General Cycling Discussion - What is it that make this bike so expensive?

I ran across this link for a Steelwool Tweed bicycle (http://www.talltreecycles.ca/products/Bicycles-Touring-bikes/Steelwool-Tweed/) and was a bit surprised at the price and was wondering what make it so expensive?

More pictures (http://www.steelwoolbicycles.ca/stock-frames/tweed).

http://www.steelwoolbicycles.ca/wp-content/uploads/Tweed-crop.jpg

$650 is expensive?

How much would you pay for it?

Where do you see $650 on the tweed? It says startings at $1399 CAD. Personally, I don't like bikes that are listed in small/medium/large sizes and would want more on specs of it at the 1399 price point.

Where do you see $650 on the tweed? It says startings at $1399 CAD. Personally, I don't like bikes that are listed in small/medium/large sizes and would want more on specs of it at the 1399 price point.

Right! At least the starting at $1399 is what I saw.

How much would you pay for it?

I'm not doubting it's value. I only want to know what makes it so expensive because I don't know anything about high-end bikes obviously.

Expensive compared to what?

It's a lugged chromoly steel bike with a Brooks saddle for starters...

When you compare the price of the Steelwool Tweed with the Raliegh Grand Prix, the Surly LHT, the Salsa Casserole, the Jamis Satellite Comp, or the Masi Grand Criterium, is it really so expensive?

If you'd go to the Steelwool website, you'll find the frameset priced for $650. It has been reduced in price, as it's currently on sale. However, that's besides the original point. The current price remains competitive.

At $650 for the frameset, that's a steal!

Generally speaking, two things contribute to a bike's price: components and labor (especially the latter if the frame is handmade and/or the bike is assembled individually, as opposed to a factory line).

It has a Tange Prestige frame, that will run the cost up right off the bat. Entry level bikes of decent quality are common at almost $600 nowadays, if you go up in features/frame quality, it's going to cost.

I'm still trying to figure out the "steel wool" moniker.

$650 is expensive?

Where'd u see $650.00?? I saw $1,399 for that bike

For $650 you'll only get the frame: http://steelwool.myshopify.com/products/tweed

Not familiar with the bike, but event $1600. is not a lot for a quality bike, as this one appears to be. You can find cheaper -- check any Target or Walmart -- but cheap is what you get.

I'd say that $650 for a small production, N. American made, lugged Tange Prestige frame with a really nice paint job (see 2-tone head tube) and lots of braze-ons and disc mounts, is about right. Add to that the fact that the company is quite young (since '06) and is probably still amortizing all of their startup costs, it really does not seem bad (i.e. too expensive) to me at all.

Am I missing something? This appears to be a fixie which can accommodate brakes or an internal gear hub, etc. So you're going to trek across Africa in your fender'ed fixie? How's stopping in a downpour? Looks like a case of wishful thinking marketing.

Am I missing something? This appears to be a fixie which can accommodate brakes or an internal gear hub, etc. So you're going to trek across Africa in your fender'ed fixie? How's stopping in a downpour? Looks like a case of wishful thinking marketing.

The pictured bike is built up as a single speed, however it has all the necessary braze ons for touring. Unless they happen to have it set up with an IGH and a brifter? I would not buy one without seeing some geometry specifications.

To the OP the price is certainly in line with half a dozen other similar bikes that come to mind: Salsa Casserole, Surly LHT, Bob Jackson Super Tourist, Bruce Gordon, Bilenky, Mercian, Rivendel and several others. If I were buying a tour bike I would expect to spend in the $1500-$2500 price range for a new bike.

Aaron :)

what make it so expensive?


Boutique brand and all the extra markup / lack of economies of scale associated with them. Bicycle equivalent of a Gucci bag. Is it worth the price? Only if having brand X is worth more to you than a comparable brand Y.

I like the bike. Don't if I like it $1,400 worth. Set up with a 3 speed IGH & discs it would be a bullet-proof commuter & all arounder rider.

It's a nice bike but a bit of a fashion statement. Some of the other geared bikes in their range seem slightly better value, on the face of it. But given the work that goes into producing a quality steel bike, these prices are not unusually high.

Small NA builder vs a huge contract builder in China,
that makes thousands of bikes for several brand importers

the labor cost per unit alone is not comparable ..

brazed lugged cr-mo frame, brooks saddle, braze ons, good brakes wheels and tires, quality fenders, stem, bars, seatpost , crank. its cheap!

The price in the frame set is very reasonable as it is made with a high quality tube set and lugs that have to be custom made for this geometry.

The final price is based on how the bicycle is finished with the singlespeed / fg option coming in at the least expensive... factor in $250.00 - $300.00 for a quality wheel set and you are up to $900 - $950 and then you have to factor in the the rest of the parts which will actually cost less on an O.E.M. bicycle than what you would have to pay if you were buying them singly.

Our custom frame sets start at $1600.00 and a complete bicycle can often run into prices in excess of $4000.00 depending on how that bicycle is equipped, considering also that many of our wheel sets cost a great deal more than $300.00 and this is not enough to cover the cost of the hubs we use.