From: shenry@cs.rice.edu (Sam Henry)
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
Subject: Re: Bike Nashbar and other mail-order houses
Date: 27 Jul 92 22:41:52 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: Rice University, Houston

In article <1992Jul25.142813@iauf3.unifr.ch> wismer@iauf3.unifr.ch
(Wismer Daniel  Uni Fribourg) writes: 
>...Could someone please post a list of FAX numbers of different
>mailorder houses. 

>Dan Wismer	

Excuse the band-width, but mail to wismer@iauf3.unifr.ch bounces.
This is what I have archived on mail order:


Branford Bike    orders: (800) BRANFORD   (272-6367)
                 info: 203/488-0482
                 fax: 203/483-0703

Colorado Cyclist (800) 688-8600

Cylco-Pedia      PO Box 884
                 Adrian, IL 49221 [catalogue $1 (4/91)]

Excel            (800) 627-6664

Lickton          (800) 323-4083

Nashbar          (800) NASHBAR    (627-4227)

Performance      (800) PBS-BIKE   (727-2453)

REI              (800) 426-4840

Schwab Cycles    (800) 627-6664

Third Hand       916/926-2600
                 fax: 916/926-2663
                 PO Box 212
                 Mt Shasta, CA 96067

Wheelsmith       225 Hamilton Avenue
                 Palo Alto, CA  94301
                 (415) 324-0510

The Womyn's      603-926-4939 (catalogue)
Wheel, Inc.      508-465-8099 (outlet store)
                 540 Lafayette Rd., Suite 7
                 Hampton NH 03842


Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
Subject: Informal Survey (results)
Date: 14 May 90 16:41:51 GMT

Last week I posted an informal survey regarding mail order companies. 
I was interested in people's experience with Performance and Nashbar 
(and REI, Campmor, BikeCentennial, etc).  I received thirteen responses
to my query.  A summary of those responses follows.   

Thanks to:
    Doug Barry (doug@shamas.cdc.com)
    Karen Bartlett (kab@june.cs.washington.edu)
    Gardner Cohen (beldar@mips.com)
    Bill Davidson (billd@fps.com)
    Jo Friedman (jo@uswat.uswest.com)
    Ben Henwood (benwood@u.washington.edu)
    Alan Heyd (IA8@psuvm.psu.edu)
    David Lim (limd@boulder.colorado.edu)
    Kenneth Roberts (roberts@cs.columbia.edu)
    Ted Rodriguez-Bell (ted@oddjob.uchicago.edu)
    Larry Schwarcz (lrs@hpda.hp.com) 
    Dave Smith (daves@pravda.gatech.edu)
    John D Unruh (jdu@ihlpb.att.com)

PERFORMANCE: 
    [The majority seem to have had experiences similar to mine, that is,
     too many out of stock items.  Since this seems to be a more recent
     problem, I'm wondering if Performance is having cash flow problems.]
    
    "The service has always been fast, but in the past year or so, too
     many 'out of stocks.'"

    "Just about every time I purchase something they don't have one
     of the items I'm looking for."

    "Their store [in Bay area] is no better.  I rarely walk away with
     more than 1/3 of what I go there for, and they don't seem to be
     able to restock things they run out of."

    "Your post reminded me that I ordered something from Performance
     about a year ago, and I never did receive it.  I can't even remember
     what it was anymore."

    "We're boycotting the [store ... because they're really a 2nd-rate 
     outfit."

NASHBAR: 
    [Generally good comments, though some people have had problems with
    out of stock items.]

    "I have had somewhat poorer results from Nashbar [than Performance]."

    "I would recommend Nashbar to anybody who asked."

    "Good blowout specials."

    "Courteous and helpful on the phone."

REI:
    [The most favorable responses.  REI has a special catalogue for 
     cycling, though it doesn't list as much items as the others.
     Many people are fortunate to live in a city with an outlet 
     and/or have a lower sales tax rate.]

    "Many times bicycle accessories are priced the same at REI as the
     mail order places."

