BIKE PRICE COMPLAINERS AND BIKE SHOPS

[100Tours]

 

Then tell me why am I so slow?

 

This is an invitation to be sold something built entirely of unobtanium.

 

[dollar]

The customer is part of the problem? If I offer you a set of wheels for R30k and another set for R13k which set is the best in terms of design, strength, weight and functionality? Well, it must be the R30k set of course. Why? Because it costs more. Problem. We are starting to lose our ability to distinguish between products based on what it looks and feels like - we rely on the price to be the indicator.

 

So - a R100k bike is twice as good as a R50k bike? That sort of logic says that a R1k bike is total k@k. The retailers have caught on to this little problem that we suffer from and they make products especially for us.

 

I ride for fun - so equipment does not matter that much. Of course I dont say that it doesnt matter - but the difference between a R10k and 30k bike is not that important to me.

 

If you are a top rider that is shaving seconds off your times then I guess that every gram of performance counts - whatever the cost. How many of us ride at that level?

 

Having said that it's your money and you can spend it any way that you want to. I must admit that it feels better to ride a R85k bike than a R1k retro!

 

[Speedi]

http://www.alibaba.comSpeedi2009-05-03 11:15:14

[Trubie]

Capri

I dont know at what level you ride/tace, but I cannot see that equipment will make a significant difference unless you are racing for a living and ride the latest bike equipped with the lightest and best eq.

In a sprint that may make a fraction of a second diff and maybe affect a placing. Otherwise its highly overrated IMHO.

 

I ride  a 1500 Trek, train with Bontrager Aero Select wheels, race with Bontrager Race Lite wheels, and have kicked some serious carbon and other 30K plus butt in recent times.

I cannot see how a more expensive bike/wheels/shoes/equipment will assist me.

If I wanna drop grams, I empty my pockets and my waterbottles - much cheaper that way

[Sean1]

My argument is that equipment DOES make a difference!!!!!!!

I train on my trek with cheap wheels and then I race WIth My Raleigh LTD (Carbon Frame' date=' Full Dura-ace. 7.2kg). On my Trek I try sprint and I get frustrated with the acceleration (none). Then I get on my babay (Raleigh With my nice wheels, Easton tempest II Tubbies) ANd I barely touch and it FLIES!!!!!
perfect for attachs in a licenced bunch...

EQUIPMENT DOES MATTER!!!
[/quote']

 

Yes equipment makes a difference.  No disagreements there but does it have to cost us soooooo much for the equipment?!

 

Probably not.

[Wyatt Earp]

Then tell me why am I so slow?

 

 

Too tall my man

[Christopher Brunsdon]

The one fact we mostly agree on, is to buy proper parts and not the chain store crap. How we each define the starting point of what constitutes a good part is dependent on our needs.

 

As I commute to work to save money on petrol (ha ha ha ha, who said cycling was cheap) my entry level bike is sufficient. Not even my new ibis (soon to be when I win all the Tread Mag goodies ) will make a my commute much less technical - OK, I lie, it will make Irene Av damn side easier.

 

Where I really see the difference is in kit and small upgrades. For 8 weeks I was cycling uphill with sandels and standard pedals. I then fitted toe clips (R30) and what a difference - night and day. Might not be R2K cleats and R4K shoes but R30 randt made my commute much much easier and more enjoyable.

 

Same goes with pants / shorts. Just got 2 from my neighbour tonight for mahala and I guarantee yo my checks are going to be so much happier now. Currently I cannot go more than 8km continous before my anus is broken (my commute is < 7km one way).

 

[Overlord]

 

Then tell me why am I so slow?

 

 

Too tall my man

 

EISH!!

 

[GoLefty!!]

bicycles sellling prices are a rip off.

 

If Tata can build a car that costs R30000-00 new and include a 5 year warranty and motorplan then I think a bicycle for R30000 is a complete rip off, especially if it is a made in China/Taiwan/Malaysia factory pop out at 50000 units a day.

 

I would consider a handmade bicycle, low volume, to be worth R30 000. Then you are paying for someones livelyhood, craftsmanship.

 

Bicycles costs what they do because we are willingto pay that price. The investorsin the bike manufatcuring company want a return on investment every year so there has to be priceinflation. That price inflation is justified by marketing gizmos like;

 

- new coat of paint.

