n+1=Sempre Pro - Pics Now Included!

[bpsmith]

Quite pleased that I have departed from Procrastination Central!

Decided to go for the Bianchi Sempre Pro Ultegra and am importing one from Germany.

Going to take a couple of weeks I reckon, but worth it for £700 under RRP, even after Shipping.

Went for the Matt Black, for more of a Stealth look than the Gloss Black/Celeste. Blinking great Gloss White Bianchi sticker gives it away somewhat though. Lol.

Plan is to customise with a few choice bits done in Celeste though. Will decide when it arrives, but liking the look of the Celeste Hoods already.

 

[jazzkat]

nice, don't forget the pics when it arrives!

 

[vickster]

Enjoy. GB cycles have lots of bianchi goodies to help you make the bike less black

 

[SteCenturion]

Congrats on your new purchase @bpsmith

Do you have a link to the German site you used by any chance ?

A good saving made there.

 

[vickster]

In the first post here I assume http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/purchasing-from-abroad.160584/

 

[SteCenturion]

In the first post here I assume http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/purchasing-from-abroad.160584/

Found it vickster while browsing other threads, cheers.

 

[bpsmith]

That's the place @SteCenturion.

Cheers for the heads up @vickster. I always wanted a Matt Black ride before getting the Defy 1, but never panned out. Toyed with the Celeste/Black but too glossy again. I do plan to tweak a few bits with Celeste though. Will see when it arrives.

Toying with getting a touch up paint pen and doing some bits of my own, but it's always borderline whether it pans out or not. Lol.

 

[bpsmith]

Lots of nice bits on GB Cycles @vickster. Really getting impatient now. Been 2.5 days so far and want it already. I did state 8-12 days on the site, so a while off yet, but can't wait! Lol.

They said they will email after 3-4 days to advise on ETA. Will feel better once I have a date.

 

[bpsmith]

Erik emailed me back to advise that it is in transit from Italy to Munich and should be shipped from there to me on Monday. Getting excited now.

 

[bpsmith]

Checked my Credit Card statement and shows about right for the bike based on web conversion rates...but £53 odd for "Foreign Transaction Fee", which I hadn't even thought about. Doh!

I want the protection from purchasing on Credit Card, but hadn't banked on that sort of fee. Still far cheaper than this country though.

 

[Joshua Plumtree]

Some credit cards don't charge foreign transaction fees. Lloyds and Nationwide spring to mind. Not sure on their conversion rates though!

 

[vickster]

Indeed, generally those that aren't explicit just wrap it up in their rates (much easier when claiming on work expenses). I've only seen Amex break it out so far

 

[bpsmith]

At Halifax to that then, as clearly shown separately. It's done now, so that's life.

 

[bpsmith]

Bike arrived today! Going to get built on Friday and then bike fit at lunchtime. Happy days.

No VAT or Duty to pay as expected. Result!

 

[bpsmith]

Bike all built. Looking sweet, despite grease marks on the Matt black here and there. Going for first ride on Sunday, so will give it a full clean afterwards.

Had a bit of a test, in my jeans, behind the flats opposite. Certainly seems to pick up very fast indeed! Response from pedal to wheel is amazing. Looking for some pb's come Sunday.