Jiles

I recently got back on bikes for health reasons. I lived on bicycles when growing up and then went to motorcycles up until a few years ago.
I am now 70 and, at the advise of my doctor, bought a bike for exercise.
I had no idea that some bikes cost thousands of dollars and never would have believed I would pay several hundred for a used bike.
I was drawn to mountain bikes with full suspension, I guess because of my trail bike experiences, and also considered they would be better for my back issues.
So I bought a used Cannondale Super V 2000 that I had to learn how to tune up. After setting up higher handlebars, installing a more comfortable seat and detailing the bike for my liking, I love it.
That was just the start of a new hobby.
I just bought a Trek X-Caliber 9 off eBay and it will arrive in about a week.
I suspect it will be a better bike then the Super V, but will have to see.
Boy, if I had one of these back in the 60s ! ! !

BikingZombie

Ha! Yeah, and I imagine your new bike weighs a good amount less than your previous ones

Welcome back.

It is funny how I never recall an adult in my youth actually tuning up a bike, cleaning a chain, or doing anything like that, whereas today some people clean & tune their bikes every other day

FrenchFit 

Meah, to some extent you are talking about the effect of long-term inflation. The $400 you might have spent on a nice bike in 1970 would mean laying out $2500 today at the same 'price'. Add to that the better materials, design and focus on light-weight - bikes are still a smokin' deal. Used bikes are a steal, even more modern bikes that are 4,5 years old. I been commuting on a '70s Miyata Racer for a few years, when I commute. $182 is what it cost me several years ago, and trying to fabricate that bike today would mean Rivendell prices. And, it's still rolling with the original drive train, original chain.

RonH

Just curious. What is your back issue? I'm 70 and was recently diagnosed with spinal stenosis (lumbar). Luckily my spine doc is a cyclist. He rides a Trek Madone, maybe this one.
Anyway he said my Litespeed is a great bike for my spine but my lowly Cannondale won't do. He suggested I upgrade that bike so I'm getting this in the black/green model.
He said sitting upright on a so-called comfort bike was the last thing I need. He said my road bikes are perfect. Leaning forward over the handlebars stretches out my lower spine and relaxes everything.

Did you ask your back doctor for bike advice?

IcySmooth52

Consider the Lapierre Xelius 2016 instead of the Cannondale Six. Still aggressive geometry like you want, but with FAR BETTER road dampening design than simple hourglass stays. The stays don't touch the seat tube, not even through a 'rubber' like the Trek Domane.

Will be in the USA in about two months.

EllDC

Welcome back to the hobby! Are you going to post pictures?

My favourite realization has been that growing up my bikes were always too big, and now that I'm an adult, a bicycle that's too large causes pain!

Jiles

My back issue is spinal degeneration. My work, as a Tool&Die Maker, was killing me. Standing for long hours and a lot of lifting.
I now have it somewhat under control with activity and an inversion table that I use everyday.
Biking has seemed to help but my doctor doesn't ride.
He stated that, with bike riding, I should use digression.

I don't plan to ride like I did on motocross bikes, I just want the enjoyment of being out and enjoying myself.
My wife also rides and 80% of our riding is on paved surfaces in our neighborhood and lots of time we go off road or ride on the edge of pavement, in grass or gravel.
Since we both have back issues, flat handlebars and narrow seat were uncomfortable, so we changed to our liking.

Retro Grouch 

And that's just for a moderately priced bike. If you want the good stuff you're going to be talking real money.

RonH

Sorry. The closest LaPierre dealer is about 3 hours away.

catgita

One of my uncles, about 70 at the time (mid 1990s) told me about this young man he knew that had an outragiously expensive bike. Even though he worked in a bike shop and got a 20% discount, it cost him the Kings ransom of $800!

"Must be a nice bike" I replied, not telling him I had two bikes that cost over $4000, and the shop where I bought them averaged $10,000 per bike.

The bigger change, I think, is that people no longer ask me why I didn't buy a car with the money instead.

Looigi

Due to inflation, $260 in 1965 would be equivalent to $2000 today. That should make it less surprising.

Jiles

In the 60s--only the rich guys rode $200.00 plus bikes.
I had to settle for older bikes that were worth $10 to $25 at most.

quicktrigger

Wow, I LIKE that. Not spending that much on a bike, but that's an excellent innovation.

Stucky

I think what has changed the most, is that the bicycking industry has managed to persuade more people that is necessary to spend thousands of dollars for a bike.

I had more fun in the 70's on my $59. bike, than I had recently on my $5K Venge*.

[*=I didn't pay $5K for it- that's what the original owner paid when it was new]

Make 'em out of stardust and moonbeams; put computers on 'em...they're still just bicycles.....

