ok so i'm going to new york bout mid march, having a couple of thoughts...
I was thinking i would like to take advantage of the exchange rate etc and get myself a set of phil hubs & BB ready for bike no.2 that i want to build. And I was also thinking about hiring a bike for the week that i'm there. But what do people think about combining the 2 kind of, and building a new bike while i'm over there? Would it be possible? Cost wise is it really going to work out cheaper? and any advice from anyone who's brought a bike back from the states.

Thanks

Thing is though there's plenty of US websites where you can just buy stuff at the same price online as if you were actually in the shop. I'm off to NYC in March and was saving money and dying to buy bits while there too but I've pretty much bought everything online now as I can't be arsed to wait and like you say, with the exchange rate so good at the moment it's still cost effective.
Don't get me wrong, I'll still be visiting one or two shops for odds and sods but I'm more than happy with the items I've recently bought(Chris King headset for £38, Phil hubs for £125 to name a few...), plus I think my Mrs will get the hump after 3 days of trawling bike shops when we could be 'spending our time more constructively'! Enjoy your quest though mate! :-)

Wish I was going back next month! Y' jammy git! ;-S
Agree with Pistanator, buy stuff online and post it to a US-based mate... Works out mad cheap and no duty worries... Unless you get a tug comin' through customs on the way back of course...
Virgin Atlantic were doing a deal where you could take a bike out (or bring one back?) for free, might be worth a look if you're considering buying a frame...

I flew Virgin Atlantic and it was free to take your bike. It didn't appear to be a special offer or anyhting, just their policy.

Riding your own bike around New York = totally fucking brilliant. Do it Do it. Do it.

Anyone know if you can you hire a ss or fg in NYC? Or, Boston or SanFran.? I am going to all these places next month and as you say be good to try a ride in a town which drives the wrong way round (Yeah that's right - the rest of the worlds roads are wrong!)

monstertrack!

pack up your bike well, and you get 2 bags per person up to a certin weight on transatlantic flights no matter what is in them, so if your under that your bike is free.