I’m hoping you both continue to showcase decent bikes that are $1000 or less for those of us who enjoy the hobby, but don’t have the cash to sink thousands into a new bike.
Buy a frame and build it up.. create time.. some bike we buy for the logo and branding..... u realise most gey their the frames from same manufacturers on China and other Asian countries. Same design.. shop around for a good frame then get good components and u hv what not everyone is riding. 🎉
Brown's comments on pricing are spot on. There are now countless options to spend more. The bigger problem is perhaps the press and marketing etc pushing the idea of us (riders) 'needing' the snazziest bits all the time to be 'better' or 'enjoy things more'. I'm so happy to hear you guys talk openly and honestly about the cost of things in bikes. The joy of the simple, cheapest bikes are not spoken about enough. Great episode team 🙌🙌🙌
My way of getting a good bang for the buck bike is that I got a late 80s steel bike (real proper frameset, Columbus SLX) and replaced the entire drivetrain and wheels. Now with all the upgrades I have a 1300 euro bike, it's set up exactly the way I like, it's 8.7kg, fastest bike I've ever had and I love it! the frame surprisingly feels properly stiff and light too.
@@sethchapman8001 yeah hopefully, we'll see. It has some rust on the inside though because it has had a really rough life before I got it. It's already 36 years old though so what's another decade.
I don’t wish for Wiggle to go bust. It’s a pipe dream to think this will mean people go back to buying from their LBS. Online and DTC is here to stay, all you’re doing is asking for Amazon to fill the gap. There’s an irreplaceable market for being able to order an exact part number online and have it delivered in a few days. That’s not going away.
Agreed. If I have a specific part I need, I first would need to go to the LBS during their hours, explain what I need, which may require a discussion (more time). Then they have to find a distributer with that part and order it (which, ime as a former LBS mechanic, doesn't happen everyday - orders are usually placed only a few times a week). Then I wait for them to tell me it arrived (and since receiving takes time might be a day or two after it actually arrived). THEN I have to go pick it up on their hours. All in that could be 1-2 weeks. OR I have order it online and have it by the weekend. If its a critical part keeping me from riding, the choice is obvious. If you need a shop to install it, it's still probably faster to get it yourself and bring it in.
Most LBS I have dealt with over the past 20 or so years have been shit to say the least. Half of them don't know what they are doing, they are massively overpriced a lot of the time and don't hold products that I want to buy. If you have a good LBS then treasure it but lets not pretend that most of them aren't just there to make money first and foremost.
@@mctrials23absolutely right. Not all LBS's are equal. My local keeps stock of nothing and takes weeks to order stuff in. I can get it sooner and cheaper online and fix or fit it myself.
I live in the French alps. In a town called Briançon, at the foot of a few famous climbs like the Galibier, the Izoard and the Granon. We have 2 very popular hill climbs events each summer. The 'Defi du Granon" and the "Defi du Galibier". These races are extremely different that the UK hill climbs, they are mass start and require a long sustained effort. The fastest guys usually finishing just under 40 minutes for either race. It's extremely competitive and a LOT of fun!
We need to talk more about getting people on used bikes. Most normal™ people will get a lot more value by buying second hand or having someone fix up or upgrade their existing bike. Folks like Craig from Save old bikes or Monkeyshred and Toasty Rides really are doing God’s work. ❤
Yes! Also, more focus towards components and frames that will actually last longer than 5 years. Today's "disposable" frames and components are terrible for sustainability.
This is one of my favorite episodes so far, partly due to Bella crashing the party. But it really is great to hear your ongoing discussion about value.
Your comments about small people not being catered to is spot on. My wife is 160cm and has short legs for her height and so many bikes don’t come in an appropriate size for her.
Our local shops would not order a small size to the test fit. We had to buy sight unseen. DTC companies did offer a “satification guaranteed” return period. We went with a DTC bike.
Watching smiling with the mention of Moss. Andy Jones, a great bike builder, and also a brilliant and inspirational DT teacher who took frame building into schools. Legend
While the Tech improved in some ways, it is still kinda ridiculous that less than 15 years ago you could get full carbon leightweight bikes with a full dura ace/sram red/Campagnolo Super Record groupset for the price tag that is now on bikes with 105 Di2, while the bike in whole got heavier. Of course there was infaltion in that timeframe, but not 150% to 200%, it is bonkers.
And let's not pretend like bikes were slow in 2010. This is why I believe the best option is to get an older bike, give it a good service and put some modern wheels on it.
As one of those Commuter cyclists who don't own a bike that cost me over 150£, i like the fact that you recognise the pricing perception problem in the sport. Recently i was looking into getting a serious bike to train. My dad, who is a cyclist since ever, couldn't understand why i want an alloy bike for 1.5k (very expensive for a bike) and not spend more (2.5k) for the carbon version of the same bike. So for 1k more, i would shed 1.5 kilo from the bike and not much more. I reckon i would lost the same weight from all the money i'd spend on the bike.
On the subject on the cost of cycling, I myself believe it has gotten out of hand. I have to agree with Brown (aka Mark) that your riding experience doesn't have to cost a fortune to be enjoyable. I myself have a full carbon frame with full Shimano Ultegra kit and carbon cranks. After several mechanical failures I am now riding an old 1986 Specialized Allez steel frame built up with a Tiagra/Sora mix, old Profile carbon fork, a set of aluminum Reynolds wheels (bought from Merlin Cycles for $140), and my pedals and saddle from my carbon bike. My recent rides have been more enjoyable, relaxed, and not any slower, even with the bike weighing an extra 4-5 lbs.
Yes, I have been cycling road and mountain since the early 1990s and some of the equipment is insanely expensive and hard to maintain unlike my retro bike which I can fully strip, overhaul and service myself with basic tools and a few special ones
On the second day of a massive supported ride from Seattle to Portland, I noticed the front QR lever was open on a fellow rider. We happened to be just starting a descent. It would have been irresponsible not to tell him. On that same ride over the years I have helped change several tires typically asking if they need a hand seems to work fine.
I walked into the new Trek showroom to check out some bikes and they had a Madone with a 105 groupset going for $9000 CAD!!! (+/- 5500 GBP!!!) I won't even pay that much for a damn car!!!
As Jimmi, I didn't tell my wife about the cost of her bike because the most important thing in my head was to show her the beauty of cycling which in fact, happened.
Wiggle did itself over with the website change. Just became absolutely useless at trying to find anything. Used Merlin, Sigma Sports and my LBS way more since the rebrand. With regards to bike prices, I’m now in no hurry to ‘upgrade’ to a new bike. On the flip side shops may benefit from more repairs/servicing as people use their bikes for longer.
Such a good episode. As a bloke who has spent 50 yrs riding, racing, wrenching, etc., I managed to guilt myself over not having spent enough $$ when I made the change this year from steel/cables/rim brakes, etc. to carbon/electric/disc. With pedals and cages, I spent nearly $7K. Yup, I actually thought to myself how dare I spend so LITTLE on something so important. Absolutely INSANE. I came to my senses relatively quickly. The new bike is fab. I still ride the old one, but yup, the industry can guilt even the most experienced of us with this insanity. Keep up the good work, all. Cheers!
