Anyone Ridden/Got a really really expensive bike ?
Discussion
i.e. like the 11 grand Colagno in our local place.
If so, what is the difference between that and say a £1500 bike, which to most is a huge amount of money for a push bike, its funny, I used to think £500 would buy the best bike anyone could need but spending more time on them does make you realise there is a difference but I cant see much after £1500/£2000 what it buys, the improvements must be fairly small, i.e. the law of diminishing returns, does it take a pro to notice/benefit from the difference, is it a Princess/Pea scenario, is some of it psychological, would an overweight commuter spot the difference ?
Does a really top end bike kind of give an "all the gear, no idea" vibe to most who have them, I would imagine even spending 11 grand I would still get smoked by most half decent roadies on a £300 Carrera. I suspect if someone can afford one, and wants one they probably dont care
I must say the fancy electronic gears look fascinating, surprised someone hasn't produced a budget oriented kit for say £500 ?
If so, what is the difference between that and say a £1500 bike, which to most is a huge amount of money for a push bike, its funny, I used to think £500 would buy the best bike anyone could need but spending more time on them does make you realise there is a difference but I cant see much after £1500/£2000 what it buys, the improvements must be fairly small, i.e. the law of diminishing returns, does it take a pro to notice/benefit from the difference, is it a Princess/Pea scenario, is some of it psychological, would an overweight commuter spot the difference ?
Does a really top end bike kind of give an "all the gear, no idea" vibe to most who have them, I would imagine even spending 11 grand I would still get smoked by most half decent roadies on a £300 Carrera. I suspect if someone can afford one, and wants one they probably dont care
I must say the fancy electronic gears look fascinating, surprised someone hasn't produced a budget oriented kit for say £500 ?
My time trial bike retailed at over 10k with the kit I have on it (its in mint condition) it rides well! But as you say, Bradley Wiggins would beat me on a £250 snorter.
No, your average rider isn't going to notice, hell even most good riders wouldn't be able to notice the difference between dura ace and ultegra. But if you can afford the good stuff, why not have it, at least if my kit is the best I can afford I can't blame it when I don't win.
No, your average rider isn't going to notice, hell even most good riders wouldn't be able to notice the difference between dura ace and ultegra. But if you can afford the good stuff, why not have it, at least if my kit is the best I can afford I can't blame it when I don't win.
I'm with above - I spent £5.5k on my Trek Madone 7 with 2 sets of wheels, Di2 etc etc. I do sportives, Tri and duathlons. So I need it ? No. Was it what I promised myself for ages and saved (read talked my wife in to it) ... Yes.
Can a mate of mine a marine trash me
On flat , uphill, downhill and rides a 2nd hand £700 carbon bike. Yes.
Do I give a crap? No. Hence with above. You buy what you can afford / want. I love my bike and if someone goes past on a "cheaper bike" good on them.
I enjoy the ride.
Can a mate of mine a marine trash me
On flat , uphill, downhill and rides a 2nd hand £700 carbon bike. Yes.
Do I give a crap? No. Hence with above. You buy what you can afford / want. I love my bike and if someone goes past on a "cheaper bike" good on them.
I enjoy the ride.
I'm with above - I spent £5.5k on my Trek Madone 7 with 2 sets of wheels, Di2 etc etc. I do sportives, Tri and duathlons. So I need it ? No. Was it what I promised myself for ages and saved (read talked my wife in to it) ... Yes.
Can a mate of mine a marine trash me
On flat , uphill, downhill and rides a 2nd hand £700 carbon bike. Yes.
Do I give a crap? No. Hence with above. You buy what you can afford / want. I love my bike and if someone goes past on a "cheaper bike" good on them.
I enjoy the ride.
Can a mate of mine a marine trash me
On flat , uphill, downhill and rides a 2nd hand £700 carbon bike. Yes.
Do I give a crap? No. Hence with above. You buy what you can afford / want. I love my bike and if someone goes past on a "cheaper bike" good on them.
