What's the best online store for road cycling gear?

[peter1]

Hi all, I was wondering what the best online store was for people buying from the US. Large, reputable and with good prices.

I know Wiggle and a couple of the other Mega cycling stores in the UK are huge and popular with riders in Europe and Australia, but what stores do those in the US use?

Thanks
Peter

 

[ElChingon]

Depends on what you are buying and what their prices and shipping/tax is, sales. There is no one stop shop if you are after the best deal. Use google and call it a day.

 

[laziali]

Hi all, I was wondering what the best online store was for people buying from the US. Large, reputable and with good prices.

I know Wiggle and a couple of the other Mega cycling stores in the UK are huge and popular with riders in Europe and Australia, but what stores do those in the US use?

Thanks
Peter

FrugalRouleur.com is a great comparator site.

Wiggle is fast, reliable, not always the cheapest.
Evans is usually the cheapest but shipping times are woeful
PBK is sometimes good. Likewise Ribble

 

[Red Dragon]

USA

Glory Cycles : http://www.glorycycles.com/
Competitive Cyclist : http://www.competitivecyclist.com/
Coldorado Cyclist : http://www.coloradocyclist.com/
TriSports : http://www.trisports.com/
Performance Bike : http://www.performancebike.com/
Jenson USA : http://www.jensonusa.com/
Bob's Bicycles : http://www.bobs-bicycles.com/
Cambria Bicycle : http://www.cambriabike.com/
Nashbar : http://www.nashbar.com/
Bicycle Warehouse : http://www.bicyclewarehouse.com/

EUROPE

Chain Reaction Cycles : http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/
Evans Cycles : http://www.evanscycles.com/
Wiggle : http://www.wiggle.co.uk/cycle/
Sigma Sport : http://www.sigmasport.co.uk/
All Terrain Cycles : http://www.allterraincycles.co.uk/
Ribble Cycles : http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/
The Cycle Store : http://www.cyclestore.co.uk/
Slane Cycles : http://www.slanecycles.com/
Wheel Base : http://www.wheelbase.co.uk/
Westbrookcycles : http://www.westbrookcycles.co.uk/
Bike24 (Germany) : http://www.bike24.com/
Bobshop (Germany/Clothing) : http://www.bobshop.de/en/home/

 

[peter1]

Thanks Guys, appreciated. I'd never even heard of http://frugalrouleur.com/ so that's a beauty, checking it out.
Peter

 

[Fatclimber]

USA

Glory Cycles : http://www.glorycycles.com/
Competitive Cyclist : http://www.competitivecyclist.com/
Coldorado Cyclist : http://www.coloradocyclist.com/
TriSports : http://www.trisports.com/
Performance Bike : http://www.performancebike.com/
Jenson USA : http://www.jensonusa.com/
Bob's Bicycles : http://www.bobs-bicycles.com/
Cambria Bicycle : http://www.cambriabike.com/
Nashbar : http://www.nashbar.com/
Bicycle Warehouse : http://www.bicyclewarehouse.com/
....

Glory, Competitive, Colorado all expensive as hell.

Jenson, Cambria good pricing but limited selection

Nashbar, lots of generic cheapie stuff. You get what you pay for many times.


I like Universal Cycles and Biketiresdirect, both have free shipping once you exceed a certain quantity (not hard to do) and good customer service. I haven't been ordering much lately but seemed like Biketiresdirect was getting more and more expensive. Universal always has promo codes for 15% off most everything.

 

[peter1]

Thanks Fatclimber, good tips.

I've just downloaded http://frugalrouleur.com/ and had a play and it looks good. Anyone got any feedback on how accurate it is?

Does it pick up specials reasonably fast?

 

[Master50]

One tip is look at the product origins. European made parts are usually cheaper from Mail order from Great Britain as they can sell VAT out.
Things like Speedplay are usually cheapest from US and sometimes Australia.

