A caveat to all these arguments is to buy those expensive gear when they are on sale. I tend to not to buy any cycling related item if it is not discounted at least for 50%. All of those top end products are in my opinion at least 50% overpriced. For me a good deal is an item which is discounted for 60-70% and an item 50% is a fair value.
I agree pretty much with anything, but... I used a mid-level Elite (Suito) trainer for my first three years of structured training, most of it indoors. As I had nothing to compare it with I was quite happy with it. But then I got the opportunity to ride a Kickr v6, and I immediately realized there is a big difference in quality between those two trainers. The ride feel, the data accuracy, the noise level... everything was drastically better on the Kickr compared to the Elite, and thus I have now got a Kickr of my own. Riding between 10 and 15 hours a week makes me think it's a sound and worthwhile investment as it makes it more fun, as well as precise. And another thing: Expensive glasses! I've had expensive good ones from Oakley and Scicon, and I have used really cheap ones from Aliexpress or whatever, - and would never again buy the hyped expensive ones.
True, but up here, they’re closed roads with support. And the roads here and the one Frondo I’d do is probably the most dangerous road in the area for bikes. But what you say goes for road running races. Trail races. In fact, just about any sport that can be practiced outside.
For years I agreed. BUT... I did one Gran Fondo (100 miles) a couple of years ago and it was a hot day. I appreciated having the aid stations as I went through six water bottles with electrolytes. Plus having my less than faster friends participate and not worry about riding together or their safety was worth the price. Professional organization and support for the race fee is actually pretty cheap.
@@newttella1043 Port Douglas Road is the course we got to ride. Ridden it twice, once for the cycle of the 70.3 and once for the Grand Fondo. Out of these times, it's a death trap. Worth every penny of the entry fee to ride it safely with aid stations.
@@newttella1043 The first and second year I started cycling, sure I'd pay for it. After that, you should get used to knowing what you need on a long ride and find friends to do it with.
I am a full time caregiver so cycling (well, not now because my wife needs 24/7 care) is for both physical and mental self care. I am also a self made millionaire who can't travel, doesn't smoke/drink/drugs.
An 150£ helmet stills a very expensive helmet and it has the same level of protection of those of 20£ because they are made exactly of the same material and same fabrication (even in the same factory), as they must comply with the international rules of safety. Just pay attention to the safety approval stickers when buying one. They are always the same ISO codes no matter the price.
Good point, we've seen a few brands over the last couple of years catering for wider feet (e.g. Fizik, Northwave & Specialized S-Works Torch) but Lake have been doing it for far longer. There's a reason why many bike fitters stoke Lake shoes! Thanks for watching - Felix
Agreed. Unfortunate for me, even Lakes are typically too pointing in the toe box for my wide feet, but short of going all out custom, Lakes are are my only option.
Maurten gels are pretty good 👍 They are the ONLY gel I will happily buy and use if I needed them. Maurten powders not so much, don't bother with them unless you mix them with a BCAA for flavouring. Every other gel I'm not wasting my money on anymore as I've tested enough.
I have those Spatz overshoes and they are worth every penny. I wear out a pair every two years and happily send them more money to replace them. It is astonishing how much better long rides in moderate to heavy rain are with these things. As far as I’m concerned, they are not even a little bit overpriced.
Shoes - worth it. That comfort and fit so important 3D saddles - why? With padded shorts, like a pea under a mattress Drivetrain - middle level is perfect
Because they think their opinions outweigh anyone else's opinions. They clearly don't recognize how their opinions bias their reviews and dumb episodes like this.
What a great panel discussion. I think you’ve hit on some key points, in which the benefit of products doesn’t match the hype and justify the outlay. I can’t help that the rapaciousness of manufacturers is likely to lead to their own demise. Simply, we are now at a point where the cost of just entering the sport of cycling is in itself a disincentive and it’s making other sports like running, golfing, walking, tennis and team-based sports, requiring less investment in equipment than you’re up for compared to cycling more preferred. When it comes to discretionary spending, which in current economic times is diminishing, the high costs of cycling are not sustainable
My dedicated winter boots (Shimano) have lasted over 10 years. I wear knee high light weight ski socks with them and are amazingly warm. Their return on investment is worth it. They still look new and will probably last another 10 years.
I like that you guys are real when it comes to the value of the products a regular cyclist needs and wants. At my shop (Barcelo Bicycles) we have a moto, Not everyone needs a 15K bicycle
You guys are hitting the nail squarely on the head here! I know lots of people who have to have $10k bikes, the most obscenely expensive clothing, including shoes, helmet, bike bags...etc... A person could easily get by with essentially no difference in quality and performance from all these products at less than 1/3rd of the cost. I guess a lot of people are out there making a fashion statement or contest - and that makes them feel good. Maybe it's worth it for them? I'm curious what the total all-in cost difference for a cyclist might be from expensive premium level gear and kit compared to good quality affordable alternatives. Many thousands of dollars I presume. I'd rather get good quality items at a reasonable costs saving more than enough money for a few premium products that I feel I couldn't live without or a "luxury" item.
Shall we all come around to your place and critique items that you have? Why be so judgmental on others choices? People then have to make excuses to justify their purchase. If you can afford something, have it. If you can’t, then pick any one of the other more affordable options.
@@cejay67 Not making judgements. If you have the money and it makes you happy it's worth it to you. Go for it and enjoy your ride! My point was that you can get essentially the same level of performance and quality from products costing far less, if you wanted to. I'm not shamed at all because my bikes only cost $3k each (but I do have 4 bike). Im not out to impress anyone. I'm happy with what I have even though I can afford any bike and gear I want.
@@rsrnsrwds Thanks for the decent reply. You initial comment definitely did sound like you were making judgements though. Everyone's sense of value is different. I have an Edge 540 because the 840 was too expensive for me. But I have an Epix 2 (I am a runner first, cycling through injury) and whilst I *could* have made do with the watch on a mount, it would have been a downgrade. But for some, having a sports watch AND a cycling computer, what waste! I made a value judgement and got the best I could. But there are other cycling computers that are cheaper and arguably as good. And the bike? I have a perfectly good 8yo Propel but bought a mid spec Madone this year (mid spec of the lower frame). Did I waste my money? Perhaps, it hasn't made me a pro cyclist, but it brakes better, is more comfortable, but $6.5k better? Nope. But I could afford it so I got it. The point I am making is that we all make value decisions and videos criticising choices made by others is such a shit way to make a living and forces people to have to justify their decisions in some other way. I provide Audiophiles as Exhibit A.
Poseidon X Ambition gravel bike: $650. Giro helmet: freebie from my cousin. Giro Berm MTB shoes: $60 from Amazon. Shimano M520 pedals and cleats: $45 from Amazon. Garmin Edge 530 and sensor bundle: $300 on sale from a shop that was going out of business. Kit: $40 bibs from The Black Bibs and whatever Primal jersey happens to catch my eye on the sale page. Nutrition: strawberry newtons and any electrolyte drink that sounds appetizing at the time. The only reason cycling has become so expensive is because Ordinary Joe Cyclist thinks they need the latest and greatest tech to get the upper hand on their mates when out on their Sunday morning coffee ride.
