Slackerprince

My dream bike would be:
Nice carbon frame
6800
Nice wheels

Probably ~$3K. Done, and let's ride.


S

2702

IMO, a e bike is more fun than any road bike. Hint- get one with a throttle before the manufacturers stop making throttles at all.

GovernorSilver

No I did not dream I would spend $10,000 on a bike, let alone just $1000. A year ago, I didn't know how to ride a bike and was idly dreaming about learning how to do so. A lot can change in a year!

I now have a $600 "city commuter" bike (my first bike) and a $2200 carbon adventure road bike - this particular model doesn't seem to go on sale that often so I jumped on that deal when I saw it. That's still less than what I've spent on music gear ($2500 for a prosumer level viola, $4000 on two 61-key synths, $1000 for a sampler, $2000 electric violin, $600 for a composite violin bow, etc.). Good thing I'm not a serious string player - the cost of a pro-level wood bow runs n the thousands and a pro-grade violin or viola made by a master luthier is $15K and up.

StanSeven

Wow! That's crazy. You can get a really nice bike for $15K

GlennR

You don't want a 10, you want this:


You can actually ride it all the time.

GovernorSilver

Indeed. Also there are bows that cost over $10K

GlennR

My son's cello was over $11k and that's considered a medium level, bow as $1800 and that was 12 years ago.

highrpm

Try going road racing. A decent car is at least $10k, more if you want a competitive one. Race fees are $300+ per weekend. Tires are $800-1000 and last a few weekends if you're lucky. Good race shocks are $2-3k...

Cycling is much, much cheaper.

Maelochs

Yeah, but I bet it is easier for you to find a sponsor for your car than it is for me to find someone to sponsor my bike or any of my gear ...

svtmike

Today I can honestly say I probably wouldn't consider spending less than $1k on a (new) road bike.

And if I'm being really honest, probably not less than $2k.

bonz50

I figured it would happen eventually. when I was a kid I raced BMX, back 1978, my bike was a custom build and it cost me (my parents, really) around $500, by today's standards that would have been probably a $1000+ bmx bike. so it doesn't surprise me, my current bike I paid $1000 for used, it'll do just fine for a long long time

kbarch

I had a dream that I had a Ridley Helium SL 10, but I don't recall actually spending $9,999.99 (or whatever MSRP is) on it. Does that count?

ErichVonCartman

The way I see it, hobbies are suppose to cost you money, and you should spend as much as you can on your hobbies.

I just got back into bicycles this year after a 12 year break.... And I spent about $15k this year alone on all stuff bicycle related! 3 bikes + accessories + tools + clothing.

Got some good bonuses, and instead of upgrading a house (that does not need it), or putting it down on a fancy sports car, I bought bikes and bike stuff instead.

Best $15k I ever spent! The bikes I own now are my dream bikes and I am very satisfied with how they are all configured. I do not have the urge to upgrade them for better.

Bunyanderman

Honestly I don't see it that way, most people who track their car don't compete for anything more than a fast lap. If they compete they usually don't even use their car, they get apart of a team.

TriDanny47

Good for you!

joejack951

I totally hear you on justifying spending money on bikes in lieu of spending that same money on other unnecessary things. I was lucky enough that I managed to not spend real money on necessary stuff (a second car) thanks to riding my bike to work for a number of years. If you added up depreciation on a new car plus gas, insurance, etc. over the 6 year period that I almost exclusively biked to work and got by with one car for my wife and I, I am sure I still came out ahead money wise even with quite a few bikes purchased and a whole lot of accessories.

But I did have to chuckle at your last line. I mean, you just bought three bikes this year for what sounds like at least a few grand a piece. Did you really need to point out that you don't have the urge to upgrade yet?

Homebrew01

Back in the day, my race bikes were about $1200. A couple of years ago I built up a new race bike, budget build, with 50mm carbon tubulars. Cost me $1300. Not a weght weenie winner, but I suck at climbing so it doesn't matter, but great criterium bike.

GlennR

Back in the day, 1974, i bought a new car for $2250.

i recently read that with gas prices under $2.00 a gallon, when you factor in inflation, we're paying the equivalent of 1970's prices. So you're $1200 in 1970 now would cost $7474.12 in 2015 dollars.

$1,200 in 1970 - Inflation Calculator

noodle soup

I never thought I would own 2 tandems, but I bought a fourth one last month.

StanSeven

Good point. I also noticed the same applies with cars. Considering all the government mandated safety, emmision, and other things, cars might be even cheaper now.

ErichVonCartman

LOL... I upgraded them even before they even left the store or before they were even unboxed! So now I don't have any urge to upgrade them as they all are configured the way I like.

I guess many of you will have guilt trips paying so much for bikes, not me!

If you count the extra parts such as spare wheels and such, My Santa Cruz Nomad All-Mountain Bike was $8000 when it was said and done, my Stradalli Road Bike was about $4500, and my Nashbar Carbon 105 "Grocery" Bike was about $1100 when it was all said and done.

Pics of my 2015 purchases...


Santa Cruz Nomad - with Vivid Air, Fox 36, SRAM X01, and Ibis Wheels



Stradalli SL1 with Dura Ace 9000 throughout and Yoleo Series Wheels



Nashbar Carbon 105 converted to a Flat Bar Grocery Bike

Maelochs

That's about where I am. Not that I would turn down a $10K bike if someone handed me one, but my perceived (and inflated) needs could be met for less than a third of that.

So long as I also get to keep my other bikes.

Maelochs

I have a friend who does Chumpcar ... sponsors might offer a tiny discount on parts in return for a sticker for the fender. I was just kidding (hence the smiley.) All hobbies can get expensive, but auto racing starts a few steps above most others.

For what they spend on tires, fuel, and fuel for the hauler for a weekend I could buy my dream bike.

StanSeven

Try boating. I've got friends that race cars and others with boats. The marine industry has them cornered too. Everything boat costs many times more than auto for similar things. They even have boaters captured for fuel at marinas. One guy races go fast boats and blows through a couple thousand dollars in fuel every race weekend. His motors need replaced several times. Even his insurance for towing is through the roof.

thin_concrete

I have several friends that race so I know about those costs just by virtue of working on their cars with them. One hobby that blindsided me with cost was photography. Many years ago I was bitten by that bug and picked up a Canon 40D and started learning about lenses, etc. Wow - that hobby adds up pretty quickly too. I've since sold most of my gear as I just don't have the time for it, and didn't want to make the time for it (cars, skiing, golf, now cycling).