I enjoy the ride.
I am no Olympic athlete but I consider myself to be a well above average capability cyclist. I enjoy all types of riding, be it road or mtb. I commute 17 miles a day and have done so now for the best part of 3 years. I did the Prudential Ride London last year with an average speed of just over 21mph. So I consider myself to be good but nothing special. Over Christmas I went on 2 identical rides over 2 consecutive days. Day 1 was my carbon dripping venge with ultegra bumf, 23mm tyres on cosmic carbone aero wheels. Quite a decent bike but not the sort of silly money of really top end bikes. Day 2 was on my aluminium and carbon fork cx commuter bike, complete with tiagra gubbins, 28mm tyres heavy wheels and commuting 'satchel' hanging off my saddle.
45 mile loop both days, same route obviously. Day 2 ride was an average of 1.1 mph slower. I'm sure if I had a much more expensive bike I would have gone quicker on day 1 but the increase would be exponentially lower against price paid compared to my current road bike.
Are the 'really' expensive bikes worth it? In my opinion no they are not at all. But I don't think that's the point.
Would I want one? Of course I would. They look fantastic! And that surely is the point!
45 mile loop both days, same route obviously. Day 2 ride was an average of 1.1 mph slower. I'm sure if I had a much more expensive bike I would have gone quicker on day 1 but the increase would be exponentially lower against price paid compared to my current road bike.
Are the 'really' expensive bikes worth it? In my opinion no they are not at all. But I don't think that's the point.
Would I want one? Of course I would. They look fantastic! And that surely is the point!
Marginal gains through aero frames and wheels perhaps at high speeds (e.g. time trials) but I'd be surprised if there is a measureable difference going from a £500 9kg aluminium bike to a sub 7kg carbon race bike. Lighter wheels may accelerate better but this isn't going to improve average speed.
I think what is tangible is the 'feel' of higher end components and wheels, but your average weekend roadie doing 15mph average isn't going to see a 1mph increase simply through a 'better' bike (assuming equal effort).
I don't understand the need to justify a nice bike though. If you want one, buy it and enjoy!
I think what is tangible is the 'feel' of higher end components and wheels, but your average weekend roadie doing 15mph average isn't going to see a 1mph increase simply through a 'better' bike (assuming equal effort).
I don't understand the need to justify a nice bike though. If you want one, buy it and enjoy!
Very much a case of diminishing levels of extra performance as the price goes up.
£500 to £1500 there is a big difference, then up to £2500 and again a fair difference. Beyond that, yes there is a difference but a £5k bike won't be twice as good and of course the brand of the bike makes a big difference.
£3k on a Canyon and you will get a really good spec. £3k on a Cervelo, less so.
£500 to £1500 there is a big difference, then up to £2500 and again a fair difference. Beyond that, yes there is a difference but a £5k bike won't be twice as good and of course the brand of the bike makes a big difference.
£3k on a Canyon and you will get a really good spec. £3k on a Cervelo, less so.
okgo said:
My time trial bike retailed at over 10k with the kit I have on it (its in mint condition) it rides well! But as you say, Bradley Wiggins would beat me on a £250 snorter.
No, your average rider isn't going to notice, hell even most good riders wouldn't be able to notice the difference between dura ace and ultegra. But if you can afford the good stuff, why not have it, at least if my kit is the best I can afford I can't blame it when I don't win.
+1No, your average rider isn't going to notice, hell even most good riders wouldn't be able to notice the difference between dura ace and ultegra. But if you can afford the good stuff, why not have it, at least if my kit is the best I can afford I can't blame it when I don't win.
The average rider wouldn't notice the difference between a 10k bike and a 2k bike, but the difference between a £500 bike and a 2k is huge
Okgo, get some pics up please, we love a bit of TT bike porn on here
Not a road bike of course, but just before the banks fell and prices went through the roof I spent about £5k on a custom build DH bike, I'd hate to guess what it would cost to build today. I'd previously been riding an off-the-peg Norco A-Line which I think cost me £2k.
