Is a top end bike worth it?

[Crankarm]

^^^^^ Did I state that? No. You are Mr ATGNI. Up early looking at bike porn? LoL.

 

[Cuchilo]

^^^^^ Did I state that? No. You are Mr ATGNI. Up early looking at bike porn? LoL.

The bike porn is hard to miss , they are hanging from hooks in my front room

 

[screenman]

You cant afford one can you

My thoughts as well, how come it is only fools who have lots of money to spend.

 

[raleighnut]

Now this is bike porn




Prior to me breaking my femur I had a 'bike fund' saved, I ended up spending it (£1000) buying and converting the trike but originally it was to fund a frame from these onto which I would fit all the 'good bits' from a couple of my other bikes.

 

[mattobrien]

You're not getting this from Lifecycle are you?

Yup, it's my LBS.

I'm taking my Scapin there a little later to be 'made nicer' for the season ahead. I'll see there have been any new bits added to my 'build box' since I was last there. I have been periodically receiving photos of interesting things as they arrive The next photo I am really interested in seeing as a SRAM Etap HRD box - only 5 months to wait

 

[Justinslow]

Yup, it's my LBS.

I'm taking my Scapin there a little later to be 'made nicer' for the season ahead. I'll see there have been any new bits added to my 'build box' since I was last there. I have been periodically receiving photos of interesting things as they arrive The next photo I am really interested in seeing as a SRAM Etap HRD box - only 5 months to wait

Lol, I was there yesterday! They mentioned something about a huge wait on some kit so I put 2 and 2 together. I had a pukka bike fit done as I have been having loads of grief with my left hamstring, turns out my saddle was some 4-5 cm too far back.
Great bunch of guys.

 

[Blue Hills]

spunking .... on a rig

is this a common phrase of yours/in your parts or have you just been waiting for an opportunity to throw it into a thread?

 

[Justinslow]

I have a slightly modified alloy framed £500 commuter that is light, fast and comfortable for its use - but it's nowhere near as much pleasure to ride as my four-figure carbon Spesh Roubaix road bike (my Rolls Royce bike) ... it's like floating along the roads in your favourite armchair.

I think for us regular folk there's probably an upper spend limit where we'd get to the law of diminishing returns, although I wouldn't mind testing that theory out with a range from, say, £3000 to £11000 ... you know, in case anyone from a well-stocked retailer is reading and fancies loaning me a few bikes to test over the next year or so.

There's an article in this months "cycling plus" which compares a £1000, £2000 and £4000 bike on this exact subject.
Think the conclusion was the £2000 bike has great kit and hardly any performance difference to the £4000 bike, the £1000 bike suffered due to groupset and components being noticeably weaker.

 

[Blue Hills]

Yes. If you add the cost of the frame, the groupset, wheels, finishing kit, the price will be lower than if you bought all the parts separately. This is true of any bike, low end , top end, high price model, low price model etc.

So yes, totally worth it. I would never buy all the components separately j less there was something very specific I wanted. Because, a want is a need.

True. Needs to be borne in mind though that you will be paying top wack for replacing worn bits. I don't know the bike (not my scene) but have the impression that many of the bits might be somewhat dedicated. Will there be continued availability? Be kind - as I say, just asking, I'm no racer.

 

[S-Express]

Now this is bike porn

The look is completely ruined by the tyres and black spokes, unfortunately.

 

[raleighnut]

The look is completely ruined by the tyres and black spokes, unfortunately.

I dunno, I was planning on putting a set of Roval Classique Pave wheels on mine.

EDIT - these are on the 653 frame

 

[Blue Hills]

If you have £5k jiggling around in your pocket along with the urge to ride a top quality bike, why not. Personally I would be selecting a custom frame that is sized for me, with stiffness and strength suitable for me, not a roid-fuelled monster being paid to ride or die. .

Fuel comment made me laugh? Do these super top end racers come with a welcome pack of small plastic containers and blank prescriptions?

 

[mattobrien]

Lol, I was there yesterday! They mentioned something about a huge wait on some kit so I put 2 and 2 together. I had a pukka bike fit done as I have been having loads of grief with my left hamstring, turns out my saddle was some 4-5 cm too far back.
Great bunch of guys.

When dropping off my Scapin today and drinking their coffee, I got them to weigh it. It came in at 7.07kgs, since then they seem keen to lose the 70 grams and have been sending photos of the old bits on the scales and the lighter bits they're replacing them with - bolts and spacers so far.

A great shop, I spend too much time and money there. They always have time to chat, never try to actually sell me anything and get the kettle on straight away. If they had cake, I'd never leave.

 

[Mrs M]

His Lordship on a Brompton

 

[Justinslow]

When dropping off my Scapin today and drinking their coffee, I got them to weigh it. It came in at 7.07kgs, since then they seem keen to lose the 70 grams and have been sending photos of the old bits on the scales and the lighter bits they're replacing them with - bolts and spacers so far.

A great shop, I spend too much time and money there. They always have time to chat, never try to actually sell me anything and get the kettle on straight away. If they had cake, I'd never leave.

Yes agree, very knowledgable bunch, bailed me out a couple of times when I've been in a pickle.
They trued my wheels FOC while I was having the fit which was nice!