    "I can usually get the part in person.  One handy feature they have
     is ordering parts in the store.  I can come in and pick it up, and
     if I decide I don't like it, just not buy it."

     "has Continental SuperSport  ULTRA non-folding tires for $16 eacg in 
      700c x  19, 20, 22 and 25"

Miscellaneous:

   "BikeCentennial has reasonable service.  Their 800-number is really 
    an answering service, so you can't get direct information on out 
    of stock items.  The only problem I have had was in ordering a book
    in which a new edition was going to be released."

    "Branford Bike:  Tell em' your a new cutomer, and you should get
    $10 off your first order.. They have a lot of racing orinted
    stuff..."

    "The Colorado Cyclist and Excel Sport are pretty well stocked, but 
     carry a limited line."

    "I'd recommend Cycle Design (1-800-    ).  They don't have the
     really facist policies about techincal information that many 
     places do (an 800 number for ordering, a toll call for anything
     else).  [...] Small store, [...] competitive prices, [...] can order
     hard to find items."

     "My friend Joy got her Rochet from Cyclo Pedia in '62.  I've
     ridden it and it's quite a nice bike, with sew-ups, aluminum bars
     and brakes.  The only odd things by modern standards is the
     cottered crank and the Simplex derailleurs.  Anyway, Cyclo-Pedia
     is a prett cool store.  They currently stock lots of things you
     can't get at other stores either local or mail-order, and have a
     large supply of replacement parts to fit older bikes."


     I JUST NOW called Lickton's and they impressed me.  Why?

     They have some unusual items, especially tools; and they claim
     not to carry things that don't work while carrying new products
     reasonably quickly. 

     I tend to believe this.  They carried the VistaLight about as
     fast as anyone, but they're refusing to carry the new subbosedly
     self-sealing inner tubes because they tested three makes [three
     labels, one manufacturer apparently] and they did not perform
     well. 


     "I also like Schwab Cycles (1-800-343-5347)... They have Tommaso
      Shorts for $40 and Campy Track Stuff $ Track and Cyclocross
      Tires..They also have Z-Team shorts for $30 (Tommaso) which is
      about 1/2 the performance price, so there pretty cheap..." 

     "Third Hand:  If you want tools, they look like a good source.  I
      can't imagine there is all that big a market for exotic bike
      repair tools out there."

     "Wheelsmith:  superb wheel builders and supplies for same"

     "The Womyns's Wheel:  The catalog includes clothing (designed for
      women, not just men's clothes with women's sizes tacked on),
      shoes, gloves, and equipment such as smaller brake levers and
      narrower handlebars."
     
     "The Womyns' Wheel:  The products are contracted out to different
      manufacturers to be made especially for women. 
      For example:
        a *maternity* cycling suit (I believe the only one of its kind!)
        bra tops made especially for full busted women with small torsos
        cycling suits designed for women's proportions etc.

      The catalog is color and really fun to read including historical
      pictures of women cycling, names of women's cycling clubs and
      more.  It is not just clothes. It includes narrow width
      handlebars, brake levers for small hands, women's saddles etc."


Jim Carson                          Dept of Electrical & Computer Engineering
carson@rice.edu                     Rice University, Houston, TX 77252
uunet!rice!carson@cs.utexas.edu     Lat: 29 43'N, Long: 95 26'W

Article 47016 of rec.bicycles:
From: chandler@wc.novell.com (Mark Chandler)
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
Subject: Re: Address for WheelSmith
Date: 10 Jun 1992 22:23:43 GMT

In article <1992Jun10.182218.5516@regina.cs.uregina.ca> gorrie@hercules.cs.uregina.ca (Dennis Gorrie) writes:
>Could someone please e-mail me the address and phone number for
>WheelSmith?

Wheelsmith Fabrications, Inc.
3551 Haven Ave., Suite R
Menlo Park, CA  94025-0351
415-364-4930
415-368-0351  FAX



-- 
sam henry <shenry@rice.edu>
Wanna ride?