Initially it made bugger all difference to my speed, in fact because the new brakes were so much better I was actually a bit slower, but over time as I got used to it I got quicker and quicker - and the same thing has happened every time I've upgraded my trail bikes too, you expect a bag of new pace in exchange for a bag of money, but really you get something pretty to agonise over cleaning and a whole new learning curve to start - hopefully it starts roughly where you left off on the last one.
Initially it made bugger all difference to my speed, in fact because the new brakes were so much better I was actually a bit slower, but over time as I got used to it I got quicker and quicker - and the same thing has happened every time I've upgraded my trail bikes too, you expect a bag of new pace in exchange for a bag of money, but really you get something pretty to agonise over cleaning and a whole new learning curve to start - hopefully it starts roughly where you left off on the last one.
graeme4130 said:
+1
The average rider wouldn't notice the difference between a 10k bike and a 2k bike, but the difference between a £500 bike and a 2k is huge
Okgo, get some pics up please, we love a bit of TT bike porn on here
http://firstseasonracing.files.wordpress.com/2013/...The average rider wouldn't notice the difference between a 10k bike and a 2k bike, but the difference between a £500 bike and a 2k is huge
Okgo, get some pics up please, we love a bit of TT bike porn on here
graeme4130 said:
okgo said:
My time trial bike retailed at over 10k with the kit I have on it (its in mint condition) it rides well! But as you say, Bradley Wiggins would beat me on a £250 snorter.
No, your average rider isn't going to notice, hell even most good riders wouldn't be able to notice the difference between dura ace and ultegra. But if you can afford the good stuff, why not have it, at least if my kit is the best I can afford I can't blame it when I don't win.
+1No, your average rider isn't going to notice, hell even most good riders wouldn't be able to notice the difference between dura ace and ultegra. But if you can afford the good stuff, why not have it, at least if my kit is the best I can afford I can't blame it when I don't win.
The average rider wouldn't notice the difference between a 10k bike and a 2k bike, but the difference between a £500 bike and a 2k is huge
to both of the above, although I think c.£4/5k is my limit for a single bike. Anything over that and I'd be crying my eyes out if I crashed it 
My road bike - as a full bike retailed at 9k - although I bought just the frame for the bargain price of £490. One of westbrooke's Scotts. It replaced a boardman / brand-x half ally and half carbon frame. I simply swapped the budget bits across.
Now it is much better than the frame it replaced? Well it's more direct, stiffer, and more comfortable to ride. But having said all that, I think I'd have been hugely disappointed had I bought it at full price. As said it really is a law of diminishing returns.
The other factor is I ride it all year round, am not bothered if I get the odd scratch, and enjoy it more because of this. If I was riding a £4-5k frame I suspect I would be constantly worried about it getting damaged.
With mountain bikes I think it is different though. You do get more for your money. My Turner is so much better built than my Whyte 46 - and the Turner frame cost more than what the Whyte bike did.
Now it is much better than the frame it replaced? Well it's more direct, stiffer, and more comfortable to ride. But having said all that, I think I'd have been hugely disappointed had I bought it at full price. As said it really is a law of diminishing returns.
The other factor is I ride it all year round, am not bothered if I get the odd scratch, and enjoy it more because of this. If I was riding a £4-5k frame I suspect I would be constantly worried about it getting damaged.
With mountain bikes I think it is different though. You do get more for your money. My Turner is so much better built than my Whyte 46 - and the Turner frame cost more than what the Whyte bike did.
My sixteen year old son races in the ERRL and rides for a team with the backing from an expat in Majorca. He gets his riding kit as part of the deal but anything else he has to pay for. Thankfully he works part time in a large predominantly London based cycle chain and gets most of his bike parts at trade price. He has just built a Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL4 with mainly Dura Ace 9000 kit, 3T & Deda components and that has cost him £3,400, remember that figure is trade price. To buy the bike at full rrp is around £6,500. He can justify the bike as it is his race bike.
