 Trek 770,'81 Merckx, '85 Centurion Cinelli, '85 Raleigh Portage, '92 RB-2, '09 Bianchi
My bikes: '81 Trek 957, '83 Trek 720, '85 Trek 500, '85 Trek 770,
#7
What happened?
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Around here somewhere
Posts: 7,927
Bikes: 3 Rollfasts, 3 Schwinns, a Shelby and a Higgins Flightliner in a pear tree!
Mentioned: 57 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1835 Post(s)
Liked 292 Times
in
255 Posts
1992? Schwinn Heavy Duti.
__________________
I don't know nothing, and I memorized it in school and got this here paper I'm proud of to show it.
Likes For Rollfast:
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 2,249
Bikes: 1964 Legnano Roma Olympiade, 1973 Raleigh Super Course, 1978 Raleigh Super Course, 1978 Peugeot PR10, 2002 Specialized Allez, 2007 Specialized Roubaix, 2013 Culprit Croz Blade
Mentioned: 68 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 741 Post(s)
Liked 818 Times
in
421 Posts
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
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Berkeley CA
Posts: 2,536
Bikes: 1981 Ron Cooper, 1974 Cinelli Speciale Corsa, 2000 Gary Fisher Sugar 1, 1986 Miyata 710, 1982 Raleigh "International"
Mentioned: 97 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 930 Post(s)
Liked 1,292 Times
in
488 Posts
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.
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Seattle WA
Posts: 2,841
Bikes: 2009 Handsome Devil, 1987 Trek 520 Cirrus, 1978 Motobecane Grand Touring, 1987 Nishiki Cresta GT, 1989 Specialized Allez Former bikes; 1986 Miyata Trail Runner, 1979 Miyata 912, 2011 VO Rando, 1999 Cannondale R800, 1986 Schwinn Passage
Mentioned: 72 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 796 Post(s)
Liked 522 Times
in
367 Posts
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.
#12
(rhymes with spook)
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Winslow, AR
Posts: 2,788
Bikes: '83 univega gran turismo x2, '85 schwinn super le tour,'89 miyata triple cross, '91 GT tequesta, '90 yokota grizzly peak, '94 GT backwoods, '95'ish scott tampico, '98 bonty privateer, '93 mongoose crossway 625, '98 parkpre ariel, 2k'ish giant fcr3
Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 919 Post(s)
Liked 745 Times
in
546 Posts
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
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Central Virginia
Posts: 4,780
Bikes: Numerous
Mentioned: 150 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1678 Post(s)
Liked 3,098 Times
in
914 Posts
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).
__________________
N = '96 Colnago C40, '04 Wilier Alpe D'Huez, '10 Colnago EPS, '85 Merckx Pro, '89 Merckx Century, '86 Tommasini Professional, '04 Teschner Aero FX Pro, '05 Alan Carbon Cross, '86 De Rosa Professional, '82 Colnago Super, '95 Gios Compact Pro, '95 Carrera Zeus, '84 Basso Gap, ‘89 Cinelli Supercorsa, ‘83 Bianchi Specialissima, ‘VO Randonneur, Ritchey Breakaway Steel, '84 Paletti Super Prestige, Heron Randonneur
N = '96 Colnago C40, '04 Wilier Alpe D'Huez, '10 Colnago EPS, '85 Merckx Pro, '89 Merckx Century, '86 Tommasini Professional, '04 Teschner Aero FX Pro, '05 Alan Carbon Cross, '86 De Rosa Professional, '82 Colnago Super, '95 Gios Compact Pro, '95 Carrera Zeus, '84 Basso Gap, ‘89 Cinelli Supercorsa, ‘83 Bianchi Specialissima, ‘VO Randonneur, Ritchey Breakaway Steel, '84 Paletti Super Prestige, Heron Randonneur
#14
Forum Moderator
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Kalamazoo MI
Posts: 20,650
Bikes: Fuji SL2.1 Carbon Di2 Cannondale Synapse Alloy 4 Trek Checkpoint ALR-5 Viscount Aerospace Pro Colnago Classic Rabobank Schwinn Waterford PMount Raleigh C50 Cromoly Hybrid Legnano Tipo Roma Pista
Mentioned: 59 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3090 Post(s)
Liked 6,599 Times
in
3,785 Posts
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
Likes For cb400bill:
#15
Hump, what hump?
