In 2010 we ran our last survey the results published in The Ultimate Guide Report received a staggering 10,000 downloads (we stopped counting in 2012). Are there  noticeable trends or even a shift in where and how Aussie cyclists prefer to purchase their gear? What do Local Bike Shops offer that make it worthwhile to buy in-store and likewise, what are the advantages and disadvantages of buying online?

We kindly invite you to take part in the 2013 Bicycles Network Australia Ultimate Cyclist Survey: Start the Ultimate Cyclist Survey (Please allow 15-20 minutes)

To make it worth your while we have secured prizes from some generous businesses; each participant has a chance to win one of these prizes:

Prize Pool
• Swiss Side Heidi Wheelset
• 2 X Catlike Kompact Pro helmets from Euride
• $100 Cell Bikes Gift Voucher
• 4 X $50 Cycling Express Gift Vouchers

Terms & Conditions
Entry into the prize draw is optional and is a Game of Skill.
Start Date 8.2.2013
End Date 5.3.2013
Total Prize Value: $968
Terms and Conditions apply

Forum Discussion
The 2013 Ultimate Cyclist Survey

Download Page
The 2010 Ultimate Guide: Shopping for bicycles and cycling gear online

It is short, it is concise, it is informative, it is well written and it is very readable. That last point is important; I have many books on my shelf that I have bought for “reference” and have never used. Since finding information online is often easier than finding it in a book, I may never use those books. Andy Pruitt’s book, however, I read from cover to cover and I will keep it on my shelf for easy, and probably frequent, reference. It’s really quite good.

Pruitt’s book starts with a topic that he should be particularly familiar with: bike fit. Having a bike that fits the rider well is the corner stone of good cycling health and Andy Pruitt developed the BG (Body Geometry) fit system used by Specialized for their bikes. Given that, I was surprised to find that his advice on bike fit didn’t just deal with one manufacturer’s system or even just his own personal philosophy on bike fitting. He covers all of the popular ideas that you may have encountered before and talks practically about what it all means. The book doesn’t go in depth into biomechanics or physics here and such discussion is not required for the regular cyclist. The chapters in this section focus on the contact points: the saddle, the handlebars, and the pedals. In other words, the things that will make the biggest impact on your cycling comfort, and the things that you can change on a bike yourself. Each chapter contains good solid advice and information to help you get your bike fitted to your body.

The second part of the book deals with cycling injuries, starting with the knees and covering back and neck, hands, arms, shoulders, crotch, skin, eyes and head. These chapters contain useful advice about things like icing knees and using anti-inflamatories, and each injury or condition is described using an easy to understand template. The thing that stood out the most in this section of the book was the illustrations of where problems occurred in the body. Rather than include anatomic drawings or use fancy overlays, Pruitt has included pictures of real people’s body parts with lines drawn on the actual person’s body. I know it seems daft to be writing about something like that, but I’ve always had problems relating pictures of what’s under my skin to what I can actually see. Having a line drawn down the side of a real knee shows me exactly where the ITB (Iliotibial band syndrome – wikipedia ) is in a ridiculously simple way. It’s almost as good as having someone actually point to it on your own body.

Speaking of ITBs, Pruitt’s approach to medical terminology is worth mentioning here. Throughout this book he uses the terms that normal cyclists would use for various muscles, tendons, injuries and conditions. He also includes the medical terminology but doesn’t use it unnecessarily. Likewise, he doesn’t go into depth about complex treatments where it isn’t necessary, he rather gives a brief discussion on how things are treated, what you should try first, and what to do if that doesn’t work. Any of the topics in this part of the book would make an excellent guide for a doctor to give to a patient they were treating with these injuries or conditions. It is enough information to bring the reader up to speed on a topic, but not so much that they are overwhelmed or need a medical degree to understand it. If you had an injury described in this book, a good read of the appropriate section before you went to the doctor or physio would give you the reference you need for an intelligent discussion.

