recently, i ran into a couple of banner ads for bikes from companies that seemingly only sell direct from their website. leader bikes, velo vie, williams.
i like the looks of the frames a lot, and wondered why they haven’t really caught on. is it quality? proven aerodynamics? i see more open mold chinese frames on the road than those bikes. what gives?
For certain things, they have caught on but suspect people like to see and touch a frame. That being said if you know your measurements and have appropriate info and confidence about the brand, it can be a good situation.
Look at FLO wheels for example for an analogous situation - direct business model, publish aero data, great deal and strong testimonials means they are creating their niche. I can’t speak for their numbers but suspect it is working well.
Canyon and Focus in Europe have a direct model that has worked.
Many guys buy the group buys at pedal force which sells open mold frames wrapped up with customer service and other e commerce needs you won’t get from trying to order direct of Alibaba so I’d say it is not quite mainstream but is definitely serving a segment of the market.
J
I know several people with Leader Bikes. They are a legit company.
Perhaps you could list the others for us to check out?
jaretj
I just don’t want to buy a bike from a company that does not have engineers on staff, designs and tests their bikes, and is there from the beginning to the end of the project. Companies like Velovie just buy open mold frames, spray some paint on it and a logo, and try to make you think they are world class bikes. I will never buy from a company like this.
they are fine, they use contract factories like Kinesis to build frames they spec cheap parts and wheels to keep the price low. Having a relationship with a local shop has a lot of merit though.
My opinion: It’s too daunting for the masses.
The average multi-sporter is usually newer to cycling and perhaps not so mechanically inclined—ignoring that they’re probably also very busy, and don’t have adequate tools. Ask the typical tri person to explain the difference between a star-fangled nut and a compression plug for use with a carbon steerer and you’ll likely get a blank stare.
The idea of buying an expensive and sometimes complex piece of machinery sight unseen (from China, no less) is a non-starter. The LBS suits a big swath of the tri-community. They can kick the tires. And there’s someone to yell at, in-person, if something goes wrong.
Having said that, I’ve bought online and from Chinese suppliers with fairly good results. Just ordered a new frame! (Fingers crossed.)
If you are a competent wrench and or are willing to do your own work there is a lot to be gained by looking at the direct route. Bikes Direct has some of the most insane deals for a roadie it’s just crazy. If I were to ever own another carbon frame I’d get a Deng Fu in a heart beat. My buddy in Indy just survived his 3rd winter using his as a commuter w/o so much as a hiccup. The flip side of that is a friend with a Venge and Di2 who has had his bike at the shop for endless bb creaking and a never ending Di2 shifting problem they can’t iron out! Sometimes less is more…a bike that is a never ending troubleshooting problem might be faster on paper, but can become a very annoying nuisance when you are trying to race/train.
The newest stuff is so sexy and I love to look at it, but if there is one thing I appreciate after 25 years it’s the guy turning the cranks that makes the biggest dif:/
YMMV.
I recently ordered a Canyon and I can give my reasons for doing so.
I just don’t want to buy a bike from a company that does not have engineers on staff, designs and tests their bikes, and is there from the beginning to the end of the project. Companies like Velovie just buy open mold frames, spray some paint on it and a logo, and try to make you think they are world class bikes. I will never buy from a company like this.
But if your paint jobs are cool enough, the bikes will catch on. Just look at Ritte.
thanks for all the replies.
i do agree that internet direct bikes may just be purchasing frames from a manufacturer and then painting and reselling them. but i think some of them look really good. i’m just thinking of getting a commuter bike, so the price AND the looks are right for some of them.
jaretj, leader, velo vie and williams are the only ‘brands’ that i came across.
but as the others have mentioned, canyon, bikes direct are also options.
I ordered my current road bike direct from a reputable asian brand that does both direct and shop sales.
However, I knew **exactly **how I wanted the fit to be.
With the frame geometry chart I picked my handlebars and stem length/angle to get my reach perfect with only minor seat adjustment.
The bike was shipped pre-built. I just had to re-assemble and cut the seat post.
As a bike geek, I would do it again. For the average consumer? Probably better to go to LBS.
I also would not order a frame and build myself. I don’t have bike shop supplies like cable housing, bottom bracket presses, etc.
Bringing in a mail order frame to be built at the LBS just seems like a bit of a dick move.
Bringing in a mail order frame to be built at the LBS just seems like a bit of a dick move.
My preferred LBS is a small operation that only stocks Jamis . But the owner is wonderful to his customers and a good wrench. If Jamis can’t meet my needs, I’ll pay him $100 or whatever it is to put a bike together for me. He’s happy to charge for any job. He makes most of his money on maintenance and accessories, not complete bikes. So It makes no difference to him.
But if you don’t get the bike from him, you don’t get free adjustments and maintenance for a year. That’s worth something, too.
I know several people with Leader Bikes. They are a legit company.
Perhaps you could list the others for us to check out?
jaretj
leader is a legit company, same owner of xterra wetsuits. The bike frames are mainly used to build fixie track bikes.
I simply prefer to “keep it local”
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Why buy from a faceless online retailer? They are typically not that much less than your LBS, and what you pay extra at the LBS is worth it in my opinion.
Where do you go if there’s something wrong with it? Or if you break it? Or just think it’s broken or something’s wrong.
Where will you get it tuned or fit?
Where will you go for the weekend ride? Or to find routes in a new city?
Where do you go for maintenance?
Who sponsors or hosts your local races? LBS. If we purchase online, will the LBS continue to sponsor or host events?
Who promotes cycling with the local police or politicians or city council on behalf of your cycling community? LBS.
Many with the direct sales bikes go to their LBS when things go wrong. People buy all their gear online and expect the LBS to be there to help out when things go wrong. Without sales LBSs will close. Many do and are and we think that it’s not our fault for purchasing online.
The problem with internet bike sales is that they are targeted at people who in many cases should not be buying them. Not that the advertisements are misleading (they aren’t). The problem is that someone looking to get into the sport will look at the spec of the bike without getting properly fitted and think they are getting a great deal. The result may be (a) that they have to go to the shop to get it adjusted/tuned as the assembly quality can be lacking and they don’t know how to fix it; and (b) won’t be able to ride it because they have no idea about proper fitting. The problems that one might face on a road bike would be cubed with a tri bike. If you’re a competent wrench and know your measurements, by all means do it–it’s your money. But if you’re wrong, you’ll end up paying the LBS for tuning, etc. and very likely could have simply bought it locally with free tune ups for a year, etc. for less.
I just don’t want to buy a bike from a company that does not have engineers on staff, designs and tests their bikes, and is there from the beginning to the end of the project. Companies like Velovie just buy open mold frames, spray some paint on it and a logo, and try to make you think they are world class bikes. I will never buy from a company like this.
Man, I see the recalls covering major failures from the big players’ frames and forks, etc., that have all the above on staff and it scares me. I don’t think it’s a good argument to avoid open mold frames altogether.