Today, I went to perhaps Tennessee's most upscale bike shop, in one of Tennessee's most upscale communities. Very nice shop. Extraordinary bikes. If you want a "cheap" bike from this shop, that means a mid- to high-line Specialized. LOTS of European and American stuff. The average bike is tagged $5,000+ and there were several on the floor at $7,000+. It is to my (non-riding) wife's credit that she didn't act shocked at $10,000 bike prices. This shop has, in stock, all the most amazing carbon and titanium bikes (and some custom steel) you've read or heard about, but never expect to be able to spend your own money to own.

But here was my surprise -- almost without exception, the high-dollar bikes were built using low-line components. Top of the line, exotic framesets built up with 105 and Rival?? Low-line Fulcrum wheels?? FSA's cheapest cranks? They were ALL like that.

Would anyone willing and able to spend $7,000 to $10,000 for a bicycle be willing to have a 105/Rival drivetrain on it? What's the deal? In the entire shop, I didn't see any Dura Ace or Red, Record or Super Record, on any bike. Are they expecting to add a couple thousand more to the price to change out the drivetrain to a more appropriate product? Is this normal practice among upscale bike shops across the country? I was amazed by it.