I know there are a few of you who've spent a fair amount of time in
the US, so, where is the best place to buy gear, America, England, or
somewhere on the Continent? When I come over in May, I'll bring my
jacket and trou, and I could bring the rest, but I'll prolly buy a new
helmet, and I could spring for new gloves, boots, and rainsuit, too.
The questions is, should I get it before I leave, or after I get
there? Mind, I'll be flying into Heidelberg.

On Mar 16, 6:47*am, turby <keens...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> where is the best place to buy gear

there's this skinny[1] china-latino guy who hangs around Soho square -
usually pretty reliable.

[1] odd, that.

--
d.

On Mar 16, 7:10*am, Charlie <nos...@all.ta> wrote:
> On 16/03/2010 06:47, turby wrote:
>
> > I know *there are a few of you who've spent a fair amount of time in
> > the US, so, where is the best place to buy gear, America, England, or
> > somewhere on the Continent? *When I come over in May, I'll bring my
> > jacket and trou, and I could bring the rest, but I'll prolly buy a new
> > helmet, and I could spring for new gloves, boots, and rainsuit, too.
> > The questions is, should I get it before I leave, or after I get
> > there? Mind, I'll be flying into Heidelberg.
>
> Before any of our resident Germans respond with personal
> recommendations, I'll begin by pointing Sir in the direction of Hein
> Gericke, purveyors of clothing and accessories to the biking world.
> They are friendly, comprehensive and excellent value, and it's a good
> place to start checking out items and prices. *I see fromwww.heingericke.dethat there's a store in Mannheim, which is just down
> the road from Heidelberg.

Heinz Gherkin would have been one of my recommendations as well, the
other one being Polo (there's one in Karlsruhe IIRC and probably in
Mannheim as well). Both are big chain stores that have pretty decent
prices.

On Mon, 15 Mar 2010 23:47:38 -0700, turby wrote:

> I know there are a few of you who've spent a fair amount of time in the
> US, so, where is the best place to buy gear, America, England, or
> somewhere on the Continent? When I come over in May, I'll bring my jacket
> and trou, and I could bring the rest, but I'll prolly buy a new helmet,
> and I could spring for new gloves, boots, and rainsuit, too. The questions
> is, should I get it before I leave, or after I get there? Mind, I'll be
> flying into Heidelberg.

I'd say loom at the exchange rate/local prices as it may work out
expensive for you to buy over here.

However, more importantly IMO, is that you are comfortable with your
riding gear. If you currently have gear, and are happy with it. Bring that.

If you want new gear, buy it now to test before you leave.

Are helmets more expensive stateside ? You can buy them in Walmart (along
with your gun) :-)

I can't remember, are you flying your bike over or hiring over in Europe ?


--
Bruce Porter
XJR1300SP, XJ900F, GSX250, Pegaso 650 Trail
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"The internet is a huge and diverse community and not every one is friendly"
http://www.ytc1.co.uk
There *is* an alternative! http://www.openoffice.org/

>> Before any of our resident Germans respond with personal
>> recommendations, I'll begin by pointing Sir in the direction of Hein
>> Gericke, purveyors of clothing and accessories to the biking world.
>> They are friendly, comprehensive and excellent value, and it's a good
>> place to start checking out items and prices. I see fromwww.heingericke.dethat there's a store in Mannheim, which is just down
>> the road from Heidelberg.
>
> Heinz Gherkin would have been one of my recommendations as well, the
> other one being Polo (there's one in Karlsruhe IIRC and probably in
> Mannheim as well). Both are big chain stores that have pretty decent
> prices.

A third (and excellent) big german chain store is Louis (http://louis.de)


--
/claus

steve auvache wrote:
> In article <(E-Mail Removed)>, YTC#1 <bdp-
> (E-Mail Removed)> writes
>> On Mon, 15 Mar 2010 23:47:38 -0700, turby wrote:
>>
>>> I know there are a few of you who've spent a fair amount of time in the
>>> US, so, where is the best place to buy gear, America, England, or
>>> somewhere on the Continent? When I come over in May, I'll bring my jacket
>>> and trou, and I could bring the rest, but I'll prolly buy a new helmet,
>>> and I could spring for new gloves, boots, and rainsuit, too. The questions
>>> is, should I get it before I leave, or after I get there? Mind, I'll be
>>> flying into Heidelberg.
>> I'd say loom at the exchange rate/local prices as it may work out
>> expensive for you to buy over here.
>
> He should be able to stitch a decent deal together.
>
>

Or at least intimidate the market into submission

--
Catman MIB#14 SKoGA#6 TEAR#4 BOTAFOF#38 Apostle#21 COSOC#3
Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright (Remove rust to reply)
116 Giulietta 3.0l Sprint 1.7 GTV TS GT 3.2 V6
Triumph Sprint ST 1050: It's blue, see.
www.cuore-sportivo.co.uk

On 2010-03-16 12:37:48 +0100, Catman <(E-Mail Removed)> said:

>>> I'd say loom at the exchange rate/local prices as it may work out
>>> expensive for you to buy over here.
>>
>> He should be able to stitch a decent deal together.
>>
>>
>
> Or at least intimidate the market into submission

but only if he gets wired first.

