Yes.

I see some of the new colnago bikes are over 10,000I see some of the colnagos go for over 11,000 dollars ….where would u be without that god awful expensive advantage....im guessing at the back of the pack

I don't dislike any bikes... just the buying of speed and advantages over other riders without the money to spend to equalize the playing field....no rant about riders with scrawny upper bodies... not large upper bodies sigh roll eyes...just an observation

Except the ones going up hills or mountains. There's three days difference between the fastest upright road bike and the fastest recumbent (which is slower by three days) in the Race Across AMerica (RAAM).

https://www.raceacrossamerica.org/records---awards.html

who does the race across America...gotta be more prize money to be had doing other bike races

If OP spent more time working/making money and less time posting drivel, he'd be able to afford the high-tech goodies and probably do better in his local races.

Just a thought.

The team's sponsors pay for everything, don't they?

Boy, are you barking up the wrong tree.

I like one of the opening lines of "The Rider" which went something like: You can tell the fast racers just by their faces, but only if you already know them.

The statement was a testament to the vast difference in overall speed between road bikes and recumbents when it comes to mountainous races or stages. Most people who have never raced a bicycle think there's a lot of prize money for winning races. The last Tour De France winner got the equivalent of of $582,000.00 that he had to share with teammates and staff. I'm not saying $582,000.00 is chump change but it is compared to other sports and that it's divided up.

But, back to my point; a recumbent ridden by any pro, current or past, would be spanked by just about any run of the mill Cat I or II rider up Alpe d'Huez. So, aerodynamics aren't everything all the time.

See, now this is a post that makes absolutely no sense. If you don't care what others think, why are you posting?

What exactly are you saying should happen? A standard issue bicycle and kit for everyone?

My guess is that the large majority of people paying the big bucks for bikes and kit probably get very minimal speed gains if any, but like the feel of wearing and riding stuff that makes the look like pros. The speed advantages of most of this stuff are oversold by marketers, this is not news.

If you're a frustrated racer, concentrate on riding the stuff you can afford as fast as possible. There will always be someone faster than you who are willing/able to spend more. The playing field isn't going to get leveled no matter what "BS" you call.

BTW, no one ever accused sheep of being aero-equipment obsessed.

Speaking in generalities, it is usually the person who invests large amounts of money in a sport who will also invests large amounts of time. The combination makes for success. However, we all know exceptions.

My favorite...

"When I go out with someone for the first time I immediately glance at his legs to know how fast we're going to go and with what sauce I am to be eaten."
- Paul Fournell, Need for the Bike.

Except when it's not.

Which is why pro cyclists everywhere quake in terror at the thought of Jeff Bezos on a bike.

If all variables were equalized, everyone would tie for first every time.

Just to state the obvious.

I think the OP just discovered "life isn't fair".

It certainly isn't conclusive, but I have noticed the elite tend to rise to the top - money or not. It was not money that got Lance where he was.

As somebody that doesn't have a bike that cost over $1,500, I found this interesting stuff:


Not exactly scientific, but interesting.

For the record, I'm guess most of us are racing for glory ... there's not a lot of prizes for winning the races I go to. Best swag is typically raffled off.

My kid had great stuff. Electronic shifting at age 11, several pro bikes. It was a huge advantage over other kids at that 8-12. It also gave him confidence and made him work harder. As he rose in levels and had to travel, the other kids at the upper level all had similar profiles. They all had active parents (dads) pro bikes etc. But, for juniors (not so much for older riders) our team was looking for talent. There were many giving adults, coach being a huge one, who were looking to help the under privileged. There were bikes and trips and great stuff available to any kid that really had talent and work ethic. I found the same in Europe junior teams. Lots of people were giving lots of stuff. In the end, it still was the hard working kids that were nurtured by parents that were mostly the ones dominating. Some parents were wealthier, some not so much, but I didn't find that money made so much of a difference in opportunity.

I don't think economics (school work, yes) keeps these kids from competing at the highest level.
LUX Cycling | U19 Development Team

If you are getting into it after 20 and not already some elite athlete, it is all about fun. Part of that fun is making excuses why someone else beat you. Why ruin that with money?

I don't doubt that elite racers get the best equipment. I don't race, but I certainly see people in expensive gear riding super-duper bikes, and struggling to maintain a pretty slow pace.

If someone's top speed is in the teens, going aero really isn't going to help them much, but if putting on the outfit inspires them to ride more, it's all good.

I buy nice equipment. Mostly for my kid. I have re-purposed a bunch for me, a 58 year guy with 60+ partner (wife) and I am not near as fast as I was.

But I feel the difference in tires, tubes, components. Does that mean 17.5mph vs 18mph? Yesterday we had a big headwind in SoCal. I was in my best race tuck. It was good for an easy mph. If I had borrow a kid's bike maybe 2.

I often see this is much like the cars folks buy, the wine they drink and the audio systems they listen too. There is a difference at some level. Can you tell - that depends.

FWIW I ride a 2002 Cannondate Six-13. My fav bike was my 1979 pro Raleigh 753, the Six-13 is stiffer and I'm big.

In the stable, mostly from my kid's racing I have no end of good stuff. Venge, Tarmax, MASI, FELT... 30 or so carbon wheels, cx bikes, MTB, DuraAce Di2 <26lb tandem with tubulars,

When I'm riding, I don't care that my bike is a bit slower. But it is a bit slower. I just like it.