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Not really, the whole point of "cycling" is conspicuous consumption and virtue signaling. The high price is what shows that you aren't some pleb riding a bicycl

by Noos 6y ago

Not really, the whole point of "cycling" is conspicuous consumption and virtue signaling. The high price is what shows that you aren't some pleb riding a bicycle shaped object out of necessity. It's also health conscious, so extra status points. So the market charges this much as a differential, in the same way a "bespoke" suit is pricer than something off the rack. People who want a car-alternative for necessity either buy a wal-mart bike, a cheap electric/gas moped, maybe a motorcycle, or walk.

secondcoming 6y ago
How is it different to people who buy, or custom build, high-end PCs when chasing high FPS? What home user actually needs a 16-core Ryzen CPU?
- mlrtime 6y ago
  Nobody can see your 16 core Ryzen
throwaway9191a 6y ago
> People who want a car-alternative for necessity either buy a wal-mart bike, a cheap electric/gas moped, maybe a motorcycle, or walk. This isn't true across the board. There are absolutely folks who have a $12k INEOS Pinarello because of status, but there is real value in more expensive bikes (more expensive than walmart). Going from steel to aluminum is a very recognizable weight difference. Your commute just became more manageable. A 105 groupset is way more reliable (ime) than lower grades. Your gears will shift better, not click, not skip, and not drop your chain during your commute. A bike shop (which sells more expensive bikes than walmart) is going to fit you properly. You may get lucky with the walmart bike, but a proper fit removes knee pain, lower back pain, shoulder pain and neck pain. If you are commuting, shopping, using your bike for real world things, the extra money is well worth it. Note: I'm talking about a $500 -> ~$2k. Not a $5k bike for a commute. By ditching your car, you more than make up for the $1500 difference in insurance payments, car payments, gas payments, it really adds up quick.
- quicklime 6y ago
  > A 105 groupset is way more reliable (ime) than lower grades. Your gears will shift better, not click, not skip, and not drop your chain during your commute. Really? I feel like my old 8-speed Sora bike needs far fewer derailleur adjustments than my newer 11-speed 105 bike. I guess this is because the higher-end groupsets are lighter-weight and have more gears (so, a thinner chain and finer mechanical tolerances).
triceratops 6y ago
Walmart bikes suck. