Bicycle tyres and the Internet conclusion

This week I finished my quest for the best deal on tyres. I checked the price of tyres at most Local Bike Shops (LBS). None of them could compete with Probikekit. As Paul who commented on last weeks post mentioned that the postage was now set at $9.95 and when I came across a couple of Michelin Speedium 2 tyres for $19.00, it meant that I had been able to get a set of tyres for just under $50.00. Many thanks to Paul and Probikekit.

However on the issue of LBS, I found myself at a loose end on Monday so I took myself to Stanmore. I went to the Cell Bikes Shop on Parramatta Road. They do stock Conti and Maxxis but found that there was nothing under $35.00.

Walked up to Stanmore Cycles and had a look there. I didn’t get any tyres at Stanmore Cycles. What I did get though was a lecture from the guy who owns/manages the shop. He pointed out rightfully that the tyres are the contact point between the road and the bike.  He also told me more than he intended when he said that he commuted on a $10000.00 road bike. For the record Stanmore Cycles sells tyres for $45 – $100.00. The tyres they were selling could be bought cheaper at other shops.

I then went to a couple of LBS I know that are near Centennial Park. I went to Centennial Park Cycles and found very little of interest. They appear to cater to the recreational market. Evidence of this was in the amount of mountain and hybrid bikes in the shop.

I then went to the Cheeky Monkey Multisport just up the road. Cheeky Monkey Multisport cater to serious road cyclists and triathletes. Their shop is pretty much wall to wall Cerevelos and Pinnerellos. They had some good tyres from Vittoria that were close to the price range and some Continental tyres.

I went to King Street Cycles in Newtown and found that the range there was similar to their repair depot Bike Repairs in Marrickville.  They kept Vittoria and Maxxis and very little else on hand. The girl at the counter did a good job of trying to sell me an expensive set of folding tyres which had carbon in their bead. They were $119 each and well and truly out of my league.

I also asked at the new Bike Depot shop on Enmore Road and found that they have very little in the way of tyres. None within my price range and mostly costly folding tyres. It seemed that the Local Bike Shops were well and truly understocked compared to the Internet.

I was still surprised at the lack of tyres in the stocks of the Local Bike Shops in Sydney’s Inner West. Yesterday on my way to visit family and friends in the Blue Mountains I went to Kingswood Cycles near Penrith and found they carried very little in the way of road bike tyres. I also found they carry only 3 road bikes per year (apparently from Gitane and Felt) and mainly cater to the local recreational riders. The guy working there was more than helpful. He suggested visiting Panther Cycles in Penrith, which are a road bike specialist.

I visited Panther cycles and found they carried little in the way of tyres. It was almost similar to Cheeky Monkey Multisport. They have quite a large number of road and triathlon bikes with a few MTBs and hybrids.

On the way to Panther Cycles I dropped in at Lifecycles near the Penrith Plaza. They mainly had Maxxis and Vitoria tyres. I have to admit that I have chosen the transition period for most bike shops.  The 2008-09 bicycles are now being sold off and the 2009-10 bikes are now being brought in. Some riders are replacing the cheap tyres that come as stock standard on their new bikes with better tyres. This may limit stock.

I also checked Blackman Cycles out and found that there were just folding tyres on display. I found they did have some folding tyres but these were on the expensive side.

Based on my research, I can conclusively say that the Internet based bike shops and wholesalers do stock a wide range of bike parts. You can get some very good stuff ranging from tyres and tubes to saddles and even wheel sets. Like most things sold on the Internet there are reputable suppliers such as Probikekit, Wiggle, Torpedo7 and Probikekit. Some LBS are now getting into Internet sales and I found a number of bike shops on the north side of Sydney getting into Internet sales.

What does this mean for cyclists? The Internet bike shops will benefit cyclists. They will have a greater opportunity to get quality components delivered right to their door. This will help cyclists in the outer suburbs and country towns get tyres, wheels, group sets and other components their city based cousins have open access to. Like everyone else they will have to be aware of the usual pitfalls of buying goods off the Internet and also the issue of returns and refunds.

What does it mean that the LBS? In my opinion the LBS will not hold much in the way of stock. If you want tyres for your bike now or even ASAP, you will have to put up with the what the LBS has on offer. It will not kill off the LBS. Cyclists will still get bikes serviced and repaired. I would not recommend purchasing a bicycle from the internet. Furthermore there is the issue of duty and GST if goods are purchased from overseas based bike shops. Goods that are valued in excess of $1000 have to be formally entered for Customs purposes and Duty and GST paid. Goods under $1000 are will be considered too small for duty. Some cyclists I know are ordering goods as a group to minimise postage and should be aware of the $1000 threshold for Duty and GST. Local based Internet sales will include GST in their costs.  I have noticed that some LBS in Western NSW use Internet based shops to get special orders in, but beyond that there is very little in the way of co-operation between the two groups.

