replacing crankset - Alivio or Deore/LX? mail-order

[Mike]

I need a new crankset for the mostly-road-use MTB. Currently
has Deore 9 speed rear end, and Suntour crankset. I guess
the Alivio crankset would be an equivalent replacement, but
is it worth paying a bit more for the Deore? LBS is
expensive and no stock. Aussie mail order not much better.

- Alivio crankset US$43 from Nashbar.com (A$60) (post?)
- Deore cranksets for £34 (ex-vat, A$83) from
chainReationCycles.com .

http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=81&subcategory=-
1031&brand=&sku=8108 http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/vie-
wproduct.asp?category=Cranksets&ModelID=4427

The LX cranksets are a little more, but I see alloy rings as
a liability on a compact MTB set. Anyone have experience
with these shops? Maybe I should choose based on the shop.
I'll be ordering a cassette & chain too, reducing the
postage margin. Is it still true that small orders via USPS
or Royal Mail will not be bothered by customs? Any better
mail-order vendors for MTB parts?

Also, is it true that the only difference between Deore and
LX 9-speed cassettes is the lock-ring colour?

Mike.

P.S. remember to change that chain before its too late! :-(

 

[Mtb_ugh]

"Mike" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I need a new crankset for the mostly-road-use MTB.
> Currently has Deore 9 speed rear end, and Suntour
> crankset. I guess the Alivio crankset would be an
> equivalent replacement, but is it worth paying a bit more
> for the Deore? LBS is expensive and no stock. Aussie mail
> order not much better.
>
> - Alivio crankset US$43 from Nashbar.com (A$60) (post?)
> - Deore cranksets for £34 (ex-vat, A$83) from
> chainReationCycles.com .
>
>
http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=81&subcategory=-
1031&brand=&sku=8108
>
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/viewproduct.asp?category-
=Cranksets&ModelID=4427
>
> The LX cranksets are a little more, but I see alloy rings
> as a liability on a compact MTB set. Anyone have
> experience with these shops? Maybe I should choose based
> on the shop. I'll be ordering a cassette & chain too,
> reducing the postage margin. Is it still true that small
> orders via USPS or Royal Mail will not be bothered by
> customs? Any better mail-order vendors for MTB parts?
>
> Also, is it true that the only difference between Deore
> and LX 9-speed cassettes is the lock-ring colour?
>
> Mike.
>
> P.S. remember to change that chain before its too late!
> :-(

Mike,

I have placed a lot of orders through chain reaction cycles
and it always arrives in about 5 working days. The most I
have had to pay for postage was $17Aus and that was for a
crankset, rings and bottom bracket. I have also gotten away
without paying any customs duty.

I recently tried nashbar for a pair of gloves, hydropak
bladder and underseat bag but the postage was a whopping
$100us. Same thing from chainreaction cycles was $7Aus.
go figure.

Hope this helps Chad