Can I order a Rodriguez bicycle by internet or phone?
Testimonials

If you want to visit some of the out-of-state customer entries in our online-scrapbook, here's a few of them:

Yes you can. About 22% of our bicycles are ordered this way. We have years of experience working directly with customers over the internet and on the phone to determine the proper size and model of bicycle. People have become much more accustomed to ordering via internet and phone than they used to, but we've been selling to 'out of state' customers for decades.

The Ordering Process

Question and Answer Period:
When a customer from out of state orders a Rodriguez, we work with them over the internet or phone (206.527.4822) depending on what's convenient for the customer. Usually, we exchange a series of emails and answer questions relating to the components, bicycle weight, shipping costs, gear ratios, time frame, etc... It depends on what concerns you have. Sometimes this will be 20 or more emails, and sometimes it's just a few. We don't mind answering questions so feel free to ask as many as you would like until you feel comfortable that we understand your needs.

Our customers are all individuals, and every one of them has different concerns. Unlike other manufacturers, our bicycles are built one at a time. We can address any concern on an individual basis. There's really no restrictions on what options, gearing, colors etc. that we can make happen for your new bike. It's important to us that we get it right, and we're here to help you understand those options and give you advice so that your Rodriguez bike ends up your favorite bike.

It's your bike, so let's get it right.

At the end of this period we should have all of the specifics tied down....bicycle model, prices, component choices, substitutions, gearing, or anything else that's important to you. We will send a spec sheet via email at the end of this process to make sure that we are both on the same page so to speak.

Determining your proper size:
Working with you to dertermine the proper size does NOT commit you to order. After we've answered the questions and determined the features that are important, and you feel comfortable that we can build your new bike, we can move to sizing. To determine your bicycle's new size we need some information. We'll need some body measurements, and measurements on your old bike if you have one.

Here, a couple of different things can happen:

A.) Since you cannot make it to the store for us measure you, most people measure themselves and their old bicycle using instructions that we provide. We have a pdf form that can be downloaded (or emailed to you on request), or an online form (coming soon) that you can type the numbers directly into. Some people use the instructions and simply type the measurements into the body of an email and send it our way. Some people print the pdf form and fax it to us. Some people call us and read us the measurements over the phone. It's not important to us how the information gets here, so whatever is convenient for you is the correct way.

B.) Sometimes, people have had a professional measure them at some point in their life and they send us those numbers. They use the fax, phone, or email option for this as well.

C.) Once in a while a customer simply sends us the numbers of their existing bike because they feel it's a perfect fit. We can easily duplicate an existing frame.

Metric or Standard numbers are fine. We can easily convert, so don't worry if your tape measure isn't metric.

On occasion, a long distance customer feels more comfortable if we work directly with their favorite local shop.

After we have the numbers, that's not where it ends. We put the numbers into our NEXT-fit™ software and make sure everything makes sense. There are often some measuring inaccuracy that happens when people do their own measurements. Not to worry, we've designed our software to check for inconsistencies and impossibilities when the data is entered. If we get a red flag, we simply contact you for another try at the suspect measurement. Sometimes it takes a few emails or phone calls (206.527.4822) back and forth to make sure that we're confident in the numbers.

Once we're confident that we have an accurate representation of your skeletal measurements, we will communicate with you about your current bicycle if you have one. If you have a bicycle now, whether it fits you or not, we like to compare our recommendations to what you are currently riding. If you are experiencing pain or discomfort on your current bike, we obviously want to eliminate that. We will come to a determination of what's going on, and make sure that we make the new bike more comfortable for you. If you love your existing bike and find it extremely comfortable, then obviously we don't want to vary too much, if at all, from the fit that you have on it. If you don't have an existing bike, then of course we run with the NEXT-fit™ recommendations and work from there.

Now we can compare you final numbers to one of our 18 frame sizes and see if we have a perfect match. For more than 90% of our customers, our sizing achieves at least one perfect match.

