Easy bike question

I have the Motobecane Ultegra set up that I bought from a LBS that buys their stuff from  bikesdirect.com.  Awesome bike, awesome set up.  At the last Olympic I raced the overall male winner rode the same bike with zipp wheels.  The funny thing was the prize for winning was a $3000 frameset.  We talked after the race and he loves his bike as much as I do. 

 Before I bought mine I shopped for each individual part on the bike online and selected the lowest price I could find.  What I came out with was the components costing more than I spent on the bike not even including the frame.  When I asked the bikeshop why they can sell them so cheap he said it was because they buy them in bulk and keep them in a warehouse waiting for them to sell.  I felt better about the bike since I found an LBS that sold them.  If you buy it from the net I would have a LBS put it together for you so then you have a place where they know you and know your bike.

If thats true or not I don't know but i love my bike and for the price I paid I am able to decide if I'm going full bore into this sport or if it's going to be just a past time I enjoy.  As of now I've done 2 sprints, 1 olympic with an olympic this sunday.  No problems with the bike.  If you have anymore specific questions just let me know. 

Which one have you got, if I might ask?  I've been eyeballing the Sprint, with Ultegra triple and carbon stays.  And, how are the stock wheels?

On this bike (tri bike), no you couldn't, but in a heads up road bike with full Ultegra Sti versus full DA Sti bike, yes, you can, by far.  Even a beginner will be able to feel the difference.

But for an upgrade in level which is really only the derailleurs you won't be able to tell the difference like this bike, and is probably not worth the extra dough.  Especially since you will still need to think about shoes, helmet and other accessories.  Your money can go further that way.

TrileteNewb - 2007-09-19 10:47 AM  Completely off topic, but I used to fantisize about cars and motorcycles, now all I can think of are tri-bikes (bike porn as I like to call it). Its a sad time when a 21 year old man would rather go bike riding then test drive cars

Been there, done that ..... albeit at a later age.  My problem was I was a shop service manager/salesmen so I would just order anything new and cool that came out at the trade shows as long as it shaved a few grams off of my bike.

Then I REALLY got into cars and was doing double duty buying fast car parts and lighter/faster bike parts.  Needless to say it took me about 5 years to dig myself out of the credit card debt .....

So what is the difference between the LBS thats sells windsor/motobecane/etc compared to the higher end bikes?  Don't they need love too?  Since I just got into this sport why should I risk paying "top dollar" before I know if i'm here to stay.  Maybe in a year or so you'll find my Motobecane in the classifieds as I try to upgrade to some sweet expensive bike, but for now my cool bike with great components that fits great is enough.  As for the other LBS around the Jacksonville/Orange Park area the best stocked shop with the friendliest people have marked up there prices so high it made me sick.  $25 for an aero bottle and $28 for the bracket?  Profile design single water bottle cage $17.  When a shop around the corner sold them for a small percent over cost.  I love the LBS but screw them if their going to screw me.  Not all LBS are equal no matter how nice they look. 

I ride the Motobecane Nemesis Ultegra set up.  As someone mentioned later the DA setup was probably the better way to go but $100+ shoes, $100+ bottles, cages, tubes, pump....$100+ tri shorts, shirt,......and the entry fees.....I could use the few hundred bones I saved on the ultegra parts to get me even further into the sport.

Well, sure. I would agree, to a degree...

When I was looking for my first bike I had a pretty strict budget. I was tempted to buy from LBS for many of the reasons stated but when it boiled down to it I could not find it in me to spend my hard earned money on LESS bike. It did not make sense.

I personally did not have the money to spend on "principle".

That said, my next purchase could well come from LBS, but I will not settle for less bike or pay more for an equivelant bike just out of priciple. I have a family and look to get the most out of my hard earned dollar.