I’ve started with biking three years ago and my first road bike was endurance bike Bianchi Via Nerone 7 (alu frame, carbon fork, 105, rim brakes) - I loved it, did my first 100+ ride and even some grand fondos and triathlons with it. It was around 1600 Eur brand new. Beginning this year I was fortunate to be in the position to upgrade to Trek Madone SL6 (2021, full carbon, ultegra, deep wheels, that gimmick for ride comfort in seatpost and top tube), and I got it new but discounted for around 4100 Eur. For both bikes I had fit and position optimisation. Difference in ride quality is night and day. I use Bianchi as turbo bike and never love the experience getting back on it. Trek is just miles above - in ride comfort and general enjoyment. Not to mention that I just like to look at it. Recently I was gifted Assioma power pedals and I love it. I do not need any of this stuff but I love it and obsess about everything bike related. Again, I don’t need any of fancy things (expensive bike, power pedals etc) but this stuff made my biking experience much more fun and makes me ride more than before.
17:51 I had 10 speed Tiagra 2600 for ages. Loved it. Bit ugly on the shifters. I know ride Ltwoo 10 speed becuase I liked the looks. Loving that too! I dont race and just enjoy being out.
I loved the comment on how the long-time cyclists are in the "price bubble" - I saw that just recently when I decided to buy a road bike for myself and my wife so we can start moving around and have some sort of excercise. Having had ridden MTB many, many, many years ago I was unsure road biking will be for me as I always considered it "dull road riding" so the Decathlon 120 Disc bikes were just great for us to start - expense low enough that even if we didn't enjoy it, it wouldn't really hurt us if we need to re-sell with significant discount. However, one of my wife's friend is a cyclist and she lent her her bike (Trek Domane) for 1 week until her Triban arrived (had to be delivered as it was not in stock). And it was exactly like you describe, we heard a lot about how the Triban is a waste of money, like you need at least 2500 EUR bike so it's not heavy and yadda yadda yadda. Well, I definitely will not chase 2kg on a bike weight if there is good 15kg on my person that I am lugging around extra :D If possible however, I'd like to ask you for a review of the Decathlon 1600 EUR carbon road bike, as I might be looking to have an upgrade next year if I will keep on track - got a goal to do 300km still this year and I am now sitting at 280 for the 4 weeks I have it for and my personal goal is that if I do 3500km next year, I will start looking into upgrade. I had my eyes on Canyon of course, but I am now pleasantly surprised by the Decathlon bikes so looking into that too - and your review of the Triban 120 was great indicator and confidence boost for our purchases.
Canyon is several thousand dollars cheaper than their competitors. The rest of the industry is absurd. I wanted the new Defy but got an Endurace CF SLX with the same components for $3k less
I agree, I only have a Grand Canyon 8 but even at that price range I would have paid about 300€ more for a bike with the same components if it would be a different brand.
Cycling has been expensive for numerous years my dad had been working with carbon as a raw material for years all the bikes are over priced even when a bike is in a sale . Plus disc brakes has now been introduced to road bikes that a further cost to the average consumer.
Great discussion! I ride what makes me happy, what I grew up wanting. A few years ago I built up a 2005? Allez Comp SLX. Ultegra 11 speed, EA90 SLX wheels, Bontrager RXL stem/bars. Sub 7 kg, rim brake for about $700 +\-. It’s so fast. Love it! Building up a Trek 5200 with XXX Lite tub wheels and DA 7800. That one will be $800 +\-. Give me an older, high quality, bike that I can work on and upgrade for cheap.
I've also encountered the person Francis was talking about with the shortest cranks, iirc he replied to a comment that all his cranks were custom built only measuring about 130mm or so(I could be wrong but it really is short). He'd rather spend more on having them custom-built because he has some type of injury on his Knee, and requires minimum movement or bend, thus the shortest cranks ever.
When I raced back in late 80's early 90's, I could afford to build a good, new, race spec, custom bike with what I earned as a student working part time in a pub. Campagnolo Chorus groupset, hubs built into Mavic Mach 2CD2 rims with DT Swiss spokes, made to measure Reynolds 753 frameset, Cinelli bars and stem, Selle italia saddle, Vittoria tubs. You can't put together a similar level, brand new bike today, working three nights a week, pulling pints in a North East pub. It would cost what, seven, eight, nine grand? It took me just over a year to save for that bike. How many years would it take today? You'd be finishing your Phd before you got to turn a crank in anger.
You guys definitely need to find the sweet spot on bikes please 👍 1.5k to 3k More realistic prices like most cycle to work schemes are 2k ? I find it hard to find a 2k bike when I like the 3-4K ones ??? Many thanks and great work guys 👍
To your question about uphill time trials there is one every year on the island of Maui up Mount Haleakala. 36 miles, 10,023 feet making it the steepest road on Earth. It’s an HC climb that shits on all the climbs in every grand tour😂
Last generation BMC roadmachine 5 with 105 di2 and Al wheels costs $3465 CAD(which is less than £2000) in my local bike shop before taxes. That’s the cheapest new 105 Di2 with carbon frame road bike I can find in Toronto. But if you forgo electronic shifting, you can find much cheaper 105 12s mech carbon bikes with hydraulic disc brakes, which I believe is a sweet spot
Agree on the frame v components thing. For about 8 yrs I raced a CAAD10 with Campy 11, then 12 speed R/SR and Bora wheels. Awesome bike, just limited by tire size - 25's.
Been holding off for about 4 years now in buying a new steed, for a variety of life reasons, and just seen everything attainable get further and further away. I knew with the release of 105 electric last year that last years Ultegra bikes would now be 105 at the same price point. The industry is just shafting the consumer.
I have the Grail from the first generation (still with Ultegra). Yes, the vibration damping is just marketing. I also get it, that the look of it is controversial, but nonetheless I actually like it. The bars give you a quite relaxed position on top, while providing you with a pretty aggressive position in the drops. I simply enjoy the flexibility from that. And hooking in the thumbs feels also pretty secure if the terrain gets rougher.
I bought my recent entry level Ribble AL disc for £799. I think the care shown in production shows the company don’t care for this part of the market. I feel social media (not this channel) show and ride expensive bikes (some which I know the creators are financing, so can’t afford) which makes a new cyclist feel inadequate. This channel champions the sport from every angle.
The biggest problem I have with old bike frames is lack of available parts, trying to source a derailleur hanger for a 10 year old bike can be near impossible if it's no longer supported by the manufacturer, or if you need a new pair of wheels on a bike where clearances aren't so great makes maintaining an old bike just that little bit more complicated.
