HoldenCaulfield

I'm just flabbergasted about this stuff. I just read a review on a new Brooks messenger bag, and it was very negative. It was a cool looking bag, and I admit their saddles also have an awesome nostalgic look to them, but this messenger bag I mentioned costs ~$500.00 US???? I can somewhat understand paying over 700 bucks for a saddle with some reputation, but who would ever pay 500 for a leather bag? The executives for this company must be laughing all the way to the bank.

CastIron

I think they're aiming for the same folks who wear Rapha and ride a bespoke Vanilla single speed.
Not that there is anything wrong with that.

HoldenCaulfield

Maybe its just my jealousy over not being able to piss money away like that to look cool. I actually would really like to buy a Brooks saddle, but am aware of better uses for that cash (like say, food for a few months).

sfcrossrider

[B]
Your right... several national cross championships have been won on them.

merlinextraligh

Look at the price of Gucci, or Coach handbags. There are people with disposable income that like to buy things that they believe are aesthetically pleasing and well made.


Who would ever pay $5000 for a carbon frame, when they could buy a Pedal Force. For that matter, who would ever pay $600 for a Pedal Force frame, when they could get a complete bike at Wal Mart for $200.

Who would ever pay $100,000 for a Porsche, when they could buy a Corvette for $50,000, or a Camry for $20,000

Etc, etc, etc.

benbaconlewis

I can't comment on the bag since I do not own one (and would be unlikely to ever purchase one at that price), but the Brooks saddles are worth every penny in my opinion.

Brooks reminds me of a similar producer of superb leather goods - Churchs shoes. The prices are a little steep at the outset, but when the product is still serving you well years, or decades even, down the line it is worth the original splurge in my opinion. However, the bag does seem a little overpriced.

unbelievably

I wish my wife's taste was in the $500 range. I just seems so reasonable...

Nachoman

Now I can understand the $500.00 pair of shoes. But the $500 haircut?

HoldenCaulfield

I hadn't thought of this....will these newer things that Brooks produces be considered collectibles, oh say 30 years down the road (no pun intended)? I guess if you had in your posession a circa 1920's saddle still in good condition, it could probably fetch a good price in the right market.

I think its tough for anyone in this day and age to think in terms like this. The way everything is manufactured now, it seems that even though it lasts a long time, it might never be considered an antique or collectible later in our lives. But perhaps that's the same way people thought long ago, not realizing that their purchases would pay huge dividends some day.

I'm getting too philosophical about something you park your @ss on.

roadiejorge 

There's nothing to be jealous over when you don't see the sense in overpaying for an item, and just because you have the money to pay for it doesn't mean it makes sense to do so. I could buy that bag but wouldn't because the cost isn't justified from a practical perspective, and if bling is that important then those who would pay it deserve to be parted with their money. There's nothing "wrong" with it per se, it just seems excessive to pay that much for an item with limited functionality.

HoldenCaulfield

Hahahah...I wonder how many people would consider Brooks gear "bling"...aside from us roadies of course. If I mentioned the price of the bag to anyone outside of our little world, I would forever ostracise myself even more than I have already.

banerjek

To each his own. I won't be getting any $500 haircuts soon.

roadiejorge 

There are plenty of things people blow money on outside of cycling so it's all relative.

HoldenCaulfield

^^^^^^Definitely.

(Stop

HoldenCaulfield

Whoops.....let me continue (stop winking at me, you're making me uncomfortable)

j/k

SingleSpeeDemon

I'm pretty sure it's a $20 haircut with a $480 happy ending.

erliuic

erliuic

Thank god I'm not you.











...More money to spend on bikes

unbelievably

^I'm not joking...
My most resent bike cost me 1 diamond carat in platinum.

Vireo

oh you mean like this?




This picture was taken on one of my training rides. It is a line up for an off-road park where as you can see "monster trucks" go to beat their vehicles, literally, into the ground. Replacing, repairing, upgrading and fueling these trucks seems like blowing away money to me. But I'm sure if you asked them they would staunchly disagree with you.

roadiejorge 

It's all relative to the enjoyment someone gets out of it but in some cases it's well worth questioning what you enjoy. Sometimes we think our enjoyment is some fixed thing we must protect and through sense out the window or destroy cars in the process.

gr@sshopper

I was there on Sunday! What a nice ride, punctuated by jackasses in giant trucks.

jccaclimber

By removing "Single speed" from that sentence you greatly changed its meaning.

mattm

which saddle is > $700?

HoldenCaulfield

I think some of the limited editions are/were.