I’m hoping you both continue to showcase decent bikes that are $1000 or less for those of us who enjoy the hobby, but don’t have the cash to sink thousands into a new bike.
Buy a frame and build it up.. create time.. some bike we buy for the logo and branding..... u realise most gey their the frames from same manufacturers on China and other Asian countries. Same design.. shop around for a good frame then get good components and u hv what not everyone is riding. 🎉
I don’t wish for Wiggle to go bust. It’s a pipe dream to think this will mean people go back to buying from their LBS. Online and DTC is here to stay, all you’re doing is asking for Amazon to fill the gap. There’s an irreplaceable market for being able to order an exact part number online and have it delivered in a few days. That’s not going away.
Agreed. If I have a specific part I need, I first would need to go to the LBS during their hours, explain what I need, which may require a discussion (more time). Then they have to find a distributer with that part and order it (which, ime as a former LBS mechanic, doesn't happen everyday - orders are usually placed only a few times a week). Then I wait for them to tell me it arrived (and since receiving takes time might be a day or two after it actually arrived). THEN I have to go pick it up on their hours. All in that could be 1-2 weeks. OR I have order it online and have it by the weekend. If its a critical part keeping me from riding, the choice is obvious. If you need a shop to install it, it's still probably faster to get it yourself and bring it in.
Most LBS I have dealt with over the past 20 or so years have been shit to say the least. Half of them don't know what they are doing, they are massively overpriced a lot of the time and don't hold products that I want to buy. If you have a good LBS then treasure it but lets not pretend that most of them aren't just there to make money first and foremost.
@@mctrials23absolutely right. Not all LBS's are equal. My local keeps stock of nothing and takes weeks to order stuff in. I can get it sooner and cheaper online and fix or fit it myself.
Brown's comments on pricing are spot on. There are now countless options to spend more. The bigger problem is perhaps the press and marketing etc pushing the idea of us (riders) 'needing' the snazziest bits all the time to be 'better' or 'enjoy things more'. I'm so happy to hear you guys talk openly and honestly about the cost of things in bikes. The joy of the simple, cheapest bikes are not spoken about enough. Great episode team 🙌🙌🙌
My way of getting a good bang for the buck bike is that I got a late 80s steel bike (real proper frameset, Columbus SLX) and replaced the entire drivetrain and wheels. Now with all the upgrades I have a 1300 euro bike, it's set up exactly the way I like, it's 8.7kg, fastest bike I've ever had and I love it! the frame surprisingly feels properly stiff and light too.
We need to talk more about getting people on used bikes. Most normal™ people will get a lot more value by buying second hand or having someone fix up or upgrade their existing bike. Folks like Craig from Save old bikes or Monkeyshred and Toasty Rides really are doing God’s work. ❤
Canyon is several thousand dollars cheaper than their competitors. The rest of the industry is absurd. I wanted the new Defy but got an Endurace CF SLX with the same components for $3k less
I agree, I only have a Grand Canyon 8 but even at that price range I would have paid about 300€ more for a bike with the same components if it would be a different brand.
While the Tech improved in some ways, it is still kinda ridiculous that less than 15 years ago you could get full carbon leightweight bikes with a full dura ace/sram red/Campagnolo Super Record groupset for the price tag that is now on bikes with 105 Di2, while the bike in whole got heavier. Of course there was infaltion in that timeframe, but not 150% to 200%, it is bonkers.
And let's not pretend like bikes were slow in 2010. This is why I believe the best option is to get an older bike, give it a good service and put some modern wheels on it.
I'd rather ride a top end road frame from over a decade ago than anything currently pushed by the bike industry, even if its bought second hand. I have friends who have acquired nice Colnago's etc, worth 4-5k framest for under 1k, then you can build up a sweet riding competitive weighing bike for little outlay. Of course these bikes have rim brakes but then you really don't need discs on a road bike, what was fine for a hundred years is still fine to ride now at any level. This is a big problem for the bike industry at the moment as riders like me have stopped buying their bikes, whereas in the past I'd always be jumping on the latest things.
