Bottecchia fan
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Posts: 3,520
Bikes: 1959 Bottecchia Milano-Sanremo (frame), 1966 Bottecchia Professional (frame), 1971 Bottecchia Professional (frame), 1973 Bottecchia Gran Turismo, 1974 Bottecchia Special, 1977 Bottecchia Special (frame), 1974 Peugeot UO-8
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Originally Posted by
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?
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.
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1959 Bottecchia Milano-Sanremo(frame), 1966 Bottecchia Professional (frame), 1971 Bottecchia Professional (frame),
1973 Bottecchia Gran Turismo, 1974 Bottecchia Special, 1977 Bottecchia Special (frame),
1974 Peugeot UO-8, 1988 Panasonic PT-3500, 2002 Bianchi Veloce, 2004 Bianchi Pista