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I know, I know (official retrogrouch pricing complaint)...

Last Post 03/18/2022 07:47 AM by Hot Habanero. 9 Replies.

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Posts:76

03/11/2022 03:26 AM
I wonder if the prices we are seeing are ever going to level off. Something tells me it's not. I remember when it started, with the overpriced bibs and winter jackets. Then came the carbon frames. Colnago had the C-40 and Litespeed had the Vortex, which were around the 25-2750 range. Forget that now. I saw Calfee just raised the price of his highest-end frame from around $5500 to $6900. WTF. The infamous Ted Camillo just announced an all-carbon crank that supposedly weighs 279 grams and is priced at $1,888 WITHOUT chainrings. Lemond has a new frame out, and their cheapest option is $8,500 (frame/fork, stem/handlebars, wheels). I'm aware of the arguments about the existence of different price points, but I'm talking about the high-end stuff. It was always not cheap but never so expensive as it is now. And I know the price points take into account that there is a market for such expensive equipment, but it's enough to make my eyes bleed. I'm looking for some sympathy here. I need to know I'm not alone in this (lol!!!)

Posts:1767

03/11/2022 06:38 AM
Truth! I've quit lusting over the latest/ lightest/ most aero stuff partially over cost but also over the absurd amount of trash generated with each new purchase. Plus the recognition that what I have was top of the line five or ten years ago and works just fine today. For a lot of my replacement parts I use eBay and other platforms to find something lightly used from one of those guys who has to have what's hot right now. The lone exception to that is helmets... latest/ greatest/ safest. Heavy emphasis on safest. I'm willing to spend $$$$ to protest my brain (OK, just $$ since I still have industry connections)

Posts:4209

03/11/2022 10:28 AM
I wonder if the prices we are seeing are ever going to level off. Short answer - no. Longer answer - leaving everything else aside, freight is not going down anytime soon. A year ago, freight was ~$5K / container. Today it is $25K / container. When you are shipping bikes, that is a massive increase in freight / bike. No estimates or scenarios I have seen indicate that freight is coming down anytime soon....certainly not this year. And once consumers adapt / "accept" higher prices, no supplier is going to willingly lower their prices. get used to the new reality....I don't see how I will ever buy a new bike again. I can't justify $5K / bike, let alone $8-12K.

Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!

Posts:4499

03/11/2022 10:40 AM
I generally don't look at new bike stuff, mostly because it doesn't interest me and there's no need for it, instead I look at maps and places to ride (mostly free). Prices will come down if we stop buying things. My wife likes to complain about prices in general. I always tell her, it's cheaper if you don't buy it. Another option (although with bikes perhaps not in new reality) is to buy used (that's how I got my first road bike). New cars are brutally overpriced. We always buy gently used to get fair value and then of course keep using those cars for as long as it makes sense (repair costs versus cost of buying another second hand). Yes another option is to wait for the inevitable year-end sales when stock gets turned over.

Posts:4209

03/11/2022 10:47 AM
Yes another option is to wait for the inevitable year-end sales when stock gets turned over. In the "before times", this was obviously a viable strategy. Today, not so much. if supply ever catches up with demand (and assuming the industry doesn't correct their previous bad habits of forecasting / ordering), then it may come back into play....but that is probably still 2 years away.

Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!

Posts:4499

03/11/2022 12:22 PM
Yes those opportunities of year-end sales have also become a lot more rarified. My wife and I were lucky to buy new steeds right at the outset of Covid. She because she wanted to do more riding, for myself I bought the steel Search because the Diverge was still waiting for second replacement frame (received in meantime). Both bikes were bought at heavy discount from LBS who at that point didn't realize yet they were looking at boom times instead of lean times. It was still winter, a few months later everyone and their mother would be jumping on bikes. Still even with maintenance work on bikes I wait for that quiet winter period when things are easier to come by. Got all the work for this year done, fingers crossed but in last couple weeks LBS has been getting noticeably busier again.

Posts:76

03/11/2022 03:26 PM
I'm lucky in some respects. I can get top Castelli kit at fairly reasonable prices (usually from merlin cycles in the UK), the Assioma power meter pedals happen to not only be the best in terms of function and customer service, but the price is a couple of hundred less than the compatible Garmin model. But the carbon frames...I still can't believe I purchased my Lynskey custom geometry road frame 2 years ago for $2450. And the ride is awesome. Thing is I've always wanted a light and stiff carbon frame to take a few trips to ride up some real mountains, and I've always liked Calfee. I'll just keep looking at the used market until something pops up. That's if I can't find a custom carbon frame maker who offers a more down-to-earth price than what's currently available. I checked out Landshark a while ago but it seems they are out of business unfortunately. They made some nice steel frames as well back in the day.

Posts:257

03/16/2022 07:50 AM
Landsharks are glorious bikes! I recall one frame displayed o their site painted like a brook trout - easily one of the most beautiful bikes I've ever seen. A friend has one and loves it. I completely hear you about the cost of stuff just being ridiculous. My strategy to keep spending low is to always be a few generations back in terms of technology and keep my eyes peeled on eBay and Steep & Cheap when I need clothes. What model Lynskey do you have? I got an R350 last year that a bike shop couldn't sell. The owner said the threaded bottom bracket and rim brakes were no gos for everyone interested. That posed no problem to me so I finally got a new frameset for the first time in a long time!

Posts:4499

03/16/2022 10:43 AM
Landyachtz, not land sharks, are the must have locally. Just sayin'. Awesome little promo video on home page https://landyachtzbikes.com/