Why is bicycle clothing so expensive?

[Graham S]

Based off of the other thread about tyres. 

I've only been into the MTB scene for about 1 and half years now, started late 2021. 

I came from over 10 years of motorcycling and buying lots and lots of road and race gear, boots, leather suits etc, all very expensive stuff. 

The thing that blows my mind about cycling clothing prices is the fact that there is basically no material there. 

A pair of kevlar reinforced jeans desgned for slide protection in a fall is around R2000 and up depending on the brand. A pair of RST leather boots is around R3k and up for other brands. 

How are MTB shoes almost the same price? How is a pair of MTB shorts or a lightweight shirt etc all in the above R1000 range? All it is is light. It barely does anything to protect you in a fall. 

Kitting myself out for MTB has been almost as expensive as buying my motrcycle kit all over again. 😅

Now im not implying that I was expecting MTB to be a cheap sport, but more an observation on how high prices are for items that do very little for you vs the price you pay. 

Edited March 30, 2023 by Graham S

[BaGearA]

OP no offence meant here 

 

 

But are we seriously going to go through every damn part of the cycling experience and complain about how expensive it is ? 

 

if you find yourself calculating how many km/rand you're getting out of your kit just quit the sport

 

 

I honestly can't understand this much thinking that has to go into recreation.

 

peace ✌️

[dave303e]

I tend to do a lot of riding in MX shirts and gloves if that helps? save costs by using for both sports...

 

But I did throw up in the back of my mouth a little when I saw that alpinestars tech 10 boots are pretty much 15 grand now

[ChrisF]

8 minutes ago, Graham S said:

Based off of the other thread about tyres. 

I've only been into the MTB scene for about 1 and half years now, started late 2021. 

I came from over 10 years of motorcycling and buying lots and lots of road and race gear, boots, leather suits etc, all very expensive stuff. 

The thing that blows my mind about cycling clothing prices is the fact that there is basically no material there. 

A pair of kevlar reinforced jeans desgned for slide protection in a fall is around R2000 and up depending on the brand. A pair of RST leather boots is around R3k and up for other brands. 

How are MTB shoes almost the same price? How is a pair of MTB shorts or a lightweight shirt etc all in the above R1000 range? All it is is light. It barely does anything to protect you in a fall. 

Kitting myself out for MTB has been almost as expensive as buying my motrcycle kit all over again. 😅

Now im not implying that I was expecting MTB to be a cheap sport, but more an observation on how high prices are for items that do very little for you vs the price you pay. 

 

HYPE .... a lot have been said about the "HYPE", and the willingness to buy into this .....

 

 

Go have a look at RAPID SPORTS.  Even better, go to their store if you are in the Cape.

 

MUCH cheaper than the "known brands".

 

After a few rides in their cycling shorts I am happy with the comfort level ... more testing to follow.

 

 

I have some of their clothing that have been used a fair bit, and certainly NO quality issues.  Unlike another fancier (better marketing) brands that have had to be returned due to poor quality and then returned again due to replacement items being too small even though the label suggests it is the same size.

[Meezo]

6 minutes ago, BaGearA said:

OP no offence meant here 

 

 

But are we seriously going to go through every damn part of the cycling experience and complain about how expensive it is ? 

 

if you find yourself calculating how many km/rand you're getting out of your kit just quit the sport

 

 

I honestly can't understand this much thinking that has to go into recreation.

 

peace ✌️

don't worry, when you started out here on bikehub we had to endure the same... 😅

let the op be, opening reading and responding to every topic is not necessarily necessary, unless you DieselnDust or Jewbecca

[peepeekaitjie]

why is bicycle so expensive

[edgarblount]

"Goedkoop koop is duur koop" - Afrikaans saying translated into Chinese "Cheapbuy buy is expensive buy".

Most of the time you pay for quality. As simple as that. Yes, I know you can get quality at lower price points. Don't want to debate Swiss Engineering excellence made in China but my 2 x Assos bibs are 5 years old and good as new. Other brands didn't last more than 2 years.  

[Theunissa]

11 minutes ago, ChrisF said:

 

HYPE .... a lot have been said about the "HYPE", and the willingness to buy into this .....

 

 

Go have a look at RAPID SPORTS.  Even better, go to their store if you are in the Cape.

 

MUCH cheaper than the "known brands".

