mkeller234

Please don't take this as a rant, or Rivendell hate because it's not my intention.

Check this out though, MKS touring pedal pricing between 3 retailers

1 - Niagara cycle $25.99

2 - Velo-Orange $33.00

3 - Rivendell $40.00

Are they different in any way? If they are the same, any guesses as to why Rivendell's pricing is that much higher?

sunburst

On some things Niagara has a great price. On some things they don't. I assumed they were going to be the low-cost king (I've ordered from them maybe six times), but not necessarily. A lot of their cheap stuff is generic junk too. What drives me crazy is how much their prices move around. Bought some mini toe clips for $4. Next time I ordered them they were $8. Bought some Pasela TG for $18 in July. Wanted some more and now they're $25. They were not "on sale" in July, just $7 less.

On the other hand, Rivendell has the Nitto Albatross cheaper than any other web source I've found. But Rivendell is a boutique shop, and doesn't compete on price.

miamijim

Is that what they have you thinknig?

bbattle

Just order the pedals from Niagara.

Niagara's game is to find good wholesale buys then pass the savings on to you. Hopefully, you'll also buy some of their other items that don't have razor thin margins. A lot of stores do this; they offer "loss leaders" like 2 liters of Coke for fifty cents to get you in the store.

I don't think Rivendell and Velo-Orange operate this way. For one thing, they don't move enough product to be able to negotiate on large orders. They also probably don't want to tie up a lot of cash in just a few items. They may not have the warehouse storage; Niagara may have ten pallets of thirty boxes each of those pedals.

wrk101

Niagara is usually cheaper, but their prices do bounce around quite a bit.

awc380

Well...unless there's a stronger term for a 'boutique' shop like that...

mparker326

Check your LBS as well. I was going to buy some online and they were 25.99 at my LBS.

sonatageek

I found the price on those pedals all over the place too when I was shopping for a set earlier this summer. Have you considered the GR-9 platform model, rather than the touring? Wide contact area for your shoe and the same toe clips and straps.

If they come like the GR-9s I bought earlier this year, expect to tear them down, add some grease and adjust the bearings before they go on the bike.

Zaphod Beeblebrox 

I found the GR-9 pedals to have a rather small platform for your foot, especially when compared to the MKS Touring. The GR-9 is a nice pedal, don't get me wrong, Its just best suited (would even say strictly suited) to toeclips and straps....its a bit like a modern version of the Lyotard Berthet.


I too found both the GR-9 and the Touring pedals bearings to be a little tight. I just hosed em down with Silicon lube and after 1 ride of break-in they were fine.

Charles Wahl

Hey, the photos on both VO and Rivbike are much nicer.

I think that both of them could accurately be described as boutiques, because they carry a limited range of selected stuff that's targeted to a particular market. If you always want lowest price, then you're probably going to be happier shopping elsewhere. When I order from either, I've gotten great service, and usually buy something else that I've been wanting for awhile, too. Some people have complained that Niagara is somewhat dilatory about shipping -- that's not Niagara-bashing, by the way.

Ditto on the comments on GR-9. I like the pedals, but while they have a nice platform, they're not particularly broad (I'm Mr WideFoot), and I'd never try to ride them without toe clips -- they're single-sided for one thing. And they came adjusted too tight. I stripped them down (took awhile to figure out how the dustcap comes off -- just pry it out, duh) and converted them to oil-lubrication. Once adjusted, they're plenty smooth.

mkeller234

Thanks for the insight guys. For the record I am not actually shopping for the pedals. I bought them about from Niagara a while back. Then I was surfing Riv's site and saw them and thought WTF... did I spend that much on those?? Then I rushed back to Niagara and realized that no, I did not.

The comment about Niagara's shipping and customer service is fair in that they are slow. I have ordered from Velo-orange once and had a good experience. Obviously as was mentioned, they sell some things that can be difficult to find.

miamijim

Wordy....but stronger: "creative marketing to make you think we're more special than we really are to get you to pay over inflated prices to help make others think we're more special than we really are".

Picchio Special

Velo Orange also designs and has stuff made that wouldn't be available otherwise. I support them, even if I pay a little more (and it's generally not an unreasonable amount) for that reason. They're definitely specialized in the products they source and sell, so in that sense it's a "boutique" operation, but there's also an element of practicality and an attempt to provide cost-effective alternatives that I think undercuts the notion that you're paying a premium simply for the experience or to be part of the club. I think to some extent Velo Orange is a Right Coast sibling of Jitensha Studio, which is a pretty cool shop.

dbarnblatt@usa.

Geez... How long has that chip been hanging out on your shoulder?

Kommisar89

I like Velo-Orange a lot, Rivendell not as much but both are nice shops to have around. I can understand that their prices would be a bit higher than Niagra (though $40 vs $26 is a bit much). Not so much a complaint as simply an observation that they both specialize in a niche field of cycling, classic cyclo-touring, that has some overlap with but is certainly not the same as vintage lightweight cycling. It would be really cool to have a place like VO that specialized in C&V, not just old stuff as there a few places like that but also reproductions of hard to get items like VO does for touring stuff. Doesn't seem to be enough market though. I remember Chris at VO talking on his blog about carrying a narrow, polished, box section, clincher rim that would be suitable for some of our old "racing" bikes and nobody seemed to care much. They all want wider touring type stuff.

Picchio Special

I'm with you, let's do it. Who owns the Suntour and Simplex brands? Let's buy them ans resurrect them.

Kommisar89

Don't forget Universal

Picchio Special

Great idea - that way we can represent France, Italy, and Japan. Maybe some GB stuff as well?

awc380

Hahahahaaaa...
Well met!

mkeller234

That is a very good point. I enjoy reading Chris's product blog every once in a while. I really like the direct interaction with his customers about potential new products. The VO french threaded cartridge bottom bracket is a good example of how they are solving very specific needs. I do really like their VO branded stuff too, the grand cru needle bearing headset looks really nice.

Panthers007

In any event and/or source, MKS pedals need to be overhauled before use. They tend to come dry - or very little grease. And they are tight. This will translate to grinding and ride horrible. So open them up and clean them fully. Re-pack with lots of good grease. Adjust - and tighten the locknuts well. And away you go.

As an aside, the pedal-wrench offered by Rivendell is a good tool to have. If you look around for the Campagnolo one - it costs about the same. This was my excuse to buy an actual Campy-branded tool. So if you want to impress your friends.... you know.

mkeller234

Ha, I'm a little ahead of you Panthers007. I bought the pedals about 2 weeks ago and overhauled them straight from the box. I also have a set of MKS Sylvan road pedals and had to do the same with them.

At 25.99 they are fantastically great pedals! At 40.00 I would probably expect a bit more.

Trakhak

Since that would serve as a good generic description of any boutique shop, the point you were attempting to make with your earlier "Is that what they have you thinking?" post is unclear.

Metzinger

If you want the elves to fight on your side, buy from Rivendell.

miamijim

No chip but I did read an interesting article awhile back......