bmannn, I don't suppose you read both my comments above. I support my LBS, they do great things and I will continue buy bikes there and get service done. I also highly doubt that they will be going out of business anytime soon. If they do evenually, it won't be bacuause MEC sell low end RF gear. I also never said that the shops sets the prices. The manufacturer and distributor does. Speaking of prices, to the best of my knowledge the "level tax" that the LBS will be getting from RF hasn't even been made public yet. So how can anyone say what the difference in margins will be? I also like how you say "most of us not getting rich doing this", then who is? The manufacturer or distributor? You also can't say that the distributor is not in it for the money. Something to think about is that Barrett Corporation is the majority shareholder in Lambert Cycles. The former majority shareholder, now minority shareholder, is Roynat Capital who is a member of ScotiaBank Group. That's right a bank, and another corporation control Lambert Cycles. Hmmm... Sounds likes there must be money to be made. I think that there is definitely some substantial profit involved in purchasing a large quantity directly from the manufacturer at a low cost, and then reselling to all the IBS at a markup. Me not working in any form of the bike industry does not make any of my points invalid. If anything it makes them unbiased. Like cree said below, what about "SRAM, Shimano, Wellgo, Garmin, Jagwire, Kenda, Maxxis, Schwalbe..." being sold at MEC. Sounds like "legitimate" manufacturers are going out of style hey? Until the LBS, manufacturers and distributors can get Canadian customers good prices on parts/gear from our LBS, the majority of the population will look elsewhere for deals. Ideally, we would all go to out LBS becuase we prefer them, get those great prices that we see online and in the US, but we don't.

I think so. It was a would have been a few days before I sent you that note. After the top steep, bermy section, right after a hard left where it was super loose me and buddy talked to somone with a chainsaw, and asked about the new gaps at the bottom.

Thanks, and I agree. It is ultimately the consumers choice, for whatever the reason may be.

When it comes to parts, online all the way. I have both the tools and knowhow to install a crankset thank you very much. If the LBS want's my business for parts, it is their responsibility to make me want to buy parts from them. Be creative, change, and do something other than bitch and moan about unfair advantages. If you really think this deals unfair, I thinks it's unfair to pay 2-3 times more at your store than necessary. I think that the way that everyone is pointing the finger at RF for being the reaper for the Canadian LBS is completely unfair, and mislead. Why not Lambert? They were the ones making tons of money over the past few years. Why not complain about their mark-ups then? After all, their profits go in their pocket. Not like MEC, whose income goes to reducing cost for the consumer, trailbuilding, environmental stuardship and so on. Don't you want these things? Also, if you really feel that the LBS is endagered species. It won't be because of this RF MEC deal. It will be because products from absolutely every manufacturer can be purchased online for a lower price than at an LBS. Which is ultimately what consumers want. If they didn't want it, it wouldn't be this way.