Layers 101

[Greenbelt]

@guga31bb 69719 wrote:

Is it bad form to try on stuff for sizing in a store with the intention of ordering online? I go to Freshbikes in Arlington to try things on a lot because they have decent selection but eventually feel guilty and start buying things there…

Sensitive topic. At Interbike this year, it was the biggest issue among retailers. They call it theft of service. I’m not so bothered, though, because sometimes people can only afford so much, and sometimes it is more convenient to order online. And some shops can be a little intimidating to newbies, which is a real problem, because the best place for newbies to learn is hanging out at a local bike shop! It was for me.

I think it’s always good form to visit your community bike shops and check stuff out first hand, even if you can’t afford. That’s why we’re there! But it’s even better form to support them by buying what you want on the spot if you can! If you think their stuff is overpriced, let them know. However, most shops, at least out where we live, are pretty reasonable on prices — people couldn’t afford it if they weren’t. And chances are, their service will help you chose wisely, not need to make returns, get the right fit etc. Not always, but usually.

Remember, folks at most independent LBSs and even the big REIs and chains of the world are helping local bike advocacy and teaching your neighbors, supporting local rides and infra, helping others upgrade or fix up their beaters to get back on the roads and trails. Internet bulk sellers, not so much. Nashbar won’t be there to help you when you break a spoke on the commute and need to be back on the road in the morning! And buying online to avoid sales taxes is just lame. At the very least, if you buy something online that you can’t get conveniently locally, donate to charity the 5 percent sales tax you should have paid.

And for heaven’s sake, don’t buy a bike on the Internet unless you really, really, really know what you’re doing! So many people come into my wife’s shop lamenting that they bought the wrong bike or got the wrong fit, just because they followed a bargain hunt instead of test riding.

[Dirt]

@guga31bb 69719 wrote:

Is it bad form to try on stuff for sizing in a store with the intention of ordering online? I go to Freshbikes in Arlington to try things on a lot because they have decent selection but eventually feel guilty and start buying things there…

You’re talking to a Freshbikes employee, so I’m probably not someone who is going to give you an unbiased answer. Even before I worked there, I personally had a very strong “buy local” ethic.

Realistically we know that it happens all the time. We shake our head and shrug and work that much harder to earn your business.

I know a bunch of local bike shops that work very hard to have the cool stuff in stock or get it to you very quickly to make shopping locally a positive experience for you, the customer. One of the things that I always liked about Freshbikes as a customer was that they had all the cool stuff in stock so that I could touch it, feel it, try it on, take it for a ride, etc. before buying it. That is worth a hell of a lot to me. The other thing that the local shops do in this area is support your local bike community. We support your charity rides. We lead training rides, tourist rides and other special events that support the community. Proteus is doing a Winter Cycling Class this week. I did one at Freshbikes a few weeks ago. I’m introducing people to gravel road riding this weekend. Tri360 does mechanics clinics, leads rides and runs and has been a big supporter of the Two Wheeled Tuesday series that Bike Arlington does. Bikenetic is basically ground zero for giving to the community. I can’t count the number of times that I’ve gone to Jan and asked for help with some hair-brained benefit ride thing I’m doing or promoting. He’s always there for me. All of those things make this area a much better place to ride a bicycle. I’m not saying that you’re paying for those things when you shop locally. I’m saying that those are things that make me want to support my local shop… especially when they have the stuff I want in stock for me to try out.

If you’re feeling guilty about it, then you’re probably answering your own question. Here’s what I do… If it is something I really want, and it is a little more expensive locally, I save up a little longer and buy it locally. That insures that I’ll have a local source for stuff the next time I want to try something on.

Sorry that I can’t let you off the hook for that one. You’re messing what puts food on my table. That’s why I’m a little sensitive about it.

Rock on!

[mstone]

I don’t think it’s necessarily better to buy at a local shop; some are just simply too expensive for value provided. I do think that trying something at a shop then buying online is a sleaze move–part of the cost is paying for that shop where you’re trying stuff on. If you need to touch something before you buy it, then spend the money at a place that provides the opportunity to touch. If you don’t, then buy online without guilt.

[pfunkallstar]

@Greenbelt 69712 wrote:

FYI on Winter layering — Laurie’s doing a workshop tomorrow night at Proteus.

Holy Layering Batman! What is going on with her feet though – do I count three layers of socks?

[Greenbelt]

@pfunkallstar 69743 wrote:

Holy Layering Batman! What is going on with her feet though – do I count three layers of socks?

sock liner, wool sock, road shoe, shoe cover. Four layers!

Full slide show

[jabberwocky]

@guga31bb 69719 wrote:

Is it bad form to try on stuff for sizing in a store with the intention of ordering online? I go to Freshbikes in Arlington to try things on a lot because they have decent selection but eventually feel guilty and start buying things there…

I’m an almost exclusively online shopper, but I would not personally do this. If I need to go to the shop to try things on and determine fit, I’d buy it there. If I’m buying online, I know I’m not gonna get to check fit ahead of time.

[vvill]

@jabberwocky 69746 wrote:

I’m an almost exclusively online shopper, but I would not personally do this. If I need to go to the shop to try things on and determine fit, I’d buy it there. If I’m buying online, I know I’m not gonna get to check fit ahead of time.

