Steel Track Bicycle

OTP = off the peg, i.e. ready to ride, complete bike, not custom built.

I would be very much surprised if the $500 steel track bike is going to be a high quality item. Nobody makes a quality steel frame, let alone a complete bike at that price, in the US or anywhere else. It will be a mass produced, far eastern frame. Therefore, it will also be available elsewhere, UK, eBay, Chinese websites etc. under different names.

If you are going to seriously race on the track then a secondhand track racer is your best bet, there still some (but not many) old geezers still racing track leagues on steel so you won't be alone. Ideally, you need a pair of sprint wheels with track tubs. To use this bike on the road as well then a second pair of wheels with more suitable tyres is a good idea.

Actually, this is quite close to what I was doing in the 70's at Paddington. Ride to the track carrying a pair of sprints, arrive at the track, remove the front brake, swap the wheels over and race. Then do the reverse for the way home.

The Kilo TT in America is $350. It's not the best bike, but it would suit what I'm looking for at the moment. Reynolds 520 double butted steel, but most importantly, a more aggressive geometry than (for example) the Charge Plug.

If I could find the same here, for 250 pounds (equivalent of 350 USD), I'd be a happy man, but alas, my searches have yielded no results.

I can only find an equivalent frame here for that much (e.g. the BLB Topino frame).

I was considering importing it, but I just did the math, and would have to pay a bucketload on import taxes/duties.

The $350 bike would incur about 140 quid in taxes, so it works out to be a really expensive bike (for what it is).

I'll keep scouring the forums for that mythical bike...

Btw, if I purchase something off ebay, I'm assuming I'll get taxed for that as well, dependent on it's value?...

Is there any way around the import duties & taxes?