Just received an email from Chain Reaction Cycle that they are running a free shipping promotion. Supposed to be a weekend offer but live right now until 15 Jan. That's free shipping on everything except bikes (but do extend to kids bikes and BMX).
For example,
Thanks! I had forgotten to add one of the shirts I wanted in the Skin deal (still current https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/129638), so this let me get the last piece :)
same same. thanks.
Well poop, i already ordered my skins a couple of days ago… guess i'll order more
Good find, here are some other bargains I get from them. Hope this helps some
Alternative to Hydrolyte or Gastrolyte (usually about $12 for a tube of 20 locally in supermarkets/pharmacies), much the same stuff in these (drinkable salt, in the two important forms):
$6.99 for a tube of 20 http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/au/en/high5-zero-electrol…
$13.99 for two tubes of 20, plus free water bottle http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/au/en/high5-zero-hydratio…
If you’re a runner or cyclist, these are the best priced gels I can find anywhere, usually $3-5 per gel locally, in sample packs:
$16.49 for 11 gels plus some other crap, free bottle etc: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/au/en/high5-race-pack/rp-…
$10.49 for 9 gels plus some other crap, free bottle etc: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/au/en/high5-crc-exclusive…
Need a new chain, thanks.
Thanks, bought a bottle of oil for $5, been meaning to drop into a bike shop to buy one for ages!
Thanks for reminding me! I'm in the same boat (or on the same bike?).
Can someone recommend a site where I would buy a good quality bike for a reasonable price. I dont mind local or US import site I am new to cycling but its something that I would like to do with the missus so we will need two bikes. not sure if we should get road bikes or mountain bikes or hybrids.
Any advice appreciated :)
Get on bikeexchange, find some bikes that look like what you're after, find a local one with reasonable prices overall, then go and see them. If they give you good service, buy from them.
You will never ever save enough online to justify buying a bike without riding it first.
I've bought second hand bikes from both ebay and off people in major cities in bike exchange.
Both purchases were excellent.
The two bikes I've bought from bike shops were worse fits. Bike shops vary enormously.
The benefit of having a local bike shop surpasses the one-off saving you can get from online purchases (in the context of a bike purchase).
Agree with the others, local bike shop is the way to go. Any bike purchased online will arrive needing some assembly, not something you should be doing without at least a little bit of experience.
Some tips
Check bikeexchange for prices. Then when you've got a decent price, get them to throw in some of the extras you'll need. Lights, pump, spare tubes etc
I just bought a Road Bike after extensive research. What I found was that in the price range I was looking at ($3K+) the shops were all prepared to haggle and to throw in extra gear (pedals, bottle cages, spare inner tubes, multi tools, seat bags etc). I ended up cutting a deal way better than anything I could find online from a Local Bike Shop. If you are buying 2 I would do a little research and be prepared to haggle. I managed to haggle $800 off the RRP of my bike (just released 2014 model as well, not outdated last years model) + get extra stuff thrown in as well.
I test rode a few bikes and generally shops spent quite a while with me measuring me. The place i eventually bought from spent ages measuring me just for the test ride and not surprisingly their test bike felt the most comfortable!! They then adjusted everything further for me at pickup. They replaced parts with a shorter versions after video analysis of my knee angle whilst pedaling etc!! I also wanted better wheels and they allowed me to trade the value of the ones that came stock with the bike against the upgrade models they had in stock! I just paid the difference.
This might sound a bit over the top if you only want a couple of hybrids to cruise the bike paths on but I buy most of my stuff online these days and I was very pleasantly surprised. I also had the benefit of asking loads of questions to bike mechanics and guys that generally know loads more about cycling than me. Questions like how best to carry my iphone (where I was advised against the clip on devices for the handlebars and instead was introduced to the cheap little waterproof pouches that you fit in your jersey pocket. I was told to toss in my iPhone, driver's licence in case I am run over, $20 for the coffee shop and a credit card), questions like what is the best chain lube and how often should I apply it.
Mt 1st service is coming up in a couple of weeks, apparently gear and brake cables stretch when 1st used. That is all included and I just have to drop it off for free servicing for the 1st year of ownership. Not sure I would have gotten a better deal at an online shop either price wise or ongoing support wise. Received the email last week from the bike manufacturer (Trek) that my lifetime frame warranty (for my carbon frame) through the local distributor has been activated as well. Not sure how any/all of those online deals relate to warranties, especially for carbon frames!
"Questions like how best to carry my iphone (where I was advised against the clip on devices for the handlebars and instead was introduced to the cheap little waterproof pouches that you fit in your jersey pocket."
I use a toppeak dybag mounted onto my stem, awesome device, add to it strava, cyclemeter app and wahoo blue HR, speed/cadence sensor
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/au/en/topeak-drybag-for-i…
For storage, I use a storage bottle that mount in a water bottle cage.
"questions like what is the best chain lube and how often should I apply it."
Keep you chain clean, free from sand, too much lube/grease is a magnet for sand. If wanting to self service, buy a missing link so you can remove you chain and clean it.
Also not a fashion statement, but I have a rear mirror mounted to my helmet
Thanks for the intel, mate. Excellent info!
