Buying a Bike: online vs in-store + urban downhill vs traditional downhill racing

Robbe Smith
December 04, 2024 • Estimated Reading Time: 11 minutes

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In today’s send I’m going to talk about the pros and cons of buying in a local bike shop(LBS), or for an online brand. I will also talk about downhill racing, and the merits of urban racing versus traditional racing.

If you’ve got a question you’d like for me to address in the newsletter, simply hit “reply” and respond with your question.

Should you buy a bike from an online dealer or the local bike shop?

This is another topic that a lot of people will have very strong opinions. This is a subject where I am bias, but I do think there is some value in buying a bike online. That said I think that it takes a certain type of buyer to successfully buy online.

In this case, online bikes will be bikes that can only be purchased online. In other words, you will not be able to go into a store to see one, touch one, ride one, get sized etc. I am not referring to using an online store like Jensen or Universal Cycles, or even a click and collect option from a larger brand like Trek or Specialized.

There is certainly a lot of intrinsic value in shopping for a bike in a store. In the shop where I work, the staff has more than 80 years of combined bike knowledge. This is especially important for new riders, but a seasoned vet will also get valuable insights from a good LBS. I will have a lengthy conversation with a customer about what they are looking for in a bike, so I can make recommendations based on info that I have collected during that conversation. I can also talk with them about my experience riding that bike on the same trails they are going to be riding on. You can’t get that level of service from an online dealer. You might be able to trade a few emails with them, but that’s usually about the extent of it.

Getting the right size is very important. If you know what geometry numbers to look at when comparing sizes, you can crunch numbers all day, but there is nothing bettet than actually sitting riding a bike. How you feel on a bike can be more important than any number in the geometry. There are bikes that by the numbers I should fit well, and they just feel off to me. On the flip side of that there are some bikes that just feel right even though the geometry numbers indicate that I should fit well. With an online dealer you are looking at a size chart, and picking one based on that. At my height I can usually fit on two different sizes. I am between a large and XL on a lot of brands. In this case, nothing beats pedaling a bike around.

Actually seeing a bike can be very important to some riders. A bike might look great online, but in person the color is different than what you were expecting. Some paint details don’t photograph very well, but the bike looks amazing in person. One of the bikes I own falls into that category. It has a translucent blue paint that allows you to see the carbon layup under the paint. The photos just don’t do it justice. You can also see the quality of the paint finish. If you buy online you might love the color and finish, or maybe you’re not a fan. Changing it at that point is costly and time consuming.

When you buy from a good LBS, your bike will be built by a qualified bike mechanic. Every bike that is built, or repaired for that matter, in a good shop will have a second person ride the bike to be sure that everything the customer is paying for is done correctly. Most shops will also offer a free tune up or a year of free adjustments with the purchase of a new bike, You simply will not get that from an online dealer.

This same principal applies to any warranty issues that come up. Most bike shops won’t sell a brand that doesn’t stand behind their bike because it will make them look bad. Every brand we sell has a good warranty. Be sure to read the warranty info on any online bike you might be looking at. There a is a brand that I won’t mention by name here because their warranty is essentially worthless. In order for them to even consider a warranty claim, you need to ship the entire bike back to them on your dime. That can cost $250-$350 between packing and shipping. If they deny your claim, you need to pay to have it shipped back. Any savings you may have gotten from that brand a gone.

Some online brands sell quality bikes, and others sell bikes that are poor quality overall. If you don’t have a lot of bike knowledge this may be difficult to spot. I can look at the specs, and see where they cut corners to keep the cost down. The cost is where the online dealers on paper have the LBS beat. If you are a decent home mechainc, and you can pick apart specs an online purchase isn’t a bad idea. The money saved on the initial purchase will quickly lose it’s appeal if there are any issues with the bike.

Like I said above, I am bias, but I don’t think buying a bike from a good LBS can be beat.

Bike I’m Eyeing: Trek Top Fuel 9.9

Here’s why…..because its a slightly updated version of a Top Fuel that I owed and loved. Although this could be a cross country race bike, it rides more like a short travel enduro bike. Check out the Pinkbike’s write up.

Top Fuel

Urban Downhill Vs. Traditional Downhill

Downhill racing is one of the most fan friendly racing formats today. In the last several years, urban downhill is gaining popularity. Below I will discuss both, and why I like or dislike either of them.

Downhill racing is pretty simple on the surface. All racers ride the same track one after another, and the fastest time to the bottom wins. From amateur to professional race classes are broken down by age, and gender, and sometimes pro vs amateur. It’s a fan favorite because fans can line the course anywhere outside the tape marking the course. This format also lends itself to TV/video because it uses a set course. If you ever get a chance to check one out I recommend it. UCI World Cup will usually have a few stops in the US and Canada, and there are small race series all over the US. I have raced in a few Eastern States Cup races, and they were always fun. The race community is a welcoming and encouraging crowd.

Traditional downhill racing takes place on a mountain where the racers can get to the top via chairlift or shuttle. The course is marked with tape, and the racers will get anywhere from a day or several days to pre-ride the course. The pre-ride will usually be proceeded by a course walk day. During the walk and ride racers will try to determine which lines will get them to the bottom the fastest. Most of the downhill race tracks will have jumps and drops scattered in to keep riders on their toes. Since this course is made up of dirt, trees and rocks it can change as more riders ride it. Just because a line was the best on day one won’t mean that it is still true on race day. A good downhill racer can adapt to changing course conditions. If you add rain into the mix it’s a whole different animal all together.

Urban downhill is the same as far as format, but adding in the urban environment changes a lot. Races will use streets, stairs, sidewalks, buildings and jumps throughout the track. Check out the video below for an example. Unlike traditional racing the course won’t change at all because it’s not dirt, so it does take that aspect out of the equation for the racers. This doesn’t mean that urban racing is any easier. It’s different, and in some cases harder. There is certainly a higher price paid for crashing. Concrete hurts a lot more than dirt. Urban racing also has more unexpected variables being in an urban environment like dogs, cats or other animals crossing the course. I have never participated in an urban race, but I have to think riding a huge stair-set at race speed has to be scary and hard.

In the end I think traditional racing will continue on as it has, and unban downhill will continue to grow especially since it’s so accessible to fans. Go check out a race as a fan or riders. It’s never too late. I was 47 at my first race.