- 5gram lighter frame (last year they weighted trhem with frame mount screws, this year without.

- Latest suspension design [insert zooty catchy name with 12 page technical marketing report with this one is better than llasts years identitcal design...

- white handlebars and seatpost

- white brakes

-white saddle

- they sell branded socks as well.

 

all of these are mechanisms to get you to pay more. Whats most interesting is that intellectually brilliant people turninto complete morons in a bicycle shop, especially engineers. All common sense seem to be left behind in the boot of their car.

 

 

 

[Capri Wheeler]

I race 16s. I train at the top (coached by tariningbible.co.za) and hard as I can!

Kicked carbon, I believe that 100% because I know on my Trek when I had Bontrager Select wheels I passed Cervelo R3s in the 94.7 but when these guys are all training at the top and they are a fraction of my size (im a genetically big boy, dont have much fat on me but still large and heavy) it helps. To get away in the attach on deepsection tubbies is unbelievably easier that on my Bontrager selects!!!!

 

 

[Sean1]

The customer is part of the problem? If I offer you a set of wheels for R30k and another set for R13k which set is the best in terms of design' date=' strength, weight and functionality? Well, it must be the R30k set of course. Why? Because it costs more. Problem. We are starting to lose our ability to distinguish between products based on what it looks and feels like - we rely on the price to be the indicator.

So - a R100k bike is twice as good as a R50k bike? That sort of logic says that a R1k bike is total k@k. The retailers have caught on to this little problem that we suffer from and they make products especially for us.

I ride for fun - so equipment does not matter that much. Of course I dont say that it doesnt matter - but the difference between a R10k and 30k bike is not that important to me.

If you are a top rider that is shaving seconds off your times then I guess that every gram of performance counts - whatever the cost. How many of us ride at that level?

Having said that it's your money and you can spend it any way that you want to. I must admit that it feels better to ride a R85k bike than a R1k retro!
[/quote']

 

Big agreement with your argument. 

 

The only guys that will tell you that the 50k bike is better than your 25k bike ( Twice as good!)  is the salesman and your mate who bought the R50k bike.

 

What is the Hansa?

 

 

[Christopher Brunsdon]

This is why entry level bikes are cool. You actually do benifit from the price difference. My giant rock has V Brakes, the one model up has disk brakes - R1k difference. And the next model up has beter chain sets, etc ... all the way up to about the 20-30K region.

 

Beyond that its not feasable for an average guy like me that earns less in a year than what a top-end bike will cost.

 

[Sean1]

bicycles sellling prices are a rip off.

 

...

 

Bicycles costs what they do because we are willingto pay that price. The investorsin the bike manufatcuring company want a return on investment every year so there has to be priceinflation. That price inflation is justified by marketing gizmos like;

 

- new coat of paint.

- 5gram lighter frame (last year they weighted trhem with frame mount screws' date=' this year without.

- Latest suspension design [insert zooty catchy name with 12 page technical marketing report with this one is better than llasts years identitcal design...

- white handlebars and seatpost

- white brakes

-white saddle

- they sell branded socks as well.

 

all of these are mechanisms to get you to pay more... 

 

[/quote']

 

 

A facelift every year.... to force you off your old steed and onto the new one.

 

[Snidge]

I have just paid R13000 for a new mtb with full XT components after riding a basic bike with Deore components and I can notice the difference with everything. But I find it hard to believe that a R30000 plus bike will improve my riding. Im coming in around the top 15% of the field in races i do and not to many guys around me has equipment as "basic" as mine. There seems to be some sort of image thing around cycling with the belief that you have to spend big bucks to go fast. What rubbish! Just train more.

But I guess everyone has different ideas so if you can afford a expensive bike, go for it. Just hope your results look as "cool" as your bike.

[GoLefty!!]

XT level or X-9 level components is all any of us really need to compete and do well. Thereafter it's not about the bike.

 

In fact I know guys who compete with SLX and Deore level components. Doesn't hold them back.

So Unless I can get my X.0 or XTR dirt cheap (like CRC flood sales or clearance of old stock) I don;t bother and just buy down

[Trubie]

[ There seems to be some sort of image thing around cycling with the belief that you have to spend big bucks to go fast. What rubbish! Just train more.

But I guess everyone has different ideas so if you can afford a expensive bike, go for it. Just hope your results look as "cool" as your bike.

 

my sentiment exactly