I think good performance is actually cheaper than ever and its down to increased choice. You can have a great mechanical 10sp groupset in Tiagra which performs at Ultegra level from two gens ago. Theres a fully wireless Rival AXS for mostly under a grand (there are always deals) and this was just non existent 3-5 years ago. Yes if you want to kit your bike out in top tier brands/product lines it will be horrendously expensive but that a function of broadening field. But the same broadening field provides opportunities that were not there before. You can have a Al frame disc brake 650b carbon wheeled gravel bike running 1x sram full wireless for a lot less that it would have been 5 years ago. Similarly with any other niche solution. Choice makes life much more efficient if one is not just chasing the most premium stickers.
The ‘23 emonda alr with 105 can be found new for less than 1800, even closer to 1600 in some places. With some new wheels you’ll get close to 8kg for 2500.
There is also the “trickle” down technology. The mid/lower level products are as good if not better than top end from 10 years ago. While pricing has gone up at the top, you can still buy anything in the lower price points.
I live in Perth australia and loved the segment. It seems that Perth is becoming the most bike friendly city outside of Europe. The whole story about bike prices was so balanced, I just loved it. Got a very good idea what we SHOULD want. But I am unfit and only started cycling at 62, so I prefer a more upright position of a flat bar. Can you do a review of entry level specialized and Trek hybrids please? Thanks so much for such an informative video
YES JIMMY!!!! Cold beans on toast for the win. I’ll also add sliced cheddar on the toast before adding the beans straight out the can and then a dash of Worcestershire sauce on top.
Hi Guys, you refer to before and after covid for the price rises. Something else, at least as significant as lock downs for prices happened at the same time and that was UK formally leaving the EU single market, just about in the middle of covid. Branston beans is my favourite. We always store our canned goods upside down. When openned much less is left stuck in the bottom and the beans come out with the sauce still mixed. As regards helping/condesending, if someone is stopped with a puncture a simple "are you ok?" might actually be welcome, for instance they haven't got a puncture kit/ spare tube, they're tubeless and can't inflate it again etc. Being rescued from stranded should never be thought condescending.
I'm currently considering a new bike so this podcast was really interesting. I have a 2017 alloy Giant Defy and looking at a Fairlight Strael 3 to replace it. It's a big expense, and doesn't make any logical sense so this chat was useful as a bit of a reality check. Mainly I just want a cool new bike 😛
I have cf sl 7 grail, I got it for the damping because after a crash on my tt bike my left collar bone is in three parts which bump together on road chatter, which is interesting 😂. The grail is by far the most comfortable bike I have (and I have a grevil f so it isn’t just the gravel geometry, particularly for long rides on the drops hooking your thumbs over the bottom bar is massively comfortable. All in all the esthetic was never going to please ever one, I notice the impact of the handlebars giving some relief from chatter although a lauf or proper suspension fork or red shift would probably do the same. I do think you missed one of the complaints though, I mean mine fitted perfectly with the handlebars cut to fit the top of the crossbar as it arrived, but you can’t change that without messing up the look 4:27
Here in Japan there are many "Hill Climb" events in different locations throughout the year & they tend to be well established annual events... They are however different that what I believe UK events to be = the biggest difference being that most events here are "mass start / mass participation" events - "Pro's" start at the front and it's a kind of "first to the top wins" type thing as opposed to the UK style of "individual time trial up a hill" event...
Francis! You nailed it with the “fear of the continual pattern” thing! My skin literally crawls when I see certain things/patterns and never really understood it. The 3D printed saddle doesn’t bother me, but I know what you mean. It’s nice to know I’m not alone!😂👊🏼
The biggest issue I had with the Hover bar was it kept your hands really far away from the bar controls (brakes and shifters) so at the point when you want the most vibration damping (going fast) you couldn't cover the brakes! EEK!!! 😬
Got two single speed track bikes both under 500$ aero frame characteristics and as long as you're not dealing with extreme climbs, they're speed monsters, out run Tarmacs aeroroads all the time, can easily throw on deep dishes wheels. An excellent budget option on flatter terrains for those who want 14k worth of speed or cross training, or interested in owning a well rounded stable without braking the bank
I decided to build a gravel bike versus buying a full built bike and having to remove and replace parts I did not want eed. I wanted a mullet setup, so I decided to buy the frame through my local shop and then ended up purchasing about 75% of the parts needed from the local shop, as the pricing was the same or close to it. Since I did that, they offered to put it together for me and not charge me for doing that. I ended up saving almost $2k overall and even got new wheels and got a fantastic build. Was still pricey but worth it. Living in Florida, I am tell you, there are no hill climb competitions :)
Would not buy anything but hydraulic disc brake bikes now. The security that it adds is worth the extra cost many times over. For me, it was an absolute revelation to switch. For my kids' bikes as they finally moved onto full size ones, it was just the same. For safety more than anything, they had to have hydraulic discs.
Jimmys comment on how he would build a bike in the past was the standard way we did it in the 1980s, (1981) I had a frame tailor made (A Colin Every lugged 531) then Mavic Rims Campag Hubs, group set, regina chains Cinnelli bars, Brooke's saddle etc from the adds at the back of Cycling weekly.
Servicing my bike cost twice the amount my car did. Cycling is so expensive it’s a bit depressing. I’ve had to teach myself the basics to keep my bike on the road. Even then tools and parts are expensive.
I think you're optimistic on even if Wiggle goes and a large supplier of sub-trade prices disappears then a another player won't spring up using those same contacts and financial mechanisms.
I'd rather ride a top end road frame from over a decade ago than anything currently pushed by the bike industry, even if its bought second hand. I have friends who have acquired nice Colnago's etc, worth 4-5k framest for under 1k, then you can build up a sweet riding competitive weighing bike for little outlay. Of course these bikes have rim brakes but then you really don't need discs on a road bike, what was fine for a hundred years is still fine to ride now at any level. This is a big problem for the bike industry at the moment as riders like me have stopped buying their bikes, whereas in the past I'd always be jumping on the latest things.
Speculation but, that "double drop" bar looks from the picture to have both a down sweep and a back sweep on the top. it ought to be more comfortable for a longer time than a flat top as your wrists will be in a more natural position. Basically you might be less likely to get numb or tingly fingers riding the tops.
The double drop bar is indeed slightly dropped in the upper section. And that gives a HUGE problem riding in mud and rain. Without very grippy gloves your hands will slide towards the outside ends all the time. I had similar bars and had to "drop" them in the bike store. 😐
There is one hill climb event in Barcelona. It has fixed, women and open categories. It is called Tibidabo Hill Climb and this year is on the 25th November. I really wish there were more of these around.
COVID has created a huge surplus of bikes creating a buyers market in America(live in Kansas). Bought Trek Domane SL 8(full Dura Ace) in 2017 for $5000. Spent an extra $2000 for carbon wheels. Earlier this year I bought a Trek Emonda SL6 pro disc( full ultegra) which came with carbon wheels costing only $3800. Both bikes were bought from a bike shop which was an official Trek dealer. Was told Covid has created this situation with a huge surplus of bikes throughout the country.
