REI bikes

Miles said:

Hello Group,

I am new in this area and recently visited the REI store (in Sacramento,
CA).
I was surprised to find other brands (like Cannondale) besides their own
Navaro (spelling?). The prices are competetive, and I suppose I could get
a further 10% discount with my REI membership. I am tempted. I am not
sure about their (bikes-related) service and I have not talked with them.
I am wondering if people here bought from them.

Thanks.

Miles

I've only test ridden their bikes (was really taken by the classic
Randonee tourer) and ogled them in the store, but the road bikes seem to
be really sensibly put together and a good deal without ostentation.
Service varies from shop to shop of course, but the guys at my local REI
are just wonderful. I'd frequent my nearest LBS, since I like to support
locally owned stores, but the REI guys actually know how to treat
customers, I'll give them my bucks any day. REI will be around for a long
time, and are a pretty big company, so they're a safe bet.

FYI, I returned a poorly made mini pump the other day, that kept breaking
my presta valves. I thought it would be tedious trying to explain what
happened, but the bike shop clerk was very sympathetic and even made sure
that I got three replacement tubes for free along with a different model
pump. 🙂

Bottom line of course is, do they offer a model that both fits your needs
and your body? Work from there. 😉

"Miles" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hello Group,

I am new in this area and recently visited the REI store (in
Sacramento, CA).
I was surprised to find other brands (like Cannondale) besides their
own
Navaro (spelling?). The prices are competetive, and I suppose I could
get
a further 10% discount with my REI membership. I am tempted. I am
not sure about their (bikes-related) service and I have not talked
with them. I am wondering if people here bought from them.

Thanks.

Miles

I live in the Seattle area and around here REI has a great reputation. I
own an mid-90's touring bike and love it. I would not hesitate one bit
about purchasing anything from them.

"Miles" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I am new in this area and recently visited the REI store (in
Sacramento, CA).
I was surprised to find other brands (like Cannondale) besides their
own
Navaro (spelling?). The prices are competetive, and I suppose I could
get
a further 10% discount with my REI membership. I am tempted. I am
not sure about their (bikes-related) service and I have not talked
with them. I am wondering if people here bought from them.

I have now put on what -- 15K? -- on my Novara Strada over the last four
years. My REI store is great, and I would not hesitate to buy from them. The
service department is wonderful, and the floor people knowledgeable.
However, this doesn't mean that *your* REI store is great. You might want to
get specific recommendations for yours. Apparently from what I've read here,
some function in an LBS like fashion, others in a department store fashion.

I've been a member practically from birth (no joke -- my parents were
members since the early 60s) and have bought thousands of dollars of ski,
camping, hiking, bicycling, and travel stuff from them over the years,
though, so I probably have some level of prejudice.

--
Warm Regards,

Claire Petersky
please substitute yahoo for mousepotato to reply
Home of the meditative cyclist:
http://home.earthlink.net/~cpetersky/Welcome.htm
Personal page: http://www.geocities.com/cpetersky/
See the books I've set free at: http://bookcrossing.com/referral/Cpetersky

"Claire Petersky" wrote: (clip) The service department is wonderful, and
the floor people knowledgeable.(clip)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I believe it is theri policy to employ people who actually USE the products
tjey are selling. When I recently talked to them about Yakima car racks,
the person knew how it would fit the car, and what my experiences would be
like if I selected the various options. Priceless.

Claire Petersky said:

Apparently from what I've read here,
some function in an LBS like fashion, others in a department store fashion.

yup, i think they must save the best for seattle 'cause i didn't understand
why you seattle folk liked them until i went to one there. the two in
minneapolis are nothing to write home about nor is the one here in boise.
not bad, mind you, but way below any competent lbs.
--
david reuteler
[email hidden]

Miles said:

Hello Group,

I am new in this area and recently visited the REI store (in
Sacramento, CA).
I was surprised to find other brands (like Cannondale) besides their
own
Navaro (spelling?). The prices are competetive, and I suppose I could
get
a further 10% discount with my REI membership. I am tempted. I am
not sure about their (bikes-related) service and I have not talked
with them. I am wondering if people here bought from them.

