Well I’ve had quite a few more rides on the Woodstock 707 since my preview a few weeks ago. I’m happy to say that the bike is holding up quite well. I’ve finally dialed in the suspension the way I like and the bike is proving to be quite a dependable edition to the stable. Even had a clydesdale friend (pushing 260 lbs.) take the bike on the trails and he just loved the ride.

In my last post, I raised concern about the weight of the bike. It weighs in at about 33 pounds which is a bit more than I would like. Then again, the bike is not for racing. The Woodstock 707 is intended to be an all-day durable ride for the serious recreational rider. But if you are like most riders out there looking for a bike that’s serious enough for an all-day epic, fun to ride, and won’t break the bank, the 707 may be just the bike for you.

Especially when you consider the value proposition offered by Woodstock compared to other similar bikes. And that, my friends, is the focus for this segment of my multi-part review. Here’s the thing about Internet Bike Dealers (IBDs); since people can’t test ride your bike before buying you better be able to clearly articulate the value proposition. Clearly Woodstock Bikes understands this and has provided a unique approach to communicate the value of its bikes versus the competition. Unafraid of comparisons to the competition, Woodstock actually lays out the components and specifications of several major manufacturer’s bikes and compares the specifications line by line.

Let’s take a look at one such comparison (click to enlarge):

There are a few things that really work about these comparisons:

1. Transparency - Woodstock applies a simple rating score to each component of the bike. The score is from 1 - 5 with 5 being the best. Note that there’s no sugar coating here with all of the Woodstock components scoring a 5. In fact, they gain quite a bit of credibility with me by showing that some components (e.g. the Manitou fork) do not score as high as the competition.
2. Pricing - Clearly laying out all of the pricing components including shipping, taxes, etc. Not everyone puts this information out there for all to see, so this helps buyers with a Consumer Reports style, apples to apples comparison.
3. Quality metric - Here Woodstock does a simple average of all of the components to provide the buyer with an idea of the overall quality of the component set that comes with the bike.
4. Value rating - Woodstock came up with a formula to help weigh the cost of the bike in conjunction with the overall quality. The formula is relatively simple, represented as the following; ((2000-Total Price)*Quality Rating)/100. The final result is the number you should use for comparison sake. Showing the difference between the Woodstock 707 and similar competitive bikes taking into consideration price and quality.

Now there are certainly other things that are not represented in the charts that may contribute to the value of purchasing the Woodstock versus a bike you may obtain from your local bike shop (LBS). For instance, your local bike shop provides professional services for sizing, tune ups, long-term maintenance plans, etc. While Woodstock provides expert follow-on support by phone, they will not be able to do the work for you. You will need to be relatively self-sufficient or be willing to pay for some services at your LBS that might otherwise be considered part of your purchase (e.g. minor adjustments/tune-ups). For some, this may be a deal-breaker, while others rarely visit the LBS for anything other than major repairs or to buy additional gear. Only you will be able to determine whether the financial savings from buying a bike online will offset the value of these additional services.

There are still other factors to be considered when purchasing a bike, like ride handling, weight, and durability, but then of course that is why there are reviews written to help you with some of the intangibles.

In my next post on the Woodstock 707, I will zero in on some of these ride qualities to give you a complete 360 degree review of the bike. In the meantime, check out the comparisons on the Woodstock web site, I think you’ll find them valuable and maybe even a little surprising.

Graham Tracey is the author of the popular cycling blog Go Clipless.