European bike accessories that can't be had in the U.S.
 

I'm currently doing some extensive traveling in Europe (unfortunately, not with my own bike) and despite having read about it, I am still blown away by the cycling culture here compared to back home in the U.S.; it's phenomenal! Anyway, I figure with the awesome cycling culture here, surely there are some neat/useful cycling accessories that are available in Europe that are difficult to buy/find or otherwise cost prohibitive to have shipped to the U.S.? I'd like to take advantage of my being in Europe and pick up a couple things if I can. Thanks in advance for any recommendations.

Chaincases.

Speciality niche TA and Stronglight cranksets

It's actually cheaper to sit in the USA and order parts from Europe because not only are the parts cheaper there to begin with, but also you don't get charged as much tax as the residents.

I'm thinking back to my honeymoon in Paris, and although there were tons of bikes, mostly hybrids or old 10-speeds, I can't think of anything exceptional about them. Bikes in SF by comparison are far more interesting due to the hipsters owning them trying to outdo one another.

Before you stock up on bike parts to take home, look into the process of getting your VAT taxes refunded after you get home. Might be simplest to find stuff you like in the store where you can inspect it, then order it on line to have shipped home. By having it shipped home, you can avoid paying VAT in the first place.

Carradice bags, Ortlieb, Tubus, Altura, Rohloff, Ryde (formerly Rigida) rims, Son dynohubs.

And if you are trying to keep under 50 pounds for your checked bag(s), bike parts could be expensive to bring home on the plane if you go over weight.

I suspect that you will find it is cheaper to order things from the discount European sellers on line than you could buy in the regular retail stores too.

I got a reflective ring that laced amongst the Spokes, in NL in '88, unlike the sidewall bands molded in the tires it didn't get dirty , being a bit higher inside the rim.


In 1997 , in Ireland, I saw touring bike shoes without SPuD cleat recesses .. in the Dublin bike shops.

A gorgeous Italian woman.

Seriously...While not a part, one thing I found a few years ago at a shop in Italy was a good brand of energy gel. It had natural flavoring and tasted great. The lemon and apple varieties actually tasted like lemon and apple. Wish I could remember the name.

Why don't you go inside a few bike shops and look around?

European bike accessories that can't be had in the U.S.
 

Frame locks, from ABUS or the Basta "Click" (my favourite)

Vintage Italian race bikes that have been in someone's garage for decades. Not exactly an accessory, but it sure would be nice to find one for 10 euros.

not an accessory, but preferable for some... british/motorcycle type brake levers, with right/front, left/rear.

Not wanting to pee on ur parade, but doesn't US Customs charge duties on imports by mail? If not then you really have a bargain and maybe Obama should get rid of some US Customs folks and save the taxpayer their salaries and benefits.

:twitchy:

...You know you can just run the front cable to the right lever, right?

Only seen a hydraulic actuator for cantilever brakes on a bike in Europe. the slave piston, bolted to the fork crown, pushed the transverse cable Up.

I was charged duty on a frame and a bunch of other parts in it that was over $1,500 that was shipped from the UK. I expected to pay customs duty on the Rohloff too, but no duty on that shipment. All the other stuff I have ordered from Europe came without any duty charged.

I prefer my bike forum discussions to be free of politics. I suspect most others on this forum feel the same way.

My old Triumphs all had the clutch on the left lever, not the brake.

Thanks for this information. It seems different nations have different thresholds for charging Customs duties. When I once lived in Canada, Canada Customs charged me the 15% duties/taxes on an imported $8 (45 rpm) collectable vinyl record. This was done through Canada Post which has a $5 "brokerage fee" to collect those duties/taxes. So I had to pay $6.20 for the $8 record from Australia....

My comment about Obama and US Customs officials come from that perspective - I say that because in spite of most contributors to this forum are from the USA, there is nothing in the terms of this forum's establishment to say that it is exclusively limited to the USA. If you consider my comments to be political, then you certainly have the freedom to believe that - and you are very lucky that there are US Customs thresholds for collecting customs duties that are obviously higher than $8. NNTR.

Dynamo lights are much cheaper in Europe. I believe the new Cyo lights can be had for around $60 where they are around $100 in the US. Sidewall dynamos are also much cheaper if you are OK with them.

If you get the right paperwork , and endorsed when you exit the eurozone, Sending it in, you can get the VAT Refunded and a check mailed to your US address.

Most countries make it very difficult to get a VAT refund. In France, for example, you must spend at least €175 within one store on the same day under the current rules. Furthermore, the store must participate in the refund procedure, you must get a form from the store, and they must stamp your receipt. That's only the beginning of the procedures you've got to follow before filing your paperwork and managing to get a VAT refund. If you're going to buy a Hermes Birkin Noir handbag, you might manage it. But if you can afford to buy a Hermes Birkin Noir handbag, you probably don't care about a VAT refund.

France VAT Refund, VAT refund service, VAT registration

I rode the Ferry from Newcastle to Norway , a fellow passenger got the Papers from his Bike Purchase stamped at the UK Ferry slip.

You can also not take possession, and have the product shipped by the shop..

Earlier on same Tour, I got 3 Carradice saddle bags shipped from the manufacturer,
at wholesale, since I was shipping it to The Gang at the Burly Tandem Shop..
Within Bike trade to another trade shop.

visited Nelson Lankashire in person 1991

As far as I know, US Customs import duties are the same whether your having the items shipped or bringing them in yourself.

VAT is unrelated to US Customs Import duties anyway.

Just swap cables / hoses. The levers are the same and are connected to the opposite end of the bike.

There's a customs exemption if you carry an import with you when you come back.

to an X $ limit.

For small purchases, I never get charged customs duties. I'm not quite sure why, but perhaps it costs more money to collect the duties than is actually collected. It would be a nightmare for the USPS to sort out stuff that is personal or not, and whatever requires customs.