On the subject on the cost of cycling, I myself believe it has gotten out of hand. I have to agree with Brown (aka Mark) that your riding experience doesn't have to cost a fortune to be enjoyable. I myself have a full carbon frame with full Shimano Ultegra kit and carbon cranks. After several mechanical failures I am now riding an old 1986 Specialized Allez steel frame built up with a Tiagra/Sora mix, old Profile carbon fork, a set of aluminum Reynolds wheels (bought from Merlin Cycles for $140), and my pedals and saddle from my carbon bike. My recent rides have been more enjoyable, relaxed, and not any slower, even with the bike weighing an extra 4-5 lbs.
I live in the French alps. In a town called Briançon, at the foot of a few famous climbs like the Galibier, the Izoard and the Granon. We have 2 very popular hill climbs events each summer. The 'Defi du Granon" and the "Defi du Galibier". These races are extremely different that the UK hill climbs, they are mass start and require a long sustained effort. The fastest guys usually finishing just under 40 minutes for either race. It's extremely competitive and a LOT of fun!
1000000% agree LOL, our expectations are wacked at this point. Now saying a $7000 (canadian) bike is reasonable? wtf we've all gone mad LOL but yes we like what we like, biking is basically a way of life for many of us, if you can afford it, and you use it a lot, then justifying is easier. Agreed, real people want $10k but not a single one of us need it.... Yes, new bike ordered is Di2 again... I couldn't stomach downgrading LOL keep up the great works dudes
Looking for recommendations for switching my daily commute tyres for winter. I ride is a Diverge E5 with 38 mil stock tyres. However, I've noticed that the stopping power is considerably reduced when I'm riding in the rain on them. I'm 6'1" and 94kgs(yes, I'm fat...lol!) hence looking to change them out for the winter to ensure that it's safer for me to ride daily. My daily commute is about 20km each way, mainly on roads but I do like to take the gravel path at times and on weekends. I have looked at the 700x43C Panaracer Gravel King SK but would like to go for a 45 or a 47mm(max tyre clearance of the bike) if possible. I'm looking for suggestions as this will be my first winter ride in the UK. Cheers! love the content you guys make and it's helped me become much better in my rides!
When I raced back in late 80's early 90's, I could afford to build a good, new, race spec, custom bike with what I earned as a student working part time in a pub. Campagnolo Chorus groupset, hubs built into Mavic Mach 2CD2 rims with DT Swiss spokes, made to measure Reynolds 753 frameset, Cinelli bars and stem, Selle italia saddle, Vittoria tubs. You can't put together a similar level, brand new bike today, working three nights a week, pulling pints in a North East pub. It would cost what, seven, eight, nine grand? It took me just over a year to save for that bike. How many years would it take today? You'd be finishing your Phd before you got to turn a crank in anger.
I walked into the new Trek showroom to check out some bikes and they had a Madone with a 105 groupset going for $9000 CAD!!! (+/- 5500 GBP!!!) I won't even pay that much for a damn car!!!
Don’t feel sorry for “poor” local bike shops or Wiggle. If businesses don’t evolve and adapt to changing needs, they become extinct - that’s life. Most of my local bike shops are arrogant, overpriced and unfriendly, but are still booming because most people who buy bikes here in Germany can’t even change a tire. Most people who are really into bikes, including the people who watch this channel, are well able to service their own bikes, often have more than one bike and are mostly happy to fix their bikes themselves. I couldn’t afford to bring my bikes to the local bike shop every time I need a new chain, cassette, etc.
This is one of my favorite episodes so far, partly due to Bella crashing the party. But it really is great to hear your ongoing discussion about value.