Madone 3.1 - 100 dollars. Abus Gamechanger helmet, 50 dollars. Shimano 105 pedals - 35 dollars. Assos jersey - 50 dollars. Assos RS9 Targa bibs, 99. Garmin 500 with a k edge Al mount - five dollars. Shimano RC7, Shimano XC7, Shimano RC900, and an older Shimano flagship road shoe - free in my size from a guy moving houses. I also bought last year a Supersix Evo Hi mod for 500 with Reynolds 45 wheels, another one for 680 with RS81 wheels, and a CAAD10 with Force for 200. 350 dollars and I can hang with the A group on the Saturday and Sunday rides at 21 mph on rolling terrain. This sport is only expensive if you make it expensive. My 500 dollar Supersix is lighter than any of the other 12k bikes that people roll on in my group rides
Warren is great. Everything he recommends I'm doing it too. I have Shimano MW5's (not the MW7's because why) I own a CAAD12 since the time he recommended that bike and see no reason to get another bike and have since dI2'd it. Plus he rides a bike during winter. Swift I cannot get away with because I simply cannot work hard enough in a living room with someone giving me 'RIDEONS' every 10 seconds. 🤣🤣 I'll see you up the middle of moory nowhere with the dark grey skies contrasting the thousand shades of green and the relentless wind. It's F**king fabulous! One thing I recommend that is not overpriced when there's a sale on, is Adidas climaheat gear. Brilliant. Not damp like merino can get but just as warm. Everything turns into a bin bag when you work hard enough so I say any expensive rain jacket that claims to be breathable is BS. I have a Boardman one that cost me £45 and it's as good as the rest of them. BTW, If I'm riding for less than 3 hours I take some water. I am on the zero carb lifestyle so I am 'fat adapted' meaning I live off my body fat not sugary drinks. I used to do all that high carb drinks and gels stuff but I've seen the light. Not good for you at all. Especially as you get older.
One-piece carbon handlebar, Integrated routing. Makes things hard to fix for both home mechanics and shops. And bike companies should stop using aero seatposts for mid-range endurance bikes.
Aero road bikes, or any bike that costs over 8k. I love my Madone, but I know I could've gotten all the same performance with a bike that costs significantly less. Are ENVE, Campagnolo, Zipp, and Mavic wheels worth the $3000+ price tag? I'm not sure, but I'll die on the hill that my Bora WTO wheels were a good investment (I got an older Bora set for 2k, I think that's the most I would ever spend on a wheel set) If you love cycling, you love spending money.
8K sounds extremely random, care to justify the number? You could get the Van Rysel RCR cheaper than that and it's literally ridden in World Tour. If it's good enough for AG2R, should be good enough for 99.9% of the riders out there. And then you have cheaper brands like Rose, Cube, Vitus and so on and so forth.
@danielt91 8k is my conservative figure, I remember that's what super bikes used to cost at the high-end. I built my custom Madone SLR 2 years ago for 12k, which is eye-watering, and isn't some SL8's pushing 15k? Cube, Merida, Canyon, maybe Factor, these are more affordable than the Trek's, Colnago's, Pinarello's, etc, but that ain't saying much.
The worst part of cycling shoes( or any kind of sporting centered shoe) is that the shape of the shoe is not the shape of the feet, but the shape of a shoe, thus foot bindig the feet.
I you can afford it, buy what ever you like. There is a difference between rational and emotional choices. No one needs a high end bike with high end gear but damn it looks good and makes you feel the boss cycling on it.
Before I had kids and a mortgage, I treated myself to some CarbonSports Lightweight carbon wheels and while they were stupidly expensive, I have never ridden more solid wheels in my life. I am a heavy rider but when I rode them on my Dogma 2 on a race track, the power transfer was awesome and not a hint of flex. I have not ridden another wheel that feels that good under full out-of-the-saddle sprints!!
Really enjoyed this video. Thanks. It’s essential to factor in value for money to all your reviews and recommendations….as pretty well your whole audience does when making a choice 👍
Most of the suggestions were about saving cash, so a final suggestion would be to look around for offers, discounts, etc. I’ve saved so much by timing my purchases
Sorry guys I went from Dura Ace to Ultegra on one bike and I didn't like it. Maybe I am sensitive but there is a slight better performance when its DA. Ultegra is still "rough" on the edges, DA is just perfection second to none on every shift. Then I tried 105 and it was dog shyte. Then Sram lots od dropped front chains. I think if someone came from Ultegra and they dont want to spend on DA thats fine. DA for me is a joy. Never ever had to worry about anything.
Agreed, especially on mechanical. 6800 to 9100 was so good especially shifters and front derailleur (still using 8000 RD). The lever throw in particular is much better on DA9100 than 6800 or even modern 105 7000
I agree totally. I have two bikes with full 9100 mechanical groups and one with DI2 9150. All include pedals as well. I would have no problem if I had to go back to mechanical on my SWorks SL6. DA mechanical is the best stuff out there in my experience. I feel the difference. The only reason I went DI2 was just to try it out. I think that there isn't a real difference in the shift quality between them and if I had to do it again, I would stick with mechanical. Been t i would still be DA 9100!
@@drill_fiend1097 its not the shifting speed its the intangible things like smoothness of shift coming down the gears, the way the pulleys in the derailleur move the chain, theway the chain drops on the chainrings. Its the whole experience. Everything is silky smooth. I ran DA Di2 the 9000 and 9100. Everytime I try anything lower it just got rougher and rougher. Though I am going to say this, for anyone running a 105, change up those rear derailleur pulley wheels to ceramic. It makes a difference. The 105s doesnt even have bearings in them and it drags you down the entire gruppo. I am doing an experiment on how to make the 105 better and this is the One weakness I found. I switched it to the cheapest made in USA ceramic oversize pulleys from Omni Racer and its day and night difference. Its amazing how a junk oem pulley can slow the whole thin down.
@@hayabusa27 has to be related to cassette's material, linkglide and groove patterns. People do say they experience smoother shifts with dura ace cassettes even with 105 derailleurs.
I swear by the Ronin Mirror saddle. I'll admit that I don't own a regular Ronin, but this saddle is by far the most comfortable I have every owned. I'm not a rich man, but that $400+ was one of the best purchases I have made in cycling. It is that good. I have also tried a Chinese copy of a Power Mirrior and it was close to my second most comfortable saddle ever, for only $50, so I'm not convinced that the 3D printing is just marketing fluff.
Watching with my wife who's new to cycling and she thought a stupidly expensive bottle cage was £20 and then turned to me and asked how much were my new ones that arrived this week. Definitely not impressed with my set for £35.
My biggest helmet requirement is that it has big enough vent holes that the shackle of my D lock fits through them for when I’m locking it to my bike. 2 reasons, secures the helmet and prevents easy access to the D lock shackle for thieves (twisting or angle grind attack)
Agree with 3d printed saddles. Bought from Specialized one for almost 300€. I’d say personally it’s about 10-20% better/comfortable on long rides rather stock saddle
I’d agree with most of this. I’m trying to think of something to add to the list, and I just can’t at the moment. At the same time I think that it’s probably ok to splurge on some of these items, _if it makes you ride more or makes your ride more enjoyable_ would be my caveat. Some of these things I don’t see how that could be the case, some I do. I bought an expensive helmet (Giro Aries) but that was because it was the best rated helmet in the University of Virginia’s testing regimen. I have an expensive set of wheels too, but again, I bought them custom built off a local wheel builder, so I’m paying for the cachet and the care and attention to detail (and the branding is very stealth, so no one knows unless they look very carefully!). I don’t even have an indoor smart trainer. But I don’t have a terrible northern hemisphere winter to cope with. 😅 every time I look at a smart trainer, I just think ‘I could buy another set of wheels for that’ and just never buy either lmao
The ultegra pedals are often on sale for £50, which is not much more than their basic ones. The kicker is you can service the ultegra pedal bearings with a 10mm wrench, but need a special wrench for the basic ones.
