My new $7,000 bike and the futility of justifying the price to the average person.
04-07-15, 03:52 AM
#276
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Well said, but with slight disagreement about how crucial the bike:…
I dunno- I think it depends on the bike owner's perspective. I kind of look at it from the other side: I wonder: Was it worth paying [what is to me] a lot of money for a bike [even thought I bought it used for less than half of new price]?...
The psychology behind these things is interesting.
The psychology behind these things is interesting.
…For years, I rode a steel Bridgestone RB-1, costing about $650 down from about $800 as an end-of-year model when I bought it in the early 1980’s. I came to learn it was considered a classic. After the introduction of carbon fiber bikes, I always wondered if the premium prices of CF, which I considered to be about $2000 was worth the presumed enhanced riding experience.
The Bridgestone was totaled in 2012 in an accident from which I was not sure I would ride again. Well I did, and decided to get a CF. My trusted mechanic said here’s the bike you want, knowing my riding style. Well the MSRP was $8000, but he got it for me at half off.
Now, considering the attitude most non- or occasional cyclists towards bicycles and prices, I’m frankly somewhat embarrassed to admit to paying so much, sounding like some over-the-top conspicuous consumption. Personally, I can afford it, and it was an offer I could not refuse. Cycling is that important to me and I’m fortunate to be able to continue the lifestyle, so that puts it in perspective for me.
I’m not that conversant with the technical specifics, nor may anyone asking the price, so the price becomes a common reference to tell what a fine piece of machinery it is. But I would nonetheless admit the price only to a close acquaintance in serious conversation.
The Bridgestone was totaled in 2012 in an accident from which I was not sure I would ride again. Well I did, and decided to get a CF. My trusted mechanic said here’s the bike you want, knowing my riding style. Well the MSRP was $8000, but he got it for me at half off.
Now, considering the attitude most non- or occasional cyclists towards bicycles and prices, I’m frankly somewhat embarrassed to admit to paying so much, sounding like some over-the-top conspicuous consumption. Personally, I can afford it, and it was an offer I could not refuse. Cycling is that important to me and I’m fortunate to be able to continue the lifestyle, so that puts it in perspective for me.
I’m not that conversant with the technical specifics, nor may anyone asking the price, so the price becomes a common reference to tell what a fine piece of machinery it is. But I would nonetheless admit the price only to a close acquaintance in serious conversation.
“Specialized S-Works carbon fiber bike, $4000…riding it, priceless.”
Last edited by Jim from Boston; 04-07-15 at 04:17 AM.
04-07-15, 06:05 AM
#277
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Stucky, truer words have not been spoken.
I once paid a lot of money for a lot of.. dirt. Family thought I was crazy. But land has since gone way up in value. I'm now selling some. At the time I bought it, with what I spent, I could now buy a current Porsche of my choice with that money. And trust me. I loves driving them Porsches! But that is what places like Road America are for. Join a club, feed the need for speed haha. Wicked cars when going speeds they were meant for though.
We all live on different financial plateaus. We come from different backgrounds. We spend on that which we think worthwhile, and scrimp on things we don't. It's all good.
My values have changed. Happy husband and father.
Harv
I once paid a lot of money for a lot of.. dirt. Family thought I was crazy. But land has since gone way up in value. I'm now selling some. At the time I bought it, with what I spent, I could now buy a current Porsche of my choice with that money. And trust me. I loves driving them Porsches! But that is what places like Road America are for. Join a club, feed the need for speed haha. Wicked cars when going speeds they were meant for though.
We all live on different financial plateaus. We come from different backgrounds. We spend on that which we think worthwhile, and scrimp on things we don't. It's all good.
My values have changed. Happy husband and father.
Harv
04-07-15, 03:35 PM
#279
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As a long-time Rolex wearer all I can say is it's really nobody's business what you spend on your stuff.
The only justification you need is you can afford it and it is what you want...
The only justification you need is you can afford it and it is what you want...
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Today, I believe my jurisdiction ends here...
Today, I believe my jurisdiction ends here...
04-23-15, 08:53 AM
#280
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I'm recognizing a pattern here. A lot of riders who have top-of-the-line bikes are driving cars that are unimpressive for keeping up with the Joneses. This includes me. My Jeep Liberty was purchased new in 2005 and today has only 65,000 miles on it. I drive back and forth to work and that's about it. My Plymouth Voyager minivan that I bought in 1994 lasted me 11 years and my nephew is still driving it. The bike is absolutely awesome! It's cold here but I have been riding it a lot. The only problem I'm having is with the Speedplay Zero pedals. I have difficulty clipping in and out. I just bought some Pledge multi surface cleaner and I am going to spray the pedals with it today to see if it helps. Most of the feedback I get about the pedals is that they take awhile to break in. I'm giving them another month and then it's back to Look Keo's.
