A friend of mine is moving to Melbourne for a few years of graduate work in Physical Therapy. She is new to triathlon and is interested in continuing her training there.
Does anyone have any experience with buying bikes while in another country? Is there anything that she needs to be concerned with or careful about?
One of the biggest issues people have with Australia is the cost of being a triathlete/cyclist. Your friend should be prepared to be paying much more for bikes, equipment and spares. Having said that if she does stay for some time, the majority of riders I know Down Under buy most of their stuff online. Coupled with our strong AUD it means costs are not too painful.
From a training point of view I don’t there’s anywhere better than Oz to train the weather is awesome and we love our outdoors. Melbourne drivers are known to be a bit hostile to cyclists but I don’t think anymore than other major cities around the world.
…oh yeah, and she’ll need to watch out for drop bears!
Need to be careful the first couple of times you times you ride an Aussie bike, the brakes are inversed. Rear is on the left and front is on the right.
**One of the biggest issues people have with Australia is the cost of being a triathlete/cyclist. Your friend should be prepared to be paying much more for bikes, equipment and spares. Having said that if she does stay for some time, the majority of riders I know Down Under buy most of their stuff online. Coupled with our strong AUD it means costs are not too painful. **
From a training point of view I don’t there’s anywhere better than Oz to train the weather is awesome and we love our outdoors. Melbourne drivers are known to be a bit hostile to cyclists but I don’t think anymore than other major cities around the world.
…oh yeah, and she’ll need to watch out for drop bears!
I was looking on bikeexchange.com.au for a while, trying to make up my mind whether or not I should buy a bike here in Canada before moving back to Aus next year… ending pulling the trigger and couldn’t be happier. I’m sure, with the deal I got, I could get my money back pretty easily in Aus in a few years when I move on.
So yeah, +1 on bikes being pricey down-under. Keep in mind, though, sales taxes are included in ticket prices in Aus, so the difference at the end of the day isn’t always massive.
Tell her to go and see Otter (Andrew) at Cyclespeed
He is a good guy that will look after her with the right bike to suit her and her budget.
Obviously can bling her out if she wants 
No affiliation other than a happy customer.
www.cyclespeed.com.au
Tell her to go and see Otter (Andrew) at Cyclespeed
He is a good guy that will look after her with the right bike to suit her and her budget.
Obviously can bling her out if she wants
No affiliation other than a happy customer.http://www.cyclespeed.com.au
+1
Specialized has a ex-demo sale on Sat 17th, S-Works SL3 Tarmac $4400.
(no affilation)
The prices of bikes are coming down in comparison to overseas, I just bought my new Tarmac SL4 for a $800 price reduction with a free-set of S-Works shoes, (again no affiliation with brand or store), hence there is quite some wriggle room with prices.
bikeexchange.com.au is a great resource
Thanks for the advice. Im passing this all along