Subject: RE: Bike options opinion... desertsix - 2004-12-15 2:29 PM Ebay vs. Bike shop - I have a certain loyalty to my local bike shop. Even though they are the only game in town and have a limited selection (they carry Trek and maybe Bianchi,) their service has always been good and it seems like the more bikes I buy from them (three so far) the more $$$ gets knocked off the price. And since I don't turn wrenches that well, harmony with the local guys who do isn't such a bad thing. Color - My blue bike has outlasted two red ones. Thanks for the input. I think stick with the LBS. I just got my new Trek 1500 (I love it by the way) from the LBS here in Japan. I had lots of other choices...Giant, Felt, Specialized which I could have got for heavily discounted prices...but in the end I am very new to triathlon and cycling (read: I have no idea how to do anything to a bike!!) so sticking with the local guy was, in the end, the best bet. Also considering my bike shop guy, who has qualified and finished the Hawaii Ironman 5 times now, will be my training partner, there wasn't really much to think about. Anyway, for the few extra dollars you save on Ebay or other sites, you have to ask yourself, is it really worth it??? I say "No". There is no price you can put on 'good service', especially if you're not that handy with a spanner. Travis |