There are "hill climb" events in Poland, but they are done outside cities. Usually, those climbs are longer (20+ min). Some of them are done on public roads (closed for the day), but some are offroad climbs (e.g. "Uphill Race Śnieżka", which is extremely popular, and usually tickets are gone within minutes).
I live in the central US, I am not aware of any hill climb events around here. I usually start doing more hills in the winter because it keeps speeds slower for the same workout, which means I get to stay warmer. Perhaps that is why hill climb season is in winter over there.
Looking for recommendations for switching my daily commute tyres for winter. I ride is a Diverge E5 with 38 mil stock tyres. However, I've noticed that the stopping power is considerably reduced when I'm riding in the rain on them. I'm 6'1" and 94kgs(yes, I'm fat...lol!) hence looking to change them out for the winter to ensure that it's safer for me to ride daily. My daily commute is about 20km each way, mainly on roads but I do like to take the gravel path at times and on weekends. I have looked at the 700x43C Panaracer Gravel King SK but would like to go for a 45 or a 47mm(max tyre clearance of the bike) if possible. I'm looking for suggestions as this will be my first winter ride in the UK. Cheers! love the content you guys make and it's helped me become much better in my rides!
I have mixed feelings. An LBS sounds like the most practical way of dealing with maintenance and repairs. I also get their value in selling second hand bikes. For new bikes, it seems like they would make sense combined with a "bike fit first" approach. For components, perhaps it would make sense to separate the "expert service to help you find the component that suits you best" from the "selling it to you" part of it. Then again, I'm just a consumer who knows nothing about the reality of running a business. I would happily pay for the services above, but when it comes to actually ordering a new item, I would rather do it online and have it delivered at home. I enjoy tinkering on my bike on my own schedule.
When I decided to get into cycling again last year, I was blown away with bike prices. I bought a Specialized Allez back in 2007 for $700 dollars. I still have it. I upgraded the mech to Shimano Sora for $495, added a new chain, cables, dropbar, etc. So I put about $700 into it. (basically the cost of the original bike) Way cheaper than a new bike and runs just as well. A new set of wheels is on the list. downside is the biggest tires I can fit will most likely be 28s. Would I like a new one, definitely, but for the money, rebuilding my old bike was a better option.
I for one, would love to see the 7.5 kg bike on the cheap, although TraceVelo has done it for pretty reasonable amounts, and so has GCN. I am struggling to see how to get my two decent, relatively new, ally bikes below 9.5 at the moment - lighter parts won't add up to 2 kg, beyond what I have already done (carbon post, carbon seat, carbon 38mm deep rims on Novatecs, road pedals). Bar, cranks, shifters, with titanium bolts, carbon post clamp, carbon steerer cap, and carbon cages won't do it. So good luck!
13:44 For any good LBS, the extra money you "may" spend, could also be considered an investment in your local cycling advocacy and community. Because as we all know, that is often where the strength in your local cycling community and cycling advocacy can be found.
I have been in some mile centuries where they have a KOM segment for the hardest hill climb, usually with a reward. But by where I live I’ve never seen a dedicated hill climb event.
Used the double-decker bar for a few years and here's my opinion. - The speed wiggle probably comes from having a short effective stem length. It's visually deceptive because of the unconventional design. - I don't think it offers any more hand positions: It's impossible to put hands on the lower bar because the upper bar will get in the way. - Lower bar is a good place to mount things (bell, bag, ebike control) and won't compromise hand positions - On the drops, you can rest your thumb on the lower bar, which increases stability for me - It looks as if you slammed the cockpit such that there is a flat surface between the top tube and the stem, yet offers you a comfortable upright riding position. Overall I'm a little sad to see it go away - where am I supposed to get replacement parts should mine break in a few years? 🤷♂
1000000% agree LOL, our expectations are wacked at this point. Now saying a $7000 (canadian) bike is reasonable? wtf we've all gone mad LOL but yes we like what we like, biking is basically a way of life for many of us, if you can afford it, and you use it a lot, then justifying is easier. Agreed, real people want $10k but not a single one of us need it.... Yes, new bike ordered is Di2 again... I couldn't stomach downgrading LOL keep up the great works dudes
Beans on toast is even better with Marmite on the toast. If you're not sure, just try a little on one corner. It'll be the best corner of the slice! And Marmite is easier to spread on toast if you put it on top of the butter_before_ you spread the butter, then spread both together.
I got a fox 36 fork from wiggle for $700aud or 370 pounds, they are usually close to 1000 pounds! It seemed too good to be true but it arrived and the fork was brand new and I'm loving it. It just came with red decals which I replaced
Midwest USA chiming in, never seen a hill climb event in my life. Been racing on the road for about 8 years Would love to see it here in the states some day
Bike stuff is to expensive, But the key thing here is it is expensive new, I have recently just got into cycling, My first bike was the Boardman 8.9 ADV and it is great, I got it for 550pound new RRP 1200. I am just using marketplace to buy pretty much everything, However I would love a video where you show the best value for money items such as, Lights, Bibs, Helmet, etc etc This would help new cyclers understand the best value and what to look out for on the pre owned market.
Francis does not want a 3D printed saddle, but bought a 200 dollar Silca frame pump, which I wanted, but... could not force myself to hit the order button, but it is pretty.
This show elevates every time Emily gets to chime in.
I’m hoping you both continue to showcase decent bikes that are $1000 or less for those of us who enjoy the hobby, but don’t have the cash to sink thousands into a new bike.
Buy a frame and build it up.. create time.. some bike we buy for the logo and branding..... u realise most gey their the frames from same manufacturers on China and other Asian countries. Same design.. shop around for a good frame then get good components and u hv what not everyone is riding. 🎉
I have the cash. I wouldn't pay those ridiculous prices for rather simplistic tech at all.
Brown's comments on pricing are spot on. There are now countless options to spend more. The bigger problem is perhaps the press and marketing etc pushing the idea of us (riders) 'needing' the snazziest bits all the time to be 'better' or 'enjoy things more'. I'm so happy to hear you guys talk openly and honestly about the cost of things in bikes. The joy of the simple, cheapest bikes are not spoken about enough. Great episode team 🙌🙌🙌
My way of getting a good bang for the buck bike is that I got a late 80s steel bike (real proper frameset, Columbus SLX) and replaced the entire drivetrain and wheels. Now with all the upgrades I have a 1300 euro bike, it's set up exactly the way I like, it's 8.7kg, fastest bike I've ever had and I love it! the frame surprisingly feels properly stiff and light too.
Steel is real ❤.
And your steel frame will last decades longer than a carbon frame.
@@sethchapman8001 yeah hopefully, we'll see. It has some rust on the inside though because it has had a really rough life before I got it. It's already 36 years old though so what's another decade.
I don’t wish for Wiggle to go bust. It’s a pipe dream to think this will mean people go back to buying from their LBS. Online and DTC is here to stay, all you’re doing is asking for Amazon to fill the gap. There’s an irreplaceable market for being able to order an exact part number online and have it delivered in a few days. That’s not going away.