Cycling Computers are now a bit redundant. I got tired of having two devices with me, so I bought a $10 Garmin adapter sticker and stuck it on a $10 high protection phone cover, attached it to my mount and opened the Strava app. It shows me everything Garmin does while eliminating a device, its cost and weight, its use of a pocket, etc. And now I have my phone in front of me should I want to decline a call, select a different album to listen to, take a photo, etc rather than having to reach into my back pocket and pfaff about.
I have raced sinçe '95 and got on podium with simple Shimano RDX 7dpeed . Rhem moved to Dura-Ace 7800. Then swapped to Ultegra 6700 shifters f and r derailleur. C50 carbon wheels. The 6700 and wheels where brought used. Still using the garming 810. I'll be moving to aero disc brake this year. But with 105 mechanical. Mayve in later stage I will either go for the Di2 105 or one of hte other brands like Wheeltop. For me the fitness and resistance and havin fun while riding is my priority. Thanks for sharing. Happy 2025 💫 Greetings from Curaçao 🇨🇼
Good idea, I might try adding a bit of salt to my bottle which has orange juice... Also my inexpensive pre race breakfast is 3 large cookie and a chocolate bar... Works pretty well!
Hard disagree for gels, chews, and drink mix. There’s a huge convenience factor with such products. I have limited time to ride and don’t want to devote any portion of that time making my own nutrition products or packing up perishable food for each longer ride. Also, where I ride, you can’t count on there being convenience stores or “cafes” to buy food mid ride.
White winter kit is essential, it is good to look around. Got a winter kit from Giro, was on sale with some other stuff. Spent about 500usd, did the sums saved about 1000usd (if their normal prices is to go on.) Did some good sub zero rides with it in the NC Foothills. (Only problem is…. Now I have to carry it back to Europe.) 😂
I don't mind spending more on a pair of shoes since they'll last nearly 10 years compared to a pair of athletic shoes that last maybe a year. I love the fit of the Shiamno SPhyre, they are 8 years old and still feel and look awesome.
If you want to talk about bike helmet safety, you seriously need more than anecdotal evidence or at least input/comments from an actual scientist. I hope most people will disregard the advice you give here and trust what Virginia Tech are saying.
@@Mono199817 I had a road bike crash at 36 mph (strava told me!) and although I broke my hand, ribs and got concussion as I left the road and hit multiple trees, the surgeon told me that my Mips Poc helmet almost certainly saved me from a brain injury and even death
Wheels: Not that easy topic at all. I have Hunt wheels, where the rear hub bearings lasted for one year (10000 km), road use only. Poor quality. On my gravel bike dealing with far more complex and demanding surfaces I've got Campagnolo Shamal. After about 8000 km no sign of wear, the bearings still run smoothly and the wheels are still true. In fact the Hunt wheels are slightly more expensive than Campagnolos. My go-to road wheels are DT Swiss ERC1400 45 mm, superbly bulit, sturdy, comfortable, easy to maintain, smooth and true after 20000 km. Yes, they exceed 1000 GBP, but in a long run you will save money in comparison to cheap wheels as Hunt or Scribe or ZIPP 303S for example. There is always a kind of trade-off.
Could not disagree more especially on bike computers. Suggesting nobody is looking at their data during a ride is by far the most bullshit thing i have heard in a while.
High end wheels are not necesseraly carbon. My definition of highend is sturdy. Carbon wheels are usually limited to 110 kg . Better are wheels that can take 150 kg. If the rider is 100 kg, the packing 10 kg, and the bike with wheels is 12 kg, then 150 kg gives 28 kg clearance, and 110 kg capasity are overloaded.
12-speed DuraAce offers significantly less friction with the 52/40 chainrings, if you can ride them, and a much better chain than an Ultegra, which is only available with a maximum of 52/36. A 38 chainring is still missing for amateur racers.
I've got the Garmin 840 and since the last update to the software I've noticed while out on my ride I keep getting the warning for an animal. I did 3 loops around this location and the warning kept coming back even though I dismissed it. If this keeps going on I will trash the computer and buy something else.
If you need increased stance then Ultegra SPD-SL Extended (+4mm) + a spacer + adjusted cleat might be a very good solution, and you do not get it at RS-500 pedal level.
RE Pedals costing too much, Am I weird for sticking with MKS Silvans with toe clips and nylon straps so that I can just stick with my regular sneakers? 3 minute 50 miles suggests that going with cleats probably isn't worth it for my fitness level.
I agree that you should get kit that works for you: clothing, saddles and shoes. Sometimes, that can mean spending more than budget level and other times not. TBH, I love Assos bib shorts and still have some pairs, which are S5 vintage chamois... they still feel fine, and I've had no reason to replace them yet. My other expensive purchase is saddles: i used to find the old Spesh Romins worked for me, but recent ones are too padded, so switched to Berk Lupins which are even more comfy than my old Romins, though at £200 ish i think they're worth it.
Peak Torque reviewed Spatz and said his feet got wet and cold. He tested them on mucky roads around 4c. I live in northern Scotland. So temperatures in the low 30's are regular.
Basically, if you wear it and it fits and is comfortable, then great. If it's equipment, the performance too cost ratio curve dramatically gets steeper as you spend. & as for tech - you probably don't need it...
Spain, Italy, Alps, Pirenees depending on where you live. A flat and cold country? There you are. You can rent a bike o travel with yours (approx 100-120£/€ extra). In UK you can rent also rigid travel bikes too for 5£/€ a day. Plan and go with some friends. Unforgettable experience
Cyclist spend what they can afford.Why buy a £12,000 bike when a £3000 bike can do the same job,the answer is because some cyclist can afford it.Plus there is alot of snobbery in cycling.Pay what you can afford,
I was gonna say fancy bottle cages are fine because I was under the assumption that we're comparing ones for 20 quid and 40 quid, but these guys think fancy starts at 100 quid! I didn't even know you could spend this much on a bottle cage! But overall speaking, the whole obsession with aero and weight if you're not even riding competitively to any meaningful extent. If you just ride for your own fitness and like to be out on your bike then at most you'll be training for watts, and watts aren't a function of speed. Purely for condition you could train on a Dutch bike as long as it has the power meter and computer on it. What matters is the human interaction, so what's important is to have a bike with a good fit and comfortable contact points and maaaaybe decent shifting, but I feel like that's crossing into optional territory already.
Bikes that cost a lot, biggest win you can make is getting fitter yourself. Same with all the light weight stuff, just loose a couple of kilos. Other thing is worth your money, Castelli Perfetto is really great!
I’ve always heard, “if you need Dura Ace someone will buy it for you”. But I see so many average riders on high end bikes with Dura Ace or SRAM Red. I just wave as I pass them on my “self sponsored” bike. Thanks for reminding us that high end kit won’t help most of us!
Counterpoint to that, a last generation dura ace mechanical is a wonderful piece of tech, looking gorgeous. It's not in production anymore (sadly), so getting it second hand is worth it, and basically a collectible. Shifting is so smooth, clearly above that of 105 (in front shifting in particular).