On the second day of a massive supported ride from Seattle to Portland, I noticed the front QR lever was open on a fellow rider. We happened to be just starting a descent. It would have been irresponsible not to tell him. On that same ride over the years I have helped change several tires typically asking if they need a hand seems to work fine.
No. There are plenty of ≈ $1,000 entry-level road bikes and $500 singlespeed commuters. They just don’t get any attention. The superbikes do. Saying bikes are too expensive based on the price of superbikes is like saying cars are too expensive because Ferraris cost a lot.
When I bought my Trek 7.2 hybrid in 2014, it was under $500. The entry level road bike from Trek was about $30 more at that time. Average people are being priced out of road biking.
Cycling has been expensive for numerous years my dad had been working with carbon as a raw material for years all the bikes are over priced even when a bike is in a sale . Plus disc brakes has now been introduced to road bikes that a further cost to the average consumer.
100% agree with the prices of bikes. Got my Trek Emonda sl5, 105 R7000 with upgraded Bontrager carbon 50mm wheels for £3000 all in. I’m genuinely so impressed with the latest 105 groupset, coming from an older Ultegra Di2 setup
Yes, I have been cycling road and mountain since the early 1990s and some of the equipment is insanely expensive and hard to maintain unlike my retro bike which I can fully strip, overhaul and service myself with basic tools and a few special ones
Watching smiling with the mention of Moss. Andy Jones, a great bike builder, and also a brilliant and inspirational DT teacher who took frame building into schools. Legend
Well I´m not sure really. Take the top of the range models are insanely expensive. But there are a lot more options on absolutely everything today. But you also get quite desenct bikes for not that much money. I started riding road bikes in 1996 and my first bike was about 1500 gbp.. In todays money that would actually be almost 3000 gbp. And the bike I can get for 3000 today is a lot better in every way possible than the bike I got back then. So inflation since I started riding has been doubling the prices. And then you have all the modern tech and materials plus windtunneltesting and marketing that cost money. All that makes the prices higher.
Wiggle did itself over with the website change. Just became absolutely useless at trying to find anything. Used Merlin, Sigma Sports and my LBS way more since the rebrand. With regards to bike prices, I’m now in no hurry to ‘upgrade’ to a new bike. On the flip side shops may benefit from more repairs/servicing as people use their bikes for longer.
You guys definitely need to find the sweet spot on bikes please 👍 1.5k to 3k More realistic prices like most cycle to work schemes are 2k ? I find it hard to find a 2k bike when I like the 3-4K ones ??? Many thanks and great work guys 👍
The problem with the cycling industry is that they are constantly finding a solution looking for a problem, instead of the other way around, and they call it innovation. When really it’s just expensive additions that don’t really improve riding experience. Electronic shifting is a prime example of this.
There must be tonnes and tonnes of virtually obsolete NOS parts going to waste while the bike industry pushes the latest "must have" tech. Feel sorry for all the overstocked bike shops.
@@Frostbiker None really, I have a bike I paid $550 US, 15 years ago, that I love. I’ve used it to race, commute, and tow my kids around the neighborhood. I really have no need or desire for upgrades or a new bike.
@@draugmithrin Carbon bike parts/frames will never be anything other than waste in a landfill after CF is no longer in vogue and bike consumers move on to the next big thing.
I have mixed feelings. An LBS sounds like the most practical way of dealing with maintenance and repairs. I also get their value in selling second hand bikes. For new bikes, it seems like they would make sense combined with a "bike fit first" approach. For components, perhaps it would make sense to separate the "expert service to help you find the component that suits you best" from the "selling it to you" part of it. Then again, I'm just a consumer who knows nothing about the reality of running a business. I would happily pay for the services above, but when it comes to actually ordering a new item, I would rather do it online and have it delivered at home. I enjoy tinkering on my bike on my own schedule.
I've also encountered the person Francis was talking about with the shortest cranks, iirc he replied to a comment that all his cranks were custom built only measuring about 130mm or so(I could be wrong but it really is short). He'd rather spend more on having them custom-built because he has some type of injury on his Knee, and requires minimum movement or bend, thus the shortest cranks ever.