Agreed. If I have a specific part I need, I first would need to go to the LBS during their hours, explain what I need, which may require a discussion (more time). Then they have to find a distributer with that part and order it (which, ime as a former LBS mechanic, doesn't happen everyday - orders are usually placed only a few times a week). Then I wait for them to tell me it arrived (and since receiving takes time might be a day or two after it actually arrived). THEN I have to go pick it up on their hours. All in that could be 1-2 weeks.
OR I have order it online and have it by the weekend.
If its a critical part keeping me from riding, the choice is obvious. If you need a shop to install it, it's still probably faster to get it yourself and bring it in.
Most LBS I have dealt with over the past 20 or so years have been shit to say the least. Half of them don't know what they are doing, they are massively overpriced a lot of the time and don't hold products that I want to buy. If you have a good LBS then treasure it but lets not pretend that most of them aren't just there to make money first and foremost.
@@mctrials23absolutely right. Not all LBS's are equal. My local keeps stock of nothing and takes weeks to order stuff in. I can get it sooner and cheaper online and fix or fit it myself.
Thanks
I live in the French alps. In a town called Briançon, at the foot of a few famous climbs like the Galibier, the Izoard and the Granon. We have 2 very popular hill climbs events each summer.
The 'Defi du Granon" and the "Defi du Galibier". These races are extremely different that the UK hill climbs, they are mass start and require a long sustained effort. The fastest guys usually finishing just under 40 minutes for either race.
It's extremely competitive and a LOT of fun!
We need to talk more about getting people on used bikes. Most normal™ people will get a lot more value by buying second hand or having someone fix up or upgrade their existing bike. Folks like Craig from Save old bikes or Monkeyshred and Toasty Rides really are doing God’s work. ❤
Yes! Also, more focus towards components and frames that will actually last longer than 5 years. Today's "disposable" frames and components are terrible for sustainability.
I built my Elves Falath with 12 speed Ltwoo and Elite wheels for 2k. Very pleased with it.
This is one of my favorite episodes so far, partly due to Bella crashing the party. But it really is great to hear your ongoing discussion about value.
Your comments about small people not being catered to is spot on. My wife is 160cm and has short legs for her height and so many bikes don’t come in an appropriate size for her.
Our local shops would not order a small size to the test fit. We had to buy sight unseen. DTC companies did offer a “satification guaranteed” return period. We went with a DTC bike.
I agree completely! As a 5'4" man, there are extremely few bikes designed to fit my size. Also, make bikes for people, instead of "girls and guys".
Watching smiling with the mention of Moss. Andy Jones, a great bike builder, and also a brilliant and inspirational DT teacher who took frame building into schools. Legend
While the Tech improved in some ways, it is still kinda ridiculous that less than 15 years ago you could get full carbon leightweight bikes with a full dura ace/sram red/Campagnolo Super Record groupset for the price tag that is now on bikes with 105 Di2, while the bike in whole got heavier.
Of course there was infaltion in that timeframe, but not 150% to 200%, it is bonkers.
And let's not pretend like bikes were slow in 2010. This is why I believe the best option is to get an older bike, give it a good service and put some modern wheels on it.
As one of those Commuter cyclists who don't own a bike that cost me over 150£, i like the fact that you recognise the pricing perception problem in the sport. Recently i was looking into getting a serious bike to train. My dad, who is a cyclist since ever, couldn't understand why i want an alloy bike for 1.5k (very expensive for a bike) and not spend more (2.5k) for the carbon version of the same bike. So for 1k more, i would shed 1.5 kilo from the bike and not much more. I reckon i would lost the same weight from all the money i'd spend on the bike.
Anyone else want to see Jimmy’s press up technique that makes it a full body workout? 😂
On the subject on the cost of cycling, I myself believe it has gotten out of hand. I have to agree with Brown (aka Mark) that your riding experience doesn't have to cost a fortune to be enjoyable. I myself have a full carbon frame with full Shimano Ultegra kit and carbon cranks. After several mechanical failures I am now riding an old 1986 Specialized Allez steel frame built up with a Tiagra/Sora mix, old Profile carbon fork, a set of aluminum Reynolds wheels (bought from Merlin Cycles for $140), and my pedals and saddle from my carbon bike. My recent rides have been more enjoyable, relaxed, and not any slower, even with the bike weighing an extra 4-5 lbs.
Yes, I have been cycling road and mountain since the early 1990s and some of the equipment is insanely expensive and hard to maintain unlike my retro bike which I can fully strip, overhaul and service myself with basic tools and a few special ones
Lets have Emily joining in more, she's got good stuff to say! And extensively easy on the eyes and ears!!!🙂🙂🙂
On the second day of a massive supported ride from Seattle to Portland, I noticed the front QR lever was open on a fellow rider. We happened to be just starting a descent. It would have been irresponsible not to tell him. On that same ride over the years I have helped change several tires typically asking if they need a hand seems to work fine.
Excellent work.
I walked into the new Trek showroom to check out some bikes and they had a Madone with a 105 groupset going for $9000 CAD!!! (+/- 5500 GBP!!!) I won't even pay that much for a damn car!!!
As Jimmi, I didn't tell my wife about the cost of her bike because the most important thing in my head was to show her the beauty of cycling which in fact, happened.
There should be a velominati rule about hiding the true cost of cycling
Wiggle did itself over with the website change. Just became absolutely useless at trying to find anything. Used Merlin, Sigma Sports and my LBS way more since the rebrand.
With regards to bike prices, I’m now in no hurry to ‘upgrade’ to a new bike. On the flip side shops may benefit from more repairs/servicing as people use their bikes for longer.
Such a good episode. As a bloke who has spent 50 yrs riding, racing, wrenching, etc., I managed to guilt myself over not having spent enough $$ when I made the change this year from steel/cables/rim brakes, etc. to carbon/electric/disc. With pedals and cages, I spent nearly $7K. Yup, I actually thought to myself how dare I spend so LITTLE on something so important. Absolutely INSANE. I came to my senses relatively quickly. The new bike is fab. I still ride the old one, but yup, the industry can guilt even the most experienced of us with this insanity. Keep up the good work, all. Cheers!
And btw, the $7K was all I could afford.
Bella MUST make an appearance in all future podcasts.
I’ve started with biking three years ago and my first road bike was endurance bike Bianchi Via Nerone 7 (alu frame, carbon fork, 105, rim brakes) - I loved it, did my first 100+ ride and even some grand fondos and triathlons with it. It was around 1600 Eur brand new. Beginning this year I was fortunate to be in the position to upgrade to Trek Madone SL6 (2021, full carbon, ultegra, deep wheels, that gimmick for ride comfort in seatpost and top tube), and I got it new but discounted for around 4100 Eur. For both bikes I had fit and position optimisation.
Difference in ride quality is night and day. I use Bianchi as turbo bike and never love the experience getting back on it. Trek is just miles above - in ride comfort and general enjoyment. Not to mention that I just like to look at it.
