Originally Posted by
prj71
There are always exceptions or outliers. But the majority of us here are enthusiasts with disposable income to purchase bikes within the price range I mention. It's more the norm than not.
Patching tubes falls into "The stepping over dollars to save pennies" category to me.
Actually, most bikes i see on here are under a grand, new, and most are used when purchased by the present owners...
every one of my personal bikes were bought used, except one Frame/fork, and many were just a frame with some remnant parts on them.
my DB was a nearly complete bike, in need of everything serviced, bought for $17 at a "Moving Tomorrow!" Sale..
I'd spent most my pocket cash on a front door at that sale... it was $25, and works wonderfully to this day.
the Specialized was a frame with a few bits, $50... found on CL.
the Trek was a bare frame/fork.... but brand new at the time... $310.. i put another 400 into it, over a couple months time, all new, high end parts.... prices were far lower back then.
The Commencal was a frame and rear shock, nothing else, $50.
the CF Fuji, just a frame and Campy Crank/bb, $110(it now has the price of $600 marked on it's sale tag), 18.5 lbs of fast and fun.... i over-paid for that crampy crankset.
the Gitane crit bike, $90, in need of a major re-grease/service... it came with extra parts, tires, and a pair of size ten shoes.
the Marin was just the frame, at 1/10 the original price, still in it's shipping bag.
even my Santana tandem needed Serious help... it was Complete. but outdated and not well... $75, at a moving sale.
none of them needed a credit card, and almost all of my recent builds are done with used parts, found for real cheap. (Cables, housing and chains are new.. i buy them in bulk, heavily discounted!)
you must be thinking of some other sub-forum, eh?