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: SC midlands
Posts: 1,934
Bikes: See signature
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 337 Post(s)
Liked 227 Times
in
145 Posts
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.
__________________
2010 AB T1X ** 2010 Cannondale SIX-5 ** 1993 Cannondale RS900 ** 1988 Bottecchia Team Record ** 1989 Bianchi Brava ** 1988 Nishiki Olympic ** 1987 Centurion Ironman Expert(2) ** 1985 DeRosa Professional SLX ** 1982 Colnago Super ** 1982 Basso Gap ** 198? Ciocc Competition SL ** 19?? Roberts Audax ** 198? Brian Rourke ** 1982 Mercian Olympic ** 1970 Raleigh Professional MK I ** 1952 Raleigh Sports
2010 AB T1X ** 2010 Cannondale SIX-5 ** 1993 Cannondale RS900 ** 1988 Bottecchia Team Record ** 1989 Bianchi Brava ** 1988 Nishiki Olympic ** 1987 Centurion Ironman Expert(2) ** 1985 DeRosa Professional SLX ** 1982 Colnago Super ** 1982 Basso Gap ** 198? Ciocc Competition SL ** 19?? Roberts Audax ** 198? Brian Rourke ** 1982 Mercian Olympic ** 1970 Raleigh Professional MK I ** 1952 Raleigh Sports
#16
verktyg
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 4,030
Bikes: Current favorites: 1988 Peugeot Birraritz, 1984 Gitane Super Corsa, 1980s DeRosa, 1981 Bianchi Campione Del Mondo, 1992 Paramount OS, 1988 Colnago Technos, 1985 RalieghUSA SBDU Team Pro
Mentioned: 207 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1036 Post(s)
Liked 1,238 Times
in
654 Posts
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
__________________
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. ;-)
#17
Junior Member
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.
#18
Senior Member
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.
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Fredericksburg, Va
Posts: 9,579
Bikes: '65 Frejus TDF, '73 Bottecchia Giro d'Italia, '83 Colnago Superissimo, '84 Trek 610, '84 Trek 760, '88 Pinarello Veneto, '88 De Rosa Pro, '89 Pinarello Montello, '94 Burley Duet, 97 Specialized RockHopper, 2010 Langster, Tern Link D8
Mentioned: 73 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1608 Post(s)
Liked 2,216 Times
in
1,103 Posts
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.
__________________
Bikes don't stand alone. They are two tired.
Bikes don't stand alone. They are two tired.
Likes For SJX426:
#20
Me duelen las nalgas
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Texas
Posts: 13,513
Bikes: Centurion Ironman, Trek 5900, Univega Via Carisma, Globe Carmel
Mentioned: 199 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4560 Post(s)
Liked 2,802 Times
in
1,800 Posts
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.
#21
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 17,158
Mentioned: 481 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3810 Post(s)
Liked 6,699 Times
in
2,611 Posts
#22
weapons-grade bolognium
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Across the street from Chicago
Posts: 6,344
Bikes: Battaglin Cromor, Ciocc Designer 84, Schwinn Superior 1981
Mentioned: 44 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 985 Post(s)
Liked 2,378 Times
in
891 Posts
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.
Likes For thinktubes:
#23
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: SW Ohio
Posts: 2,397
Mentioned: 93 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1104 Post(s)
Liked 1,825 Times
in
878 Posts
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.
Likes For nomadmax:
Likes For thinktubes:
#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.