04-23-15, 03:39 PM
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BB
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Formerly fastest rider in the grupetto, currently slowest guy in the peloton
Formerly fastest rider in the grupetto, currently slowest guy in the peloton
04-23-15, 07:45 PM
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It's the 'The neighbor has a Ferrari in the driveway effect' Everyone rubs their head, shakes it in disgust and try to justify why in hell anyone would spend that much for a car.
Two simple reasons.... The man worked for it and the car is friggin awesome!
Two simple reasons.... The man worked for it and the car is friggin awesome!
04-23-15, 08:05 PM
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04-23-15, 09:17 PM
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04-24-15, 07:32 AM
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I'm not rich by any stretch of the imagination but I decided to go big after a crash last August that put me in the hospital. What I saw there convinced me to get off my butt and seriously train as I did 30 years ago instead of relying on natural talent to just hang with the C group. The bike is my prescription for myself. If I go out on the bike then I will go out on my shield not as fat, out-of-shape, aged victim of the medical/industrial complex. I trained like a determined athlete and my legs are stallions. I'm already smoking people on group rides. Age really is just a number.
04-24-15, 08:00 AM
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$7k for a bike really isn't much different from almost anything else nowadays that someone else crosses the line into the "Pro-sumer" category.
The people that might not understand the $7K bike may be going home to enjoy their entertainment center and it never crosses their minds that they have just about the same amount of money in it as you have in your bike. They may spend $4k on new wheels for their car. Personally, I'm into Archery and I can tell you that if you're going to take that route you're probably going to be in the 2-3K territory by the time you're done buying your carbon arrows, sights etc. Take Golf, $25 - $45 per round at your local course, that's about $1K a year just to play before even adding up the price of the clubs, shoes, bag, beer.
The people that might not understand the $7K bike may be going home to enjoy their entertainment center and it never crosses their minds that they have just about the same amount of money in it as you have in your bike. They may spend $4k on new wheels for their car. Personally, I'm into Archery and I can tell you that if you're going to take that route you're probably going to be in the 2-3K territory by the time you're done buying your carbon arrows, sights etc. Take Golf, $25 - $45 per round at your local course, that's about $1K a year just to play before even adding up the price of the clubs, shoes, bag, beer.
04-24-15, 07:24 PM
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I am pretty surprised at many of the responses in this thread. 68 year old gets a $7k bike and a whole bunch of cyclists (or at least people that are on a bike forum) say its too much $. Unless I wanted a nice bike but couldn't afford it or just rode a hybrid from REI around the bike path I can't imagine a response other than right on, OP. enjoy your new bike!
04-24-15, 07:39 PM
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This past weekend we went out with two different couples Friday and Saturday night. The topic of bicycles came up and both husbands asked what I paid for my new bike. I told both I rather not say, mainly because my wife doesn't want to know. One guessed I must of paid $3000. I told him my old bike was more than that and changed the subject.
Most people do not understand how you can expensive a bike can be. But they have no problem driving a $40,000 car when I drive a 2001 Civic with 240,000 miles. It has to do with priorities. All my stuff is paid for while the bank owns their stuff.
Most people do not understand how you can expensive a bike can be. But they have no problem driving a $40,000 car when I drive a 2001 Civic with 240,000 miles. It has to do with priorities. All my stuff is paid for while the bank owns their stuff.
04-24-15, 07:43 PM
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I'm a big believer in having good tools, and I don't mind paying for quality if it's something I will use a lot.
04-25-15, 07:54 AM
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I'm recognizing a pattern here. A lot of riders who have top-of-the-line bikes are driving cars that are unimpressive for keeping up with the Joneses. This includes me. My Jeep Liberty was purchased new in 2005 and today has only 65,000 miles on it. I drive back and forth to work and that's about it. My Plymouth Voyager minivan that I bought in 1994 lasted me 11 years and my nephew is still driving it. The bike is absolutely awesome! It's cold here but I have been riding it a lot. The only problem I'm having is with the Speedplay Zero pedals. I have difficulty clipping in and out. I just bought some Pledge multi surface cleaner and I am going to spray the pedals with it today to see if it helps. Most of the feedback I get about the pedals is that they take awhile to break in. I'm giving them another month and then it's back to Look Keo's.
Product
04-25-15, 08:24 AM
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I'm recognizing a pattern here. A lot of riders who have top-of-the-line bikes are driving cars that are unimpressive for keeping up with the Joneses. This includes me. My Jeep Liberty was purchased new in 2005 and today has only 65,000 miles on it. I drive back and forth to work and that's about it. My Plymouth Voyager minivan that I bought in 1994 lasted me 11 years and my nephew is still driving it.
04-25-15, 09:41 AM
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This past weekend we went out with two different couples Friday and Saturday night. The topic of bicycles came up and both husbands asked what I paid for my new bike. I told both I rather not say, mainly because my wife doesn't want to know. One guessed I must of paid $3000. I told him my old bike was more than that and changed the subject.