My Dogma X (this was a present to myself for semi retiring and hitting 76) came with Dura Ace, no option to go to Ultegra. The difference in weight between Dura Ace and Ultegra is whether you ate breakfast or not.
if you need a cycling computer just for data collection i see no reason to buy anything fancyer than the edge 130 , its not the greatest regarding navigation but it can comminucate with most accesories cyclists would need (hr , cadence , power) , no colour screen either and a very small form factor but still large enough to display information you would need like watts hr distance and elevation . now to be honest , if i had the money id buy something a little more high end but i dont really need that coz all i have accesories wise is a hr monitor as for kit , so far i have tried first ascent and van rysel and i am very happy with van rysels pricing and quality
Van Rysel for Helmet Skins/Van Rysel for clothing - skins costs a lot when not on sale but I’ve had a pair of shorts over 13 years that never ripped. One piece carbon handle bar - Ali Express….works great and looks great (pick one with many many pic reviews) Saddle - bane of my existence, generic giant saddle was so painful after only 20mins cycling. Selle Italia SLR had the perfect shape but I bought wrong size which caused discomfort but I could cycle 30mins before pain…Fizik Argo 3D printed was not noticeably softer when cycling on trainer but was far more comfortable cycling 1hr 30mins …only issue is adjusting position at times to find sweet spot. Carbon rims - Elite Marvel 50 is doing me well at the moment, very very light compared to giant PR2 and I got upgraded Sapim spokes to reduce 250grams …full cost €700…downside is cross winds, just wow it’s scary to get winds when above 35kph as bike is so light below now. Bike computer - Garmin Edge….basic version but has a nice size, ok battery life for maybe 4-5hour cycle …only downside is directions don’t show other roads so easy at times to follow wrong road if close to another road.
I love my winter gear, and I think you only need a handful of items. I have two long bibs, two Nike thick base layers, two thick winter cycling jerseys, and a handful of long sleeve cycling jerseys that serve me in the Fall too, and winter cycling boots. The amount I've spent on my winter gear is worth not cycling indoors, the boredom would kill me.
Why does it have to be an either or? Do both ....riding in the crisp winter air is great and winter is also a good time to do some structured training too 👍
I hate to say this I bought a $3500 Specialized Tarmac and unfortunately I can tell the difference in stiffness between it and my top of the line $20,000 Pinarello. I always thought these carbon talks are a gimmick, that carbon is just carbon. Unfortunately there IS a difference between qualities of both. If you never owned a Pinarello then you will not know the difference. Probably better that way.
How many riding bikes are actually racing them? Sure we all like to go faster, but mainly most of us just want to have an enjoyable ride and challenge ourselves? I wonder how much more enjoyment I would get upgrading my stock wheels with a $1000+ pair of carbon ones.
I’ll spend more money on points of contact because they dictate my comfort on the bike. Nutrition…I have two gels that I’ve carried for two months. One of these days, I’ll actually use them…they expire in September. Other than that, I drink hot milky coffee on my rides right now cause it’s so freakin cold.
There simply is no substitute to going out every day (every day) and braving the elements, and pushing the pedals against a frequently relentless wind up hills, no matter the gradient. And it is the legs, my good friends that in the end will allow one to pedal, and resist and move fast to the finish line. And please, drop the ceramics bits and bobs that will drain a bank account, for the benefit of millionaires who simply do not cycle. So much talk, so much conversation, so many empty words. On yer bikes, please! :)
What did we miss and what gear do you still want despite the price tag? Are you a magpie like Liam? 👇
Photochromatic sunglasses. £25 vs £200....
Interested to hear what dedicated winter shoes the guys use?
You forgot OSPs....
@@gordonwalker4909 "Photochromatic sunglasses". - can be had for far less than 200. Start with avoiding any labeled cycling-specific.
A caveat to all these arguments is to buy those expensive gear when they are on sale. I tend to not to buy any cycling related item if it is not discounted at least for 50%. All of those top end products are in my opinion at least 50% overpriced. For me a good deal is an item which is discounted for 60-70% and an item 50% is a fair value.
Integrated non adjustable handlebars are the worst
1000% agree
@@renebraun1313 I love the aesthetics of intergraded ! Hate the price ! You just have to know before what lentgh fits you..
I agree pretty much with anything, but... I used a mid-level Elite (Suito) trainer for my first three years of structured training, most of it indoors. As I had nothing to compare it with I was quite happy with it.
But then I got the opportunity to ride a Kickr v6, and I immediately realized there is a big difference in quality between those two trainers. The ride feel, the data accuracy, the noise level... everything was drastically better on the Kickr compared to the Elite, and thus I have now got a Kickr of my own. Riding between 10 and 15 hours a week makes me think it's a sound and worthwhile investment as it makes it more fun, as well as precise.
And another thing: Expensive glasses! I've had expensive good ones from Oakley and Scicon, and I have used really cheap ones from Aliexpress or whatever, - and would never again buy the hyped expensive ones.
One of the biggest waste of cycling money is paying for organized events Iike Gran Fondo, etc... that are on routes you ride on anyway.
True, but up here, they’re closed roads with support. And the roads here and the one Frondo I’d do is probably the most dangerous road in the area for bikes. But what you say goes for road running races. Trail races. In fact, just about any sport that can be practiced outside.
Exactly. Love this...
For years I agreed. BUT... I did one Gran Fondo (100 miles) a couple of years ago and it was a hot day. I appreciated having the aid stations as I went through six water bottles with electrolytes. Plus having my less than faster friends participate and not worry about riding together or their safety was worth the price. Professional organization and support for the race fee is actually pretty cheap.
@@newttella1043 Port Douglas Road is the course we got to ride. Ridden it twice, once for the cycle of the 70.3 and once for the Grand Fondo. Out of these times, it's a death trap. Worth every penny of the entry fee to ride it safely with aid stations.
@@newttella1043 The first and second year I started cycling, sure I'd pay for it. After that, you should get used to knowing what you need on a long ride and find friends to do it with.
Why you guys using MacBook Pros? Get on windows, it's cheaper
And better
Linux
😂
Perfect. 😂
😂 probably don’t want awkward timed updates mid-podcast
If it's your passion/hobby, If the funds allow you to then buy whatever you want.
You are a marketing departments dream customer…………
@@greg4318 And, that's fine if you can afford the stuff that works for you.
I am a full time caregiver so cycling (well, not now because my wife needs 24/7 care) is for both physical and mental self care. I am also a self made millionaire who can't travel, doesn't smoke/drink/drugs.
@@greg4318So you're saying we have to settle on department store bike only?
@@waisinglee1509I have no idea why you are telling me this
An 150£ helmet stills a very expensive helmet and it has the same level of protection of those of 20£ because they are made exactly of the same material and same fabrication (even in the same factory), as they must comply with the international rules of safety. Just pay attention to the safety approval stickers when buying one. They are always the same ISO codes no matter the price.
I have a Specialized Align 2 with MIPS - less than £30 on sigma sports. Meets all safety stds & looks ok
I'll buy one, absolutely a bargain!
Yep absolutely - I bought mine for £30 three years ago and it’s been great. It’s all the helmet you need. Anything more is just marketing.
Yeah, I got one after seeing the Imperial College test results........
I have it too but I feel like the ventilation could be better. But then again I am very sweaty in general, so your mileage may vary.
A hole in the expensive shoe point, when you have wide feet, you have to buy lake’s.
