Is Cycling Gear Cheaper in the USA?

troj
troj Posts: 43
edited November 2013 in Road buying advice
I'm heading over to America for a few weeks. Just wondering are there any cycling products (clothing, components and other essentials ie Chris King Espresso Tamper) much cheaper if I collect there and bring back to the UK?

Comments

  • bernithebiker
    bernithebiker Posts: 4,148
    Park Tool Pizza Slicer?

    just try and keep a straight face as you walk through 'Nothing to Declare' at Heathrow....
  • troj
    troj Posts: 43
    Already got one. I got a mate in Australia that used to would leave the country with a unrideable second hand bike and return with a brand new one. He would put the old seat, pedals, hand-bar tape and then a little dirty on it. Only ever got a few questions from customs as he had a record of a bike leaving the country. Saved a fortune doing this.
  • FatTed
    FatTed Posts: 1,205
    Order from these guys and get what you want delivered to your hotel
    http://www.aspirevelotech.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc
    If you want chainrings then look here
    http://praxiscycles.com/pages/standard-road-rings
    If you want wheels then perhaps
    http://www.boydcycling.com/
    another good site
    http://www.westernbikeworks.com/
    and http://www.competitivecyclist.com/
    but they tend not to be cheap
    if you want lights
    http://www.dinottelighting.com/
    if you want rollers (Inside Ride)
    http://s428353027.e-shop.info/shop/arti ... Rollers%26
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,310
    HED Belgium C2 rims? Get me a load of them please... :lol:
    left the forum March 2023
  • bernithebiker
    bernithebiker Posts: 4,148
    I used to buy a lot of stuff from the US back in the 2000 - 2004 period, but Wiggle CR, and co. have become so good now, that I've all but stopped looking over there.

    In fact, I see that quite a few Americans use Wig, CR, etc.

    The exchange rate has stayed fairly constant over that time, so not a big factor.

    A lot of the best stuff, Castelli, Assos, Mavic, Hope, etc. are European, so more pricey over there anyway, even without freight and duty.
  • joenobody
    joenobody Posts: 563
    bernithebiker wrote:
    A lot of the best stuff, Castelli, Assos, Mavic, Hope, etc. are European, so more pricey over there anyway, even without freight and duty.
    Castelli stuff seems to be significantly cheaper in the US - pretty much pound for dollar pricing right now, so approx. 2/3s cheaper...
  • bernithebiker
    bernithebiker Posts: 4,148
    JoeNobody wrote:
    bernithebiker wrote:
    A lot of the best stuff, Castelli, Assos, Mavic, Hope, etc. are European, so more pricey over there anyway, even without freight and duty.
    Castelli stuff seems to be significantly cheaper in the US - pretty much pound for dollar pricing right now, so approx. 2/3s cheaper...

    Yep, I stand corrected on that one - just Googled some Castelli stuff and it comes out a fait bit cheaper.

    The pound has picked up a fair bit in the last 10 days or so, that helps, but it still only makes a lot of sense if;

    a) you're there in person in buy and bring back and not declare

    b) you're putting in a big order

    Because the freight and duty are pretty high.
  • crankycrank
    crankycrank Posts: 1,830
    Speedplay pedals seem to be cheaper here. There's a bit of price fixing going on here as well so it won't matter too much where you get them but keep in mind there is the 4%-10% sales tax added according to the states and cities. If you were to have an order sent to a different state than where they were purchased then no sales tax will be applied but then there may or may not be shipping charges.............oh, this gets complicated.
  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    I buy Castelli kit from Italy where it's cheaper - it's the UK distributor that sets artificially high prices.
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • jimmythecuckoo
    jimmythecuckoo Posts: 4,716
    Is that direct from Castelli?
    http://fendrieneu.home.blog
    My blog and pod...
    Beers of Belgium Cycling Club UK
  • troj
    troj Posts: 43
    Thanks guys, Sounds like I'm going to have to do more research. My list is changing as I keep looking. I'm thinking about getting some white industries hubs, Castelli GABBA convertible (Not available in the UK but may consider getting it direct from italy), I'd love some HED rims (Ardennes 24/28 for good and Ardennes Plus for a cyclocross build), GoPro camera and some bike gear for my girlfriend as I need to her to be a non complaining cycle gear carrying Mule back to the UK with me!!! :D
  • joenobody
    joenobody Posts: 563
    jimmythecuckoo wrote:
    Is that direct from Castelli?
    Check out Amazon.com ;)
  • troj
    troj Posts: 43
    :evil: :evil: Amazon :evil: :evil: Best avoided me thinks. Good deals but.........
  • joenobody
    joenobody Posts: 563
    troj wrote:
    :evil: :evil: Amazon :evil: :evil: Best avoided me thinks. Good deals but.........
    Curious to know why - I'm thinking about getting some stuff delivered to a colleague who can hand it over at our Sales Kick-off in Vegas that's coming up...

    This is based on the feedback from another US-based friend who already bought his Gabba from Amazon.

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