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PaperclipPerfector  3mo ago (text post)   2635 thread views

Friday Fun Thread for September 19, 2025

Be advised: this thread is not for serious in-depth discussion of weighty topics (we have a link for that), this thread is not for anything Culture War related. This thread is for Fun. You got jokes? Share 'em. You got silly questions? Ask 'em.

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I see where you're coming from, but Specialized's focus on slick branding, digital tech, and a dedicated retail presence makes them the clear winner in this comparison.

Mainline DTC brands are lightyears away from Aliexpress. Obed sent a guy in a sprinter van to my house to put the bike together and make sure it was still tuned up from the assembly plant, and it was $1,000 less than anything else with that spec I can find. LBS is important, etc. etc. but that big of a price difference can't be ignored. Especially when at least one shop near my charged my wife $38 for an 8-speed KMC chain when I wasn't looking. I'm a consumer, not a donation service.

All that said for a novice it's absolutely better to wait for a sale and buy from a local store. They offer a ton of perks to make it worth it, and if they have good mechanics they're a lifesaver.

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