What is the difference between a $5000 CF bike, and a $15,000 bike

[DogmaStu]

I can see the way this thread is going. People with more expensive bikes than mine = vain swankpots and general bad eggs.

People aren't allowed to work their butts off and treat themselves to things they are passionate about and bring them some joy. If it happens, it's just plain wrong. We must all only buy what Comrade Fred wants to spend his money on or risk being called a "show-off"

 

[Drago]

The irony there is that some of the biggest killjoys in that regards are somewhere left of Stalin with their political views.

 

[cyberknight]

If someone offers to give me some of these 5 and 15 k bikes i will gladly give an honest long term test , say about 20 years and give you feedback .

 

[fritz katzenjammer]

reality check…

57 pounds of finest Dutch steam pipe.

you can feel the difference.

 

[Time Waster]

I work my butt off (if you worked your butts off is that like a double chin, a sign of being overweight? ), but cannot spare the cash on such bikes. Does that make me jealous of those who do? Not at all. It's simply the case that I do not see the benefits of spending that much. It's not for me and I could find the money if I really did want to, I'd be out on the streets with my partner kicking me out for wasting the money.

Just because you're pointing out the pointless waste of money buying something when the benefits of that significantly increased cost aren't likely to be noticed doesn't mean jealously or stalinist tendencies. It simply means your arguments explaining why you have bought such items makes no sense. If you did a better job of explaining it perhaps I'd understand your POV.

BTW I'm the same with cars I've bought. If it's good enough it's good enough. Money can always be spent, but good use of it instead of rampant consumerist attitudes makes more sense to me. Of course that's my choice and opinion, no more or less valid than yours.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

I can see the way this thread is going. People with more expensive bikes than mine = vain swankpots and general bad eggs.

I ride a pink bike because I read the Financial Times…

 

[Dogtrousers]

People aren't allowed to work their butts off and treat themselves to things they are passionate about and bring them some joy. If it happens, it's just plain wrong. We must all only buy what Comrade Fred wants to spend his money on or risk being called a "show-off"

If you're not doing it like me, you're doing it wrong. Stop being wrong right now! Now, I say!

 

[FishFright]

The irony there is that some of the biggest killjoys in that regards are somewhere left of Stalin with their political views.

Where a those on the right hate everything as standard , especially themselves.

 

[fossyant]

There are plenty of expensive bikes going for not much money on ebay these days - search carefully and you'll pick something nice up. I've got a couple of old 'high' end/pro level 90's bikes that I've had since new, and between the two, there isn't much difference, but the posher bike is 'slightly' nicer to ride, and the DA level components are much nicer finish than the Ultegra. But, both bikes are the same geometry, run similar weight wheels and tyres, and for all purposes ride more or less the same.

I'd be wary of spending serious amounts of money on wheels. So long as they are reasonably light and spin nicely, I'm happy. I'd be worried about smashing a £2k-£4k wheelset on the state of our roads.

I like nice bikes, but the only thing that makes the difference is 'the engine'. Doesn't really matter what you ride TBH. The Tour De Manc had people on top end VR3 Colnagos, right down to folks doing the long route on hybrids. One thing I've noticed is there are a lot of folk using Gravel bikes these days - in some ways they makes a lot of sense, certainly where gear range is likely to be needed on such a hilly and long ride - I cracked out the second hand CX bike I bought last year, shoved the road tyres on, and tackled a climb that probably over half didn't get up without walking. Right tool for the job.

 

[fritz katzenjammer]

There are plenty of expensive bikes going for not much money on ebay these days - search carefully and you'll pick something nice up. I've got a couple of old 'high' end/pro level 90's bikes that I've had since new, and between the two, there isn't much difference, but the posher bike is 'slightly' nicer to ride, and the DA level components are much nicer finish than the Ultegra. But, both bikes are the same geometry, run similar weight wheels and tyres, and for all purposes ride more or less the same.

I'd be wary of spending serious amounts of money on wheels. So long as they are reasonably light and spin nicely, I'm happy. I'd be worried about smashing a £2k-£4k wheelset on the state of our roads.

I like nice bikes, but the only thing that makes the difference is 'the engine'. Doesn't really matter what you ride TBH. The Tour De Manc had people on top end VR3 Colnagos, right down to folks doing the long route on hybrids. One thing I've noticed is there are a lot of folk using Gravel bikes these days - in some ways they makes a lot of sense, certainly where gear range is likely to be needed on such a hilly and long ride - I cracked out the second hand CX bike I bought last year, shoved the road tyres on, and tackled a climb that probably over half didn't get up without walking. Right tool for the job.

Used bikes off ebay are fine if you don’t mind gambling… we’ve had two bikes through our shop recently which their owners had purchased used. One, an expensive carbon road bike, had cracks in the top tube, likely caused by a car rack, and was little better than scrap. The other was a titanium mountain bike which was the new owners dream bike, it had stress cracks down the length of both chain stays, both sides of both tubes, and cost its new owner a small fortune in specialist welding.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

There are plenty of expensive bikes going for not much money

Oxymoron Shirley?

 

[Dogtrousers]

Oxymoron Shirley?

But there are a lot of cheap bikes that cost an absolute packet.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

But there are a lot of cheap bikes that cost an absolute packet.

🥴

 

[fossyant]

Oxymoron Shirley?

Don't call me Shirley, Mongo !

 

[I like Skol]

I can see the way this thread is going. People with more expensive bikes than mine = vain swankpots and general bad eggs.

I think you are missing the point?

I can enjoy the 'ownership' experience as much as the next man. I've bought things that some might class as excessive or unnecessary and valued above what might be considered the optimum quality-price ratio for the product. Sometimes you just get that certain feeling of quality, or style, or enjoyment from a product and the rational purchase decisions are thrown out the window because you just like it, want it, can afford it. No further justification needed, and any attempt to claim it is better because of X/Y/Z are pure nonsense because for all intents and purposes, in your case, an equivalent costing half the price or less would be just as effective.

We are all free to spend our money as we please, providing it is doing no harm, but any attempt to justify it as anything other than self-pleasure or attention seeking just makes you look like a bit of a prat!