Mission Successful

This weekend I went looking for parts for the 1200. After going to a few bike shops previously, I figured that the group I wanted to put on it, shimano 105, would cost about $900. While this might sound like a lot, it's actually less than I would have paid if I bought the group online rather than through the shop. In addition, my family gets a discount because we are Potomac Pedalers. 

However, when we went to The Bike Club, we were surprised to learn that we could get some older parts for less, a lot less. We were able to pick and choose what we wanted, and we bought parts that were a little worn, but still good. In fact, we got shimano 600, the predecessor to ultegra, for $240, including labor. 

There is an important caveat. We got a $100 credit for the parts that came off the 1200 and two wheels that we no longer had any use for. In the end, we paid $200 cash along with the $100 credit. 

The mechanics at The Bike Club were extremely helpful, and they let me help mount many of the components on the frame. They were knowledgable and I recommend them to anyone trying to restore a bike. They have many, many older components collected over the years by their owner. 

Looking for parts in the shop is like a treasure hunt and a history lesson all in one.  

Choosing a Bike Shop

There are probably several bike shops in your area as is true in my area. You should try to go to a well-known bike shop that only sells bikes, not a place like Target, Walmart, or Toys 'R Us, because they sell non-related items. If you go to one of these places to purchase a bike or to get your bike serviced, you may not be as pleased as if you went to a bike-specific store. Better places to go might include Lands End, REI, Hudson Trail Outfitters, or L.L. Bean. I'm pretty sure these stores sell bikes at most of their locations, although they may not service all their bikes at these locations. If you go to these stores, you will certainly be more satisfied than if you went to the other stores mentioned above. The best places to go are bike stores like Performance or Spokes. There are certainly more bike shops, but most are local and you will have to find them yourself.