"What if there's no perfect match?" You ask. Not to worry, we have been building custom bicycle frames for longer than we've built production sizes. Actually, our production method grew out of our custom program, not the other way around. Most companies make production sizes, and then custom as an afterthought. At Rodriguez, we can build a custom size of any of our models for just $100 extra.

You may have noticed that we don't list our frame size geometries on the site. Some people like to see what the geometry of their bicycle frame will look like before we build it. This is especially true for those who order custom sizing. Once we've determined your new bicycle's size, we can move to the next phase of the ordering process.

The Deposit and the Paint:
We ask for a deposit of 50% of the bicycles total price. We can also finalize the paint job and decals at this point if it hasn't already been finalized. This gets the bicycle into the queue and sets your approximate ship date. (We have the current wait times listed to the left)

The deposit can be paid securely in a few ways:

Turn around time
For the last several years, our turn around time has been the quickest in the industry from the date of deposit. On rare occasions, there are parts availability problems that may cause a hold up. In these cases, we will contact and inform you of the delay. In most cases, a parts substitute is easy to make, and we're back on schedule. It's up to you whether to wait or make a substitution.

Rapid Response - Some people have extenuating circumstances that require the bicycle to be delivered to their door step faster than our standard time frame (a scheduled trip, procrastination, etc..). Here's the time that we would work that out. We have built full custom bikes, and had them at the customer's door step in less than a week when it needed to be that way. Most people plan a little further ahead, but let us know if your bike will need to be rushed.

Once the deposit is made and the paint/decals decided, the bike goes into production.

The Between Time
While the bike is being manufactured, most people will be very excited and send emails asking how it's going etc. We don't mind this at all, and often I will venture down to the frame shop and snap a few photos to email your way. It's fun to see the bicycle being created. Those folks that live here in Seattle get to come in and watch, so why not let the out of state customers have some of that fun too?

Small changes in component choices and such can be made during this time, but may affect the final delivery date if parts are not available. Some things we can't control.

A lot of people use this time to select accessories for us to install during final assembly. Computers, racks, clipless pedals, panniers, water bottle cages and fenders are just a few of the things that people will add to their order during this time.

Assembly
We will fully assembly your bicycle and give it a thorough test ride. We like to try and shake out any issues before we box and ship the bike. We are one of those rare manufacturers that has a complete repair shop as well. For you, this means that your bicycle is assembled by a mechanic that repairs as well as assembles bicycles. Such a professional will take more care to assemble the bike in such a way as to have less problems down the road. At R+E Cycles, most of our customers use us as their repair shop, so we know the issues that will arise if certain things are not done a certain way. This is one of the intangible benefits you get when you buy a shop, not just a bike.

Boxing - When we box the bike up, we take great care to leave it as assembled as possible. If the bike is not a travel bike (S&S coupling version), the reassembly on your end will usually consist of just a few steps.

For our travel bike customers, we have a printed instruction sheet as well as a DVD step by step to teach them the method of dis-assembly and re-assembly that works best.

We will keep you updated on the expected ship date and progress during this period. Things move pretty fast and soon we're at the shipping date.

 Shipping
Once the bike is ready for shipping, we will contact you for final payment. Once final payment is completed, then we'll ship the bicycle to you at the agreed address. Shipping charges apply but Washington state sales tax does not.

Shipping charges vary depending on the bicycle and the shipping method.

If the bicycle is shipped within the continental United States using our standard UPS pick up (can take up to 7 days) the charges are as follows.

Single bikes and frames
  • $125 S&S coupled single bike
  • $125 frame/fork only (coupled or not)
  • $250 single bike without S&S couplings
Tandem bikes and frames
  • $250 S&S coupled tandem bike
  • $150 frame/fork only with S&S couplings
  • $450 tandem bike without couplings
  • $250 tandem frame/fork only without couplings
Rush Charges - If you want your bicycle shipped overnight, or second day air, we can get the quote for you ahead of time and charge you accordingly.

