MTB Socks: I think I'm addicted!

[Polly]

I just love them, I wear them all the time now in preference to normal ones... anyone else have a fettish like this if so, show me your favourite pair and let me know where I can buy them!


Oh the irony!



Seriously though, I think it's because they are supportive, and I have a dodgy ankle (broke it a few years ago, walking through my living room!) but, there are some great designs out there too - sadly lots are only available in the US - with quite steep shipping fees to the UK

[moo bean]

Oh goodness, they're fantastic

I don't have any specifically-made-for-cycling socks, but I do wear Hi-Vis orange socks while commuting.

[tattiefritter]

Hi Polly,

Nice socks! My favourite socks have pictures of Chillies on them. They look a similar design to what you have, the BF brought them back from the States for me.

Nice to see you over on this forum as well (I'm guessing its you as there can't be many Pollys with an ickle pink bike). I replied to your post about Titus' on SheCycles (I post as julbags on there).

[Polly]

hello!
Yes it is me, it's nice over 'ere innit? without the blokes commenting on whether they would or wouldn't!
(will go and look at titus thread now!)

[Kimmyt]

These are my only pair of cycling-specific socks. My friends seem to think they might jinx me...

[Nanci]

These are my favorites. I like the really short ones the best, but they don't have as much variety.

[DirtDiva]

I want the endo socks in a major way...

[tattiefritter]

I'm liking those Bad Kitty ones!


Ooh, ooh Wiggle have them......

[Nanci]

TE has 'em! They really match a lot of things well.

Nanci

[Polly]

oooh - I've spent ages last year trying to find the bad kitty ones, will check out wiggle later!

The endo ones are very cool too - not seen those before

[tattiefritter]

TE has 'em! They really match a lot of things well.

Nanci

I know TE has them (and a lot of other cool things as well), unfortunately shipping and the almost inevitable customs/VAT charges that will be levied when they land here just makes it prohibitive

I've "imported" stuff from the US before (Titus frame, Fox Forks and a couple of other things) and even though I was expecting the charge it still caused a sharp intake of breath when I was told the amount - 4% import duty on bike parts plus 17.5% UK VAT, effectively sales tax, as well (robbing government barstewards )

[Nanci]

So what if "a friend" in the US bought them, and sent them to you as "a gift?" Would you still have to pay all that stuff??

Nanci

[uk elephant]

So what if "a friend" in the US bought them, and sent them to you as "a gift?" Would you still have to pay all that stuff??

Nanci

Generally no. The trick is to mark the package as a gift on the customs form when shipping. That's the solution we use (Bikeless in WI, me, and the rest of the family). We order on-line, delivered to grandma in CA who then ships gifts over. Or whenever Bikeless is in the USA, we send shopping lists and an extra suitcase.

Of course shipping packages can still be expensive, but some times less than the increase in price of buying in Norway (or even UK).

[DeniseGoldberg]

It's funny, I've ordered a couple of things from shops in the UK, and while I've expected to have to go to the post office & pay customs fees, they've been dropped at my door each time with no extra fees other than what I considered to be a reasonable shipping fee. I wonder how they managed that...

--- Denise

[tattiefritter]

Denise,

I think it depends what shipping carrier is used. I have ordered stuff from Ground Effect in New Zealand a couple of times and never been stung for anything, I think this is because it comes into the UK through the Royal Mail who aren't necessarily geared up to handle customs charges, especially with smallish and light packages. A lot of UK firms will also use the Royal Mail to send things abroad and I assume it will then get passed to the Postal Service of the country in question which may not apply the charges. FedEx/UPS on the other hand are ruthlessly efficient at presenting things to customs and are very geared up for this sort of thing (I could track on the FedEx website exactly when the government wanted payment!).

I have also misread the TE shipping policy and thought they sent things via UPS not USPS in which case there is probably a good chance of avoiding charges. So ... TE is now a serious option as they have a good range of girlie stuff (takes credit card out of wallet and hides it).