Envision Yourself Saving Money by Getting the Best Price on your First Bike

Buying your first bicycle for sport can be a serious investment, although maybe not as daunting and important as buying a new car. With the right bike you will enjoy yourself more and have a real appreciation for the sport as a whole. There are many reasons to take a good amount of time in your first looking for something to purchase. Here are a few things to start you off in becoming an expert shopper.

The first time you enter into a shop that sells bicycles, you will have many different options to choose from. This is actually a really cool thing once you decide on the goals for purchasing your bicycle.

Most people are overly concerned with the brand of the bike when making their first purchase, don't be. Keep the actual performance of the bike first and foremost in your mind instead of the brand. Look for a bicycle that best suits you needs, this can't be stressed enough.

First decide how much you want to spend, then identify the right feel and features you're going after, and finally look for models and various brands that meet those criteria. This is how you pick a winner.

Should you go with the custom bike?

There is no definitive answer, let me explain. Many agree that one of the greatest places to find custom builders of high end bicycles is in the United States. These custom builders have spent years honing their craft and have established themselves as experts in their field. With all this knowledge and experience, these master builders can build you exactly what your looking for, so long as there is accurate communication through the entire process. Keep in mind though, that every custom bike builder has there own style and personality.

You can give the same specifications to different companies and the fit as well as the ride quality would come out different. This is why choosing a custom bike as your first purchase may not be your best choice. Knowing what questions to ask these builders only comes with time invested in the sport and riding experience. Only at this point will you know that you have the right builder for you.

Should you be shopping for sales at the local bike shops?

Bicycles like cars have new models arrive on the sales floor every year. Typically this is after the riding season winds down, which is in the fall. Again just like cars this would be a great time to find the best deals. Shops don't want to keep old inventory any longer than they have to during the winter. By doing your homework and finding out what hot models didn't totally sell out during the summer months, you can definitely find some awesome deals.

Do your homework and be aware because new changes in bikes happen all the time. While a dramatic redesign may only happen every few years, small tweaks and minor part changes can happen quite often. This means that something might seem like a great deal on the surface because it's less expensive, but may not have all the newest technologies to go with it. This happens more often when the bike are more than a few years old.

Should you haggle over the purchase price?

As the old saying goes it doesn't hurt to ask, but don't expect sympathy from dealers on current year models. Bikes have a relatively small profit margin. It's a pretty common practice for bikes to make more money on the equipment they sell, then on the purchase of the bike. This is the main reason dealers and bike shop owners are less than likely to give a discount on a bike purchase, but are more than willing to toss in a piece of equipment for free.

If they say no or you don't like what you are being offered then you can just take your business elsewhere. Keep in mind though that if you're become serious with this sport, having a good local bike shop on your side can only help. You can save money with service and warranty issues that will always come up. To keep you a long time returning customer, most bicycle shop owners will go to great lengths.

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