Eastern Canada - Where have all the deals gone? Ontario

I went to a few bike shops around here, in the kitchener/waterloo/cambridge area, I was was looking at buying a complete sora or 105 group for a bike I am building, or just saying screw it and looking at the cost of a bike with these groups already on it.

Turns out the shops I went to quote around $450 dollars for the entire sora group, around $850 for a 105 group. And a bike with sora comps was like 800 and a bike with "some" 105 were like $1200+.

What happened? Or am I just confused over the american pricings? I would have figured I could get a complete sora built bike for like 500 dollars and a 105 for 900ish?

Now unless bikes go on a major sale, what are my best options here in canada?

Thanks for bearing with the read guys, and opinions are good.

Groupset prices through LBS' can be insane.

I've had good luck dealing with probikekit.com (they had free shipping to Can at the time) and didn't get dinged with any duty fees.

For real deals, going used seems to be the way to go.

Frames can be dirt cheap, so keep your eyes peeled for a bike equipped the way you want (but not necessarily a frame size/type you're in love with), and you may be able to score some previous generation (9 speed 105?) stuff pretty cheap, and put it on a frame in your size.

Cyclepath in Oakville has some good deals. Wide range of product too.

I've bought 4 bikes from Bicycle Works in Waterdown in the last 3 years and the boys always treat me right. They carry mainly mountain stuff, but have a good line of Specialized roadies.

That said, if you are interested in an '05 56cm Specialized Allez Elite (go to Specialized site >archive, for details)105/Ultegra rd for $1k, drop me a message.

What happened? Or am I just confused over the american pricings? I would have figured I could get a complete sora built bike for like 500 dollars and a 105 for 900ish?



I think you're expectations are unreasonable. Margins on the low end are thinner than at the top. Most places here in Ottawa sell Sora-equipped bikes for @$850 and 105-equipped bikes for several hundreds of $$ above that. Sure, they go on sale: I purchased by Sora Trek 1000 late in 04 for $700. Although Sora is at the bottom of the food chain in terms of quality, it's still a quality component. Hence it costs $$. Mine has held up very well for over 10,000K. You get what you pay for. If I had to do it over, I'd stretch and buy better because the lesser components don't last as long, ie chain and cassete.
HTH

I think you're expectations are unreasonable. Margins on the low end are thinner than at the top. Most places here in Ottawa sell Sora-equipped bikes for @$850 and 105-equipped bikes for several hundreds of $$ above that. Sure, they go on sale: I purchased by Sora Trek 1000 late in 04 for $700. Although Sora is at the bottom of the food chain in terms of quality, it's still a quality component. Hence it costs $$. Mine has held up very well for over 10,000K. You get what you pay for. If I had to do it over, I'd stretch and buy better because the lesser components don't last as long, ie chain and cassete.
HTH
I've heard Dura-Ace cassettes are not all that durable at all. I wouldn't go above Ultegra (or perhaps 105) as far cassettes go. You're also paying for lighter weights on DA which does translate to shorter life expectancy.