I'm in the same boat as you were - currently shopping for a road bike for around $4K max. You said you'd done extensive research (I'm doing mine), I thought I'd be interested in your insight. e.g. Bikes you were looking at, and how you decided on the Trek.
With the phone pouch I use a jersey bin that was free given to me from Santos. It lasted for about a year until the sides started to tear open. Taping up doesn't work coz that'll just get everything sticky. I ended up using a sandwich ziploc bag these days and works ok. I'd buy another one if I could but only strava sells them atm ($20 for 5, but free shipping is for >$200).
the $20 could also potentially be useful in a tyre blowout situation to get you home.
Also being cheap I keep a debit card + CA licence + gocard in one of those orange gocard pouches you get for free, along with cafe loyalty card etc. Protip: get a duplicate debit card so you can keep one in your pouch without having to take it (and your driving licence) from your wallet every time you ride.
I'd also recommend people to look at buying bikes from gumtree or bikes exchange
I got a full carbon road bike on gumtree that had only been used 2-3 times (basically new). It was a 2013 model RRP $2300
I got it for $980. Not to mention over $300 worth of extras (gloves, helmet and a bike trainer)
Can get some awesome bargains online :)
The reason you can haggle at bike shops is because they have big margins.
I did a lot of research in the middle of last year and found that by far the best value bikes in Australia are those by Reid Cycles. I bought the Reid Falco Elite http://www.reidcycles.com.au/2013-reid-falco-elite-road-bike…
It's $920 currently, but I bought it during the last Tour de France when they had a 15% off sale, and stacked that with the coupon VIP which gave a further 10% off, so in the end I got it for $675.
The Reid Falco Elite uses the full Shimano 105 groupset, which is the about the highest range gear any normal road-biking commuter such as myself could want. The Shimano 105 groupset alone normally costs over $600. And at the time I bought mine, they were giving away '$100' worth of free stuff with every bike including a floor pump (in practice this stuff was worth less than $40, but it's still been really useful not having to go out and buy my own floor pump).
Of course they cheap out on some other components, namely the pedals, and if you're not good with bikes you'll probably have to pay a bike shop to adjust the gears for you.
But overall, if you can get as good a deal as I did, go for it, at that price it's by far the best value road bike in Australa. They will probably do 15% off again during the Tour Down Under this month, and hopefully the VIP code is still working.
Agree the Elite is a better bike but if you need to buy now Reid has the Falco advance on sale for $579 down from $799 and the VIP coupoon works and brings it down to only $529 and free shipping.
An absolute bargain in my opinion!!
How do I get the 10% VIP coupon? If I buy one and choose to pick up in store, will the bike be set up for me? Thanks.
Brought mine from tbsm.com.au (NSW) when they were able to ship Australia wide to Perth, now most brands limit online sales.. I already had experience in setting up the bike, if you technically minded then it is no big deal. However if you do see a bike online, go into a shop and see it in person first.
graysonline.com has some bargains from time to time.
Either wait for sales or don't be afraid to buy last years model, but be aware that the models change year to year and the latest years bike is normally the model up of the previous or has inherited some or all of it.
Road - you should be on a bitumen surface, interested in focusing on you riding and not afraid to ride on the road shoulders (bike lanes)
Mountain - any surface, more upright posture, heavier bike (unless you pay)
Hybrid - mix as it suggests, can ride on many surfaces, upright posture, good for general riding
Thanks OP, picked myself up a few items (helmet, lock, lights) for the commuting bike I plan to buy in a couple of months.
Bought tyres then cancelled order because their order system addressed the parcel in my name instead of the gift recipient despite me filling out the shipping address details and also selecting the shipping address in Paypal. With no way to edit order details and the only email option via their non-https webform I had no choice. Also annoyed that order cancellations don't get immediate email comfirmation as happens when you make an order. Hate it when the work experience kid makes the order system.
when is a good time to buy an bike, i'm looking at getting a hybrid but don't really know what to look for in terms of brands, gears and shifters
Woohoo I saved $57.00. Wow got a bargin on Skins!
Can anyone help me with a few bicycle questions?
We have a standard 26" mountain bike with a 5-cog cluster at the rear, and 3 at the front cranks. It just broke a chain, which has exactly 110 links (none are missing). I think I need a "Clarks Anti Rust 5-6 Speed Chain" from that site: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/au/en/clarks-anti-rust-5-…
My questions:
a. Have I selected the correct chain? If not, how do I know what chain fits a particular bike?
b. What do I do with the extra 6 links?
c. How do I do it? (Do I need to buy a chain breaker and chain links?)
d. Will a new chain come with an open connector link that I just snap shut with pliers? (In other words, how do you connect the new chain together?)
e. I want to do some bike tinkering/welding/mods - using them for other purposes, etc. If I want to buy chain links to join chains together, what do I need? The reason I ask is, their "chain links" state they are compatible with 11 speed chains. What are 11 speed chains and why does it matter… isn't joining one chain the same as joining another?
f. Do I need a "link closing tool"?
Thanks for any help…
Saves me 10 buckaroos. Cheers Scott.