My no-longer-local REI (Conshohocken PA) is a great store in my opinion.
We've only bought one bike there (my wife's, which doesn't get ridden
much, although it's a good bike for her and was a great price), but I tend
to get a lot of stuff there.

Two stories: I got a pump there (topeak Road Morph) a couple years ago.
Great pump, but eventually something gave out. I went back to the store
to just buy another one, but mentioned the failure at the checkout. They
stopped, checked to find when I had bought it, and promptly gave me the
new one as an exchange (I did happen to have the bike with me, and the
pump was there to exchange).

Another story: I had bought a NOS tandem frame at a swap meet, and found
a fork and headset for it, but could not get the headset in. Took it in
to REI. OK, it took a while, but that was because the headset did not
really fit the frame. They bought a new tool to face the frame to the
correct size, tried to install the cups, and one cracked. Ordered a
replacement. It cracked. This was a cheap headset I had just handed them.
They then got a better headset, and installed it. Total charge: $35,
which was the original quote. They even apologized for it taking 3 weeks.

This store deals well with customers, hires people who know what they are
talking about, and has good merchandise. Even though it's now a long
trip, they will get my business.

--

David L. Johnson

__o | ...nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or
_`\(,_ | property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person
(_)/ (_) | within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. --
Fourteenth Amendment to the U. S. Constitution.

"David L. Johnson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

This store deals well with customers, hires people who know what they are
talking about, and has good merchandise.

Agreed; they stand behind their stuff, even as small as a water bottle cage.
When I brought in a broken one they were able to look up the purchase and
actually ended up *refunding* money because the price had gone down since I
purchased the old one, even though I kept insisting that I just wanted an
even exchange.

--
Scott Ehardt
http://www.scehardt.com

In article <[email hidden]>,

David L. Johnson said:

Miles said:

Hello Group,

I am new in this area and recently visited the REI store (in
Sacramento, CA).
I was surprised to find other brands (like Cannondale) besides their
own
Navaro (spelling?). The prices are competetive, and I suppose I could
get
a further 10% discount with my REI membership. I am tempted. I am
not sure about their (bikes-related) service and I have not talked
with them. I am wondering if people here bought from them.

My no-longer-local REI (Conshohocken PA) is a great store in my opinion.
We've only bought one bike there (my wife's, which doesn't get ridden
much, although it's a good bike for her and was a great price), but I tend
to get a lot of stuff there.

Two stories: I got a pump there (topeak Road Morph) a couple years ago.
Great pump, but eventually something gave out. I went back to the store
to just buy another one, but mentioned the failure at the checkout. They
stopped, checked to find when I had bought it, and promptly gave me the
new one as an exchange (I did happen to have the bike with me, and the
pump was there to exchange).

Another story: I had bought a NOS tandem frame at a swap meet, and found
a fork and headset for it, but could not get the headset in. Took it in
to REI. OK, it took a while, but that was because the headset did not
really fit the frame. They bought a new tool to face the frame to the
correct size, tried to install the cups, and one cracked. Ordered a
replacement. It cracked. This was a cheap headset I had just handed them.
They then got a better headset, and installed it. Total charge: $35,
which was the original quote. They even apologized for it taking 3 weeks.

This store deals well with customers, hires people who know what they are
talking about, and has good merchandise. Even though it's now a long
trip, they will get my business.

I agree that the Conshy REI is great.

I just wish I could get outta there, just once, for under a 100 bucks. I always
end up buying something I ³need²....🙂

HAND

"Miles" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hello Group,

I am new in this area and recently visited the REI store (in
Sacramento, CA).
I was surprised to find other brands (like Cannondale) besides their
own
Navaro (spelling?). The prices are competetive, and I suppose I could
get
a further 10% discount with my REI membership. I am tempted. I am
not sure about their (bikes-related) service and I have not talked
with them. I am wondering if people here bought from them.

Thanks.

