Would you buy a bike on-line?

[Gentleman Cyclist]

Would you buy a bike on-line?.....well I did despite the dire predictions of friends and fellow commuter cyclists. I took my chances with http://www.hilderthorpecycles.co.uk/ who offered me a good deal on a Pashley Sovereign Roadster..... what other sort of bike would a gentleman be seen on?

I did this after visiting various London bike shops most of whom
a) looked down their nose at me for buying such a beast of a cycle (....the very idea!).
b) refused to offer anything like a deal on the bike and associated products.
c) had the audacity to tell me that the bike would not be delivered for six weeks at the very earliest

Suffice to say Hilderthorpecycles were willing to take me seriously, do me a deal, and deliver the bike within 36hours.....

The big concern about buying on-line is the quality of service, how to get things sorted that don't quite work right, setting the bike up and a host of other factors.

Well having suffered at the hands of a very poor courier who delivered a bike in less than perfect condition, I can state without fear of contradiction that James at Hilderthorpe Cycles could not have been more attentive or have delivered a better quality of service had I been standing over him with an unholstered Colt 45! To say he went the extra mile would be something of an understatement, putting the faults right and offering me the sort of attention that I thought had gone out with the 1920's and was unavailable in the internet age.

So what experience has anyone else had with on-line delivery? Any other recommendations? Anyone else purchased a bike with hilderthorpecycles?

 

[jonny jeez]

Would you buy a bike on-line?.....well I did despite the dire predictions of friends and fellow commuter cyclists. I took my chances with http://www.hilderthorpecycles.co.uk/ who offered me a good deal on a Pashley Sovereign Roadster..... what other sort of bike would a gentleman be seen on?

I did this after visiting various London bike shops most of whom
a) looked down their nose at me for buying such a beast of a cycle (....the very idea!).
b) refused to offer anything like a deal on the bike and associated products.
c) had the audacity to tell me that the bike would not be delivered for six weeks at the very earliest

Suffice to say Hilderthorpecycles were willing to take me seriously, do me a deal, and deliver the bike within 36hours.....

The big concern about buying on-line is the quality of service, how to get things sorted that don't quite work right, setting the bike up and a host of other factors.

Well having suffered at the hands of a very poor courier who delivered a bike in less than perfect condition, I can state without fear of contradiction that James at Hilderthorpe Cycles could not have been more attentive or have delivered a better quality of service had I been standing over him with an unholstered Colt 45! To say he went the extra mile would be something of an understatement, putting the faults right and offering me the sort of attention that I thought had gone out with the 1920's and was unavailable in the internet age.

So what experience has anyone else had with on-line delivery? Any other recommendations? Anyone else purchased a bike with hilderthorpecycles?

Hi James...sorry...Gentleman cyclist, nice to meet you.

 

[dellzeqq]

Hi James...sorry...Gentleman cyclist, nice to meet you.

I didn't have the nerve..

 

[rockyraccoon]

I recently got a road bike online from Evans Cycles. But I only did it after a lot and I mean a lot of research about components, size, fitting and many visits to LBS. It is a shame my LBS did not have the model I wanted in stock. I've had good service from them every single time. I took the opportunity to ask as much as I could about the bike I wanted. They even recommended other shops inc. online ones.

Evans Cycle were very good. I purchased the bike from them and with a price match I got almost £50 discount plus cashback website (3%). I received a phone call from them 48 hours later to tell me the bike was sent. It was delivered for free the day after the call.

Basically, the manufacture send the parts to Evans. They assembly it, adjust breaks and gears and re-pack the whole thing into a massive box. When you get the bike you only have to put the pedals and adjust the handle bar.

I am sure more people will recommend Evans. You also get 30 test ride on some models and 28 return policy. Not bad!

 

[Tynan]

same as everything else I'd have thought, if you know what you want and are prepared to take a risk on the things you don;t know about, why the hell not if there's an advantage, I buy from a shop when I need to touch/feel/try it or when I need advice from the shop and think they can provide it

good to hear the not so LBS was so attentive

 

[numbnuts]

I bought my Thorn Club Tour online without any troubles

 

[- Baz -]

Another thumbs up for Evans. Bought my Ridgeback online from them in June. Ordered on a Monday and delivered Wednesday in a humungous box... The bike was well set up, no parts missing, no scratches etc, and I've had no problems at all with it since then (touch wood). Replaced a few bits, but still use it every day for commuting and it does everything I want it to.

