Cost in the UK

[stapfam]

Keep hearing some prices from the U.S. and it makes me feel how fortunate you are in having cheap prices for your Tandems and accessories. I ride a Dale MT 2000 off road Tandem and in the U.K. a new MT will cost around £2,000. Converting to $ this puts one of our better machines at around $3,500. Then of course you have to think of Upgrading the forks to Tandem suspension for which a pair of Boxers with the heaviest springs will cost around £500, around $850.

Just what price would you expect to pay for the same tandem and forks in the U.S?

[TandemGeek]

2005 MT3000 @ $2,295 (£1,299)
http://www.tandemseast.com/frames/cannondale.html

2005 RockShox Boxxer @ $549.98 (£318)
http://www.pricepoint.com/detail/13701-315_ROCBR5-3-Parts-59-Forks/Accessories/2005-Rock-Shox-Boxxer-Ride-U-Turn.htm

[Old Hammer Boy]

Just call your pounds U.S. dollars and you'll be real close.

[acrafton]

Hey, but at least you get "free" healthcare. . .;)!

[stapfam]

Hey, but at least you get "free" healthcare. . .;)!
Free healthcare that we pay for through Taxes. Then when you need urgent heart surgery or Cancer treatment- a 3 month waiting list to get seen.

We pay in one way, and gain in others, but I still cannot see the vast difference in cost for Bike bits. Someone somewhere is getting rich at my expense, but There is also the way out of Internet Mail Order. All I can see that doing though is putting my LBS out of business. Big problem- support my LBS or pay extortinate prices.(Even though my LBS does try to match the Mail order prices) Example today of two crossover Chain rings. Had to buy decent quality but £40 for two rings (about $70). I can get cheaper manufacturer or even go online but To get two rings suitable for Crossover without the ramps and cut teeth means waiting a week for them and Special order. There are only a few Tandem specific shops in the UK and they are the higher priced shops. They have the market but Still do not stock the quality of parts I want. Just been on line to check the chainring prices and they are £44 for two + the postage, and still not the quality of the middleburn that I bought.

Just have to grin and bare it, and hope that the Tandem does not cause any more problems to enable me to take advantage of our free healthcare.

[JayB]

. . . but to get two rings suitable for Crossover without the ramps and cut teeth means waiting a week for them and Special order.
What does ramped mean when applied to chainrings? I have seen the expression "ramped and pinned" a few times without having any idea what is meant. Thanks.

[Rincewind8]

What does ramped mean when applied to chainrings? I have seen the expression "ramped and pinned" a few times without having any idea what is meant. Thanks.
look here for an explanation:

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/gloss_ra-e.html

it's a little down on the site. :)