While reading these pages be warned that you will be subject to some classic “dad” humour. In the section on cleats, Pruitt stresses the importance of well fitting footwear to avoid “the pain of de-feet” (bwaaah, ha, ha, ha) and he correctly diagnoses the cause of road rash as “you fell off” (ha, ha, HA!). It’s cute and there’s not too much of it, but it says to me that this guy has talked about these subjects so often and with enough authority that he doesn’t need to keep it serious. All of the technical terminology in the world can’t replace that.

The final section of the book covers, mainly, ideas around training, such as basic training methods, recovery, diet, supplements and aging. As with the other sections of this book, no topic is gone into in great depth, but a good broad coverage of the essential ideas is provided. The book finishes with a chapter on what is not known about cycling, as it relates to the topics in the book. This is interesting from a consumer point of view because many cycling fitness products make claims about these very things: our magic product will cure your back pain, our cleats will reduce fatigue and our handlebar position will make everyone go faster. Pruitt addresses these ideas in the same no nonsense way he addresses everything in this book.

Dr. Andy Pruitt is the director of the Boulder Center for Sports Medicine in Colarado, he has worked with some of the world’s best cyclists and he is a former world champion cyclist. Even if he didn’t have these multiple streams of authority behind him, I would still recommend this book to people. Any beginner or intermediate cyclist would do well to have this on their bookshelf. It’s a book that should be sold alongside spare tubes, bidons and gloves when a new rider buys a bike.

You can buy Andy Pruitt’s Complete Medical Guide for Cyclists from Woodslane books for $34.95. While you’re there, check out their selection of books that cover most areas of cycling as well as many other outdoor activities.

BIA quote a 120% increase in overseas purchases of bicycle products in the past 18 months and that 16% of bicycles products are now purchased overseas. The industry feel let down by the government and fear that another taskforce or panel will just draw out the problem where immediate action is required.

BIA support the Productivity Commission’s recommendation to decrease the low value import threshold for goods purchased offshore, to provide tax neutrality in Australia. The draft report also highlighted the inefficiencies of customs and international parcel handling in processing incoming freight into Australia, noting the need to improve these inefficiencies before the threshold is lowered.

The BIA argue that a lack of change will see increased unemployment and argue that there may not be an industry by the time the government makes a decision. On the otherside it has been widely argued that lowering or eliminating the tax free threshold would be cost more that the income that could be generated. Furthermore a poll in the Australian Cycling Forums with 113 participants showed that event with 10% added GST on imports, this was not likely to alter the purchasing patterns of 88% of respondents, 6% were uncertain and only 6% said they were likely to stop purchasing overseas.

The BIA chairman, David Cramer concludes “The bicycle sector is made of mainly small independent suppliers and retailers, we do not have the reserves ‘to ride’ out this current trend until the government finally corrects the advantage they have given to offshore sellers” Mr. Cramer concluded.

The same small independent suppliers and retailers should also take caution and see this as only one part of the ‘problem’, consumer habits and expectations are shifting as technology plays an increasing role in daily life.

Having read it, and liked it, I suppose I had better give you a review of it. A Dog In A Hat is about an American cyclist named Joe Parkin who, like a lot of non-European cyclists, realises that to be a pro-cyclist he’s going to have to go to Europe and race. So he goes to Belgium, where cycling is looked upon in the same way that rugby league and cricket are in Australia. There he is forged into a Tour de France winning champion, defeating Eddy Merckx and Lance Armstrong while getting the girl and slaying the evil dragon. Actually no, it isn’t about that at all, and that’s where this book differs from dozens of other books on cycling; it’s not about the top end of the sport or the rise and/or fall of a hero.

Joe’s adventures in Belgium in the late 80s, moving from the amateur to the professional ranks, are about racers you have likely never heard of racing in places that are equally obscure. It’s about a culture that sounds like science fiction to cycle tragics like myself living and riding in suburban Australia. The book paints a vivid picture of the training, the racing, the politics, the drug taking and the job of cycling in the lower professional ranks. This is the level that your local club hot-shot may ascend to (I’ve met a few who have) and the level from which the heroes of the pro circuit are chosen. It’s the testing ground that we very rarely hear about but which, logically, must exist if we’re to have a steady flow of riders in the top ranks. While big name cyclists and big races are mentioned in the book (Joe rode on the same team as Greg LeMond, for example), they’re supporting actors alongside the main stars: the racing and the racers.