As Jimmi, I didn't tell my wife about the cost of her bike because the most important thing in my head was to show her the beauty of cycling which in fact, happened.
I have the Grail from the first generation (still with Ultegra). Yes, the vibration damping is just marketing. I also get it, that the look of it is controversial, but nonetheless I actually like it. The bars give you a quite relaxed position on top, while providing you with a pretty aggressive position in the drops. I simply enjoy the flexibility from that. And hooking in the thumbs feels also pretty secure if the terrain gets rougher.
Cycling is a very expensive past time. I have a rather moderately priced bike (for serious cyclists). A £1,500 Genesis Croix de fer. However for anyone that isn’t a cyclist hearing I spent 1.5k on a bike is met with pure shock. It’s only in comparison to my more competitive cycling friends bikes that it seems not as bad. I know multiple people with a 2k mountain bike, a 6k road bike and a 10k trial bike. But for them cycling is their entire lives. I think the biggest issue is that the base prices are getting higher and higher and people don’t realise that often spending £300 is going to get you a pretty crap bike you’ll likely want to upgrade if you carry on cycling longer than a few months. For new cyclists that £300 is already a lot of money for a bike. For it then to be replaced so soon is an even bigger waste.
It is a matter of perspective. Cycling might be expensive compared to some other past times, but compared to any auto sport for example it is very cheap. Some other past times can also be surprisingly expansive, like table top games, I am constantly shocked what people will spend on WH40k and MTG stuff.
Your comments about small people not being catered to is spot on. My wife is 160cm and has short legs for her height and so many bikes don’t come in an appropriate size for her.
Our local shops would not order a small size to the test fit. We had to buy sight unseen. DTC companies did offer a “satification guaranteed” return period. We went with a DTC bike.
I live in Perth australia and loved the segment. It seems that Perth is becoming the most bike friendly city outside of Europe. The whole story about bike prices was so balanced, I just loved it. Got a very good idea what we SHOULD want. But I am unfit and only started cycling at 62, so I prefer a more upright position of a flat bar. Can you do a review of entry level specialized and Trek hybrids please? Thanks so much for such an informative video
As one of those Commuter cyclists who don't own a bike that cost me over 150£, i like the fact that you recognise the pricing perception problem in the sport. Recently i was looking into getting a serious bike to train. My dad, who is a cyclist since ever, couldn't understand why i want an alloy bike for 1.5k (very expensive for a bike) and not spend more (2.5k) for the carbon version of the same bike. So for 1k more, i would shed 1.5 kilo from the bike and not much more. I reckon i would lost the same weight from all the money i'd spend on the bike.
Do you lads have any opinions on Winspace framesets? They're outstanding value for money and the darling of the cycling world right now. My 10 year old hard-raced SL4 is showing its age but I can't go over 3k for the next build.
I live in China and I know a guy who is a semi-professional rider. He said before winspace are a good brand. He also recommended a brand called Pardus. because their factory is called Taishan Sports. They’re the biggest factory in China. They make Cervelo, Quintana Roo and Argon 18 amongst other brands. Same people. Same machines.
I think good performance is actually cheaper than ever and its down to increased choice. You can have a great mechanical 10sp groupset in Tiagra which performs at Ultegra level from two gens ago. Theres a fully wireless Rival AXS for mostly under a grand (there are always deals) and this was just non existent 3-5 years ago. Yes if you want to kit your bike out in top tier brands/product lines it will be horrendously expensive but that a function of broadening field. But the same broadening field provides opportunities that were not there before. You can have a Al frame disc brake 650b carbon wheeled gravel bike running 1x sram full wireless for a lot less that it would have been 5 years ago. Similarly with any other niche solution. Choice makes life much more efficient if one is not just chasing the most premium stickers.
