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Just thinking about this, top tier stuff is just expensive, end of. It may offer very little discernible performance advantage, but if you can afford it without putting undue stress on you finances, who gives a flying you know what.
How much is it that you try harder on your best bike?
Not really. When I swapped to a similar-specced bike that I didn't realise had a cheaper carbon layup, I couldn't work out why I was slower for ages.
Lighter, stiffer bikes are just quicker up hills.
I agree, some makes are very expensive though if you amortize the cost of it over a number of years and then factor in the amount of fun you get from it and the fact that the top end companies guarantee the frame for ages (even the bearings if you have a 'Cruz) then the cost is mimimal.... I am still on a Tallboy thats over 10 years old now and we have been on so many adventures together.
Once you have one seriously overpriced bike , you won't go back to a second hand clunker.
Once you have one seriously overpriced bike , you won’t go back to a second hand clunker.
I can confirm this statement.
Good to see the government stepping up for those truly in need.
Arguably C2W is more about health and the environment. People who pay 40% tax and buy £10k bikes are probably the sort of people who would otherwise be driving a big German status symbols.
I do wish they would just get rid of VAT on bikes though and make it fair for everyone, or even subsidize bikes like they do electric cars.
Once you have one seriously overpriced bike , you won’t go back to a second hand clunker.
I've demo'd a load of nice road bikes over the years as I'm always thinking of replacing my ageing CAAD4 "next year". Never have though, because a few grames, unscuffed paintwork and some aero shapes still don't really make a worthwhile difference for ~£3k over a 16 year old bike I paid £300 for (then upgraded everything so it's now DA, carbon cranks, light wheels, fast tyres, nice finishing kit etc).
Same with MTB's, as long as it's good enough then beyond a point it just feels better, but doesn't actually get better. A bad suspension tune will make you crash, so it has to be good enough. But a £300 carbon fiber front wheel to reduce unsprung mass won't actually make you any faster.
Superficial
Member1) Entry level guitars. Sub £300. These are mostly fine these days but the fit/finish is just ‘OK’ and they might not have all the features.
2) Mid range – I guess the £350 – 800 sort of level. These are great guitars.
3) Top tier – Gibson USA / custom or Fender Custom Shop, PRS, whatever.
4) Silver series squier off ebay with new electronics 😉
Colnago framesets look slightly overpriced on paper, since you can pay 5,500 (or a notch below) just for the frame, fork, headset and seatpost. That’s for the C64 at full whack in fancy colours. There are some deals around though.
16 year old bike I paid £300 for
Not even a bike with Di2 makes you feel it’s worth the upgrade? Or have you not tried that. What 16 year old gears are you on....