 

After a few rides in their cycling shorts I am happy with the comfort level ... more testing to follow.

 

 

I have some of their clothing that have been used a fair bit, and certainly NO quality issues.  Unlike another fancier (better marketing) brands that have had to be returned due to poor quality and then returned again due to replacement items being too small even though the label suggests it is the same size.

Have you tried horses? If you want to talk about expensive go there. Cycling is expensive since the tdau I started I knew it's expensive but cheaper that riding motorcycle cycles or my previous jeep. I used same shoes, bin, shirts etc for 7 years. Not bad if you ask me. 

[Irvin85]

Majority of cycling stuff is overpriced... it is seen as a luxury item and people tend to not think twice when spending on their hobbies. 

I don't know how many Sworks I have seen on my local trails with riders on it not capable of pushing the bike to its limits and well over the weight limit of a professional rider, they will not notice the performance difference if they where on another bike but still they are not shy to spend 150k plus for a bike, when a Titan valued at 50k would give them the same experience. 

Then some shops also make a killing, just the other day I saw a pair of mtb bike shoes normal price of R7500 going for 20% less and I suspect the bike shop is still making at least a 30% profit on the lower advertised price. 

In short, cycling stuff is so damn expensive because we are willing to pay so damn much for it. 

[MORNE]

18 minutes ago, Meezo said:

don't worry, when you started out here on bikehub we had to endure the same... 😅

let the op be, opening reading and responding to every topic is not necessarily necessary, unless you DieselnDust or Jewbecca

If you are going to call them out…at least do it properly🤣

@Jewbacca @DieselnDust

[Jbr]

25 minutes ago, Meezo said:

don't worry, when you started out here on bikehub we had to endure the same... 😅

let the op be, opening reading and responding to every topic is not necessarily necessary, unless you DieselnDust or Jewbecca

🤣 shots fired

Must say I agree with the OP though, when I see rapha, assos or PSN kits prices I'm like? Same face I did when I saw the new GP 5000 at R2500, which is heavier, slower, less puncture resistant than the old one but close to double the price (Just mentionning it so that I don't have to go post on that other thread).

Edited March 30, 2023 by Jbr

[BaGearA]

1 minute ago, Jbr said:

🤣 shots fired

Must say I agree with the OP though, when I see rapha, assos or PSN kits prices I'm like? Same face I did when I saw the new GP 5000 at R2500, which is heavier, slower, less puncture resistant than the old one but close to double the price.

If there's one piece of my kit I won't ever consider overpriced its my Assos bib 

[Skubarra]

9 minutes ago, edgarblount said:

"Goedkoop koop is duur koop" - Afrikaans saying translated into Chinese "Cheapbuy buy is expensive buy".

Most of the time you pay for quality. As simple as that. Yes, I know you can get quality at lower price points. Don't want to debate Swiss Engineering excellence made in China but my 2 x Assos bibs are 5 years old and good as new. Other brands didn't last more than 2 years.  

On some stuff definitely yes (specifically clothes) - I am gravitating towards fewer but longer lasting clothing items as opposed to regularly replacing entry level clothes that are worn out or uncomfortable.

On bike parts only to a point - mid-range parts on a china frame have served me well over a few years now, never feel like I'm missing out by not dropping all my hard earned money on high end frames & parts.

[Jbr]

2 minutes ago, BaGearA said:

If there's one piece of my kit I won't ever consider overpriced its my Assos bib 

woops, really didn't mean to put a coin in this machine 😭

[edgarblount]

Cycling clothing is not that expensive....

 

[Graham S]

57 minutes ago, BaGearA said:

OP no offence meant here 

 

 

But are we seriously going to go through every damn part of the cycling experience and complain about how expensive it is ? 

 

if you find yourself calculating how many km/rand you're getting out of your kit just quit the sport

 

 

I honestly can't understand this much thinking that has to go into recreation.

 

peace ✌️

That was not the point of my post to be honest. 

My point is the price vs the use case of the item.

How can a pair of enduro shorts cost R1800 when it literally does nothing more than cover your legs and give you some pockets and maybe some comfort if it has a chamoix? 

Where is that R1800 coming from? 

Thats why I compared it to motorcycle gear. The price vs protection factor seems to be better with the leathers versus the shorts. 

My post is more of an observation than complaint.