Splashdown

Heya guys (and ladies)...

Ive run into a bit of an issue, and Im hoping you guys can assist. Im currently cleaning up my Nishiki Rally and my recently acquired Raleigh Record Ace.

Im trying to locate brake hoods for them. Both are non aero, early 80s vintage.... one is campy, the other, shimano. Now, I can find these parts online without an issue, but they are all from American providers.

Due to the rather Draconian shipping costs involved with bringing two innocuous peices of rubber across the border, I have decided to hunt down a Canadian provider.

Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Thanks heaps!

Sixty Fiver

I will let you know if have anything like this kicking around.

Bikeforumuser0022

The Urbane Cyclist in Toronto has tons of stuff nobody else seems to have.

Never had the pleasure, but Bicycle Specialties is also supposed to have tons of older difficult to find stuff.

Torchy McFlux

Ask the US seller to ship via USPS instead of UPS.
It's UPS that tacks a $20 "handling" charge onto all orders over $20 total that come across the border. Ridiculous.

ricohman

My Nishiki Rally did not come with any hoods.
If you need parts, I am stripping my Rally.

OLDYELLR

Shipping costs and border broker bandit surcharges have always been a big negative when ordering bike in Canada parts from the U.S. USPS is best because the couriers all have high brokerage charges, but sometimes Canada Post will also ding you for larger commercial-looking packages.

What brand brakes? Loose Screws should have hoods that work, but I've never ordered from them, so I don't know how much you'll get screwed on shipping and brokerage.

Antipodes

I think BS is closed/closing isn't it?

markk900

USPS is the way to go - I buy bicycle and motorcycle parts (and books) all the time from the US and only if the declared value is over $100 will Canada Post even bother with brokerage/duty charges. Make sure the vendor marks the parts as "vintage (bi/motor)cycle parts value $X" and you should have no problem....for example, just got a set of Diacompe levers off evil bay - cost for levers was $12, shipping total was $8.

But do not ever use UPS - they tack the $20-40 on EVERY order no matter how small - bought some motorcycle tank rubbers for $5 and paid $5 shipping and got hit with a UPS bill for $40 for brokerage.

Mark

ricohman

+1 on the UPS scam-o-the-century.
They charge you surcharges on the surcharges.
I have refused packages from these pirates. No way I'm paying an additional $60 on a $17 purchase.
I wonder what they do with packages that are refused?

Splashdown

thanks for all the tips, all!

I will investigate this out, and then report back if I find anything. Who knows. Maybe some other canuck will be looking for similar info.

Thanks Again!