Most people do not understand how you can expensive a bike can be. But they have no problem driving a $40,000 car when I drive a 2001 Civic with 240,000 miles. It has to do with priorities. All my stuff is paid for while the bank owns their stuff.
Most people do not understand how you can expensive a bike can be. But they have no problem driving a $40,000 car when I drive a 2001 Civic with 240,000 miles. It has to do with priorities. All my stuff is paid for while the bank owns their stuff.
04-25-15, 09:42 AM
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04-25-15, 09:43 AM
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04-25-15, 09:46 AM
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04-25-15, 09:53 AM
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04-25-15, 09:54 AM
#299
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It's still a bike. A simple machine. A drive train of a chain between two geared sprockets. AND powered by the rider. The difference between a basic bike boom 10 speed and a modern road bike is miniscule. You pay a huge price for that miniscule difference.
I was in the LBS recently. A young guy is buying a bike. Price tag is $2000 something. The shop owner says, now you just need shoes, pedals, and a helmet and you're good to go. $2000 and you don't even get pedals!?!?
So you drop $2000+ on a bike and then it's what, $500 more for shoes, pedals, and a helmet? So glad I know how to build nice bikes for cheap. The retail bike shop is certainly not for me.
But the idea that it takes a lot of money to have a nice bike is certainly driven in, most notably on this forum. The idea that a Sora equipped bike just won't do what a 105 equipped bike will do is utter nonsense.
As a local frame builder said to me when I showed him one of my bike rebuilds and I expounded on how nice the bike rode,
"It's got wheels, handlebars, pedals, it should ride well."
I was in the LBS recently. A young guy is buying a bike. Price tag is $2000 something. The shop owner says, now you just need shoes, pedals, and a helmet and you're good to go. $2000 and you don't even get pedals!?!?
So you drop $2000+ on a bike and then it's what, $500 more for shoes, pedals, and a helmet? So glad I know how to build nice bikes for cheap. The retail bike shop is certainly not for me.
But the idea that it takes a lot of money to have a nice bike is certainly driven in, most notably on this forum. The idea that a Sora equipped bike just won't do what a 105 equipped bike will do is utter nonsense.
As a local frame builder said to me when I showed him one of my bike rebuilds and I expounded on how nice the bike rode,
"It's got wheels, handlebars, pedals, it should ride well."
04-25-15, 12:03 PM
#300
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It's still a bike. A simple machine. A drive train of a chain between two geared sprockets. AND powered by the rider. The difference between a basic bike boom 10 speed and a modern road bike is miniscule. You pay a huge price for that miniscule difference.
I was in the LBS recently. A young guy is buying a bike. Price tag is $2000 something. The shop owner says, now you just need shoes, pedals, and a helmet and you're good to go. $2000 and you don't even get pedals!?!?
So you drop $2000+ on a bike and then it's what, $500 more for shoes, pedals, and a helmet? So glad I know how to build nice bikes for cheap. The retail bike shop is certainly not for me.
But the idea that it takes a lot of money to have a nice bike is certainly driven in, most notably on this forum. The idea that a Sora equipped bike just won't do what a 105 equipped bike will do is utter nonsense.
As a local frame builder said to me when I showed him one of my bike rebuilds and I expounded on how nice the bike rode,
"It's got wheels, handlebars, pedals, it should ride well."
I was in the LBS recently. A young guy is buying a bike. Price tag is $2000 something. The shop owner says, now you just need shoes, pedals, and a helmet and you're good to go. $2000 and you don't even get pedals!?!?
So you drop $2000+ on a bike and then it's what, $500 more for shoes, pedals, and a helmet? So glad I know how to build nice bikes for cheap. The retail bike shop is certainly not for me.
But the idea that it takes a lot of money to have a nice bike is certainly driven in, most notably on this forum. The idea that a Sora equipped bike just won't do what a 105 equipped bike will do is utter nonsense.
As a local frame builder said to me when I showed him one of my bike rebuilds and I expounded on how nice the bike rode,
"It's got wheels, handlebars, pedals, it should ride well."
I mean, I have a $5K bike [Bought used, for less than half of that] but you know? My fondest cycling memories are from 25 years ago, of riding an old BSO which I found in the garbage and rebuilt. Instead of obsessing over equipment, I just had something which was functional; and I just rode. No helmet or clipless pedals or shorts with a padded crotch, either. Darn, I had fun on that bike! The fancy bikes i have now are certainly nice....but who says that a bike has to be nice for you enjoy the ride? It seems to me, that when one isn't concentrating on their bike, or even their performance...but rather is just concentrating on the ride, and enjoying the motion; and the scenery; and the feel of the sun and breeze; and the various sights and sounds; or just daydreaming.....THAT is when the magic of cycling happens.