Same here. Most bike stuff I buy online is really just “supplies” – new brake pads, tubes, tires, chains, etc. For stuff that must fit, like shoes, helmet, certain clothing, etc. I’ll often buy from stores although I’ve bought those online successfully too. But I can’t imagine going into a shop to try something on only to buy it elsewhere.

[guga31bb]

@Dirt 69730 wrote:

One of the things that I always liked about Freshbikes as a customer was that they had all the cool stuff in stock so that I could touch it, feel it, try it on, take it for a ride, etc. before buying it.

Yes, I definitely agree, and this is why I sometimes find myself “accidentally” stopping by there on the way home from work. And because of their selection, I end up buying things there that I wasn’t planning to, but that I really like (like a thin base layer and a balaclava, both of which I’ve worn pretty much every day since…).

Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

[jabberwocky]

@vvill 69749 wrote:

Same here. Most bike stuff I buy online is really just “supplies” – new brake pads, tubes, tires, chains, etc. For stuff that must fit, like shoes, helmet, certain clothing, etc. I’ll often buy from stores although I’ve bought those online successfully too. But I can’t imagine going into a shop to try something on only to buy it elsewhere.

Right. I’ve bought a lot of clothing online and always been successful. If you’re worried, buy from a place with a good return policy like Amazon. But if you really want to touch and feel it and try it on, go to the shop and buy it there. I wouldn’t go so far as to call it theft to try stuff on in a store and then buy it online, but I think its a bit sleazy.

[culimerc]

@guga31bb 69719 wrote:

Is it bad form to try on stuff for sizing in a store with the intention of ordering online? I go to Freshbikes in Arlington to try things on a lot because they have decent selection but eventually feel guilty and start buying things there…

I try to buy all my stuff locally. Just ask Jan at Bikenetic, it seems like I always have something on special order there. But I also keep an eye on the deep discount stuff on line. If there’s something that I’ve been looking for that pops up, I will pull the trigger on that. but its far and away an impulse buy or serendipitous situation. 98% of the time, I’m going local. I also “cross source” my purchases. Breathable base layers, I will pick up at REI or costco, where they are not cycling specific but work great and are 1/2-1/3 the price of cycling specific gear, glove liners, and wool sox are other examples.

[dasgeh]

I love buying local. My biggest issue is time: work days are basically: get kids up, bike to work, work, bike home, put kids to bed. By that point, shops are closed (or I’m exhausted, or both). Weekend time is precious. We all love going to the bike shop, and when we can work in a visit, we do. But if I need something now, internet is just easier.

I fully expect this to be a temporary problem. Once kids are bigger, I intend to spend much more time at bike shops. Hopefully with kids.

[Greenbelt]

@jabberwocky 69754 wrote:

Right. I’ve bought a lot of clothing online and always been successful. If you’re worried, buy from a place with a good return policy like Amazon. But if you really want to touch and feel it and try it on, go to the shop and buy it there. I wouldn’t go so far as to call it theft to try stuff on in a store and then buy it online, but I think its a bit sleazy.

I don’t think they mean it like the consumer is stealing, I think they mean it like the online retailers are free riding on brick and mortar stores’ service and inventory display.

But I think the problem may be a little overblown, and might be self-correcting. Once online sellers have to pay sales taxes, it will even things out a bit. And a lot of online retailers are still not making profits (Amazon!) and that probably can’t continue forever. On the other hand, I’m a little worried that Amazon uses under-cost retail to drive out local business, but then raises prices after the locals give up. Sort of like the Walmart effect killing off small towns. You can argue that Walmart or Amazon are good because you can get lower prices, but there are some negative externalities to their methods!

The key thing for the long term success of local bike shops is better infrastructure and getting more people riding. If we could get our bike mode share up to 5 and then 10 and then 15 percent for transport trips, there’d be plenty of business for everybody!

[TwoWheelsDC]

@culimerc 69755 wrote:

I try to buy all my stuff locally. Just ask Jan at Bikenetic, it seems like I always have something on special order there. But I also keep an eye on the deep discount stuff on line. If there’s something that I’ve been looking for that pops up, I will pull the trigger on that. but its far and away an impulse buy or serendipitous situation. 98% of the time, I’m going local. I also “cross source” my purchases. Breathable base layers, I will pick up at REI or costco, where they are not cycling specific but work great and are 1/2-1/3 the price of cycling specific gear, glove liners, and wool sox are other examples.

This exactly for me.

[americancyclo]

I’m not a fan of folks that ‘Showroom’ clothing or bags, but I will buy tires/chains online if i find a deal. I usually need parts or service in a pretty immediate fashion though, and Bikenetic has been great about helping me out with small parts when I need them.

My daughter did try out some balance bikes there once, and we ended up buying online for 60% off MSRP, but I’ve made it a point to go back there for all sorts of things and service since then. Plus I bring them beer once in a while, so I feel like I’m even.

I guess what I’m saying is that I’m willing to pay a premium for local bike shops, but only up until a point.
If the difference is 15% or less, I’ll buy local.
If what I’m buying requires advice or service beyond what I’m capable of, I’ll buy local.

[KLizotte]

I’ve bought a fair amount of stuff off the internet but a lot of it comes from brick and mortar bike shops who also sell things online either through their own websites or Amazon. I hope this helps their bottomline!

[Author]

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