Anyone who knows me is aware of my bike obsession. Riding and building them with an occasional race in mind is what I like to do. As the seasons change and fall arrives, I begin my yearly bike audit. This includes assessing the bikes that I have, and then determining what major service needs to be performed on them, as well as which bike I would like to replace. This year is no different, or so it seemed. With plans in the works to build a new tandem for my wife and me, along with the consideration of a full-suspension cross country bike, the possibility of building a snow bike and the desire to replace my 26-inch wheeled single speed mountain bike with a 29er version, all of these bikes have left me considering quite a few options with regards to components. Additionally, when I assemble a new bike it is often from the frame up. Rarely do I ever buy a complete bike. While I have nothing against complete bikes, I am pretty particular about the components.
Thus, fall is also a good time for me to start gathering parts since this is also the time that others are shedding parts. I should add that it has been years since I have worked in a bike shop, which afforded me the privilege of deep discounts. As I’ve found sometimes buying outside of a retailer can be necessary if the budget is limited and deals are needed to complete a project. The VeloSwap and other bike shows are full of goodies, as is the online world that includes eBay and Craiglist. However, a recent post on Full Speed Ahead’s (FSA) website might make me rethink my plans. The company isn’t cracking down on sale of used products, but instead is addressing a far more ominous menace.
It appears that an issue once thought to only plague large corporations including Apple, Oakley and Nike is now making its way to smaller brands as well – counterfeits. If you have bought anything through online auctions such as eBay, you are aware of how difficult it is to determine if a seller is legitimate. Along with the anxiety of waiting to see if a part for your bike even shows up, you might now have to worry if the item that you purchased is even authentic. Once an item is purchased from a non-retail sellers (meaning auctions, forums or even discount sites), there often is no warranty from the manufacturer. This is usually not an issue due to the substantial savings off of the suggested retail price; but if it is not even authentic, that can be a bigger issue – especially for your own safety. If a fake pair of Oakley glasses or Nike shoes fail, a major injury is not likely to occur; but if a fake FSA stem breaks while riding a downhill run at 30 miles per hour, death is possible. This is certainly not good.
(Video after the jump)