“In those days, if a rider planned on being “good” for the race, then exactly fifteen minutes before the start a syringe would come out. Some clear liquid would be sucked up into it from any number of different ampoules and injected, either subcutaneously or intravenously. If injected subcutaneously, the substance was usually a low-grade amphetamine. Injecting it this way would create little time-release lumps under the skin that the riders called “bolleketten,” which basically means “little rocket balls.” Depending on the length of the race and/or its importance, a rider might have as many as four of these little balls hidden under the sleeves of his jersey or legs of his shorts. The shoulder area was the typical spot, since that was an area that might still have some fat on it. If the amphetamines were surgical-quality, the rider would probably shoot them directly into the “canal.” There are plenty of medical preparations that have genuine, legal uses for a cyclist, but as a general rule, anything being shot fifteen minutes before the start of a lesser race can be considered suspect.”

No topic is off limits in this book. The author openly discusses drug use (though I suspect his own use was not as “accidental” as he makes out), contracts, race fixing, dirty tricks and the conditions under which these young men live and race. Rather than a disjointed series of anecdotes, this book tells a story and flows from scene to scene. It’s well written and engrossing – you’ll likely finish it in just a sitting or two because you’ll want to turn the pages and see what happens next.

You don’t need to take my word for it, you can have a read of the foreword (written by Bob Roll) and first chapter by going to the A Dog In a Hat site and downloading it. When you’re done reading, get onto the Woodslane site and order a copy of A Dog in a Hat for yourself. Actually, while you’re there, also order the sequel “Come and Gone” which picks up where Joe left off, returning to America and resuming his racing career there. I mention this because Father’s Day is coming up and I know my wife will be reading this review when it’s put up (I want this book. Tell the kids). Trust me, you’ll want to read it when you’re done with A Dog In A Hat.

“In Belgium, a good local amateur is like an all-state high school quarterback in Texas. A decent local pro has about the same value as the amateur but lacks the promise of greatness in the future. I was a good amateur who held the American card. I was like the actor who goes after a rock-star fantasy-everyone wants to be
there when you rise to the top, but they are just as happy to see you fail miserably.”

While you’re buying books, have a look around at the cycling and other outdoor titles that Woodslane have. These niche bookstores are often a hit or miss affair, but Woodslane seems to be one of the hits. My package of books arrived in perfect condition; they were very well packed and delivered by courier. According to their website, they dispatch order within 24 hours. Their selection of books (6000+ titles) covers most areas of cycling as well as many other outdoor activities (and they have maps, I love maps).

If you want a good read about cycling from a different perspective than most cycling books, then this is a book for you. If you prefer massive tomes about the history of cycling and the greats of the sport, buy this book anyway because you’ll still really like it (and then buy those other books from Woodslane as well).

RRP: $39.95
Sale Price: $23.39 (incl GST) at the time of writing
Available Online from Woodslane: A Dog in a Hat

The BIA are conducting an online survey which looks at purchasing habits of Australian Consumers. The survey takes just a few minutes and asks for percentages spent in local bike shops compared with online plus the motivations and trends. 

You can participate in the survey here

The 2010 BNA Online Shopping Survey Results
In 2010 Bicycles Network Australia published results of a longer survey into spending habits and noted that from the survey participants, exactly half of the total spending of $3540/year on bikes and cycling gear was spent online.

The complete statistics are available together with an overview of the online shopping including helpful info and outline of the risks and benefits of shopping online compared with local bike shop purchases.

In addition, a detailed analysis of the statistics are included as well useful information for cycling trade interested in learning more about the trend and for competing successfully online.

To date the FREE report titled "The Ultimate Guide" has been downloaded over 6000 times. You can download it for free below.

Download The Ultimate Guide (480 Kb PDF) Shopping for bicycles and cycling gear online

To discuss online shopping trends, in the Australia Cycling Forums there are a number of running discussions to exchange views and opinions.

