keyven

I'm just visiting for a short period, but are there any good and helpful LBS here you would highly recommend? Notably for bike supplies.

I've read some of your Birdy thread with interest as I'm aiming for a Birdy as my next bike in 2015. I think I've settled on the same pearl-white Alivio you've purchased back in 2008 - it just looks too good to resist. Thanks in advance.

jur

I don't really have an answer for you. The only things I have bought locally are bikes. Accessories and parts I usually go online. The situation is that the bike importers are gouging the market something terrible. Importers are usually in monopoly agreements with overseas manufacturers, so with the small market, they achieve that and then up go the recommended retail price. The lbs have no option but to put their marginal profit on top of that. The result is that most of the time, you can get the exact same stuff cheaper from offshore suppliers postage included.

So this situation has been exploited by offshore suppliers as well, such as Wiggle who now have dedicated Aussie websites for bike stuff. You definitely won't get rich as a lbs owner, but next door to my work office there is an importer. A swine of a person, who literally has a different sports car for every day of the week.

There are also local businesses who sell online, and you csn actually go there and pick up. Check out cyclingdeal.

On the lbs front, I bought my Birdy and Brompton from St Kilda Cycles, and Connie's Brompton from elsewhere, I will need to look that up. All lbss are nice places.

LWaB

Abbotsford Cycles is worthwhile but they don't sell bikes. As with all Aussie shops, prices are higher than mail order.

Abbotsford Cycles - Melbourne bicycle service & parts specialists - Richmond Station & Yarraville

keyven

I've kinda noticed - unfortunately in Melbourne everything has shot up since I've studied here in the late 90s to early 00s. Food, petrol, parking rates - it's just nuts. I've learned to expect to get gouged in just about everything. Obviously inflation is to be expected but it's not quite the same place I left more than a decade ago.

I did pop down to St Kilda Cycles earlier this month and they were indeed exceedingly helpful but their Birdy shipment was not in yet (expected Dec 2014 but I guess the latter half).

Dang, I wish I had come across cyclingdeal earlier as I've been to Frankston twice earlier this week. Wouldn't have been a huge detour since it was just a drive down to the beach.

Thanks for the info.

keyven

Thanks, I'll definitely check it out - my doctor's office is in Richmond as well, conveniently.

jur

Connie's Brompton came from veloelectric.com.au in Carlton North.

keyven

Turns out I've been to both - my wife's house is not too far from Carlton North and I've purchased stuff from them earlier this year. Solid customer service.