 

[The GCW]

Excel Sports

Excel Sports in Boulder, Colorado

http://www.excelsports.com/

 

[hfer07]

EBAY if you know exactly/specifically what to buy

 

[avanti]

I live in the USA and buy items from probike.com in the UK when they offer good prices. I buy Conti 4000S tires at half the price I can buy them for in the USA. I've also bought pedals there.
Free shipping and no taxes.

But I buy other items at my LBS (and from REI during their sales; especially their "garage" sales when damaged or returned items go on sale).

I just bought some Dual eyewear from my LBS at 50% off.

 

[Boeing]

I am not sure there is a best online. they are all committed to uniformed pricing..really with little wiggle room (no pun intended)

If you are buying a complete bike build however I have found that the margin can bee seen in the build kit components. that takes some research.

I'm talking about build up bikes not the ones that come kitted up from factory

 

[CoughinNClimbin]

I'm a big fan of Chain Reaction Cycles - mostly because of their customer service. The guys are great about returns if something doesn't fit.

 

[intheknowcycling]

I just completed a review of 60 onlike bike stores and organized the ones with good customer ratings (only about 30) into a half dozen groups based on how they differ on price, selection and service. There are five stores that stand out but a lot of other good ones if you want specific services such as product advice, click and collect delivery, or premium brands.

The review with links to the top 5 and top 30 stores is at http://intheknowcycling.com/2015/03/13/best-online-bike-stores/

 

[King Boonen]

I have a list of "Classic" styling clothing suppliers (non-team kit kinda stuff) if you want it? I couldn't tell you if they are UK/US based in some cases but I think most are UK.

The list does not include Rapha, it does include Torm:

 

[intheknowcycling]

Thanks, please send it.

 

[King Boonen]

Here you go:

http://www.prendas.co.uk
http://stolengoat.com
http://www.alwaysriding.co.uk
http://www.howies.co.uk/mens/clothing/cycle.html

http://www.chapeau.cc
http://www.juracycleclothing.co.uk
http://www.routeclothing.com/product/drill-black-cotton
http://www.morvelo.com
http://www.vulpine.cc
http://pelotoncycleclothing.co.uk
http://torm.cc

I haven't bought from all of them but they all do very nice looking kit.

Apparently we can't make URLs clickable yet...

 

[BigMac]

Prendas is great. Used it twice already, one for a cap, the other for a vintage sweater.

To add to the list of cycling gear websites, I reccomend bike-discount.de They often have unbeatable prices.

 

[intheknowcycling]

Thanks BigMac. Didn't include them and about 30 others in my recommended list because more than 15% of their customers don't rate them higher than 1* or 2* out of 5*. In their case, over 20% rate them 1* or 2* and only 60% give them 5* according to Trustpilot (https://www.trustpilot.com/) one of the better services that captures customer feedback on UK and DE bike shops.

The better shops get 85% 5* ratings and <10% and often <5% 1* and 2* and compete on price and selection with anyone. Buyer beware and be guided. Steve

 

[nayr497]

I used to buy from PBK all the time. Lately their selection and prices have gone pear shaped. They never seem to have what I want in stock.

For stuff my LBS doesn't have (I don't have a roadie-specific shop locally) I use Ribble or Wiggle.

 

[lemon cheese cake]

Cycle Surgery is pretty good as
well.

As is Cycle Division.

Both smaller shops with online stores but still good. Both British.

 

[Irondan]

bikesale.com

 

[AJ101]

You can add http://spokely.co.uk to the list as well - scours all the main bike shops in the UK plus tells you whats in stock where to save hunting around . Its in test mode at the moment, launching fully very soon.

 

[ray j willings]

Starbike

 

[King Boonen]

I can highly recommend Tørm.cc

Brilliant jerseys, fantastic prices, Paul who I spoke to was very helpful and he even managed to get out my next day delivery parcel at 3pm and it arrived. I'll be getting more from them and would recommend anyone who wants a classic style jersey checks them out.

I was out last night in the jersey and a merino baselayer, got caught in a rain shower with temps around 6-8C and never felt cold. No arm warmers and just normal shorts.