airbomb bike: hot deal? comments from owners? sizing?

[kennethfine]

Some time back, Airbomb bike (www.airbomb.com) had a pretty amazing deal on their "Nuke Proof" Stealth bike.

I remember a lot of you bought the Airbomb and liked it.

My wife needs a bike, and I have a few questions from all you Airbomb owners (or bike experts):

+ How has the Stealth held up? Good deal?
+ She's 5'2". Any suggestions on sizing based on what you own?
+ Any other comments?

Thanks. Appreciate it. As somebody who's been around since the buy.com Hitatchi SuperScan fiasco, it's been a great few years of entertainment...

 

[DougyDanger]

The bikes are pretty good, particularly for the price. Airbomb however is one of my least favorite shops. They have been known to be slow, mess up orders, and have poor CS. Not the kind of place I spend my money.

As for sizes...smallest you can get. I have a friend who is 5'2" and she can't find any adult bikes that fit her. And don't think you can get away with a larger frame. A good fitting bike is critical to someone being able to safely use and enjoy riding.

 

[BurninUp]

I got one last year on that deal - 19" frame - I am 5'8+, it has been great - excellent.
It can handle more than my recreational offroad/downhill
But I bought my wife a alum frame hybrid Fuji with a spring seat and front shocks and twist grip shifting. She loves it for the 5 miles a week she rides on street and dirt paths.
It was a womens small frame - she is 5'3
It was about 350$ at a local shop sale

 

[Bilbo777]

While I don't have that bike itself, when ordering a bike via mail order you have to have some mechanical ability to do some tuning because you didn't buy it from a local shop. That's expected.

I've heard the price/quality/weight bike theory but sometimes its also price/quality/turn around with mail order. You can have two.

Airbomb is slower than most and part of the problem is they do stock out quickly. You save the $$$ and get quality parts. When they were growing, they had few people and orders go messed up in terms of wrong items and sometimes even like order one fork and get two. But they've always come through to make it right.

When I was ordering a lot, I use to say they can take their time with my order. I factor in the turn around time for the savings. Saving 25% for some items back then over other MO was worth the extra week.

 

[IgoByte]

NM

$559 - not that cheap

 

[wlee]

Airbomb sells nice stuff, but they are *SLOW*. I ordered a combo set of Ryno-Lite wheels and Avid Disc Brakes. They charged my card right away, but I had to wait over 2 months for delivery.

 

[pedrog]

My wife has a 14" Kona Hahana mountain bike and really likes the size (she's also 5'2")


The kona bikes have an agressive top tube angle which gives quite a bit of cleanance for the short riders.

 

[jwells777]

IgoByte-

If that is "not so cheap" for a bike with those components and whatnot, do you know of any other better deals? Or perhaps, what do you feel a good price for this bike would be?

 

[Zap]

IMO, best "deal" would be from a local bike shop. Nope, not for the price, but for the service and support. Start with the buying experience... show up with your wife and tell them you have $X to spend for a bike that fits her. They'll find something to fit her _properly_ (very important***), then they'll let her test ride it and change anything about the bike that bothers her. She'd rather have a softer seat? No problem. Different grip? Narrower/wider bars? Shorter stem (most women have a shorter reach)? Different pedals? No problem. Then, if they're wanting to charge regular price, ask for some freebies and discounts on water bottles, seat bags, helmets, etc. Most of those (except helmets) are "give away" items to sell bikes with. Just ask. So, bike is purchased and they'll adjust and fine tune everything. Then, a month or so later after the "break in" period where shift cables stretch and wheels get out of true, most bike shops will do the first servicing for free.

*** Improper fit can cause excess fatigue, especially in the upper body and shoulders. Also, the wrong seat along with improper fit can cause a sore bum. NOT the thing you want to happen to your wife/GF/SO/etc.

 

[DougyDanger]

Originally posted by: wlee
Airbomb sells nice stuff, but they are *SLOW*. I ordered a combo set of Ryno-Lite wheels and Avid Disc Brakes. They charged my card right away, but I had to wait over 2 months for delivery.

This is not only against CC company policy, but also illegal.

I second going to a LBS. The service is worth it. However its unlikely you will get much free or discounted gear. On a $2000+ bike it is pretty easy because the margin is so high. On the sub $500 bikes they are making $25-50 after all expenses so they don't have much room to do anything. A good shop will offer their knowledge and service to overcome any price issues. Bike does not fit her right? They will make sure it does. Mail order is great if you know what you want. When it comes to something like this its always a risk you take.

 

[IgoByte]

Originally posted by: jwells777
IgoByte-

If that is "not so cheap" for a bike with those components and whatnot, do you know of any other better deals? Or perhaps, what do you feel a good price for this bike would be?

jwells777,

First of all, I own an all XTR Litespeed Tanasi that cost $5K+ and have owned similarly priced bikes in the past.
To answer your question: The price is a good one and no, right now I can't find a better deal (there was the Schwinn Moab Disc about a year ago selling for ~$600, and that would've been a better deal IMO), but it's not worth risking it if the store sucks (which again I'm not certain about). $559 is just not that cheap if it's a risk. This bike is effectively worth ~$750.