Cycling in Sydney Australia
The budget cyclist
Okay... any bike shop owners here might like to avert their eyes for this one. I was wondering if anyone here had any tips for avoiding the ratcheted up bike shop prices for accessories. One example, I saw one shop selling a drink bottle-shaped bottle - except the lid just that, a lid. The idea was you could store things like keys, tubes and stuff in it and use a drink bottle holder. But why not just use an old drink bottle for that, or some plastic contraption from k-mart? Any ideas. I'm hoping this thread won't degenerate into farce.....
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by yogi on -
they do.. you get 2 masticated drink bottles and use them without their tops. and put em in your bidden holder as tool carrier.
In-fact I believe shimano havethis product (a bit more refined)
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Permalink Reply by JP on -
I have 2 of those containers. They aren't as tall as any drink bottle I have and fit my wallet, phone and keys snugly inside with no movement or rattling. I believe Cell bikes have them for cheap.
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Permalink Reply by Michael Murdoch on -
www.wiggle.co.uk
Cheers
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Permalink Reply by MadameBike on -
I have one of the bought ones and it has a narrow "waist" where the holder grips it. I actually find that to be a pain when trying to fit things into it.
A friend of mine uses an old plastic tennis ball container (perfect size) and KimR's chamois holder would also be ideal.
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Permalink Reply by Ben on -
Is that for keeping your supply of Caramelo Koalas in? Good idea - in case you need an energy hit on those longer rides.
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Permalink Reply by baa baa on -
Not yet tools, tubes and patches. Room for one or two CKs, problem is I dont like my bears squashed.
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Permalink Reply by Robbiejuve on -
Yes some of the products they try to sell are unbelievable. My personal favourite is bicycle degreaser and lube, throw the word bike and the picture of a bicycle on the label and you get to charge triple!!!
As for avoiding bike shop prices, well the best prices will be from overseas online retailers like Wiggle. Locally, you can get on the Torpedo 7 and Cell Bikes email lists and buy when they have a sale. Torpedo 7 had a winter sale last week that was pretty damn good.
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Permalink Reply by sit ubu sit on
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Or you could just use your pockets? ;-)
Remember people don't charge a price that is based on what things cost to make, they charge what they're worth (or "perceived" to be worth). There are some noticeable exceptions, but it's a general rule. When it comes to bike accessories, most stores will have a 100% mark up for an item like this. So if they sell it for $10 they bought it for $5. Their wholesaler bought it for $3 because he needs to cover the cost of importing it, storing it in his warehouse, and sending it to the bike shop. The exporter bought it from a factory for $2, and the factory bought the raw plastic for $0.05. The purchaser thought it was great value for $10, however would never consider paying $13.50 for a similarly-sized bottle of coke, if it came in a bottle that cost $10. It always makes me laugh that people baulk at paying another $0.10/litre for petrol but think nothing about paying $10 for a bottle of mineral water.
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Permalink Reply by Peter on -
People talk about ratcheted up bike shop price.
But - Shops need to pay staff wages, rent or mortgage, electricity, insurance, taxes.
Shops employ Australians and pay taxes. So the Government can pay for stuff.
-- Or are we just going to live off the coal and iron ore forever ?
Were loosing manufacturing jobs at a very fast rate and things are not looking so good. Lucky Australia is such a rich country - who needs a job anyway in such a rich country.
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