Shopping
So it's Monday morning. Not just Any Monday morning, but the one after the colossal ride you'd been waiting for all year. And while out there, you saw a thousand bikes that you have vowed to put on your list for next year. They all look exactly like the one you want.
Now, where do you find it? You can go online and search through a million photos of the bike (or item) you salivate over, or walk through a local shop and talk with folks there.
These days more than ever you never merely purchase an item. Whatever you're looking to purchase, you end up in some relationship with the place where you bought it. If you buy something online, it means signing up for email newsletters or "sticky" advertisements that appear on your browser window. (It seems they aren't going to stop forcing images on you until that pair of socks is moved from your wish list to your check out cart.)
Local shops have trappings as well. They can have limited selections, and most products are packaged (hard to open and inspect), however, often have "bike nerds" who are enthusiastically ready to tell you why you should purchase something.
So you're left with questions. This author can only state if you know exactly what you want, online is the way to go. Of course, there are several factors to consider, from the type of your purchase to the extent of your experience. My experience has always been to get as specific as you can on what you need, then look online.
To help set you on the right course, check the articles below then look through our directory of online shops. Many have local brick and mortar stores locally.
Online or in Store? - - I love bicycling
Hidden costs in buying a Walmart bike - - Bicycling.com
Bricks and Mortar Shop v Online - - BikeRadar
Online Shopping Resources
Alexa - - Top 500 Cycling manufacturers websites
Guide to buying a bike - - Bicycling.com
WikiHow - - Buy a Bicycle
Bike Size calculator - - Ebicycles
Bike Fit Calculator - - Competitive Cyclist
Buyers Guide - - Bicycling.com
Competitive Cyclists - - Online retailer
Performance Bike - - Online and nationwide bricks and mortar stores
Giant - - Wide selection of bikes and gear
Trek - - US manufacturer
Specialized - - Wide range of racing and mountain bikes
Amazon Road Bikes - - Great selection
Amazon MTB bikes
https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_nr_n_0?fst=as%3Aoff&rh=n%3A3375251%2Cn%3A706814011%2Cn%3A3403201%2Cn%3A1265458011%2Cn%3A3404721%2Ck%3AMountain+bikes&keywords=Mountain+bikes&ie=UTF8&qid=1482508262&rnid=3375301
Amazon Hybrid Bikes
https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_nr_n_1?fst=as%3Aoff&rh=n%3A3375251%2Cn%3A706814011%2Cn%3A3403201%2Cn%3A1265458011%2Cn%3A1265459011%2Ck%3AMountain+bikes&keywords=Mountain+bikes&ie=UTF8&qid=1482508262&rnid=3375301
Amazon Kids Bikes
https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_nr_n_5?fst=as%3Aoff&rh=n%3A3375251%2Cn%3A706814011%2Cn%3A3403201%2Cn%3A1265804011%2Ck%3AMountain+bikes&keywords=Mountain+bikes&ie=UTF8&qid=1482508306&rnid=3375301
Walmart
https://www.walmart.com/search/?query=bicycles%20for%20men&typeahead=bicycles
Ebay
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_odkw=bicycle+seat&_osacat=7294&_from=R40&_trksid=p2045573.m570.l1311.R5.TR11.TRC4.A0.H0.Xbicycles.TRS1&_nkw=bicycles&_sacat=7294
Now, where do you find it? You can go online and search through a million photos of the bike (or item) you salivate over, or walk through a local shop and talk with folks there.
These days more than ever you never merely purchase an item. Whatever you're looking to purchase, you end up in some relationship with the place where you bought it. If you buy something online, it means signing up for email newsletters or "sticky" advertisements that appear on your browser window. (It seems they aren't going to stop forcing images on you until that pair of socks is moved from your wish list to your check out cart.)
Local shops have trappings as well. They can have limited selections, and most products are packaged (hard to open and inspect), however, often have "bike nerds" who are enthusiastically ready to tell you why you should purchase something.
So you're left with questions. This author can only state if you know exactly what you want, online is the way to go. Of course, there are several factors to consider, from the type of your purchase to the extent of your experience. My experience has always been to get as specific as you can on what you need, then look online.
To help set you on the right course, check the articles below then look through our directory of online shops. Many have local brick and mortar stores locally.
Online or in Store? - - I love bicycling
Hidden costs in buying a Walmart bike - - Bicycling.com
Bricks and Mortar Shop v Online - - BikeRadar
Online Shopping Resources
Alexa - - Top 500 Cycling manufacturers websites
Guide to buying a bike - - Bicycling.com
WikiHow - - Buy a Bicycle
Bike Size calculator - - Ebicycles
Bike Fit Calculator - - Competitive Cyclist
Buyers Guide - - Bicycling.com
Competitive Cyclists - - Online retailer
Performance Bike - - Online and nationwide bricks and mortar stores
Giant - - Wide selection of bikes and gear
Trek - - US manufacturer
Specialized - - Wide range of racing and mountain bikes
Amazon Road Bikes - - Great selection
Amazon MTB bikes
https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_nr_n_0?fst=as%3Aoff&rh=n%3A3375251%2Cn%3A706814011%2Cn%3A3403201%2Cn%3A1265458011%2Cn%3A3404721%2Ck%3AMountain+bikes&keywords=Mountain+bikes&ie=UTF8&qid=1482508262&rnid=3375301
Amazon Hybrid Bikes
https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_nr_n_1?fst=as%3Aoff&rh=n%3A3375251%2Cn%3A706814011%2Cn%3A3403201%2Cn%3A1265458011%2Cn%3A1265459011%2Ck%3AMountain+bikes&keywords=Mountain+bikes&ie=UTF8&qid=1482508262&rnid=3375301
Amazon Kids Bikes
https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_nr_n_5?fst=as%3Aoff&rh=n%3A3375251%2Cn%3A706814011%2Cn%3A3403201%2Cn%3A1265804011%2Ck%3AMountain+bikes&keywords=Mountain+bikes&ie=UTF8&qid=1482508306&rnid=3375301
Walmart
https://www.walmart.com/search/?query=bicycles%20for%20men&typeahead=bicycles
Ebay
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_odkw=bicycle+seat&_osacat=7294&_from=R40&_trksid=p2045573.m570.l1311.R5.TR11.TRC4.A0.H0.Xbicycles.TRS1&_nkw=bicycles&_sacat=7294