If your favourite products aren’t there, you do have the opportunity to fall in love with something new, a new bike, new wheels and new cycling kit, the possibilities are endless. Located down on the Geelong Cunningham pier, you will find a large range of brands represented.

Feeling a little peckish? Check in with the boys at the Power Bar stand, they were handing out samples early this morning and no doubt have many more up their sleeves.

Be warned though, The Bike Hub is handing out cow bells, if you’re after a quiet ride home, its best to by-pass this stand if you have children in tow.

Rapha and Apres Velo have the low-down on all things stylish for male and female cyclists, pop in and get dressed in your best; it’s time to make an impression Australia!

Trek: Too many logo’s? Nah, not enough

Trek Bicycles Australia has got some fancy time trial bikes with even hotter wheels, they’re deep dish, they’re carbon fibre and they’re really nice to look at.

Giant has the right idea with colour co-ordinated zipps.

Confused about Kevlar and why you need it in your tyre? Schwalbe has enough information to sink a ship, do quiz them, they may know something you don’t.

If you need a break from the racing you will find The Bike Shop on the Geelong Cunningham Pier, it’s only steps from the road race and time trial course.

The Bike Shops carries the following brands:
Baum, Giant, Teschner, Apres Velo, Computrainer, Rapha, Bouwmeester, Felt, Mod Style, Tour Down Under, Focus Australia, Maxxis, Specialized Australia, Cannondale, Bike Hub, XOSize, AQTO, Trek Bicycles Australia, Garmin, Schwalbe (BikeBox), Power Bar (Echelon Sports), Compressor Sport, The City of Greater Geelong, Koga, Body Science, Scott, Avanti, Skins, Kenda, Deakin University, Ride Media

Online shopping issues, problems and costs

The survey statistics show that 42% of participants would not purchase a bicycle online, it is risky for consumers to purchase an item in which a good fit or sizing is critical. Goods can usually only be returned and exchanged in original condition and in many cases, the buyer is responsible for the cost of return shipping which adds to the risk and may negate the savings of purchasing online. The most common problems that customers face when purchasing online include the delivery of the wrong items, incorrect size or specifications and receiving items that are not as expected. When the wrong items are delivered or the specifications do not match the information online, the retailer is then usually responsible for return shipping.

Damaged Goods
When receiving a delivery, carefully check the packaging and if necessary take photos and ensure that all contents are in perfect order. Problems with the delivery should be reported immediately and if applicable, recorded with the courier or post staff. If items are noticeably damaged, then avoid further unpacking and take photos as documentation.

Hidden Costs
Customs charges have already been discussed. Other potential costs that may be charged when purchasing online include:
- Currency exchange rates / fees
- Bank Fees
- Clearing Agent – responsible for processing items held up by Customs

In addition, compared with a LBS purchase you may be liable for the costs of return shipping.

Warranty and Guarantee
The product warranty or guarantee may be void when purchasing from overseas or difficult to redeem. The customer may be responsible for the return shipping costs.

In most cases, the local importer of the brand has no responsibility to honor a warranty or guarantee for goods purchased overseas, nor to provide support, however in some situations they may take on the responsibility at their own cost.

Safety Standards
Be aware that some items ordered from overseas may not pass the Australian Safety Standards which means that they can be potentially dangerous or in the case of an accident there may be consequences in terms of legal liability.

Service, Support and Assembly
Sometimes when purchasing a new bike from an LBS, they will include the first service for free and lower subsequent service charges and provide discounts for accessories and gear. LBS’s may be reluctant to service or build bicycles or gear purchased online as well as be less likely to offer savings or provide helpful advice if you run into problems assembling or servicing your bicycle or gear. The majority of Australian bicycle retailers are professional when it comes to assembling and servicing bicycles and parts. The premium that a consumer may pay for a bicycle or parts and gear at the LBS can be well worth the investment when considering the benefits and services of an LBS.