Miles

IMO The REI stores here in seattleare very good. the 2003 strada is an
excellent bike for me, best fit ever; but you might not find a bike there
that fits, it depends on your size/shape. i really like the aluminum
frame/carbon fork combo for communting on rough streets. the strada was the
only bike with all 105 stuff i could find under a grand (i bought it on the
member's 20% off sale). service has been great and they never complain when
i park it inside the store (they'd better not!). my commute is very rough
streets (OT: nobody pays for road repairs in WA's regressive tax state and
they dont even clean the streets!). the bike now has about 5k miles and the
only real repair has been a new chain and middle ring! i give it a 9 out of
10 rating!
-alan

"alan" <.@.> wrote in news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

the bike now has
about 5k miles and the only real repair has been a new chain and
middle ring! i give it a 9 out of 10 rating!
-alan

Only 5k miles and you need a middle ring??? Something is wrong cuse I
have used a 105 middle ring for more than 5 times that distance w/o a
problem and for all I know it is still working.

"Mike Latondresse" <mikelat@no_spamshaw.ca> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"alan" <.@.> wrote in news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

the bike now has
about 5k miles and the only real repair has been a new chain and
middle ring! i give it a 9 out of 10 rating!
-alan

Only 5k miles and you need a middle ring??? Something is wrong cuse I
have used a 105 middle ring for more than 5 times that distance w/o a
problem and for all I know it is still working.

ya i didnt replace the chain soon enough...

"Mike Latondresse" <mikelat@no_spamshaw.ca> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"alan" <.@.> wrote in news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

the bike now has
about 5k miles and the only real repair has been a new chain and
middle ring! i give it a 9 out of 10 rating!
-alan

Only 5k miles and you need a middle ring??? Something is wrong cuse I
have used a 105 middle ring for more than 5 times that distance w/o a
problem and for all I know it is still working.

ya i didnt replace the chain soon enough...

"Mike Latondresse" <mikelat@no_spamshaw.ca> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"alan" <.@.> wrote in news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

the bike now has
about 5k miles and the only real repair has been a new chain and
middle ring! i give it a 9 out of 10 rating!
-alan

Only 5k miles and you need a middle ring??? Something is wrong cuse I
have used a 105 middle ring for more than 5 times that distance w/o a
problem and for all I know it is still working.

Depends on how much muck you ride through, and how much you practice good
bicycle hygiene.

--
Warm Regards,

Claire Petersky
please substitute yahoo for mousepotato to reply
Home of the meditative cyclist:
http://home.earthlink.net/~cpetersky/Welcome.htm
Personal page: http://www.geocities.com/cpetersky/
See the books I've set free at: http://bookcrossing.com/referral/Cpetersky

"Claire Petersky" <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

"Mike Latondresse" <mikelat@no_spamshaw.ca> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"alan" <.@.> wrote in news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

the bike now has
about 5k miles and the only real repair has been a new chain
and middle ring! i give it a 9 out of 10 rating!
-alan

Only 5k miles and you need a middle ring??? Something is wrong
cuse I have used a 105 middle ring for more than 5 times that
distance w/o a problem and for all I know it is still working.

Depends on how much muck you ride through, and how much you
practice good bicycle hygiene.

Claire, I live in Vancouver and this was my commute bike which I
probably cleaned as much as you do yours in the "dark" months.

Miles said:

Hello Group,

I am new in this area and recently visited the REI store (in
Sacramento, CA).
I was surprised to find other brands (like Cannondale) besides their
own
Navaro (spelling?). The prices are competetive, and I suppose I could
get
a further 10% discount with my REI membership. I am tempted. I am
not sure about their (bikes-related) service and I have not talked
with them. I am wondering if people here bought from them.

You can go by the component group and the frame. The Novara bikes are
fine, certainly comparable to the other name brand Chinese-made bikes
being sold in bike stores. The Randonee is one of few reasonably priced
touring bikes still available. REI stands behind their stuff, and at
least at the store near me they have a good service department. Also,
they have good hours.

Some REIs carry Breezer as well. For a long time, REI was strictly
Novara. When they have their 20% off sales they exclude bicycles, other
than Novara.