Now I have an Italian bike which stands me in at just shy of £5,000 and weighs 6.9kgs. Do I really need it, no, my son can stay with me on his steel mountain bike with knobblies on. I bought it because I could and wanted something special to ride with my local cycling club, the wife didn't mind because she knows it keeps me fit.
Now I have an Italian bike which stands me in at just shy of £5,000 and weighs 6.9kgs. Do I really need it, no, my son can stay with me on his steel mountain bike with knobblies on. I bought it because I could and wanted something special to ride with my local cycling club, the wife didn't mind because she knows it keeps me fit.
Edited by Andy OH on Thursday 30th January 12:53
As someone who has a restricted budget, I can only dream and turn green with jealousy of you lot! My £500 9kg Ebay special is a lot nicer and faster than my previous 22 year old steelie...
I would agree with the comments about the difference in MTB-land being greater. I rode my brother-in-law's 2 mtbs in a quarry/bike park near Bury a while ago. The ~£1500 full-sus Trek was great (an improvement on my hard Tail £500 Boardman for sure) but just as I was flagging I swapped on to the ~£3k Kona, and it was like I'd had a heart/lung/leg transplant. Did another hour after that, felt so easy and effortless.
I would agree with the comments about the difference in MTB-land being greater. I rode my brother-in-law's 2 mtbs in a quarry/bike park near Bury a while ago. The ~£1500 full-sus Trek was great (an improvement on my hard Tail £500 Boardman for sure) but just as I was flagging I swapped on to the ~£3k Kona, and it was like I'd had a heart/lung/leg transplant. Did another hour after that, felt so easy and effortless.
I'm just embarking on a lightweight carbon build. Carbon frame, DT Swiss forks and so on. I'm a weekend hacker riding the downs for the fun of it & I'm doing this because I saved up & can afford it. I regularly get blown into the weeds by guys on Apollo Feuds, but so what? It's all for fun.
I concur with some of the earlier replies - I'd say I'm overbiked (best road bike is a Merlin Extralight, Enve forks and wheels, DA 9000, etc), but its my hobby and I've been doing it for 20+ years so over time everything has been replaced/upgraded to something better.
I really take enjoyment from riding a light and perfectly working machine and that just happens to cost lots of money. Just don't let my wife know how much it would all cost to replace!
I really take enjoyment from riding a light and perfectly working machine and that just happens to cost lots of money. Just don't let my wife know how much it would all cost to replace!
Some interesting answers but how many of you lot ride in vile weather?, mud/grit covered roads and heavy rain? with ice thrown in for good measure.
My R3 with record gear is the winter bike ( 8k ) , flys uphill and takes a massive amount of stick over the rough lanes i train on. If i was running bottom end gear it would fall apart and simply not work as well. This frame takes a huge amount of stick with zero issues, brill machine.
I bet most riders never venture out and train in the vile winter weather ( which i love ) and guess sat on a turbo your cheap kit will work just fine.
Regards average rider feeling the difference between a 2-10 bike, well a proper race machine will handle like * a racing machine * for a start, when i first used the R3 it felt lethal, awesome bike now i've done 30k on it.
My R3 with record gear is the winter bike ( 8k ) , flys uphill and takes a massive amount of stick over the rough lanes i train on. If i was running bottom end gear it would fall apart and simply not work as well. This frame takes a huge amount of stick with zero issues, brill machine.
I bet most riders never venture out and train in the vile winter weather ( which i love ) and guess sat on a turbo your cheap kit will work just fine.
Regards average rider feeling the difference between a 2-10 bike, well a proper race machine will handle like * a racing machine * for a start, when i first used the R3 it felt lethal, awesome bike now i've done 30k on it.
Edited by superkartracer on Thursday 30th January 13:13
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