Jim from Boston

See these threads from this summer for opposing points of view (I have an 8K MSRP carbon fiber bike but got it for half off):

”Are expensive bikes necessary? (Moral conundrum.)

My new $7,000 bike and the futility of justifying the price to the average person.

My summary of the discussion:

I once read this definition on BF of a really nice bike, "Lighter than a f@rt, and more expensive than a divorce."

Stucky

Hah! I remember those threads well!

I dunno though- I'm an advocate of/have had some of my best cycling experiences on junkers....but yet when I buy a bike these days- even if it's a C&V, I like higher-end stuff (Relatively speaking). I don't kid myself that I need such stuff, or that it'll make me better or faster or make me have a better time....

I guess it's like clothes: You can wear $15 jeans or $200 jeans, and they'll both perform identically- it just comnes down to how much you want to pay for the mental image/feeling that they give you; and/or what you want others to think. But then again, I buy the cheap jeans....but I'm not riding a $99 bike....

I need to stop trying to figure this out- it's a conundrum or an enigma or a henweigh or something.....

Jim from Boston

I don’t intend to settle this debate, but one thing I left out of my summary was the persistent argument against expensive bikes as conspicuous consumption, “like clothes.” While quality can differ with price in clothes too, the functionality between two different pairs of jeans can’t compare to the differences between two bikes of widely different prices. A consumer has to judge the value of their purchase.

I think the argument that some dweeby cyclist would buy an expensive bike to impress others is just a setting up a straw man. I don’t think experienced cyclists are that judgemental, or naïve, and who wants to appeal to the uninformed non-cyclist? Sounds like sour grapes to me.

My last word on those aforementioned threads, to the naysayers, was that at least I don’t suffer any buyer’s remorse about what I might be missing.

Doctor Morbius

I had a pretty big case of sticker shock looking at the new 2015 bikes too. I hadn't priced any since around 2004.

OldTryGuy

Sorry about that, but maybe you should have bought a Giant Propel Advanced SL. I have ridden my friends Venge and the Giant is a much nicer ride, IMO.

I'll never own a One:1, but riding my SL makes me feel I'm driving One:1.

Stucky

Oh, I had no quarrels with the way the Venge rode- it was what I like in a road bike: Aggressive position; stiff; good road feel buit not harsh; and very comfy- It's just that my old Klein offers those exact same things...and even a little more (The feel of real metal on the road, vs. CF). If there weren't great old C&V bikes in the world (and for a fraction of the price) I would have been happy to keep the Venge.

Stucky

My take on that is: As someone who doesn't care about status/conspicuous comsumption- is that bikes are a lot like watches: A Rolex is definitely higher quality than a Citizen- but really offers no benefits in functionality- what it really boils down to is how much you appreciate the look and feel of quality vs. what it costs.

I'm kind of middle-of-the-road on most things: I like good functionality and quality....not junk- but it doesn't have to be the best, nor impress anyone.

As someone who has experienced the gamut of the bicycle quality range, I think it just comes down to aesthetics and whim. I seem to get the most joy out of bikes that look appealing to me. Give me a matte black $13K bike for free, and I'd likely be miserable with it. Gimme @Johnny Mullet's old green Huffy, and I'd probably be happy As long as it shifts when and where you ant; and stops decently; and doesn't weight 40 lbs. there will likely be no discernible difference to a casual rider like myself.

Jim from Boston

I don't consider this discussion a conundrum or an enigma. Rather because you deny my major premise, and I deny yours, I think we are at loggerheads, so l'll just repeat my final words.

Stucky

I do sort of agree with that, though! That is why I've tried some higher end bikes- I wanted to actually see what it was all about, and make sure I wasn't missing anything. Unfortunately, they've kind of spoiled me- but not because they do anything more practical.....it's just the aesthetics. (Although, since I prefer C&V bikes though, the difference between the quality levels can be much more pronounced than with modern bikes)

quicktrigger

If you are happy with your choices, then it is not for me to say that you are unwise etc. Though for me. the argument that you simply can't tell on a test ride is a the perfect argument that expensive bikes are of little value. I'm of the opinion if you can't see a benefit quickly, then the cost/benefit analysis is simply not there. If you want me to spend double, or 5X the $$$, then you better make it good. I will pay for real benefit, but I will not pay for marketing bull.

QT

Looigi

Maybe. I had to scrimp and save to purchase my first real road bike, a base model Schwinn Varsity for around $115 in '69 or '70. We were very far from well off. It was simply a matter of priorities. That'd be like $1000 today, and you can get new base model Trek and Spec road bikes for less than that.