True, but full price is still less than a grand, you also get full shimano 105 groupset (not so with the boardman in halfords as far as I recall) you also get better customisation of the bike during ordering (rear cassette sizing, stem length, saddle, seat post, handle-bars, wheels, bar tape etc etc...) which I at least found very useful if, in the shop, they sell it as it comes and you end up having to change a few things...I do like the look of the Rose bikes, but they are full price for the 105 (the Apex set up has about £100 off at present). As you can tell i'm after as much as I can get for the money
No, I don't think so. I would also expect the lbs to change the saddle FOC - OK, pay the difference maybe. Re the stem - you can specify with Ribble, Rose, Canyon etc, but you aren't really going to know until you have ridden the bike for some miles. Rose and esp Canyon have quite comprehensive sizing advice.True but the fine adjustments of do I need a 100 or 110 stem I won't know until I have the bike. This is exactly the sort of thing I'd expect a lbs (maybe not halfords) to do for free if I bought the bike from them - it's one of the big advantages they have over online. When I've asked about this at my lbs they said they would swap a stem over, but I'd have pay Rrp for the new stem! What the hell use is a stem that is too big or too small for me - I'm 36 it's not like I'm going to grow/shrink! I know I could eBay it but I really don't want the hassle.
Am I being unreasonable expecting this?
EDIT: The Planet-X bike is being "creative" saying it's ultegra. The chain isn't, the cassette isn't, the chainset isn't, the brakes aren't. The only things that are are the front/rear mechs and shifters.
Both the chain and cassette are listed as being Ultegra.
Was wondering if anyone had any experiences of buying online, good or bad.
Visualises the bike shed at home...
SS-MTB bought off ebay in bits
fist fixed gear (since sold) bought sight unseen mail order from Edinburgh Bike Coop
second fixed gear (currently for sale) bought sight unseen from Wiggle
current fixed gear frame bought off here (CC) from someone who I've met in real life and trust; bits bought off interwebs, inc wheels built via email
hardtail MTB (Boardman HT Pro) bought sight unseen off web but collected from store in Guildford
touring bike bought sight unseen from EBC
best bike specc'd by email and bought sight unseen via email from a shop in Oldham. I've never been to Oldham
full boinger bought second hand via the singletrack forum
Brompton, ordered via email from Brixton Cycles and collected in person form the shop
TLH's bike bought off someone in here (CC) who I've met in real life and trust
Maybe I've been lucky and am an easy sizer but I've never had a problem buying online. Other than it is somewhat addictive.