Recently I was gifted Assioma power pedals and I love it. I do not need any of this stuff but I love it and obsess about everything bike related.
Again, I don’t need any of fancy things (expensive bike, power pedals etc) but this stuff made my biking experience much more fun and makes me ride more than before.
17:51 I had 10 speed Tiagra 2600 for ages. Loved it. Bit ugly on the shifters. I know ride Ltwoo 10 speed becuase I liked the looks. Loving that too! I dont race and just enjoy being out.
As an American I've never had beans on toast, but I'm totally sold now.
Also, love you guys. I look forward to every one of these episodes.
I loved the comment on how the long-time cyclists are in the "price bubble" - I saw that just recently when I decided to buy a road bike for myself and my wife so we can start moving around and have some sort of excercise. Having had ridden MTB many, many, many years ago I was unsure road biking will be for me as I always considered it "dull road riding" so the Decathlon 120 Disc bikes were just great for us to start - expense low enough that even if we didn't enjoy it, it wouldn't really hurt us if we need to re-sell with significant discount.
However, one of my wife's friend is a cyclist and she lent her her bike (Trek Domane) for 1 week until her Triban arrived (had to be delivered as it was not in stock). And it was exactly like you describe, we heard a lot about how the Triban is a waste of money, like you need at least 2500 EUR bike so it's not heavy and yadda yadda yadda. Well, I definitely will not chase 2kg on a bike weight if there is good 15kg on my person that I am lugging around extra :D
If possible however, I'd like to ask you for a review of the Decathlon 1600 EUR carbon road bike, as I might be looking to have an upgrade next year if I will keep on track - got a goal to do 300km still this year and I am now sitting at 280 for the 4 weeks I have it for and my personal goal is that if I do 3500km next year, I will start looking into upgrade. I had my eyes on Canyon of course, but I am now pleasantly surprised by the Decathlon bikes so looking into that too - and your review of the Triban 120 was great indicator and confidence boost for our purchases.
Canyon is several thousand dollars cheaper than their competitors. The rest of the industry is absurd. I wanted the new Defy but got an Endurace CF SLX with the same components for $3k less
I agree, I only have a Grand Canyon 8 but even at that price range I would have paid about 300€ more for a bike with the same components if it would be a different brand.
There are some gold in German brands, like Cube and Rose are at par with canyon on value, and the new decathlon van rysel bikes are such a great deal
Cycling has been expensive for numerous years my dad had been working with carbon as a raw material for years all the bikes are over priced even when a bike is in a sale . Plus disc brakes has now been introduced to road bikes that a further cost to the average consumer.
Great discussion! I ride what makes me happy, what I grew up wanting. A few years ago I built up a 2005? Allez Comp SLX. Ultegra 11 speed, EA90 SLX wheels, Bontrager RXL stem/bars. Sub 7 kg, rim brake for about $700
+\-. It’s so fast. Love it! Building up a Trek 5200 with XXX Lite tub wheels and DA 7800. That one will be $800 +\-. Give me an older, high quality, bike that I can work on and upgrade for cheap.
One carbon frame , hydro disc 12 speed 105, 8.5kg, 2000€ is the van rysel NCR 105 (1600€ if you take 10s Tiagra insted )
I've also encountered the person Francis was talking about with the shortest cranks, iirc he replied to a comment that all his cranks were custom built only measuring about 130mm or so(I could be wrong but it really is short).
He'd rather spend more on having them custom-built because he has some type of injury on his Knee, and requires minimum movement or bend, thus the shortest cranks ever.
Cheapest possible 7,5kg bike - great video idea. Would love to see that!
When I raced back in late 80's early 90's, I could afford to build a good, new, race spec, custom bike with what I earned as a student working part time in a pub. Campagnolo Chorus groupset, hubs built into Mavic Mach 2CD2 rims with DT Swiss spokes, made to measure Reynolds 753 frameset, Cinelli bars and stem, Selle italia saddle, Vittoria tubs.
You can't put together a similar level, brand new bike today, working three nights a week, pulling pints in a North East pub. It would cost what, seven, eight, nine grand? It took me just over a year to save for that bike. How many years would it take today?
You'd be finishing your Phd before you got to turn a crank in anger.
You guys definitely need to find the sweet spot on bikes please 👍 1.5k to 3k
More realistic prices like most cycle to work schemes are 2k ?
I find it hard to find a 2k bike when I like the 3-4K ones ???
Many thanks and great work guys 👍
To your question about uphill time trials there is one every year on the island of Maui up Mount Haleakala. 36 miles, 10,023 feet making it the steepest road on Earth. It’s an HC climb that shits on all the climbs in every grand tour😂
I love this 3 way awkwardness. Hats off. Love your work. Jesse James Heber
As always, thanks for helping me get through my training session. Love the podcast, keep it up
Last generation BMC roadmachine 5 with 105 di2 and Al wheels costs $3465 CAD(which is less than £2000) in my local bike shop before taxes. That’s the cheapest new 105 Di2 with carbon frame road bike I can find in Toronto.
But if you forgo electronic shifting, you can find much cheaper 105 12s mech carbon bikes with hydraulic disc brakes, which I believe is a sweet spot
Agree on the frame v components thing. For about 8 yrs I raced a CAAD10 with Campy 11, then 12 speed R/SR and Bora wheels. Awesome bike, just limited by tire size - 25's.
Great bike! Love campy!
We never have hillclimb events here in the Netherlands and I can't for the life of me understand why
I’ve seen a Dutch guy get a nosebleed on an escalator
Great chat again.....a splash of Worcestershire sauce into the bean sauce or the cheese! 😉👍
Been holding off for about 4 years now in buying a new steed, for a variety of life reasons, and just seen everything attainable get further and further away. I knew with the release of 105 electric last year that last years Ultegra bikes would now be 105 at the same price point. The industry is just shafting the consumer.
I have the Grail from the first generation (still with Ultegra). Yes, the vibration damping is just marketing. I also get it, that the look of it is controversial, but nonetheless I actually like it. The bars give you a quite relaxed position on top, while providing you with a pretty aggressive position in the drops. I simply enjoy the flexibility from that. And hooking in the thumbs feels also pretty secure if the terrain gets rougher.
I bought my recent entry level Ribble AL disc for £799. I think the care shown in production shows the company don’t care for this part of the market. I feel social media (not this channel) show and ride expensive bikes (some which I know the creators are financing, so can’t afford) which makes a new cyclist feel inadequate. This channel champions the sport from every angle.
Another brilliant episode folks. I think you are judging the interplay between the three of you really well. Love the vibe between all of you!
Very funny banter 😂 that is well presented. The timing of the camera changes is spot on. Love the side comments of Emily
The biggest problem I have with old bike frames is lack of available parts, trying to source a derailleur hanger for a 10 year old bike can be near impossible if it's no longer supported by the manufacturer, or if you need a new pair of wheels on a bike where clearances aren't so great makes maintaining an old bike just that little bit more complicated.