Hey, just a suggestion… it’d be awesome if you could test more bikes, that you might perhaps borrow from your followers (like jayemm does for cars). I mean, pretty much every bike test you come by on youtube are sponsored; maybe you can do otherwise… you can even compare one against other, or new model to the outgoing or top of the range to the lower etc (got a bit carried away there). Thinking an sl8 sworks but cost is stupid, then maybe thinking of going for an sl8 pro but (much cheaper but still stupid money) but then you can get a tcr pro for half of even that.. so might there be really anything to justify even sl8 pro cost? Btw, the point of expensive bike is just the ‘feel’ of it really, to which both low weight and good equipment contribute. Can you justify to yourself being ripped off that bad tough?
Absoluttely when a so called entry level bike is nearly a months wage for me in norway its crazy... Im gonna buy a Ridley grifn allroad with aluminium frame and 105 thats 15 thousand Norwegian and its insane...
Would not buy anything but hydraulic disc brake bikes now. The security that it adds is worth the extra cost many times over. For me, it was an absolute revelation to switch. For my kids' bikes as they finally moved onto full size ones, it was just the same. For safety more than anything, they had to have hydraulic discs.
Been holding off for about 4 years now in buying a new steed, for a variety of life reasons, and just seen everything attainable get further and further away. I knew with the release of 105 electric last year that last years Ultegra bikes would now be 105 at the same price point. The industry is just shafting the consumer.
I'm currently considering a new bike so this podcast was really interesting. I have a 2017 alloy Giant Defy and looking at a Fairlight Strael 3 to replace it. It's a big expense, and doesn't make any logical sense so this chat was useful as a bit of a reality check. Mainly I just want a cool new bike 😛
The ‘23 emonda alr with 105 can be found new for less than 1800, even closer to 1600 in some places. With some new wheels you’ll get close to 8kg for 2500.
Dear Community, I currently have a Kuota Kiral Di2 Ultegra with rim brakes. Do you think it's worth upgrading to something like a Canyon SL 7 for around £2,000 to £3,000?
17:51 I had 10 speed Tiagra 2600 for ages. Loved it. Bit ugly on the shifters. I know ride Ltwoo 10 speed becuase I liked the looks. Loving that too! I dont race and just enjoy being out.
Here in Japan there are many "Hill Climb" events in different locations throughout the year & they tend to be well established annual events... They are however different that what I believe UK events to be = the biggest difference being that most events here are "mass start / mass participation" events - "Pro's" start at the front and it's a kind of "first to the top wins" type thing as opposed to the UK style of "individual time trial up a hill" event...
Why do you guys say weight isn't important? It would take less power for the same effort on a lighter bike, especially with lighter wheels. As for expensive bikes, there has been 5 figure bikes for over 10 years. I used to own a 2011 Felt F1 with Dura Ace Di2 that set me back $12,000 USD in 2011. In fact, Dura Ace Di2 was close to $5k new back then. Now it's about the same price. In 2015, Cannondale's top bike was the SuperSix Evo Black Inc was $15k. It used nano carbon, like the Lab71, and it used Dura Ace 9000 mechanical, not Di2, and rim brakes. The Dura Ace Di2 HM version was cheaper. It seems that the price increases are more significant on lower tier bikes, because that's what most people are shopping for. I could be wrong, but that's what I've observed.
Individual cans of Branston beans have the ring pull. You're all missing the crucial ingredient/condiment, Henderson's Relish (and no Worcestershire sauce is not an acceptable substitution). On bikes we've both bought used and for £2k I have an Ultegra Cannondale SSE with loads of Knott finishing stuff (2020) and my wife has a 105 Liv Langma Advanced which was £1600. If you want to be horrified take a look at what Planet X are asking for their new EC-30!