International Shipping Charges - We do ship internationally. The rates vary greatly depending on where the bike is going. We can get a shipping quote before you commit to ordering a bicycle so you know what it will cost.

Some countries have duties and tarrifs that you will be responsible for at time of pick up. These are not included in the shipping costs. You will need to be aware of this expense and give us any special instructions if you have them. Most of you international customers know about these duties and tarrifs, but not all of you do. Make sure to check with any local authorities to determine what it might cost you at time of delivery in taxes and duties.

Welcome aboard!
With most companies, once the bike has shipped, it's the end of the process. With R+E Cycles though, you've purchased a whole bike shop, and we see this as the beginning. Once you receive your new bike, you'll have more questions and need a lot more service. This is why it's important to select your manufacturer well. A manufacturer that works directly with customers everyday in our retail store is set up for servicing customers long term.

Some things that you may need as soon as you receive your new bicycle:

Instruction - You may need some instruction on how something works or how to assemble something. We're here to help by phone (206.527.4822) or by email.

If you're not the most mechanical sort, don't worry, we've talked people through complete bicycle assemblies over the phone. We have some great mechanics that are used to instruction as we teach full classes here at the shop.

Fitting suggestions - Even with the strong emphasis on getting the fit right before we made the bike, there is often some tweaking that will need to take place once you've ridden the bike for a while. This is very common, and we consider it part of the purchase of a Rodriguez.

Sometimes we will send a few different sizes of stems for a customer to try. We don't charge for this type of thing as most companies will. We see you as part of our team, and we want you to be happy with your Rodriguez.

We work with you by phone or email until you are comfortable on your new bike. The way we see it, we have nothing to gain by having a Rodriguez customer unhappy with their new bike.

Help with a surly bike mechanic - Once in a while we have a customer take their new bike to their local bike shop for accessories or assistance. Sometimes, an employee not familiar with the components or our brand will take the opportunity to run down your decision to purchase a Rodriguez. This is an unfortunate thing that can happen, but if it does, realize that it is envy talking, and not a condemnation of your decision making. If something that they say bothers you, I am happy to talk with them personally. There's a lot of little quirky things that we do to make our bikes work better than other brands (as you read through my site you'll see that). Most of these things other shops have never seen before. For example, a lot of our bikes come with Campagnolo components, and most shops never see Campagnolo components.

A good rule of thumb is to remember this riddle: How many bike mechanics does is take to change a light bulb? Answer: One.....but 99 more will stand around and tell you how they could do it better ;-)

No matter what, remember that we've been out here making bicycles since 1973. We wouldn't have that track record if we didn't have at least some 'method to our madness'. If you ever have any question about why we did something a certain way on your bike, just email me personally and I'll be glad to answer.

Our Guarantee
Nobody's perfect, and we're no exception. If, after you've received and ridden your new Rodriguez for a period of time, you don't like it, we've still got a solution.

As far as I know, we're the only bicycle manufacturer that makes this guarantee.

If the bike is one our our 18 production sizes: We can discuss at length what you did not like about it and see if a solution can be found (stem change, minor adjustment at your local shop etc...). If we cannot come to a solution to the problem that is satisfactory to you, you may box up the bike & ship the bike back to us. We will refund the purchase price except for the shipping charges.

If your bike is a custom size, well then that's a little different then isn't it? If the bike is not comfortable, then we can determine what went wrong and modify, or build a new frame that fixes the issue. Usually, in a case like this it's as simple as the customer needs more stand-over height or something. Anyway, we have nothing to gain from having you dis-satisfied with our shop. If you need a custom frame size, and are nervous about whether you will like the bike or not, let us know up front. We can put something in writing that's agreeable to both of us before we build the bike.

The lawyer is telling me that I need to put a time frame on this, so let's say 60 days. That feels like a time frame that you should be able to work out any bugs right?

There it is. All wrapped up in a tidy little article. These are things that I've probably typed hundreds of times before in email after email over the last 15 years. If you've made through all of this, and you still have questions (and I know some of you do) just email us.

Thanks for reading - Dan