I got my 242 in wide on sale for half price and having used them would pay double the regular price. The only brand for messed up feet imo
Good point, we've seen a few brands over the last couple of years catering for wider feet (e.g. Fizik, Northwave & Specialized S-Works Torch) but Lake have been doing it for far longer. There's a reason why many bike fitters stoke Lake shoes! Thanks for watching - Felix
Yeah I’m an extremely narrow foot and don’t have much of a choice but to buy more expensive shoes because nothing else has fit
Agreed. Unfortunate for me, even Lakes are typically too pointing in the toe box for my wide feet, but short of going all out custom, Lakes are are my only option.
bought fi'zi:k for this reason. £90
Energy bars and gels got to be one of the biggest marketing BS I've ever seen..
Jelly Babies all the way!
I can buy a lot of bananas for the cost of some bars.
@@lbgstzockt8493 exactly and it is natural not ultra processed garbage like gels and bars
I agree, I can go to ALDI and stock up on fruit, cereal bars, etc. and not even spend a third of what some of these supplements cost!
Maurten gels are pretty good 👍 They are the ONLY gel I will happily buy and use if I needed them. Maurten powders not so much, don't bother with them unless you mix them with a BCAA for flavouring. Every other gel I'm not wasting my money on anymore as I've tested enough.
I have those Spatz overshoes and they are worth every penny. I wear out a pair every two years and happily send them more money to replace them. It is astonishing how much better long rides in moderate to heavy rain are with these things. As far as I’m concerned, they are not even a little bit overpriced.
Shoes - worth it. That comfort and fit so important
3D saddles - why? With padded shorts, like a pea under a mattress
Drivetrain - middle level is perfect
Because they think their opinions outweigh anyone else's opinions. They clearly don't recognize how their opinions bias their reviews and dumb episodes like this.
What a great panel discussion. I think you’ve hit on some key points, in which the benefit of products doesn’t match the hype and justify the outlay. I can’t help that the rapaciousness of manufacturers is likely to lead to their own demise. Simply, we are now at a point where the cost of just entering the sport of cycling is in itself a disincentive and it’s making other sports like running, golfing, walking, tennis and team-based sports, requiring less investment in equipment than you’re up for compared to cycling more preferred. When it comes to discretionary spending, which in current economic times is diminishing, the high costs of cycling are not sustainable
My dedicated winter boots (Shimano) have lasted over 10 years. I wear knee high light weight ski socks with them and are amazingly warm. Their return on investment is worth it. They still look new and will probably last another 10 years.
I like that you guys are real when it comes to the value of the products a regular cyclist needs and wants. At my shop (Barcelo Bicycles) we have a moto, Not everyone needs a 15K bicycle
You guys are hitting the nail squarely on the head here! I know lots of people who have to have $10k bikes, the most obscenely expensive clothing, including shoes, helmet, bike bags...etc... A person could easily get by with essentially no difference in quality and performance from all these products at less than 1/3rd of the cost. I guess a lot of people are out there making a fashion statement or contest - and that makes them feel good. Maybe it's worth it for them?
I'm curious what the total all-in cost difference for a cyclist might be from expensive premium level gear and kit compared to good quality affordable alternatives. Many thousands of dollars I presume.
I'd rather get good quality items at a reasonable costs saving more than enough money for a few premium products that I feel I couldn't live without or a "luxury" item.
Shall we all come around to your place and critique items that you have? Why be so judgmental on others choices? People then have to make excuses to justify their purchase. If you can afford something, have it. If you can’t, then pick any one of the other more affordable options.
@@cejay67 Not making judgements. If you have the money and it makes you happy it's worth it to you. Go for it and enjoy your ride!
My point was that you can get essentially the same level of performance and quality from products costing far less, if you wanted to. I'm not shamed at all because my bikes only cost $3k each (but I do have 4 bike). Im not out to impress anyone. I'm happy with what I have even though I can afford any bike and gear I want.
@@rsrnsrwds Thanks for the decent reply. You initial comment definitely did sound like you were making judgements though. Everyone's sense of value is different.
I have an Edge 540 because the 840 was too expensive for me. But I have an Epix 2 (I am a runner first, cycling through injury) and whilst I *could* have made do with the watch on a mount, it would have been a downgrade. But for some, having a sports watch AND a cycling computer, what waste! I made a value judgement and got the best I could. But there are other cycling computers that are cheaper and arguably as good.
And the bike? I have a perfectly good 8yo Propel but bought a mid spec Madone this year (mid spec of the lower frame). Did I waste my money? Perhaps, it hasn't made me a pro cyclist, but it brakes better, is more comfortable, but $6.5k better? Nope. But I could afford it so I got it.
The point I am making is that we all make value decisions and videos criticising choices made by others is such a shit way to make a living and forces people to have to justify their decisions in some other way. I provide Audiophiles as Exhibit A.
Poseidon X Ambition gravel bike: $650. Giro helmet: freebie from my cousin. Giro Berm MTB shoes: $60 from Amazon. Shimano M520 pedals and cleats: $45 from Amazon. Garmin Edge 530 and sensor bundle: $300 on sale from a shop that was going out of business. Kit: $40 bibs from The Black Bibs and whatever Primal jersey happens to catch my eye on the sale page. Nutrition: strawberry newtons and any electrolyte drink that sounds appetizing at the time. The only reason cycling has become so expensive is because Ordinary Joe Cyclist thinks they need the latest and greatest tech to get the upper hand on their mates when out on their Sunday morning coffee ride.
Madone 3.1 - 100 dollars. Abus Gamechanger helmet, 50 dollars. Shimano 105 pedals - 35 dollars. Assos jersey - 50 dollars. Assos RS9 Targa bibs, 99. Garmin 500 with a k edge Al mount - five dollars. Shimano RC7, Shimano XC7, Shimano RC900, and an older Shimano flagship road shoe - free in my size from a guy moving houses.
I also bought last year a Supersix Evo Hi mod for 500 with Reynolds 45 wheels, another one for 680 with RS81 wheels, and a CAAD10 with Force for 200.
350 dollars and I can hang with the A group on the Saturday and Sunday rides at 21 mph on rolling terrain.
This sport is only expensive if you make it expensive. My 500 dollar Supersix is lighter than any of the other 12k bikes that people roll on in my group rides
I bought a ryet 3d printed saddle for 25$ best one I've ever had
Warren is great. Everything he recommends I'm doing it too. I have Shimano MW5's (not the MW7's because why) I own a CAAD12 since the time he recommended that bike and see no reason to get another bike and have since dI2'd it. Plus he rides a bike during winter. Swift I cannot get away with because I simply cannot work hard enough in a living room with someone giving me 'RIDEONS' every 10 seconds. 🤣🤣 I'll see you up the middle of moory nowhere with the dark grey skies contrasting the thousand shades of green and the relentless wind. It's F**king fabulous! One thing I recommend that is not overpriced when there's a sale on, is Adidas climaheat gear. Brilliant. Not damp like merino can get but just as warm. Everything turns into a bin bag when you work hard enough so I say any expensive rain jacket that claims to be breathable is BS. I have a Boardman one that cost me £45 and it's as good as the rest of them. BTW, If I'm riding for less than 3 hours I take some water. I am on the zero carb lifestyle so I am 'fat adapted' meaning I live off my body fat not sugary drinks. I used to do all that high carb drinks and gels stuff but I've seen the light. Not good for you at all. Especially as you get older.
Thanks for your comment! Great to hear you've enjoyed some of Warren's recommendations. Happy winter riding, from all at BikeRadar.
Sadly La Passione is out of business but they were my go to brand for all my kit. Great value.
Really???? What should I wear now? So sad......
