Northeast - ADVICE: A visitor to NYC looking for quality new & used road parts would...

I'm flying to NYC, dropping down at La Guardia Saturday morning and staying up near Columbia University (108th, I think?) for a week before heading up to NJ for a family wedding. I'm from Vancouver, Canada, and vintage parts can be scarce sometimes, and new ones pretty pricey. So I'm looking to pick up some parts for a build (pics and details in this thread: http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/762142-The-build-begins-Nishiki-Prestige-25-quot?highlight=).

In terms of new parts, I'd really like to get my hands on a set of Shimano R650 brakes; these are the quality anodized 47-57mm offering, a step up from the R450, and often not in stock a lot of places I've checked. Could always order online, but I wouldn't mind saving myself some $$$ on shipping and duties if I can. Anyone's favorite LBS a likely candidate for a decent price on these?

I'm also looking with heightened interest for a quality vintage crankset (1980s: Shimano 600? Sugino?), and always pleased to be able to check out anywhere that has a lot of good vintage stuff on hand - you never now what else you might find.

If anyone has any ideas about what shops or other venues I ought to check out in New York, I'd love to hear 'em!

Found the brakes - discounted, having been removed from a new bike that was sold - at an LBS right by where I'm staying, but would still love to hear folks' recommendations on where I might have a good chance of finding a quality vintage 175mm crankset or other goodies on my trip August 27th - September 1st!

You won't find many deals in NYC in a bike shop. That's what Craigslist and eBay are for... There is a bike swap event in Brooklyn, but that's later in September.

High demand-market, eh? Plus the real estate, I suppose. Found a good price on the brakes I was looking for, at least - less than online, even without accounting for the customs duties and shipping I'll save. Even if I didn't get slapped w/tax and/or duty ordering from the UK (cheaper shipping than US online sellers - I know, eh?), I'm still saving 10-15%. Maybe I found the only deal in NYC...or I'll be the only one in the city who thinks my purchase is a deal!

I'll definitely be checking out craigslist while I'm down, but I don't want to spend my vacation in the subway - like I said, slim pickings sometimes in Vancouver, I think my standards for a 'deal' may be a little lower than some of you 'contiguous 48ers'. I'm really just looking for an idea of what shops might actually have a decent stock of vintage parts, esp. good 80s cranksets, etc...

There's a bike coop, but I'm not sure about what they sell, but it is also in Brooklyn. There's Toga bike shop on West End (I think) and 65th St. I don't know what vintage they have. There's a place in the East Village on Ave A or Ave B that would probably have stuff. The east village is bike central in NYC. Just google nyc bike shop east village and a few come up, like Continuum, Bikeworks.

Cool. I'll check that out. Thanks!

There's a bike coop, but I'm not sure about what they sell, but it is also in Brooklyn.
Where is that?

Recycle a bicycle is a Bike Coop that has a Manhattan and Brooklyn shop:
http://www.recycleabicycle.org/shops

They have new and used parts some are "vintage" era. Call and ask what you need,
they're friendly folks.