Lazyass

I'm kind of a mid-level buyer. Bibs and jerseys in the $70-$99 range, 105/Ultegra/Athena/Chorus groups, I would buy an $800 off the shelf steel frame before I thought about a $2500 custom one, wheelsets on closeout for $350, I pretty much won't buy any higher dollar item if it isn't on sale. The last bike I bought new was a 2011 model on closeout, alu frame with Ultegra which was 50% off ($1299). I would NEVER pay full price for a new bike in a LBS, or almost any clothing or gear for that matter. I'm always one generation of components behind. My newest bike has 6700. May look at 6800 someday when it goes on sale after 6900 comes out.

Are you one of those who gets the $3500 carbon bike at the LBS a month after release, buys Rapha clothing, shoes must have carbon fiber soles, $200 titanium calipers, $50 water bottle cages, $1000 carbon wheelsets and shops for carbon seatposts based on grams than by price? Are you a Sora/Tiagra type buyer who gets the Performance Bike house brand bibs and Sette shoes or are you like me?

spdracr39

I usually buy based on aesthetics not price.

seymour1910

I would say I'm in your category. I won't go for the bottom but I'm not paying $290 for bibs either. My favorite bibs are LG Fit Sensor 2 and I got them on sale for $80. I also like Pactimo and Voler clothing and they both have sale sections on their sites. Interesting thread, look forward to some of the answers and hope it doesn't turn into a negative thing.

seymour1910

So as long as you like the way it looks you'll drop any amount of coin?

spdracr39

Up to a certain point yes. I don't frown upon frugal shopping. Everyone has their own taste and agenda.

mcours2006

I wouldn't own anything DA or Super Record unless it fell on my lap. Actually a 7800 groupset almost did, but didn't pan out.

I'm a no-frills kind of rider. I've got stuff from Sora to 105, but do have a Ultegra crankset on my commuter. n

If it doesn't add to the enjoyment then it's not worth my money.

Lazyass

For full disclosure, I used to be a high end buyer, so I'm not bashing them. It took years but I finally learned that spending more money had no affect on my average MPH or even made riding more enjoyable. And no one ever complemented me on my titanium wheel skewers, shoes or anything else while hanging in the parking lot before a ride haha. Actually, the only time I get comments about my bike is when I'm on my vintage steel with downtube shifters and the '90's purple splatter paint. I bought that bike 14 years ago for $200. The absolute best thing I ever bought, I love that bike.

dtrain

Yeah, I'd say mid. Running two 105 groups. Frames and wheels are maybe a notch up. Other gear is mid quality stuff on sale (like PI's nicer bibs and PR3 tires on clearance).

mcours2006

I've got a vintage steel myself with same era 105's on it. I love it as well. Though the decals had been taken off (stupid things we do when we were young), the bike is just flashy looking. The frame, handlebar/stem, and seatpost are original, everything else was upgraded to vintage 105's.

MagicHour

I'm definitely in the mid-range camp, as well, both for economic reasons and comeasurate with my abilities. I try to buy as nice gear as I can afford. I think would feel weird riding a higher end bike than my abilities, unless maybe if I won it in a contest. Right now I'm riding an unbranded carbon frame with Ultegra that's an acceptably light 17lbs and I'm sure can go waaayyy faster than I'm able to make go

Smokehouse

I'm all over the place...I put high quality stuff where I *think* I need it...although I may not always be right (LOL)...

There have been some "upgrades" I've made where I instantly notice the difference in quality/performance. There's other times when it literally makes zero difference.

Going from 5700 105 pedals to 6800 pedals? Yeah...not a single difference in performance or feel, none at all. Going from a 5700 105 group to a 5800 105 group? yeah...BIG difference.

RollCNY

I have a mental price point for every item that I want to buy before I buy it. So if I want to spend $60 on a pair of shorts, I look for the highest end shorts I can get for around $60.

PepeM

Entry level exclusively over here. Being poor helps.

Jeremy_S

Midgrade all the way. I was always high end when I bass fished and drag raced spending 750 bucks for an uber light carbon Japanese reel or God knows how much for cylinder head work etc. with bikes, I can buy carbon on sale, Ultegra, carbon cages, bars, post, and pedals for a decent price on sale and end up with a 16.x pound bike that'll go a lot faster than I can pedal it without breaking the bank.

PepeM

Ultegra sounds high end to me btw, as do carbon cages. I guess we all have different perspectives huh.

redfooj

same

its a hobby, not a means to a living

Jed19

In most consequential things, I stick with the example my Dad showed me as a youngster. Do some research first, then buy the best quality you can afford and take very good care of it. This has worked very well for me in most things I've ever spent money on.

TheManShow

Clothing: Generic like Performance, or Nashbar with no logo

Shoes: Diadora

Groupo: Ultegra

Tires & Tubes: Continental

Frame: Ancient Lugged Specialized

mercator

The in joke for the guys I ride with is how cheap I am, but I do like the nice stuff and buy it when it goes on sale.

bruce19

I've always believed that with most things there is a point of diminishing returns. So, whether it's bicycles, cars, motorcycles or gear I try to find the place where you get the best value. An example might be Shimano gruppos. I'd forgo Dura Ace for Ultegra. The only place I have actually gone to the high price gear is Assos bibs. And, even then, I only buy at a sale price.

rpenmanparker 

I cover the whole range. Folks here know I am very careful not to go for the crème-de-la crème in clothing or top label carbon wheels. But I do like SRAM Red especially the cassettes. I just try to get them on ebay as take offs. Basically I like to have the best I can get at reduced prices. But best has to be verifiable. I won't go for stupid expensive stuff even on sale if I don't think it is better than the mid-grade.

dtrain

My carbon cages were around $25 shipped for the pair.

jerrycan42

most of my bike related purchases are at the "used" level expect wear items like tires, chains cassettes, which are at the "sale" level.

Lazyass

I've gone super cheap on my Paramount in the last year. I bought new Diamondback brake pads at Dicks's for like $8 and they are actually the grabbiest pads I've ever had, a Bell branded KMC chain at Walmart for $10, some cheap chrome cages from there as well, a Orgin8 quill stem for $18 that perfectly matches my seatpost and Tektro RL340 brake levers for $25. I splurged on some Cinelli Caleido bar tape because the little colors match the paint. This bike always draws a crowd at charity rides. It may be an ugly duckling but women especially like it

mcours2006

Yeah, I can see why it might draw some attention. The paint scheme is typical of 1980's.

I've put in quite a few hundred dollars on my own vintage racer. But it's my favourite as well. I've had this since I was 17 years old.