I don't watch podcast type videos but this one held my attention. Good job on the structure and the time spent on each discussion
One-piece carbon handlebar, Integrated routing. Makes things hard to fix for both home mechanics and shops.
And bike companies should stop using aero seatposts for mid-range endurance bikes.
Bike specific cleaning products, buy car wash washing stuff.
Yes!
Dish soap!
Totally!
Washing up & elbow grease. Brillo pads on rims
Aero road bikes, or any bike that costs over 8k. I love my Madone, but I know I could've gotten all the same performance with a bike that costs significantly less.
Are ENVE, Campagnolo, Zipp, and Mavic wheels worth the $3000+ price tag? I'm not sure, but I'll die on the hill that my Bora WTO wheels were a good investment (I got an older Bora set for 2k, I think that's the most I would ever spend on a wheel set)
If you love cycling, you love spending money.
Ouch, that last sentence has too much truth in it.
Campagnolo levante almost 50 % off. What a dream. Love it compared to my 2 kilo plus alu wheelset (gravel)
I think my Ritchey protocol wheels cost me 40 dollars and roll as good as my Enve 2.2's. everything over 2k is a waste of money
8K sounds extremely random, care to justify the number? You could get the Van Rysel RCR cheaper than that and it's literally ridden in World Tour. If it's good enough for AG2R, should be good enough for 99.9% of the riders out there. And then you have cheaper brands like Rose, Cube, Vitus and so on and so forth.
@danielt91 8k is my conservative figure, I remember that's what super bikes used to cost at the high-end. I built my custom Madone SLR 2 years ago for 12k, which is eye-watering, and isn't some SL8's pushing 15k? Cube, Merida, Canyon, maybe Factor, these are more affordable than the Trek's, Colnago's, Pinarello's, etc, but that ain't saying much.
The worst part of cycling shoes( or any kind of sporting centered shoe) is that the shape of the shoe is not the shape of the feet, but the shape of a shoe, thus foot bindig the feet.
I you can afford it, buy what ever you like. There is a difference between rational and emotional choices. No one needs a high end bike with high end gear but damn it looks good and makes you feel the boss cycling on it.
But I can't see you, you always way behind me.
Before I had kids and a mortgage, I treated myself to some CarbonSports Lightweight carbon wheels and while they were stupidly expensive, I have never ridden more solid wheels in my life. I am a heavy rider but when I rode them on my Dogma 2 on a race track, the power transfer was awesome and not a hint of flex. I have not ridden another wheel that feels that good under full out-of-the-saddle sprints!!
Really enjoyed this video. Thanks. It’s essential to factor in value for money to all your reviews and recommendations….as pretty well your whole audience does when making a choice 👍
Most of the suggestions were about saving cash, so a final suggestion would be to look around for offers, discounts, etc. I’ve saved so much by timing my purchases
Sorry guys I went from Dura Ace to Ultegra on one bike and I didn't like it. Maybe I am sensitive but there is a slight better performance when its DA. Ultegra is still "rough" on the edges, DA is just perfection second to none on every shift. Then I tried 105 and it was dog shyte. Then Sram lots od dropped front chains. I think if someone came from Ultegra and they dont want to spend on DA thats fine. DA for me is a joy. Never ever had to worry about anything.
Agreed, especially on mechanical. 6800 to 9100 was so good especially shifters and front derailleur (still using 8000 RD). The lever throw in particular is much better on DA9100 than 6800 or even modern 105 7000
I agree totally. I have two bikes with full 9100 mechanical groups and one with DI2 9150. All include pedals as well. I would have no problem if I had to go back to mechanical on my SWorks SL6. DA mechanical is the best stuff out there in my experience. I feel the difference. The only reason I went DI2 was just to try it out. I think that there isn't a real difference in the shift quality between them and if I had to do it again, I would stick with mechanical. Been t i would still be DA 9100!
I wonder if they just digitally adjusted speed of shifting for tiering them up. Though my 105 Di2 evidently uses inferior motors for front.
@@drill_fiend1097 its not the shifting speed its the intangible things like smoothness of shift coming down the gears, the way the pulleys in the derailleur move the chain, theway the chain drops on the chainrings. Its the whole experience. Everything is silky smooth. I ran DA Di2 the 9000 and 9100. Everytime I try anything lower it just got rougher and rougher. Though I am going to say this, for anyone running a 105, change up those rear derailleur pulley wheels to ceramic. It makes a difference. The 105s doesnt even have bearings in them and it drags you down the entire gruppo. I am doing an experiment on how to make the 105 better and this is the One weakness I found. I switched it to the cheapest made in USA ceramic oversize pulleys from Omni Racer and its day and night difference. Its amazing how a junk oem pulley can slow the whole thin down.
@@hayabusa27 has to be related to cassette's material, linkglide and groove patterns. People do say they experience smoother shifts with dura ace cassettes even with 105 derailleurs.
I swear by the Ronin Mirror saddle. I'll admit that I don't own a regular Ronin, but this saddle is by far the most comfortable I have every owned. I'm not a rich man, but that $400+ was one of the best purchases I have made in cycling. It is that good. I have also tried a Chinese copy of a Power Mirrior and it was close to my second most comfortable saddle ever, for only $50, so I'm not convinced that the 3D printing is just marketing fluff.
I totally agree about the 3D printed saddles. I also have Romin Mirror saddle and I am very satisfied with it. Best buy ever.
Watching with my wife who's new to cycling and she thought a stupidly expensive bottle cage was £20 and then turned to me and asked how much were my new ones that arrived this week. Definitely not impressed with my set for £35.
Sugar water, with a touch of salt. And a block of pre-rolled icing sugar.
This guy gets it
That's about all you need...
Me, Glucose, ORS salt and Lemon.
Silca Ti cages are amazing for holding your bottles. Never lost a bottle with them. Totally worth it on sale anyway
I put a little quality salt in one water bottle and a little organic fruit juice in the other. Salt for the way out, juice for the way back.
My biggest helmet requirement is that it has big enough vent holes that the shackle of my D lock fits through them for when I’m locking it to my bike. 2 reasons, secures the helmet and prevents easy access to the D lock shackle for thieves (twisting or angle grind attack)
Agree with 3d printed saddles. Bought from Specialized one for almost 300€. I’d say personally it’s about 10-20% better/comfortable on long rides rather stock saddle
I’d agree with most of this. I’m trying to think of something to add to the list, and I just can’t at the moment.
At the same time I think that it’s probably ok to splurge on some of these items, _if it makes you ride more or makes your ride more enjoyable_ would be my caveat. Some of these things I don’t see how that could be the case, some I do. I bought an expensive helmet (Giro Aries) but that was because it was the best rated helmet in the University of Virginia’s testing regimen. I have an expensive set of wheels too, but again, I bought them custom built off a local wheel builder, so I’m paying for the cachet and the care and attention to detail (and the branding is very stealth, so no one knows unless they look very carefully!).
I don’t even have an indoor smart trainer. But I don’t have a terrible northern hemisphere winter to cope with. 😅 every time I look at a smart trainer, I just think ‘I could buy another set of wheels for that’ and just never buy either lmao
Gore C3 clothing works for me, a ‘little’ over weight, the cut is forgiving and it works well.
Thanks for the recommendation and for watching! From all at BikeRadar
I just feel common if I'm not sporting the latest, top of the line designer product.
The ultegra pedals are often on sale for £50, which is not much more than their basic ones. The kicker is you can service the ultegra pedal bearings with a 10mm wrench, but need a special wrench for the basic ones.