I am now eagerly awaiting my new tyres and lookforward to letting you know how they go.

The week that was – shit happens to good people (including me)

Well it looks like this week has been one of those weeks where anything that could go wrong did go wrong. I had a relatively easy week commuting. I was able to get an early mark at work on Thursday. I went to Ashfield Cycles where I had dropped the Red Hybrid off for a service. I was able to made it on time and collected the bike. The price of the service had grown due to the number of parts that were needed (Mainly brake pads and a bidon cage). I got the bike back and took off to the Cooks River Cycleway.

Unfortunately I missed the park where I was able to get on to the cycleway and wound up going through the streets of Ashfield, Campsie and Canterbury, until I found a point were I was able to join the cycleway. When I got back I wound up going to Tempe Velodromefor the spin session with Dulwich Hill Bicycle Club – my club. I rode to the velodrome only to have the chain snap at Tempe station. I lost half the removable link.  I searched desperately but could not find it.

I met another guy on his way to the velodrome who suggested I continue on to the velodrome where someone would be able to help me. I went to the velodromeand caught up with Lindsay Munks who sorted out the chain issue. He had the tools and was able to get the chain linked together. It was strongly recommended that I see the guys at Ashfield Cycles and find out what went wrong. It was also recommended that I get a new chain as the chain was too tight.

On Friday I rang the guys at Ashfield Cycles and was told that they did not remove the chain for the service. I get the feeling that things were not going to get any easier despite the dead chain. On Saturday I got up and prepared for Slowies only to find that the rain was going to put the kybosh on the event.

I went out to Coles in Monterey for a Birthday present for a friend of mine and a carton of UHT Skim milk. I took the fearless gear-less to see how it would handle the path. There has been some changes but the fearless gear-less handled everything quite well. I got the milk but did not get the present as it was not in stock. As I went back to Tempe my rear tyre blew out. I cursed and swore and got the bike to a shelter used for picnics. I took the rear wheel off using a spanner from my multitool. I found that the tyre was worn out at the side rim, with the tyre coming away from the bead. I replaced the tube with a thorn proof tube. I intended to get back to Tempe pushing the bike but wound up riding it.  Towards the end the issues with the tyre became problematic. I copped the fishtailing as I turned and wound up slowing down. I got the bike in and changed the tyre. I will now be running WTB slicks from the Iguana.

I will write back with details of how the Fearless Gearless preforms with Slicks.

The other issue was major. On Sunday I was still in Sydney for some overtime. I decided to go to Waterfall with DHBC and had prepared myself for the event. It would have been my first Waterfall and I got myself down to Mick Mazza cycles at 06:30 after getting a new chain from Mick I headed off. The drive train seized up with on the way which was the reason for the new chain. After the Club President gave his speech outlining the risks of cycling and stressing that we accepted the risks if we rode with the club that morning, we headed off. We headed down Warren Rd and went through to Gannon Street. We got on to the highway and went past a RBT station and were going down Marsh Street when the rear derailleur came off.

Geoff said it was the end of my ride and I concurred with him. I walked the bike back to Tempe and met a guy who left the peleton due to concerns about rain. He said that the bike may be dead because the hanger is bent and may be elongated as the derailleur bolt has been sheared off. However he reckoned it would be repairable. I got the bike back and put it into the car for the trip to Bike Minded in Wentworth Falls. I took the Green Trek out for a ride. Woolys Wheels was open but it is booked out till the 18th. I dropped into the Addison St Markets at Marrickville after checking out Cell bikes and Stanmore Cycles (both closed due to the long weekend). After the week end I went back to Lithgow.

This morning I took the Red Hybrid to Bike Minded in Wentworth Falls. They reckon it may be dead but it will be wait and see. They will try to get the bolt out and then straighten the drop out. If all is well there will be a new derailleur and everything realigned. If not I may either make the Red Hybrid a single speed or take it and stip it for parts to be put onto a frame either from Europa Cycles or Peter Bundy in Riverwood. In short it was not a good week. God has had an ear bashing from me and I am not a happy boy. But there is always next time. I will also be willing to get out and give everything a go when the Red Hybrid – or it’s replacement is ready to roll.