Summary of shopping online
Online shopping can mean saving money and access to a broader range of items and brands. The survey results show that while 63% of participants are prepared to pay between 5% and 20% more (than online prices) for the advantage of buying at the LBS, roughly the same amount estimate that they save between 20% and 50% when purchasing online.

Cost savings are a big motivation for the consumer. Big enough that they forfeit the service and support offered by an LBS and accepts the risks involved with purchasing online.

The clever shopper knows the advantages and disadvantages of shopping online and shopping with their LBS.

This is article is from The Ultimate Guide: Shopping for bicycles and gear online. You can download the entire ebook (free) from here.

You can discuss this article and the ebook in the Australian Cycling Forums.

Communicating with the online shop
One of the frustrations when shopping online is communicating with the shop if things go wrong. With your LBS, a phone call or trip to the shop will at least allow you to raise your issue, irrespective of the outcome. Online shopping in comparison is relatively anonymous and usually a sale is completed automatically (from the customer perspective).

These automatic processes mean lower overheads for the online shop however the effectiveness of the online shop in responding to customers can seriously impact upon their reputation.

As a customer, you should look for a telephone number and an email address before purchasing. Although it is usually unrealistic to visit the retailer in the case of problems, if the online shop only has a P.O. Box rather than a street address, it is difficult to judge where the shop/office is located and what is behind the company.

Email is one of the most convenient forms of communicating with an online shop. The better shops respond within two working days, or faster. If you have a problem with the delivery or gear, keep your communication simple and factual. If there is trouble getting a satisfactory response or a reply at all, try using a search engine with the aim of locating online discussion forums in which alternative contact information for the shop in question has been shared by others who have dealt with the shop.

The quickest approach to solving a problem is via telephone, your issue will typically be dealt with sooner and while it may not be solved immediately, often a phone call is enough for clarification. That being said, some online shops may not be setup properly to handle telephone support. For overseas shops, the cost of calling long distance may be a hurdle. To save costs, you can purchase a cheap overseas calling card or set up Skype which has affordable rates (for calling a landline via your computer).

Some shops now offer online chats within the web browser and while the chats may only operate during shop business hours, usually simple queries and issues can be answered or resolved quickly by competent staff.

Be aware that it is easier and cheaper for a shop to ignore problems. While ignoring customers is not good for long term business success, some customers will give up. For small problems, if the online retailer is not cooperating and you only stand to loose a small amount, it may be easier to cut your losses rather than fight for a moral victory. Often the larger online shops will concede to the customer’s advantage as return customers are valuable.

Tip: If you have a problem with an online order, keep a journal of phone calls and emails. This can help you to remember the name of a staff member or telephone numbers and other details.

This is article is from The Ultimate Guide: Shopping for bicycles and gear online. You can download the entire ebook (free) from here.

You can discuss this article and the ebook in the Australian Cycling Forums.

Customs charges on overseas orders
For items purchased on the internet and valued at more than AUD $1,000 (including shipping costs), Customs Australia consider the items to be “imported” and customs duty and GST are levied in addition to a processing fee. Unless the item is being delivered by a courier (in which a clearing agent may take care of Customs clearance), you will be notified by Customs in writing that your delivery is being held and that you are required to complete an N10 Declaration Form.

When lodging the form you need to provide Evidence of Identity (EOI) which involves faxing or posting copies of your personal documents (e.g. passport and drivers licence). If you choose to process your deliveries with Customs via the internet, you will need to additionally register for ICS (Integrated Cargo System). ICS can be convenient when regularly purchasing high valued goods from overseas.

The following example shows the breakdown of Customs duty, fees and tax:

If customs detect a number of deliveries from the same retailer to the same address, then the order values may be combined and GST and Duty is applied to the total value.

For air freight deliveries, the customs processing fee is $40.20 for each electronic declaration (over ICS) or $48.85 for forms that are ‘manually submitted’.

Once payment has been made, the goods will be released and delivered by Australia post (or a courier if applicable). If your item is being delivered by a courier and a clearing agent has ‘cleared customs’ on your behalf, additional fees will usually be added.

Tip: For larger purchases, inquire in advance with the retailer regarding delivery process to ensure that you have factored in all charges.

