divineAndbright

Can't gauge the industry nor engineering by the price tag, business is business like anywhere else, just cause it costs a lot doesnt mean its any better then another bike somewhere else. Whats top of the line anyway? People eventually learn about that in quite a few different ways, though experience is the best teacher.

old's'cool

I don't dispute the inflation calculation. But the owner had the use of the bike for how many years? What would it have cost to rent it for that period? I wonder if the difference is that back then the market price was set between serious (whether amateur or professional) racers, versus now a large number of well heeled poseurs are adding to the demand and are hence helping set the price?

soonerbills

As I ride my Varsity I get passed by Cf'er's just shaking their heads.
All the while I just keep wearing my goofy grin

Fasteryoufool

I love the old bikes. You love the old bikes... WE love the old bikes.

Thank god not everyone loves the old bikes. Or we'd not be able to afford 'em.

JohnnyBee

Couldn't have said it any better.


Johnnybee.

Poguemahone

Can't see why everyone should like C&V bikes. I mean, it's basically an aesthetic decision to like them, though we can talk all we want about ride quality, cost, etc. (and these things do factor in), I think so much of it boils down to the aesthetics. We just like the way they look and ride. Obviously there are going to be differences in aesthetic opinion.

Explaining C&V to many riders is like trying to explain the Stooges to a Celine Dion fan. They're just not going to get it. That's okay, I don't have to listen to Celine.

bonechilling

Frankly, anyone who says that Ultegra ten speed shifts better than nine is out of their mind.

noglider 

I suppose maintaining old bikes requires knowledge that is becoming rare, so they're not for everyone. You have to know where the parts are at good prices, and you have to know repair techniques and be your own mechanic. My LBS in Millburn doesn't do any repairs to steel frames any more.

I was in there last week and admired the CF bikes. I decided I really would enjoy having one, and it would not diminish my love for steel bikes. But I can't justify the cost right now, and I don't know when I will. Maybe a bargain of a used bike will come my way when I don't expect it to. I can wait. And if that happens, it won't replace the steel bike. I doubt a CF bike will last a lifetime the way a steel bike will.

i-timy

I stand by my numbers.

noglider 

It depends on what you consider to be top of the line and how necessary it is to get top of the line. The curve of diminishing returns is much longer and flatter than it used to be. How much of a performance difference is there between a $2600 bike and a top of the line bike? Little, I would guess, and in the physical condition of most good riders, it is probably imperceptible. Therefore, $2600 really is functionally near the top of the line.

cudak888 

I just tried Campagnolo's new Super Record 11-style Ergos, which were fitted to a touring bike.

I couldn't figure out how anyone expects to be comfortable downshifting those inboard paddles from anything but the drops. I had to raise my hand off the hood every time I needed to push the paddle for a downshift, and the paddle was difficult to push, no less. It doesn't make sense for touring bikes...

...but someone else thought it did.

To each their own.

-Kurt

Kommisar89

I've wondered about that...but I'm leaning towards a different theory - looking at racing bikes through the early 80's, they hadn't changed much since 1950. Same 531 or Columbus tubing, same lugged construction, similar Campagnolo components...and Campgnolo didn't have much competition and only gradually made changes to their gear. By comparison today you almost have a technology war going on with consumers expecting new and improved products every year (look at 11-speeds, eletronic shifting, sub 15-lb bikes). That could be driving prices up. In some ways it's a shame though. I bet a lot cycling enthusiasts managed to scrape together $500 back in '72 but I can't imagine too many people coming up with $14,000 for a bicycle today.

Kommisar89

I wasn't arguing with your numbers based on the Consumer Price Index. Just that bicycle prices have dramatically outpaced the index over time. I don't see how you dispute that.

noglider 

But it really doesn't matter, Kommisar89. As I said, the tail at the top end is longer but less steep. You actually get more for your money when spending up to maybe $2000 than you used to spend the equivalent amount in the past. There's not much need to spend more than that. The difference is that there's more OPPORTUNITY to spend more than that, and that didn't exist, for the most part.

Zaphod Beeblebrox 

Fix'd that for ya


You'll get em on the downhill... nothing rolls like 45 pounds of Steel

Kommisar89

It depends on how you measure performance...for most non-professional racers I suspect you are right. For Professional racers there is probably an important difference. Where it counts most though, parked outside of Starbucks, the $14,000 bike wins hands down. It's sort of like asking whether granite countertops in your kitchen perform any better than laminate countertops. I can prepare my dinner just as well on either. Not that this is something limited to bicycles. When I was growing up a well to do person's house just looked like a bigger version of my family's house. Today it looks like a Roman villa and is priced accordingly.

noglider 

Yeah, I rode a Varsity (before I sold it) downhill at high speed, no-hands. I felt totally secure on that boat. The brakes weren't bad, either!

Kommisar89

Interesting, I'll have to drop by the LBS and check that out. I haven't had the opportunity to try the 11-speed levers but I always really liked the older Ergo levers.

Zaphod Beeblebrox 

...and you can actually drive through carbon fiber bikes

Chombi

I think most of us C&Vers are not planning on developing Lance Armstrong wattage and win the TDF next year, so I don't really see any problem with choosing a bike mostly for aesthetics. as long as it can still go pretty fast, look good and work good. That's why It makes more sense to me to spend my hard earned money on classic bikes and parts instead of a brand new, ultra high tech, seconds saving, top of the line Trek, Pinarello or BMC. I don't think I'll ever enjoy those bikes as much as my classics. I also assume that most of us C&Vers are not 18-25 year old Olympic possibilities anyway, so the returns on spending thousands of dollars on the latest bikes will be negligable.
JMOs

Chombi

RobbieTunes

I agree on the function part. I have friends who raced, competitively, and sponsored. A bike was gear, pure and simple; made to be used until something better made them .1mph faster, somehow.

Mention "bike" and some will rattle off the latest, greatest stuff they just got. Others have either dropped their bike off in the shop, or are about to, or just got it back, wouldn't know what BB they had if their lives depended on it; they probably know more about their bike shoes than the bike.

We get along fine. They let me ride their bikes, and I let them ride mine.

Picchio Special

Yeah, what can't you drive through?

Picchio Special

Well, a Continental ...

luker

I know, I know. I have said this before, but let me rephrase it in context and say it again. A person can buy a $5000 bike every year, ride the pee outta it all year, and throw it away at the end of the year. Every.year.for.the.rest.of.his.life. And not spend as much as one quintuple bypass costs. It ain't about the bike, it is about the engine.

That said, I have a lot of vintage bikes, and I like to ride 'em all.

mazr

Newbie here and ever since I decided to go with an old 3 or 5 speed......my wife says she thinks I might be obsessed. I'm on this site daily, checking CL locally for potentials and cities that I'm not going to buy from just to see what old bikes are out there.

Today I looked at a 74 Suburban (10 speed but I figured why not) that was in pretty bad shape and was waaaay overpriced. The guy I called didn't know the frame size and said it "hadn't been ridden in quite a while" and it showed. I'm going on a 45 minute drive this week to check out a $25 black Austrian Sears three speed that's just been cleaned and tuned. And I'm pretty pumped.

This is a great site.