http://www.norco.com/bikes/2003bikes/uni.htm
i’m not sure if it has splined cranks and hub
Here’s a e-mail i got
Norco decided to give Unicycle.com exclusive on selling the unis because they are best able to
support the product with advice, etc. It was an either-or situation, because (as with many other
manufacturers), Norco doesn’t sell both online and to bikeshops to protect the territories of
bikeshops. Ultimately Unicyle.com will be expanding to Canada so there will no longer be
problems with duties and shipping.
Norco will sell a less expensive version of the 20" uni to bikeshops that’s identical to the
Unicycle.com version, but comes with a standard unicycle axle and cranks instead of the splined
axle and BMX cranks. It is about $200 cheaper though, and the splined cranks are available
aftermarket from Norco when you break the standard setup.
Cheers,
Kris.
I like how that email says “when you break the standard setup” rather than “if”…
Phil, just me
heh
Any more info on Unicycle.com expanding to Canada?
About unicycle.com comming to canada, apparentally they talked to someone in vancouver about it, but he didn’t want to. I guess he didn’t have enough time or something. And since i got off topic, just ignore this.
Unicycle.com in Canada
If it helps, Unicycle.com appears to have recently set up Canadian dealers in BC, AB, ON and NB. Apparently, orders can be placed through these dealers (see quoted FAQ below). A friend who is a works in the bike industry told me that if a business is importing in bulk from the US, they can get a deal on the duty. In other words, it may be cheaper for Canadians to purchase through a local bike shop (depending on the shop’s profit cut) than to pay the duty on a private order from the US.
For example, a 20” Torker is $70USD from Unicycle.com. This converts to $110CAD + tax + shipping + duty/brokerage fees.
For comparison, Cambie Cycles in Vancouver has the Torker advertised at $149CAD + tax.
In the end, it probably ends up costing about the same amount, but I suppose you don’t have to bite your nails wondering what the magical brokerage fees are going to cost you…
Sorry if this was a) blatantly obvious, or b) meandering wildly off the original thread.
Copied from the unicycle.com FAQ:
“Q: Can I order through an authorized Unicycle.com dealer?
A: Yes! Our dealer network is made up of independent business people who love the sport of cycling. We support them, and we encourage you to support them, too. If your favorite local dealer has not yet joined our Unicycle.com dealer network, we hope you’ll encourage them to do so. Select the Unicycle.com product you want, call your local dealer and ask them to place an order with us. We appreciate it!”