Had I known then what I know now though, I'd go to my LBS (or not so LBS), simply because I think they should be supported.

BTW, congrats on the bike. Love it. It's a real beauty!

 

[Black Sheep]

my mountain bike was bought in bits online without any problems

only problem I had was needing the hoses shortening which was done by my LBS

 

[avsd]

I bought a Sabbath Ti bike from Spa Cycles. Normally I but complete bikes from LBS. Used Chain Reactions Cycles for components. I enjoyed the whole experience. Bike as spec'd, arrived in good condition and communications from the team (Andrew et al) at Spa was excellent. they called to check sizes and to inform me wehn it was shipped. Credit card of debited after deliver. Would use them again.

 

[Brains]

Another Thorn buyer here, bought in days when buying via t'web was a new concept.
18,000 miles later I can say it was a good idea

 

[aberal]

I bought a bike by email from an LBC (if that isn't a contradiction in terms) in Australia once. I was in Edinburgh. Worked fine...still got it. Having said that, I road tested the same bike in Edinburgh so knew what I was getting, which, in truth is what you really need to do. You can buy anything safely online, but with a bike you really, really, really should road test it first. Without doing that you have no idea whatsoever whether the bike will suit or fit you.

 

[ufkacbln]

a) looked down their nose at me for buying such a beast of a cycle (....the very idea!).

I ride a recumbent Catrike, I don't look down my nose at anyone!

More seriously - enjoy the Pashley, my "shopper" is a rod braked, single speed Delibike in Hovis livery and it is a fun machine to ride.

The only problem with the Pashley is all the elderly ladies who want to share stories about how their boyfriend / husband etc used to take them home in the basket!

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Bought my first online OTP bike, sight unseen from EBC three/four years ago. Still got it. Wonderful.

Bought my second online OTP bike, again sight unseen, from EBC this year. I knew the frame was a tad small, caveat emptor, and so it proved to be, it is now for sale on a well known auction site.

Bought my third online bike, built to my spec and subject to many many emails and phone calls to discuss with Nigel at the excellent Surosa Cycles in the early summer. Beyond wonderful.

Bought my fourth online OTP bike from Wiggle to replace the one now for sale.

No problems with any of these transactions. Several colleagues have bought bike2work bikes unseen via Wiggle. No bother.

Oh yeah, I've bought two bikes off Ebay, and sold more than half-a-dozen on there without issue either.

 

[aberal]

Well for those individuals who think I am James from Hilderthorpe Cycles.....I am rather sorry to disappoint.....I am not......but I guess no publicity is bad publicity.......and if my feedback on the service I received seems too good to be true I am only genuinely reflecting my own experience of service which is all too often absent at many cycling establishments.

I guess it's not only the quality of service in bike shops that has taken a turn for the worse...it seems that the calibre of individuals attracted to cycling and the quality of their arguments is not much improved either.

Cheerio!

Well cheerio to you to. No offence mate, but in truth, you are coming across as a bit of a pompous twit. Did you not notice that most of the people who responded to you did so with genuine intent to help?

 

[Brains]

Well cheerio to you to. No offence mate, but in truth, you are coming across as a bit of a pompous twit. Did you not notice that most of the people who responded to you did so with genuine intent to help?

He is a Gentleman cyclist, not a lycra lout.
I'm sure when riding his Pasley he wears sensible brogues, tartan socks, plus fours, a Tweed jacket with leather patches and flat cap. He keeps his pipe and tobacco in a Caradice pouch on the back of his Brooks saddle, as he rides at a sensible speed to his CAMRA meetings where he is a member of the local Morris Dance club.
Even if he does not quite fit this description, I'm sure that is what he aspires to.

Each to their own. He sang the praises of a particular retailer, we all look on thes forums for good and bad gossip about retailers, if you are about to drop a grand of hard earned cash on line it's nice to know they have at least pleased some of the people some of the time