shelbyfv

Sorry to hear that and I'm actually surprised. Through a fluke of geography I was drawn into a riding group mostly far above my modest financial status. For example, folks having multiple $10K bikes is not remarkable. In over 20 years I don't recall ever hearing a bike being dissed because of cost or level of components.

seypat

It's a serious issue for someone wanting to try it out. Even picking up used bikes can be a crapshoot now for a newbie if he/she has to chase down parts. What about the parent that has a teen that wants to pick it up? When my kids were that age it was easy. Get something off of CL and get it running. Most of the components were somewhat interchangable. Not now. I have a couple of bikes I keep as loaners for runners thinking about dabbling in cycling/tri. They're 80's bikes with DT or old brifters. Still better than forking out 1-2k+ just to see if you will enjoy it.

seypat

It happens to me all the time. One thing that gets a comment from the "serious cyclists" is 2 sided(1 flat the other SPD) pedals on a sporty road bike. I use them to get across an intersection faster from a stop, then clip in when it's safe to do so. That way, I don't leave the riders behind me(if there are any) hung out to dry waiting to get through also. That happens to be a pet peeve of mine. Those same riders it seems, are also the ones who fail to downshift coming into a stop. They have to take off on the big ring and a small cog. Out of the saddle, dancing on the pedals like they're on a Cat climb. Oblivious to the people behind them. It takes them forever to get going and back up to speed. It's like following a loaded semi. You'd think with all the technological advancements/improvements being talked about it this thread that wouldn't happen. I guess they think they look pro or like a rider in a Rapha/Pearl Izumi commercial. Sorry for the sudden rant/vent.

shelbyfv

I'd call that a "choice of components" comment rather than cost. We did have some laughs about a guy who decided to remove every other spoke from his wheels....

elcruxio

I see you might have read a question as a statement...

However to your point, it's possible that many bikes targeted to consumers may in fact be slower than top tier racing bikes of old. And that's a good thing. Consumers do not need TDF-level racing bikes. They need good ergonomics and gearing that allows them to get up hills as well as brakes which allow them to descend safely.

Using TDF average speeds to determine whether bikes have improved over the years is like comparing engine sizes in formula 1 to determine whether family cars have gotten safer over the years. The two things are in no way or form related.

If I think of road bikes before the time of brifters for example, they really weren't that compatible for your average joe. Horrible bar ergonimics wih thin tubed drop bars with massive reach and drop numbers, thin bar tape, weak brakes you could only properly use from the drops, atrocious brake hoods (did anyone even use the hoods position?). There weren't cut out saddles or really that many different saddle shapes so numbness was just something you had to deal with or stop riding. Frame sizing was pretty uniform but if you didn't fit that uniformity, well SOL... Corncob cassettes with 53-39 cranksets must have been a blast beginners. Shifting while releasing a hand from the bars is always fun and safe in all situations.

Compare that to today's bikes which have large diameter compact drop bars, thick bar tape, brifters which actually fit the hand and allow you to shift whilst holding the bar. Saddles galore! With todays wacky saddle shapes anyone can find a saddle that fits. There's all sorts of bike geometries even inside a given segment of cycling (road, gravel etc) and anyone who's still having a really hard time is a short person with long legs. You have huge dinner plate cassettes with enough gears to have reasonable gear spacing and sub compact cranksets to allow almost anyone to get up even challenging hills. I should probably write something about brakes, but let's not go there again.

PeteHski

No I was just laughing at your comedy post. I don't care what you think about the bike industry, but it is funny.

Cdubs

I can't think of many wasteful things but kick stands for anything other than a commuter.

big john

A newbie getting lied to by an unscrupulous salesperson is very different than an enthusiast buying a pricey thing they want.

And a dick judging you for your bike is BS. Anyone who has been doing club rides or racing for a while knows better than that. Getting dropped by someone on a beater bike or a much older person or (heaven forbid) a woman will teach humility. I know, some guys can't handle it. I got used to it long ago.

livedarklions

To be clear, I don't disagree with you (mostly), but I think the newbie/enthusiast distinction is worth discussing, so I'm glad Jughed brought it up. I disagree that this is just an issue of a particular salesperson, though, as I think the constant reference of relatively expensive bikes and kit as being "entry level" is an industry thing.

livedarklions

I found it very useful when I was pulling my kid around in a trailer and when I used to have baskets on my bike. They can also be useful if you're storing the bike inside with limited space and you can't make holes in the wall.

big john

Sales people are generally going to push people to spend more, regardless of the product. "Let the buyer beware" applies to bike shops as much as anywhere else.

I'm a retired new car dealer mechanic. Some of what certain service advisors do to customers makes me sick to my stomach. They get paid commission, their job is to get as much money from the customer as possible. When one advisor starts out-selling the others, the others are encouraged to sell more and may be threatened with termination.

Of course, they're not all like that and I'm sure some bike shop people actually care and have morals. Some might just be ignorant and believe that a $5K bike is the minimum for a decent mtb.

Cdubs

Totally understand. I find the bike world is such a personal experience it's one of the few activities where there are very few hard rules for doing anything.

PeteHski

By "industry" do you mean bike manufacturers or bike shops?

livedarklions

Yes.

livedarklions

This is why I refuse to engage in saying someone else is wasting their money.

terrymorse 

It is getting harder to find decent rim-brake wheelsets.

Colorado Cyclist offers 8 different 700c wheels on their website, from Zipp and Easton. Wheels that accommodate rim braking: zero.

Cambria Bike offers 28 different carbon 700c wheels on their website. Wheels that accommodate rim braking: zero.

Jeff Neese

Nothing here that suits you?

https://velomine.com/collections/wheels

seypat

It appears to be both.

https://bike.shimano.com/en-US/produ...ris-r2000.html

terrymorse 

An exception. I stand by my observation that most online shops no longer carry high quality rim brake 700c wheels.

rsbob 

A big waste is an expensive hair cut.

smd4

Sure they were. Reach and drop were easily adjustable using different, appropriately sized parts. I always used padded tape--still do. I can easily operate my brakes from my (very comfortable) hoods with one finger. Where are you getting all this silly information? Half the people on this Forum still ride Brooks saddles. There were a hell of a lot more sizing choices than "S/M/L." No one forced you to get a "corn cob" cassette. And when 53-39 came around, that was pretty nice! It's no big deal...really.

Eric F 

"Good" is a very vague term. One person's definition of "good" could be very different than someone else's. For a serious XC racer, looking to buy a brand new bike from a LBS, "min of $5k" is probably right, possibly even a bit low. $4k gets you a Specialized Epic (full-sus XC bike) with SRAM NX components. For a newer racer, that bike might be great. For an experienced racer looking to take a step up to something lighter/better, it's more likely that they are looking for a bike with an XT or XO1 build, which is going to push things north of the $5k line. Based on my own personal POV, a "good MTB" (new from a LBS) is going to be in that $5k+ category. Your opinion of "good" might be totally different, and that's just fine.

Eric F 

While I agree 100% that the selections are definitely getting thinner, high quality rim-brake wheels can still be found. Hunt Wheels, is one.

Koyote

I don't know what constitutes the biggest waste of money in cycling, but I know that the biggest waste of time is worrying about how other people spend their money.

terrymorse 

Light Bicycle also still carries two "quick buy" (pre-built?) rim brake wheels. 45mm and 55mm deep.

Not clear how quick that "quick buy" option is. When you click on the quick buy wheelset, it takes you to the Customize & Buy page.