IcySmooth52

I think a lot has changed with bike pricing factors with changes like inflation (of course), trickle-down tech, and many others. Let's go over some ideal prices for what you get at that price. *Note: let's stick to MSRPs and think of it being $100 under or over to keep us on the same page.

The three prices I see as good points are:
$900 - Sora is now 9-speed without those silly thumb shifters, so why go up to Tiagra? If you go lower, you might not get the carbon fork though.

$2,000 - Either a carbon frame that'll be worth upgrading as you go, or a nice aluminum frame with something around 105 and nice wheels.

$3,900 - How many riders can justify a nicer bike? You're probably looking at a bike with wheels you'd upgrade the $2k bike to, Ultegra or Force drivetrain (maybe Di2), all on the same mold as the highest-end bike the manufacturer offers. I feel higher-end bikes have their benefits, but in smaller ways in larger price-jumps.

bt

ok

Gus90

I went with the middle option, getting a decent entry level carbon frame with 105 group and upgraded along the way.

IcySmooth52

Did you already upgrade from the 105 that came with it?

Gus90

I've upgraded a few things since.

1) Zipp Vuka Sprint Bars
2) Mavic Cosmic Carbone SLS (would have loved to get SLRs or Zipp 404s but out of my price range)
3) Ultegra 6800 group set

That's going to be it for this bike. You can see what it looks like now on the first post of the New and Improved HotRNot thread.

clausen

I built the bike I wanted, cost was never a factor. 7 seasons later the only parts that have been changed is when they have worn out. Mine is probable less dollar per KM than most peoples $2000 bikes.

hueyhoolihan

you, my friend, are a smartass. i'll bet you've been sent to the principal's office a time or two...

Machka 

Ummm ... where do titanium and steel bicycles fit into your world?


And .... why does anyone need to justify their bicycles???

eja_ bottecchia

No one needs to justify his or her bike. Get what you want/can afford and then ride the heck out of it.

Machka 

Absolutely!!

EnsitMike

I'm confused. You want to go over the price points…? Was there a question or you just wanted to tell us what we get for our money? haha

bruce19

+1

When you walk through the door into the world of cycling all justification must be left behind. There is no place for the mind that questions the "need" for Campy Super Record or Assos gear or...well you get the point. For years I've been riding a Masi Gran Criterium AL w/ CF fork and chain/set stays. Just bought a Guru steel (18 lbs) that I absolutely love but already I'm thinking about the day when I can afford to add some exotic (Italian?) CF bike to the mix. It's a sickness of course.

Smokehouse

This is exactly what I did...bought a 105 Tarmac and have changed what I wanted to along the way as more funds have been available.

Coming from the world of performance cars...I guess the bike thing seems like small potatoes to me. You could buy a $30K+ sports car and immediately drop $2500+ on proper wheels/tires, additional $1500-2000 on suspension, $4K on engine mods (headers, exhaust, intake, tune, shifter, etc) then anything cosmetic you want...buying a $2500 bike then adding an additional $1-2K over the next year doesn't seem to bother me that much.

...that's why I gave up on performance cars and go a bike LOL...

gregf83 

I think you meant 'typical' rather than 'ideal'. Not clear what the point of the post was.

RPK79

I got my bike outfitted with full 105 for the ~$900 range, but it's yucky steel. Blech.

svtmike

It was a terribly incomplete thesis. He completely missed the remaining ideal price points at $6,000, $10,000, and $16,000.

rms13

I got a bikesdirect bike with full SRAM Apex for $900 and then upgraded to a used CAAD9 frame with full carbon fork, stem and seat post a year later. For $1350 all in I think I have a better bike than the same $1350 would have got me new

rms13

Or if you live in L.A. you get a 911, AMG S63 or GT-R and immediately drop 20 grand on it in modifications. ....or a Lambo or Ferarri and drop $50k in mods without driving it first

Smokehouse

Good God...yeah, there's that. I don't even get to play in that world. I thought I was uptown when I bought a 2003 Mustang Cobra back in the day.

I know $$ is relative but I dropped the cars when I dropped the weight (down to 175 now from a top of 265lbs+)...did a complete lifestyle change and part of it was dropping the cars for bikes. Not to get all "Dr. Phil" but I've found more joy in riding than I ever did in cars. I guess that's why I chuckle when I see bikes come up as a costly hobby. I've been riding heavily since 2012 and I've maybe dropped $8K on EVERYTHING cycling related...bikes, racks, kit, etc. That's $4K/yr...that wouldn't even covered the payment of my past cars...let alone gas/insurance/etc. It's made my FAR healthier as well...I can't complain one bit.

rms13

I hear you, I don't get to play in that world either. I've owned lightly modified GTI, WRX, Mazdaspeed3 and G35 but now I share a Mazda2 with my wife and have built up a racey bike on a budget. I commute to work by bike (either the roadie or fixie) and I am much happier than I was sitting in the steel cage in Los Angeles gridlock like I used to do

wphamilton

It seems like he picked arbitrary dollar amounts and estimated what kind of bikes you could expect. That makes sense in a way, but doesn't say much about "price points" in my opinion. I expect a price point at some abrupt change but these are more like markers on a continuum of choices.

Smokehouse

My last "sports car" was a 2008 Mazdaspeed 3...I bought it new in Dec of 2008 and tried all to hell to love that thing. Did some light engine work (CAI, BPV, motor/trans mount/shifter mounts) but the FWD + tons of Tq never suited me. My Cobra or GTO were always a better fit.

I sold it outright in 2010 and had only a company car until last summer. Bought a '13 Impreza hatchback. Definitely not fast but it really is a fun car to drive and my road bike fits in it...32mpg doesn't hurt either.

rms13

I owned my Mazdaspeed 3 for 6 months before trading it in. 280 lbs of torque to the front wheels is not fun to try to keep under control

WestPablo

You want ideal! I'll tell ya what's ideal! Ideal is getting the GT Corsa 1.0 for $640 at REI, once you've become a member...

It's got a chromoly steel frame and a Tiagra gruppo too!

* Ya betta hurry, though!

The REI anniversary sale ends on the 26th of this month...

WestPablo

If you don't want it, donate it to a co-op, where someone will definitely appreciate it much more!

PS.

Be grateful of your good fortune...