Is it even a question? A Pinarello Dogma F with Campag Super Record retails for $16,000, which is barely less than the price of Ducati Panigale superbike, from a similarly aspirational brand, and which has a 155hp engine, hundreds more moving parts, and a full fairing. A Yamaha R6, which is a championship winning motorcycle, is $4000 LESS than the Pinarello bicycle. There is no possible way on God’s green earth to justify the pricing of the bicycle from a production-cost standpoint. It’s pure manufacturer price inflation.
Bike Also, speaking of things being more expensive in the bike world, how come you didn’t chat up about how flaming ludicrous spandex…I mean Lycra and bike shorts. It’s genuinely insane. You want something that fits well and won’t slip off while riding? $100. On sale for $80. My used bike was $1200 and I’ve spent over 3/4 that for a few bibs, jerseys, and shoes. I’ve tried super cheap ones and they don’t fit well and the sizes are all messed up. So it’s just accepted that clothing is expensive. Mind, this shite is thin AF. I’m spending all this money for barely any clothing. Mate, cycling is insanely expensive and not just because it’s been marketed that way.
BTW, larger cyclists are ALSO badly catered for. There aren't that many bikes that are properly sized for riders over 190cm (says the 195cm guy). And worse, the industry thinks that all cyclists MUST be under 100kg and preferably less than that. Fine for the ultra lightweight gear given engineering tradeoffs. But even adventure, touring and MTB bikes and components (wheels) list max weights at or below 100kg. Guess, what, there are real humans who weigh more than that.
I’m not one to defend canyon but that sounds like something up with the frame or wheels. I have a grail with these bars and I’ve done 50+ mph descents plenty of times on this bike and it’s fine. Perhaps loading it up with bike packing gear and barreling down unfamiliar roads and riding no handed caused the speed wobbles?
3 things: - yes there are hillclimb bikes elsewhere, I've seen some in several european countries, France, Switzerland, Italy, Spain... - you guys have either a very small memory or you were bike snobs back in the days. Shimano 105, and even Tiagra/RX100 and Sora/RSX, were already great affordable groupsets 10, 20 or even 30 years ago. I used to have a mix of RX100/RSX on a cyclocross bike that I took to win early into the road season while waiting for my sponsored bike back in the days just by switching the crank to have standard chainrings. The thing is, more often than not sub 105 groupsets were sold by brands with shitty unbranded cable kits that used to hurt their functionnality. - Cats are great and they don't run after cyclists.
"We want that 10k pound bike, but we don't really need it" No words ever so true. The bike companies get you with their slightly better models. Hey if I spend 1k more, I can get Ultegra. If I spend 2k more I can get Di2, but it's 105, so I have to spend 3k more to get the Ultegra Di2. Before you know it, the bike is 9k and you probably only saved yourself a few seconds on that KOM.
Cyclists partly have themselves to blame. Cycling specific socks? Really? £100+ for sunnies? £5 for some tinted safety glasses from a DIY shop please. Then there's the brand snobbery. Look at the great value bikes from the likes of Planet X. 25% cheaper than the same spec and quality bike from a 'fashionable' brand.
Check out the prices of 2022 Vs 2023 Specialized Crux. Latest model has exactly same spec, different colour and a good chunk cheaper. Makes you wonder (realise) prices were high simply because they thought people were prepared to pay. Come 2023, inflation, increased cost of living, bike prices are coming down!
