Buying Bike Frames Online

[mariacycle]

Has anyone had a positive experience buying a WSD frame online? It seems impossible to find a credible website that sells more than 1-2 (if they even sell them at all) women's frames. Certainly I'm not trying to advocate the "don't support your LBS" mentality, but when your LBS doesn't deal any of the bikes you are interested in the only choices are to drive far or buy online.

[ny biker]

What are you looking for?

[mariacycle]

I was thinking about the BMC Pure Pro1 in 51cm, but open to other frames. I also considered the Specialized Amira. I'm trying to shop around and see what my options are.

The other thought was just to get a new groupset for me to put on my Fuji Roubaix and eventually switch that over to a custom frame down the line. I suppose the related question is have any of you ladies bought Campy groupsets online for reasonable pricing? It seems like the UK online stores have the best prices.

[Seajay]

doesn't deal any of the bikes you are interested in

I'm not trying to be flippant here but if your mind is made up that you are "interested in" a particular make/model/color/style of bike without seeing it or riding it..... the reasons you like the bike have nothing to do with it being the RIGHT bike for you.

Unless you know exactly what it is that makes a bike perfect for you....
If you care about the important things like ride quality, comfort and fit....Choose the best one based on everything you CAN ride and take advantage of all the resources a shop has to help you.

[mariacycle]

Seajay - I think your points are perfectly reasonable. I'm not dead set on any particular bike or brand, I'm just shopping around and seeing my pricing options. It also seems like I am more likely to get a good deal on an older model frame online than through a shop (unless you actually work at the shop). I certainly won't buy anything without testing it in person somewhere if possible.

[mariacycle]

I do have the opportunity to see the Amira in the meantime but won't buy it through that shop because of timing and relocating. After relocating I found a BMC dealer far but not too far away to go for a test ride.

It seems like Competitive Cyclist doesn't carry many WSD carbon bikes. The only women's bikes I see are Pinarello and Orbea.

I'm generally frustrated by how easy it is to find men's frames online anywhere and how few options there are for the women's frames

[ny biker]

You're in northern Va, right? Lots of shops here carry Specialized, staring with multiple locations of Spokes, etc. Also Trail's End Cycles in Purcellville at the end of the WOD trail and Fresh Bikes in Arlington. I'm sure there are others.

BMC's site lists Cycle Life in DC as one of their dealers. 3255 K Street NW, Tel: 202-333-8883. They're in Georgetown.

[mariacycle]

There is a BMC dealer within an hour of my new place but I was hoping I could order a frame online so I could potentially get an older model and get a great discount. I'm not even sure if I could even buy just the frame through the dealer, that doesn't always seem to be an option. My boyfriend currently works at a bike shop as a mechanic so I don't need a brick and mortar shop for building or fixing my bike. We've definitely stocked up on accessories at his current shop, but we are soon leaving them due to the move. I'm very happy to move but sad to no longer call them my LBS.

I'm sorry that my responses seem so confusing. I'm just trying to get a feel for if anyone here has had any good experiences with buying frames online so that I can browse those websites. Those two bikes I mentioned are bikes I am interested in, but I have to wait until after my move to purchase a bike.

Ridley has two on CC? [EDIT] Were you referring to Asteria and Liz? Thanks for the heads up! [/EDIT]

[mariacycle]

NY - That's the BMC dealer I was planning on visiting. I had totally forgotten about Spokes, thanks for reminding me! I was tunnel visioning a bit about how very locally there only seems to be Fuji and Trek.