I think good performance is actually cheaper than ever and its down to increased choice. You can have a great mechanical 10sp groupset in Tiagra which performs at Ultegra level from two gens ago. Theres a fully wireless Rival AXS for mostly under a grand (there are always deals) and this was just non existent 3-5 years ago. Yes if you want to kit your bike out in top tier brands/product lines it will be horrendously expensive but that a function of broadening field. But the same broadening field provides opportunities that were not there before. You can have a Al frame disc brake 650b carbon wheeled gravel bike running 1x sram full wireless for a lot less that it would have been 5 years ago. Similarly with any other niche solution. Choice makes life much more efficient if one is not just chasing the most premium stickers.
And UA-cam tells us, everyone has to ride a new s-works ….
The ‘23 emonda alr with 105 can be found new for less than 1800, even closer to 1600 in some places. With some new wheels you’ll get close to 8kg for 2500.
There is also the “trickle” down technology. The mid/lower level products are as good if not better than top end from 10 years ago. While pricing has gone up at the top, you can still buy anything in the lower price points.
I live in Perth australia and loved the segment. It seems that Perth is becoming the most bike friendly city outside of Europe. The whole story about bike prices was so balanced, I just loved it. Got a very good idea what we SHOULD want. But I am unfit and only started cycling at 62, so I prefer a more upright position of a flat bar. Can you do a review of entry level specialized and Trek hybrids please? Thanks so much for such an informative video
This show just gets better and better, keep up the great work guys👏🏽
haha you guys cracked me up with the beans section. Great episode btw.
YES JIMMY!!!! Cold beans on toast for the win. I’ll also add sliced cheddar on the toast before adding the beans straight out the can and then a dash of Worcestershire sauce on top.
Hi Guys, you refer to before and after covid for the price rises. Something else, at least as significant as lock downs for prices happened at the same time and that was UK formally leaving the EU single market, just about in the middle of covid.
Branston beans is my favourite. We always store our canned goods upside down. When openned much less is left stuck in the bottom and the beans come out with the sauce still mixed.
As regards helping/condesending, if someone is stopped with a puncture a simple "are you ok?" might actually be welcome, for instance they haven't got a puncture kit/ spare tube, they're tubeless and can't inflate it again etc. Being rescued from stranded should never be thought condescending.
I'm currently considering a new bike so this podcast was really interesting. I have a 2017 alloy Giant Defy and looking at a Fairlight Strael 3 to replace it. It's a big expense, and doesn't make any logical sense so this chat was useful as a bit of a reality check. Mainly I just want a cool new bike 😛
I have cf sl 7 grail, I got it for the damping because after a crash on my tt bike my left collar bone is in three parts which bump together on road chatter, which is interesting 😂. The grail is by far the most comfortable bike I have (and I have a grevil f so it isn’t just the gravel geometry, particularly for long rides on the drops hooking your thumbs over the bottom bar is massively comfortable. All in all the esthetic was never going to please ever one, I notice the impact of the handlebars giving some relief from chatter although a lauf or proper suspension fork or red shift would probably do the same. I do think you missed one of the complaints though, I mean mine fitted perfectly with the handlebars cut to fit the top of the crossbar as it arrived, but you can’t change that without messing up the look 4:27
Here in Japan there are many "Hill Climb" events in different locations throughout the year & they tend to be well established annual events...
They are however different that what I believe UK events to be = the biggest difference being that most events here are "mass start / mass participation" events - "Pro's" start at the front and it's a kind of "first to the top wins" type thing as opposed to the UK style of "individual time trial up a hill" event...
I KNEW IT. Jimmy's opinion on baked beans was brilliant
Next: Marmite!
Francis! You nailed it with the “fear of the continual pattern” thing! My skin literally crawls when I see certain things/patterns and never really understood it. The 3D printed saddle doesn’t bother me, but I know what you mean. It’s nice to know I’m not alone!😂👊🏼
Weird fear of repeating patterns? Is there a name for that?
The biggest issue I had with the Hover bar was it kept your hands really far away from the bar controls (brakes and shifters) so at the point when you want the most vibration damping (going fast) you couldn't cover the brakes! EEK!!! 😬
Got two single speed track bikes both under 500$ aero frame characteristics and as long as you're not dealing with extreme climbs, they're speed monsters, out run Tarmacs aeroroads all the time, can easily throw on deep dishes wheels. An excellent budget option on flatter terrains for those who want 14k worth of speed or cross training, or interested in owning a well rounded stable without braking the bank
I decided to build a gravel bike versus buying a full built bike and having to remove and replace parts I did not want
eed. I wanted a mullet setup, so I decided to buy the frame through my local shop and then ended up purchasing about 75% of the parts needed from the local shop, as the pricing was the same or close to it. Since I did that, they offered to put it together for me and not charge me for doing that. I ended up saving almost $2k overall and even got new wheels and got a fantastic build. Was still pricey but worth it. Living in Florida, I am tell you, there are no hill climb competitions :)
Would not buy anything but hydraulic disc brake bikes now. The security that it adds is worth the extra cost many times over. For me, it was an absolute revelation to switch. For my kids' bikes as they finally moved onto full size ones, it was just the same. For safety more than anything, they had to have hydraulic discs.
I enjoy the chat guys…..and especially when Emily adds her comments….✊
Jimmys comment on how he would build a bike in the past was the standard way we did it in the 1980s, (1981) I had a frame tailor made (A Colin Every lugged 531) then Mavic Rims Campag Hubs, group set, regina chains Cinnelli bars, Brooke's saddle etc from the adds at the back of Cycling weekly.
Servicing my bike cost twice the amount my car did. Cycling is so expensive it’s a bit depressing. I’ve had to teach myself the basics to keep my bike on the road. Even then tools and parts are expensive.
I think you're optimistic on even if Wiggle goes and a large supplier of sub-trade prices disappears then a another player won't spring up using those same contacts and financial mechanisms.
I'd rather ride a top end road frame from over a decade ago than anything currently pushed by the bike industry, even if its bought second hand. I have friends who have acquired nice Colnago's etc, worth 4-5k framest for under 1k, then you can build up a sweet riding competitive weighing bike for little outlay. Of course these bikes have rim brakes but then you really don't need discs on a road bike, what was fine for a hundred years is still fine to ride now at any level. This is a big problem for the bike industry at the moment as riders like me have stopped buying their bikes, whereas in the past I'd always be jumping on the latest things.
Speculation but, that "double drop" bar looks from the picture to have both a down sweep and a back sweep on the top. it ought to be more comfortable for a longer time than a flat top as your wrists will be in a more natural position. Basically you might be less likely to get numb or tingly fingers riding the tops.
The double drop bar is indeed slightly dropped in the upper section. And that gives a HUGE problem riding in mud and rain. Without very grippy gloves your hands will slide towards the outside ends all the time. I had similar bars and had to "drop" them in the bike store. 😐
There is one hill climb event in Barcelona. It has fixed, women and open categories. It is called Tibidabo Hill Climb and this year is on the 25th November.
I really wish there were more of these around.