I have cf sl 7 grail, I got it for the damping because after a crash on my tt bike my left collar bone is in three parts which bump together on road chatter, which is interesting 😂. The grail is by far the most comfortable bike I have (and I have a grevil f so it isn’t just the gravel geometry, particularly for long rides on the drops hooking your thumbs over the bottom bar is massively comfortable. All in all the esthetic was never going to please ever one, I notice the impact of the handlebars giving some relief from chatter although a lauf or proper suspension fork or red shift would probably do the same. I do think you missed one of the complaints though, I mean mine fitted perfectly with the handlebars cut to fit the top of the crossbar as it arrived, but you can’t change that without messing up the look 4:27
I bought a bike for my wife the other week, it's a Boardman hybrid thing built by a guy in notts from a NOS frame, XT groupset, Alex wheels, and a few parts he had about, £195... Absolute bargain in my eyes, my dad agreed, my wife and my mum are outraged at the amount of money I spent... I'd better not tell them how much mine cost
Looking up the cheap bikes they talk about here and seeing how insane the prices are makes it disheartening to get back into cycling. A new bike to replace the one that was stolen a few ears ago is ridiculously expensive, and refurbishing an older one with a broken derailleur and worn group set is almost a 1000£ (converted from Norwegian kroner) too. Is a 1000£ 10 speed disc brake gravel bike really too much to ask for these days?
Has cycling become too expensive? And RU-vid is full of videos with the „newest“ , the „hottest“ , „the fastest“….and so on…. Always you can see the newest marketing for expensive bikes there….! Wet dreams of the bike industry, that we all buying the newest sh** eyery year. Iphone-marketing?
Listening to the podcast, I feel there's a missing link to the price issue on these products. I don't think the consumer is getting better value money, tech has improved, but models like 105 or so expensive and the excuse is new tech, but it's pointless as it's over the price of old ultegra. So if I want to buy a bike or upgrade my ultegra group set 105 is so far from what is affordable.. the problem is the gap betweens the top 3 groupsets.. there isn't any, so 105 is overly priced
I'd be willing to bring it up to 2-3 grand in pounds recreationally. Getting an quality carbon bike with proper mechanical parts from an local bike shop with proper service warranty from the brand. One more grand(wheels) and your an hair away from an 13-14k competition bike.
Bicycles for the last 10yrs have been both expensive(pending what you want) and overly pushed into this cellphone market of glitz and glamor. Yes you can get a decent bicycle from $1000-500, but unfortunately a lot of bicycle shops tend to push the expensive ones more then the least expensive. I haven't bought a new bike in over 14yrs because i can't justify the pricing.
A $3k cf bike will have crap wheels/tire, handlebar, saddle, and 105 groupset. It's really crazy how expensive bikes have become, and how much less you receive in return.
Agreed on the women and small people being poorly catered for. Worst offense. 29ers becoming the standard with nothing else available from many brands. Small girls don't like tractors period. Exceptions. Giant with their Liv branded sub company.
I for one, would love to see the 7.5 kg bike on the cheap, although TraceVelo has done it for pretty reasonable amounts, and so has GCN. I am struggling to see how to get my two decent, relatively new, ally bikes below 9.5 at the moment - lighter parts won't add up to 2 kg, beyond what I have already done (carbon post, carbon seat, carbon 38mm deep rims on Novatecs, road pedals). Bar, cranks, shifters, with titanium bolts, carbon post clamp, carbon steerer cap, and carbon cages won't do it. So good luck!
Cycling is to expensive…if you let it be! Which is why a Rolex is to expensive for a watch, there’s plenty of better brands at a fraction of the price but people like the kudos/snobbery call it what you like …same with cycling brands! Personally love Aldi baked beans…105 group sets and hyd/disc brakes as I remember chrome plated rims and a single shifter on the down tube😂! Oh bought a Rolex (pre loved) which cost more than the 2k value of my car at the time …my decision my money …!!
It's called inflation. Please... tell me what was uk inflation since 2010? And I've seen city commute specialized bikes cheaper than some at decatlhon. Carefulf with those claims.
i got my scott foil first gen 7.4kg, bought the bike for 700euro(second-hand), novatec wheelset with tubes, ultegra casette 500(second hand), bought aero handlebar from aliexpress 150euros, repainted it, invest 100, to replace parts. so in total it came to 1500euros and I have perfect racing bike, it is rim, but I do not care. Do not see point to spend more on bike...