Cycling Computers are now a bit redundant. I got tired of having two devices with me, so I bought a $10 Garmin adapter sticker and stuck it on a $10 high protection phone cover, attached it to my mount and opened the Strava app. It shows me everything Garmin does while eliminating a device, its cost and weight, its use of a pocket, etc. And now I have my phone in front of me should I want to decline a call, select a different album to listen to, take a photo, etc rather than having to reach into my back pocket and pfaff about.
I have raced sinçe '95 and got on podium with simple Shimano RDX 7dpeed . Rhem moved to Dura-Ace 7800.
Then swapped to Ultegra 6700 shifters f and r derailleur. C50 carbon wheels. The 6700 and wheels where brought used. Still using the garming 810.
I'll be moving to aero disc brake this year. But with 105 mechanical. Mayve in later stage I will either go for the Di2 105 or one of hte other brands like Wheeltop.
For me the fitness and resistance and havin fun while riding is my priority. Thanks for sharing. Happy 2025 💫 Greetings from Curaçao 🇨🇼
Good idea, I might try adding a bit of salt to my bottle which has orange juice... Also my inexpensive pre race breakfast is 3 large cookie and a chocolate bar... Works pretty well!
Hard disagree for gels, chews, and drink mix. There’s a huge convenience factor with such products. I have limited time to ride and don’t want to devote any portion of that time making my own nutrition products or packing up perishable food for each longer ride. Also, where I ride, you can’t count on there being convenience stores or “cafes” to buy food mid ride.
Glucose lollies do me good service. Convenient and cheap
I pay about 30p a bottle for my energy drink..... Rgr
@@NeilLavittWhat is a “glucose lollie”?
@ snakes - you might called them sweets. Essentially a soft but solid piece of glucose.
@@NeilLavitt I'd worry about choking on them so I never eat those whilst riding.
White winter kit is essential, it is good to look around. Got a winter kit from Giro, was on sale with some other stuff.
Spent about 500usd, did the sums saved about 1000usd (if their normal prices is to go on.)
Did some good sub zero rides with it in the NC Foothills. (Only problem is…. Now I have to carry it back to Europe.) 😂
I don't mind spending more on a pair of shoes since they'll last nearly 10 years compared to a pair of athletic shoes that last maybe a year. I love the fit of the Shiamno SPhyre, they are 8 years old and still feel and look awesome.
If you want to talk about bike helmet safety, you seriously need more than anecdotal evidence or at least input/comments from an actual scientist. I hope most people will disregard the advice you give here and trust what Virginia Tech are saying.
I had an accident descending at 50km/h. I think the oly thing that saved of not having a brain concussion was the mips system.
@@Mono199817 I had a road bike crash at 36 mph (strava told me!) and although I broke my hand, ribs and got concussion as I left the road and hit multiple trees, the surgeon told me that my Mips Poc helmet almost certainly saved me from a brain injury and even death
Nothing to add, all are spot on!
Wheels: Not that easy topic at all. I have Hunt wheels, where the rear hub bearings lasted for one year (10000 km), road use only. Poor quality. On my gravel bike dealing with far more complex and demanding surfaces I've got Campagnolo Shamal. After about 8000 km no sign of wear, the bearings still run smoothly and the wheels are still true. In fact the Hunt wheels are slightly more expensive than Campagnolos. My go-to road wheels are DT Swiss ERC1400 45 mm, superbly bulit, sturdy, comfortable, easy to maintain, smooth and true after 20000 km. Yes, they exceed 1000 GBP, but in a long run you will save money in comparison to cheap wheels as Hunt or Scribe or ZIPP 303S for example. There is always a kind of trade-off.
Last year I had an accident descending at 50km/h. I think the only thing that saved of not having a brain concussion was the mips system
Could not disagree more especially on bike computers. Suggesting nobody is looking at their data during a ride is by far the most bullshit thing i have heard in a while.
Fair, but you don’t need a 600€ bike computer to do that.
@@lbgstzockt8493 True. I look at speed, and distance, that doesn't need to cost me a fortune. I have a Garmin Edge 25.
High end wheels are not necesseraly carbon. My definition of highend is sturdy. Carbon wheels are usually limited to 110 kg . Better are wheels that can take 150 kg. If the rider is 100 kg, the packing 10 kg, and the bike with wheels is 12 kg, then 150 kg gives 28 kg clearance, and 110 kg capasity are overloaded.
12-speed DuraAce offers significantly less friction with the 52/40 chainrings, if you can ride them, and a much better chain than an Ultegra, which is only available with a maximum of 52/36.
A 38 chainring is still missing for amateur racers.
I've got the Garmin 840 and since the last update to the software I've noticed while out on my ride I keep getting the warning for an animal. I did 3 loops around this location and the warning kept coming back even though I dismissed it. If this keeps going on I will trash the computer and buy something else.
Maybe it's a spirit animal, you just don't see it...
The classic law of diminishing returns for a lot of equipment.
All the best for 2025.
All the best to you too, and thanks for watching, from all at BikeRadar!
If you need increased stance then Ultegra SPD-SL Extended (+4mm) + a spacer + adjusted cleat might be a very good solution, and you do not get it at RS-500 pedal level.
RE Pedals costing too much, Am I weird for sticking with MKS Silvans with toe clips and nylon straps so that I can just stick with my regular sneakers? 3 minute 50 miles suggests that going with cleats probably isn't worth it for my fitness level.
I still run edge 800...the only thing I miss is connection to the radar!
I agree that you should get kit that works for you: clothing, saddles and shoes. Sometimes, that can mean spending more than budget level and other times not. TBH, I love Assos bib shorts and still have some pairs, which are S5 vintage chamois... they still feel fine, and I've had no reason to replace them yet. My other expensive purchase is saddles: i used to find the old Spesh Romins worked for me, but recent ones are too padded, so switched to Berk Lupins which are even more comfy than my old Romins, though at £200 ish i think they're worth it.
Peak Torque reviewed Spatz and said his feet got wet and cold. He tested them on mucky roads around 4c. I live in northern Scotland. So temperatures in the low 30's are regular.
Question: Does higher price speak to durability? For example, cheaper t-shirts pull out of shape really quickly.
Yeah - I've used orange juice, dextrose, salt & tap water in my bottle since the early 1980's - I really ought to buy a new bottle......😂
The guy complaining about the expensive cycle computers but has a Fenix 8 on his wrist?🥴
@@RankDirtyD hahaha good spot.
They get sent them for free? Or he's testing one?
Basically, if you wear it and it fits and is comfortable, then great.
If it's equipment, the performance too cost ratio curve dramatically gets steeper as you spend.
& as for tech - you probably don't need it...
I have a 3 D printed saddle.....better comfort than Selle..believe me
Garmin 540 edge fune for me
3D-printed saddles are debatable, and there are good cheap options out there.
I bought one that looks like a pro stealth, I couldn’t tell the difference between it and a pro stealth though. Good quality, but no benefit.
I think saddles are very personal. Once you find one you like, go with it. For me, the 3D printed Specialized saddles were tangibly best for me.
Specialized Propero, MIPS an got it for 139-€ (instead of 199, that´s about 150 pounds)
I have a Posedla saddle and its well worth it for longer rides. No off the shelf saddle has come close
@@Jon-sl7xp Nice, I got 5,000 miles of my Posedla saddle. I did 100 miles in October, zero soreness, and zero irritation while on the ride.