--
Dnc

On Mar 16, 11:26*am, Intet Navn <no...@nowhere.undeliverable> wrote:
> >> Before any of our resident Germans respond with personal
> >> recommendations, I'll begin by pointing Sir in the direction of Hein
> >> Gericke, purveyors of clothing and accessories to the biking world.
> >> They are friendly, comprehensive and excellent value, and it's a good
> >> place to start checking out items and prices. *I see fromwww.heingericke.dethatthere's a store in Mannheim, which is just down
> >> the road from Heidelberg.
>
> > Heinz Gherkin would have been one of my recommendations as well, the
> > other one being Polo (there's one in Karlsruhe IIRC and probably in
> > Mannheim as well). Both are big chain stores that have pretty decent
> > prices.
>
> A third (and excellent) big german chain store is Louis (http://louis.de)

Yes, I forgot about them; I think the store I was thinking about in
Karlsruhe is Louis and not Polo.

On Mar 16, 4:14*am, YTC#1 <bdp-spam...@ytc1.co.uk> wrote:
> On Mon, 15 Mar 2010 23:47:38 -0700, turby wrote:
> > I know *there are a few of you who've spent a fair amount of time in the
> > US, so, where is the best place to buy gear, America, England, or
> > somewhere on the Continent? *When I come over in May, I'll bring my jacket
> > and trou, and I could bring the rest, but I'll prolly buy a new helmet,
> > and I could spring for new gloves, boots, and rainsuit, too. The questions
> > is, should I get it before I leave, or after I get there? Mind, I'll be
> > flying into Heidelberg.
>
> I'd say loom at the exchange rate/local prices as it may work out
> expensive for you to buy over here.

It seems so. And it appears the variety and quality isn't much
different, too.

> However, more importantly IMO, is that you are comfortable with your
> riding gear. If you currently have gear, and are happy with it. Bring that.
>
> If you want new gear, buy it now to test before you leave.
>
> Are helmets more expensive stateside ? You can buy them in Walmart (along
> with your gun) :-)

Walmart? ugh. I buy my guns from this skinny little guy on a corner in
the barrio.

As for helmets - that's interesting. I wear a Shoei X11 now. It's ~5
years old and the liner is fraying, so it's time to get a new one. It
seems the models are different in Europe from the US. I'm guessing
that's because of the DOT sticker required on legal helmets here, but
they're definitely shaped different, not just different names. I'm
sure the quality is just as good, but it looks like I'll buy one here.

> I can't remember, are you flying your bike over or hiring over in Europe ?

I bought a 2008 BMW R1200GS from a Californian who flew it over a
while ago. The bike has CA plates and is in Heidelberg now. I'm
thinking of keeping it there and riding it every summer for a few
years.

On Mar 16, 8:01*am, Timo at Work <tim...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Mar 16, 11:26*am, Intet Navn <no...@nowhere.undeliverable> wrote:
>
> > >> Before any of our resident Germans respond with personal
> > >> recommendations, I'll begin by pointing Sir in the direction of Hein
> > >> Gericke, purveyors of clothing and accessories to the biking world.
> > >> They are friendly, comprehensive and excellent value, and it's a good
> > >> place to start checking out items and prices. *I see fromwww.heingericke.dethatthere'sa store in Mannheim, which is just down
> > >> the road from Heidelberg.
>
> > > Heinz Gherkin would have been one of my recommendations as well, the
> > > other one being Polo (there's one in Karlsruhe IIRC and probably in
> > > Mannheim as well). Both are big chain stores that have pretty decent
> > > prices.
>
> > A third (and excellent) big german chain store is Louis (http://louis.de)
>
> Yes, I forgot about them; I think the store I was thinking about in
> Karlsruhe is Louis and not Polo.

Thanks. I have an old HG jacket in the closet, but they seem a bit
pricey and their German website doesn't show any discounts. Polo and
Louis, OTOH, are now on the itinerary.