COVID has created a huge surplus of bikes creating a buyers market in America(live in Kansas). Bought Trek Domane SL 8(full Dura Ace) in 2017 for $5000. Spent an extra $2000 for carbon wheels. Earlier this year I bought a Trek Emonda SL6 pro disc( full ultegra) which came with carbon wheels costing only $3800. Both bikes were bought from a bike shop which was an official Trek dealer. Was told Covid has created this situation with a huge surplus of bikes throughout the country.
There are "hill climb" events in Poland, but they are done outside cities. Usually, those climbs are longer (20+ min). Some of them are done on public roads (closed for the day), but some are offroad climbs (e.g. "Uphill Race Śnieżka", which is extremely popular, and usually tickets are gone within minutes).
I live in the central US, I am not aware of any hill climb events around here. I usually start doing more hills in the winter because it keeps speeds slower for the same workout, which means I get to stay warmer. Perhaps that is why hill climb season is in winter over there.
Looking for recommendations for switching my daily commute tyres for winter.
I ride is a Diverge E5 with 38 mil stock tyres. However, I've noticed that the stopping power is considerably reduced when I'm riding in the rain on them. I'm 6'1" and 94kgs(yes, I'm fat...lol!) hence looking to change them out for the winter to ensure that it's safer for me to ride daily.
My daily commute is about 20km each way, mainly on roads but I do like to take the gravel path at times and on weekends. I have looked at the 700x43C Panaracer Gravel King SK but would like to go for a 45 or a 47mm(max tyre clearance of the bike) if possible. I'm looking for suggestions as this will be my first winter ride in the UK. Cheers! love the content you guys make and it's helped me become much better in my rides!
I have mixed feelings. An LBS sounds like the most practical way of dealing with maintenance and repairs. I also get their value in selling second hand bikes. For new bikes, it seems like they would make sense combined with a "bike fit first" approach. For components, perhaps it would make sense to separate the "expert service to help you find the component that suits you best" from the "selling it to you" part of it.
Then again, I'm just a consumer who knows nothing about the reality of running a business. I would happily pay for the services above, but when it comes to actually ordering a new item, I would rather do it online and have it delivered at home. I enjoy tinkering on my bike on my own schedule.
When I decided to get into cycling again last year, I was blown away with bike prices. I bought a Specialized Allez back in 2007 for $700 dollars. I still have it. I upgraded the mech to Shimano Sora for $495, added a new chain, cables, dropbar, etc. So I put about $700 into it. (basically the cost of the original bike) Way cheaper than a new bike and runs just as well. A new set of wheels is on the list. downside is the biggest tires I can fit will most likely be 28s. Would I like a new one, definitely, but for the money, rebuilding my old bike was a better option.
Buy a used frame :)
why, there is nothing wrong with my allez frame @@sempi8159
I for one, would love to see the 7.5 kg bike on the cheap, although TraceVelo has done it for pretty reasonable amounts, and so has GCN. I am struggling to see how to get my two decent, relatively new, ally bikes below 9.5 at the moment - lighter parts won't add up to 2 kg, beyond what I have already done (carbon post, carbon seat, carbon 38mm deep rims on Novatecs, road pedals). Bar, cranks, shifters, with titanium bolts, carbon post clamp, carbon steerer cap, and carbon cages won't do it. So good luck!
13:44 For any good LBS, the extra money you "may" spend, could also be considered an investment in your local cycling advocacy and community. Because as we all know, that is often where the strength in your local cycling community and cycling advocacy can be found.
Hill climbing events abroad. Yep, Ive entered one this December (Southern Spain)
I have been in some mile centuries where they have a KOM segment for the hardest hill climb, usually with a reward. But by where I live I’ve never seen a dedicated hill climb event.
Caad12 disc frame ÷ sram force chainset ÷ hollowgram wheelset. Frame used. Apex shifters used. Crankset used. Sram disc brackets used Wheelset used (but as new), tyre new, chain new, cables new, chain rings new, cassette new, bottom bracket new, rotars new, saddle new, handlebar used... near 7.5kg and below £2k....built up 6 months ago
Used the double-decker bar for a few years and here's my opinion.
- The speed wiggle probably comes from having a short effective stem length. It's visually deceptive because of the unconventional design.
- I don't think it offers any more hand positions: It's impossible to put hands on the lower bar because the upper bar will get in the way.
- Lower bar is a good place to mount things (bell, bag, ebike control) and won't compromise hand positions
- On the drops, you can rest your thumb on the lower bar, which increases stability for me
- It looks as if you slammed the cockpit such that there is a flat surface between the top tube and the stem, yet offers you a comfortable upright riding position.
Overall I'm a little sad to see it go away - where am I supposed to get replacement parts should mine break in a few years? 🤷♂
1000000% agree LOL, our expectations are wacked at this point. Now saying a $7000 (canadian) bike is reasonable? wtf we've all gone mad LOL but yes we like what we like, biking is basically a way of life for many of us, if you can afford it, and you use it a lot, then justifying is easier. Agreed, real people want $10k but not a single one of us need it.... Yes, new bike ordered is Di2 again... I couldn't stomach downgrading LOL keep up the great works dudes
As for exploring an killer 2-3k bike.
Look at the new Merida Reacto 4000. (Or the scultura version if you want an shorter allrounder)
Beans on toast is even better with Marmite on the toast. If you're not sure, just try a little on one corner. It'll be the best corner of the slice!
And Marmite is easier to spread on toast if you put it on top of the butter_before_ you spread the butter, then spread both together.
Man I don’t want to see an industry crash but the reckoning hopefully brings sense to the industry
I think the manufacturers have done their job with marketing and normalized very high pricing. I don't know if we can ever go back..
Have a look for the „anchoring effect“ …
Nice bit of depth of field 😊
There is one hill climbing event in Portugal, Lisbon. It's always in the same hill though "Subida à Glória"
I got a fox 36 fork from wiggle for $700aud or 370 pounds, they are usually close to 1000 pounds! It seemed too good to be true but it arrived and the fork was brand new and I'm loving it. It just came with red decals which I replaced
Agree with you on the Branston beans! They are the best. I think they have ring pull cans now. Happy days!
Get a Look Ergo stem. Really helped me out when I used to get more regular back issues.
Midwest USA chiming in, never seen a hill climb event in my life. Been racing on the road for about 8 years
Would love to see it here in the states some day
Cold baked beans? Yes yes yes! Finally someone that gets it!
Bike stuff is to expensive, But the key thing here is it is expensive new, I have recently just got into cycling, My first bike was the Boardman 8.9 ADV and it is great, I got it for 550pound new RRP 1200.
I am just using marketplace to buy pretty much everything, However I would love a video where you show the best value for money items such as, Lights, Bibs, Helmet, etc etc
This would help new cyclers understand the best value and what to look out for on the pre owned market.
Francis does not want a 3D printed saddle, but bought a 200 dollar Silca frame pump, which I wanted, but... could not force myself to hit the order button, but it is pretty.