I'm swimming in the convoluted bull..If you're a pro or serious bike head..yes knock your socks off..but to the novice who just wants to ride..it's crap..e.g. saddles, why so many
I don't think there's a hillclimb scene here. But I live in a very very flat place. I have not seen any events in Texas. Arkansas is hilly enough, but is mountain bike country. I expect that California (see Phil Gaimon) and New England have hill climbs, but still nothing like UK. Our people who do competitive events aren't exactly the fun-loving type, generally.
I've not encountered hill climb stuff here in the US. Part of the thing with the UK is there's really nowhere there, except for the fenlands and East Anglia, where there isn't some kind of stupid steep hill close at hand that goes for a quarter of a mile or something like that. Try a hill climbing season in Illinois and it would be simply absurd. What are you going to find in the city of Chicago itself, the 47th street exit on the lakefront trail in Chicago? 20 feet of elevation gain? Even the "biggest" hills in the Chicago suburbs are maybe 150 feet of gain and never more than 10 percent. Something like the Struggle that they're using this year for the national championships in the UK, you'd have to drive for a full day over to West Virginia or down to the Ozarks for. And another factor is that the UK doesn't really modernize its minor roads so the typical UK hill climb is like the typical Stone Age lifespan, nasty, brutish and short, perfect for these rapid-fire hill climb events. Not these hour-long seven and eight percent climbs that you have in the Alps, Rockies, Hawaii, and in shorter distances in hilly areas in the central and eastern US, oh no -- it's crazy steep, like 20 percent or more, but whether it's Hardknott, or Rosedale Chimney or whatever, it's over almost before you know it. The rare places in the UK where they have these long gentle ascents, like parts of South Wales such as Rhigos don't get used for these hill climb races.
The problem is that American baked beans are much sweeter than british baked beans. Its odd that it feels wrong to americans as most of our breakfasts are very sweet. Regarding the cost of bike products increasing, I've watched the same panaracer gravel tires go from being $40 in 2020 to costing $75 in 2023. I am not happy about this. At least my local bike shop gives me the frequent flyer discount whenever I'm in
I struggle to support LBS, I live in South wales and put my trust I'm several stores from Swansea all the way to Cardiff and found the service rubbish, quality of work rubbish and general aragance. All the good guys now work from home, low overheads, support the web market and charge for their time, which is the best of both worlds.
There is no reason for an off the shelf pedal only bike to be priced at £15,000. Those who rely on bikes(pros) should buy custom bikes at £15,000. The pricing is completely out of whack because the marketing is totally wrong.
how can you possibly say that 10 years ago, 105 was rubbish? I have two bikes that were purchased 15 years ago. One came with 105, apart from chains and cassettes of course, the derailleurs and even the the chainrings work very well and change well; OK I wax so the chain rings last forever. the one that came with Dura Ace had all the gear replaced with 105 and I did 10. years one that one and then recently gave it an update to Ultegra and wheels and an integrated set of bars, because the bike is still fast. The point is the manual Ultegra is great but not hugely better Than the 15 year old 105. so it works, lasts a very long time and until recently cost MUCH less. this next bit is a raspberry being blown lat you... PZZZPPHt.
I find Jimmy’s “everything is too expensive” point of view massively out of touch and a little grating if I’m honest 😂 I’m not wealthy, £8k isn’t just the same as £3k for me but I chose to spend £8k on a bike because it’s all part of enjoying the hobby - riding the nicest (and to a lesser degree, fastest) bike I can afford. In much the same way that not everyone buys the absolute cheapest A-B car with five seats and a steering wheel. Nothing worse than a snooty cyclist that feels the need to point out how marginal the gains are, like everyone with an expensive bike is an idiot. it’s often followed up with some quip about sheep, marketing, legs or engines 😅 I agree £3k is the value sweet spot though!
The biggest issue I had with the Hover bar was it kept your hands really far away from the bar controls (brakes and shifters) so at the point when you want the most vibration damping (going fast) you couldn't cover the brakes! EEK!!! 😬
