I just saw a website selling an Assos jersey for $279. The next cheapest Assos is $150. What in the world???

If I'm spending almost $300 for a jersey, Selma Hayek better be wearing it and walking toward me with a big smile on her face.

for that...she better be holding it in her hand and wearing only that big smile

IME, there is no limit to what people will pay for "stuff"

my thoughts exactly...and it's Salma

Yes, we already know you wouldn't buy an Assos jersey.

I just saw a Ferrari for like $500,000!!!

WTF!!!!**********

My Toyota Camry has way more room and gets better gas mileage.

It's a closely guarded secret amongst the Pros but the that Jersey increaes yuor AVG by 3mph.

For a moment I thought this was about the RyanF jersey.

At least you are not stretching with your analogy.

Seriously . . . the differences in technology, materials, fit and performance in a shirt . . . and comparing it to those two cars??

At least use something like art or wine, it would make a lot more sense.

What in the world does that have to do with anything? I can't be amazed that a jersey would cost nearly $300?

Sorry, I was just making an apparently lame analogy there by being amazed that someone would spend hundreds of thousands on a car.

It's tough to talk about price, especially Assos, when it's found out how much many folks spend on their high-end gear. For riders who don't blink at $6,000 for another road bike, the cost of some Assos is not a big deal.

For others, they sacrifice to scrimp and save for their Assos because they swear by the clothing.

For still others, Performance gear does the trick. And there are some who think that stuff is expensive.

It's all perspective. Just like the reason someone wants/needs/buys a Ferrari or someone else drives something more pedestrian, like a Toyota.

YMMV.

Good 2nd post '97 - to each their own . . . I have a pair of $600 in ear monitors (earbuds or small headphones to normal people). People crap their pants when I tell them that. However, on a headphone internet forum I am lacking (no DAC, no portible amp, no cryo line out cable for my ipod, etc)

God Bless Assos and their customers . . . there is a market and someone filled it.

or created it, as the case seems to be.

Who knew there even was such a thing

Man, you're really lacking...

Matt

Good answer. It's probably just me. I'm still amazed at the theater when I see popcorn selling for $6 -- the very same size I can get at Target for $1. The very notion of spending $6 on popcorn aggravates me only because it is so grossly overvalued. So when I see a jersey selling for nearly $300, I do a double-take. Not that it's not a great shirt, but can it really be worth $300? I guess the answer to that is: If someone is willing to pay the price, then it's worth it.

blame him.

I ride a $7000 bicycle.

*shrug*

I am one of the ones that saves every penny so I can get some more Assos. The way I see it, I'm not going to spend $100 on a pair of bibs I sort of want. I'd rather pay over double and get what I really, really want. And there aren't many more things I'd rather splurge on over a pair of bibs that's cradling my children.

I think I bought a used VW from that guy. He convinced me it was a bargain at $12,000 and that I had better act quick because a guy from Springfield was on his way over....

Hmmmm....

Yikes. I've been busted. I really like their Elite bibs, but I'd really like them at about $40.

That's it. One month ban from the Road Cycling sub-forum!

Have fun over in General Cycling Discussion.

All jokes aside - Saunier Duval has a special jersey for mountain stages...lightest jersey in the peleton; they claim that it will save a minute over the course of certain length stage (read it in the TDF issue of Velonews...don't have it in front of me to do the fact check)

I was told by a local shop owner who has a lot of racing cyclists come through his shop that people seemed to get a lot more wear out of their assos gear, three or four times as much as Pearl Izumi, if not more. If the price is three times as high for four or five times as much life, then it certainly seems to make sense to me.

That said, I have exactly three assos items: knee warmers (small price differential), competitivecyclist.com clearance assos CSC jersey (really nice, and $40), and a pair of FI.13 S2 bibs (ebay.) They are all really phenomenal, and I do understand why folks will pay more, though I will continue to hunt for discounts on general principle

The law of diminishing returns when it comes to high quality applies to everything: audio, clothes, bikes, cars, etc.

Here are good analogies:

Are any of the following more expensive items really over 150% better? No. But people still pay more.
custom made Brioni suite for $5500 vs. an off-the-rack Armani for $2100
Krell DVD player for $5000 vs. Pioneer Elite DVD player for $1500
Runco flatscreen plasma tv for $20,000 vs. Fujitsu flatscreen for $9,000
stainless steel Rolex for $3,000 vs. stainless steel Seiko for $500

For some people, that extra ounce of performance/comfort is worth the additional $3000 because that's how they value things in their lives.

I HATE Performance jerseys and shorts, not because I'm a brand snob, but because the materials they use itch the hell out of me. But baselayers by Craft and Assos are the bomb in comfort and fit. I wear $70 bibs from aerotechdesigns.com because they are actually comfortable, but I also wear Assos bibs because I appreciate the noticeable improvement in comfort on 50+ mile rides.