Buying Bike Frames Online

[mariacycle]

Skippyak - good point. I had a fitting for my Roubaix but I should get a general fit to see what geometry would be best for me. I would definitely get a men's frame if it was a better fit for me.

NY - thanks for all the info! I agree that it isn't fair to waste a LBS' time and buy online. DBF and I decided to wait until next year so we can afford to get whatever I want instead of cutting it close now, which means probably not getting a bike online (although getting the Campy groupset online still seems like the best option since we will assemble ourselves).

Don’t some custom builders have pre-built/sized frames that are a little cheaper. You and bf can build it up

I didn't know that! Do you happen to know of any?

Marquise - thanks for the tip! We are browsing the site now

I appreciate everyone's advice and opinions!

[mariacycle]

Muirenn - I'll check those out, thanks!

Sorry in advance for hijacking my own thread but I want to a LBS today to check out the Felt ZW series and ask a couple of questions. I asked the salesperson "are the ZW frames different or is it just different components between them?" His answer "no same frame, different components." Not true because the ZW6 frame was visibly different on the top tube. Then I repeated back to him what he said to make sure that was what he was trying to tell me. "So the ZW1 frame is the exact same as the ZW3 frame you have here except the paint job is different?" His response was a very smug "oh no the carbon is different so it'll be denser and lighter. When you're spending that much money on a frame it's going to be nicer." He also called the seat tube the top tube. It was driving me nuts that he was treating my very logical and reasonable questions like dumb questions and his response to the whole thing was "the more you pay the nicer it'll be." Well yeah, but what exactly changes!?

[rebeccaC]

I didn't know that! Do you happen to know of any?

I think Sweetpea, Seven, Serotta, Moots, Parlee, Vanilla and Guru all have stock sized as well as custom. Probably others.

It was driving me nuts that he was treating my very logical and reasonable questions like dumb questions and his response to the whole thing was "the more you pay the nicer it'll be."

I just walk away when I first hear that attitude.