|
|
Post by mekon on Jul 8, 2022 9:22:02 GMT
My mate gave his copy of Cyclist magazine and I must admit to being flabbergasted at the current levels of pricing in cycling. As I'm still kicking about on cheap Chinese carbon and Shimano Sora level parts that are lasting well enough I see no need to buy a new bike. My legs are what make it go?
Helmets at £250. Shoes at £300. £250 bibtights and £4000 bikes that look like they'd have been £1500 a few years ago.
You can get into motorcycling way cheaper than this. Add in the overpriced energy drinks etc and you may as well get a motorbike.
|
|
|
|
Post by Diego the toe clipper on Jul 8, 2022 11:14:02 GMT
I went to a downhill park last weekend with my boy (we looked like right dick heads trying to hang on to rigid framed bikes) and got into conversation with two guys who were trying to be polite and not laugh at us noobs with no fucking clue at the end of the day at the bike wash.
But they essentially said the same as you, for the price of a decent bike suitable for the park plus armour and helmet and the rest of it, you can get yourself kitted out and on a fairly decent motorbike, so how the hell has that happened?
They put it down to demand, people are simply prepared to pay those prices so they charge them, it's not related proportionally to costs, it can't be.
It's Covid's fault, or was it Putin's? Or both...
|
|
|
|
Post by mekon on Jul 8, 2022 13:16:03 GMT
Mate bought himself one of those Domane models for some stupid amount and it's sat there next to his RC390 which he bought NEW from Teasdale's for £4000. I'm looking at the two and trying to comprehend how this bike with loads more material cost and working parts ends up the same price as a fucking bicycle. It's literally a frame, wheels, some gears and brakes and somehow this adds up to £4000.
I'd also be scared to leave it anywhere. I don't even cycle into York on my main bike, I leave that to the powder coat special MTB with slightly bent wheels.
Cycle mags are funny though as they write about the bikes as if they are motorbikes. I guess if you work in that element of the press then you just get good at making crap up about anything. If it was this year's washing machine it will be better than last year's.
|
|
|
|
Post by Eddie The Bastard on Jul 8, 2022 19:59:19 GMT
Its gone the same way as most things. Become popular and people see a chance to up the prices.
I'm very much a bargain basementer and I don't care. Planet X sorts me out for clothing mostly now. Prendas was my 'go to' for jerseys mind.
And I'm still on my entry level road bike from 10 years ago.
|
|
|
|
Post by mekon on Jul 8, 2022 20:32:23 GMT
I think all the performance gear is a con. If all this gear is so great why do the pros all open their jerseys when it comes to it? Wicking this and that bollocks. In spring I bought a supposedly really decent winter/spring softshell jacket in a sale and it's no better than my one I got from Lidl or Aldi ages ago, I don't think it was even as warm. I guess at least I can now cycle in a brand name.
Before covid, £1000 was getting you a good aluminum or low level carbon frame and 105 groupset.
I got some carbon Shimanos from Gumtree and when they are done I will get more carbon soled shoes. I've got a pair of non-carbons and you can feel the difference and the carbons are more comfortable. I had some planet X bib shorts and intially they seemed good but the paddy went to pot pretty quickly. I should maybe invest in some decent ones but at the moment I don't really manage to find more than a free hour so it's not crucial. I'd be out all day if I had the time.
|
|
|
|
Post by Diego the toe clipper on Oct 10, 2022 15:11:11 GMT
We went back to the downhill park this Saturday, but this time we left our shitty rigid XC bikes at home and hired a pair of Mondraker Summum DH bikes.
Fuck me what a difference! By midday we were taking the optional tabletops at the bottom of the run and getting (what felt to us) like serious air. The first time I braked hard I thought I wass getting a compression injury in my forearms!
Not saying that I can justify the price of these bikes but it was a bit of an eye-opener.
I've spent the last few days (with aching hands, forearms and shoulders) browsing the used ads for enduro or other double suspension bikes which might be a reasonable compromise for a decent price, but it's useless, for less than 2 grand there's nothing that we could take there and get close to what we were doing this weekend.
Why does everything fun have to cost so much money?
|
|