To make Customs clearance more complicated, certain items are exempt from duty (although GST is still applicable). These include wheels with certain diameters and complete bicycles. Under Tariff Concession 0104891 (Tariff Code: 8712.00.00), duty is not charged for complete bicycles.

Under the Free Trade Agreement, items manufactured in (and delivered from) the US, Thailand and New Zealand are exempt from Customs duty or receive preferential rates of duty.

While the documentation regarding exemptions and duty free (bicycling) items is difficult to decipher, Australian Customs have a good reputation for providing helpful and reliable support via telephone. The phone number for your local Customs office will be included in the documentation you receive when Customs duty is applicable.

If you have paid duty, but qualify for an exemption, you can apply for a refund later. Should you wish to purchase a complete bicycle (or other exempt items) from overseas, it is easier check with the retailer before purchasing to ensure that the relevant reference information is included with the delivery so that customs clearance is faster.

Useful Australian Customs resources for overseas purchases

From Customs Australia, there are a number of resources available for more detailed information, here are links to pages and PDFs.

General FAQs on Customs in Australia (PDF)

Buying over the Internet

Importing goods per post

Help in filling out N10 form (PDF)

Paying Customs

Customs Processing Charges (PDF)

Exemptions (PDF)
(page 8, item 8712.00.00)

US Free Trade exemptions

Refund Application (PDF)

This is article is from The Ultimate Guide: Shopping for bicycles and gear online. You can download the entire ebook (free) from here.

You can discuss this article and the ebook in the Australian Cycling Forums.

Payment
Credit card payment is the most popular method of payment for goods online, 97% of survey participants have previously paid for cycling goods using a credit card and 67% have used PayPal.

PayPal is an alternative to credit card payment and promotes itself as a payment option with better dispute resolution and security. Payment using PayPal can be convenient as it operates as an independent online account to pay for goods and services as well as receiving payment. The PayPal dispute resolution is however contentious as it can be a difficult process with no guarantee of a favourable outcome.

Shops may offer alternative payment options such as “payment in advance” by bank transfer. For overseas purchases, this can be a slow and problematic option, though for online purchases locally it may be convenient. Payment via invoice is uncommon as it is risky for retailer to send goods before payment is received.

Direct debit is also relatively uncommon and despite the convenience of paying directly from a savings account, sometimes there are added fees for direct debit payments which make it more expensive than credit card payment. For consumers, this method is safer than one may expect as the retailers need to be properly authorised and registered before they are able to process direct debits.

Tracking your order
While order tracking is not offered by all online shops, it is particularly helpful and often an order tracking number (or link) is sent automatically via email once the order is placed. The larger shops tend to inform the customer via email at every step of the way so that the customer knows when the order has been packed, dispatched and is in the hands of the courier or post. In addition, a delivery tracking number may be provided to follow an order that has been dispatched and is in delivery. While this is useful, often this assumes that in the case of delays or problems, the customer, rather than the retailer, will need to contact the delivery company to resolve these issues.

Regular ‘order status’ notifications, particularly during delays, help to relieve customer uncertainty and reduce time required for customer support (e.g. answering numerous requests about the order status).

Delivery
Once an order is submitted, the payment provider usually does an automatic check to ensure that the payment details are valid while the retailer manually checks the details of each order, searching for common patterns that are typical of a fraudulent order. When the order is approved, payment is then processed and the order is passed to the product pickers who collect all of the items. The pickers then pass all items to the packers who package everything and include all required documents before sending the order on to be dispatched.

Overseas orders are usually sent via air freight and some online retailers may work with courier companies in Australia or alternatively deliver via Australia Post. Before an overseas order can be delivered, it needs to pass through customs. Prior to placing an order, make sure that you are aware of the ‘assembly state’ of the items or bicycle. Are you able to assemble the bike or parts yourself and do you have all of the required tools?

This is article is from The Ultimate Guide: Shopping for bicycles and gear online. You can download the entire ebook (free) from here.

You can discuss this article and the ebook in the Australian Cycling Forums.