What do you think of Magene T200 smart trainer against Wahoo Kick Core? The Magene trainee is half the price of the Wahoo..
🤔 What, exactly, is a dream cycling holiday? And to get your bicycle overseas, how do you do that?
What about cycling glasses with progressive lenses?
Spain, Italy, Alps, Pirenees depending on where you live. A flat and cold country? There you are. You can rent a bike o travel with yours (approx 100-120£/€ extra). In UK you can rent also rigid travel bikes too for 5£/€ a day. Plan and go with some friends. Unforgettable experience
@ Thank-you - I always imagine that travelling by road you would be followed by a support vehicle.
Cyclist spend what they can afford.Why buy a £12,000 bike when a £3000 bike can do the same job,the answer is because some cyclist can afford it.Plus there is alot of snobbery in cycling.Pay what you can afford,
I was gonna say fancy bottle cages are fine because I was under the assumption that we're comparing ones for 20 quid and 40 quid, but these guys think fancy starts at 100 quid! I didn't even know you could spend this much on a bottle cage!
But overall speaking, the whole obsession with aero and weight if you're not even riding competitively to any meaningful extent. If you just ride for your own fitness and like to be out on your bike then at most you'll be training for watts, and watts aren't a function of speed. Purely for condition you could train on a Dutch bike as long as it has the power meter and computer on it. What matters is the human interaction, so what's important is to have a bike with a good fit and comfortable contact points and maaaaybe decent shifting, but I feel like that's crossing into optional territory already.
I bought those 850 ml bottles from Lidl for 5 euros, cage is lighter than my previous one from a bike shop.
Bikes that cost a lot, biggest win you can make is getting fitter yourself.
Same with all the light weight stuff, just loose a couple of kilos.
Other thing is worth your money, Castelli Perfetto is really great!
Even 105 DI2 is not worse than Dura Ace and looks great.
I’ve always heard, “if you need Dura Ace someone will buy it for you”. But I see so many average riders on high end bikes with Dura Ace or SRAM Red. I just wave as I pass them on my “self sponsored” bike. Thanks for reminding us that high end kit won’t help most of us!
Counterpoint to that, a last generation dura ace mechanical is a wonderful piece of tech, looking gorgeous. It's not in production anymore (sadly), so getting it second hand is worth it, and basically a collectible. Shifting is so smooth, clearly above that of 105 (in front shifting in particular).
My Dogma X (this was a present to myself for semi retiring and hitting 76) came with Dura Ace, no option to go to Ultegra. The difference in weight between Dura Ace and Ultegra is whether you ate breakfast or not.
if you need a cycling computer just for data collection i see no reason to buy anything fancyer than the edge 130 , its not the greatest regarding navigation but it can comminucate with most accesories cyclists would need (hr , cadence , power) , no colour screen either and a very small form factor but still large enough to display information you would need like watts hr distance and elevation . now to be honest , if i had the money id buy something a little more high end but i dont really need that coz all i have accesories wise is a hr monitor
as for kit , so far i have tried first ascent and van rysel and i am very happy with van rysels pricing and quality
Van Rysel for Helmet
Skins/Van Rysel for clothing - skins costs a lot when not on sale but I’ve had a pair of shorts over 13 years that never ripped.
One piece carbon handle bar - Ali Express….works great and looks great (pick one with many many pic reviews)
Saddle - bane of my existence, generic giant saddle was so painful after only 20mins cycling. Selle Italia SLR had the perfect shape but I bought wrong size which caused discomfort but I could cycle 30mins before pain…Fizik Argo 3D printed was not noticeably softer when cycling on trainer but was far more comfortable cycling 1hr 30mins …only issue is adjusting position at times to find sweet spot.
Carbon rims - Elite Marvel 50 is doing me well at the moment, very very light compared to giant PR2 and I got upgraded Sapim spokes to reduce 250grams …full cost €700…downside is cross winds, just wow it’s scary to get winds when above 35kph as bike is so light below now.
Bike computer - Garmin Edge….basic version but has a nice size, ok battery life for maybe 4-5hour cycle …only downside is directions don’t show other roads so easy at times to follow wrong road if close to another road.
Yep, I won't buy winter gear anymore, I'll just jump on the smart bike and join Zwift.
I love my winter gear, and I think you only need a handful of items. I have two long bibs, two Nike thick base layers, two thick winter cycling jerseys, and a handful of long sleeve cycling jerseys that serve me in the Fall too, and winter cycling boots.
The amount I've spent on my winter gear is worth not cycling indoors, the boredom would kill me.
Good one. 😂 both a smart bike and Zwift are expensive cycling products not needed.
Why does it have to be an either or? Do both ....riding in the crisp winter air is great and winter is also a good time to do some structured training too 👍
Where is the video referenced for the sub 1000 pound carbon wheel set test?
I hate to say this I bought a $3500 Specialized Tarmac and unfortunately I can tell the difference in stiffness between it and my top of the line $20,000 Pinarello. I always thought these carbon talks are a gimmick, that carbon is just carbon. Unfortunately there IS a difference between qualities of both. If you never owned a Pinarello then you will not know the difference. Probably better that way.
Keep telling yourself that 😂
Diría lo mismo, pero con Storck y su carbono patentado CFR / UD ....... una monstruosidad de la rigidez y rendimiento
Bjorn setka 3d printed saddle is well best saddle i have ever used and i have tried more than 20
How many riding bikes are actually racing them? Sure we all like to go faster, but mainly most of us just want to have an enjoyable ride and challenge ourselves? I wonder how much more enjoyment I would get upgrading my stock wheels with a $1000+ pair of carbon ones.
I’ll spend more money on points of contact because they dictate my comfort on the bike. Nutrition…I have two gels that I’ve carried for two months. One of these days, I’ll actually use them…they expire in September. Other than that, I drink hot milky coffee on my rides right now cause it’s so freakin cold.
There simply is no substitute to going out every day (every day) and braving the elements, and pushing the pedals against a frequently relentless wind up hills, no matter the gradient. And it is the legs, my good friends that in the end will allow one to pedal, and resist and move fast to the finish line. And please, drop the ceramics bits and bobs that will drain a bank account, for the benefit of millionaires who simply do not cycle. So much talk, so much conversation, so many empty words. On yer bikes, please! :)
Spatz worth every penny
How about multiple bikes of the same type. One road bike at a time. Mountain is a bit different based on terrain.
bottle cages, I have 2 from Alix, carbon, 18g, ~8eur, still work after 4 years....
You guys talk for the sake of talking, at the end of the day, you will still choose the higher price ones if your budget allow it
I’d rather save on all that and splurge on the nicest tires I can get. 😌
Electronic gears. Massively overpriced - cables work just fine
You can get an ultegra 12 speed disc groupset for $1400 now. I think that's a very good price.
@@awakenedbahamut2574 I spent less than that for a bike with mechanical S105 and GRX, though... new bike in 2024.
Agreed about Shimano top end groupsets looking cheap. Time to bring back polished silver. Sram' top end looks crap too.
Spatz might work, but OMG, they look horrendous.
Awesome video guys, it’s actually rare to hear this honesty and it helps a lot!
I rode to work 14 years and I was 10 to 14kg over weight. I was told not to buy carbon wheels because they would fail. Any comment?
"You have to replace them after 7 or 8 years" Or every time you bounce off one car into another.
I'm a sinner in each of these categories to the extreme.
Mine would be carbon frame.
The magnesium food supplements... Common, we surly don't need that much of a magnesium??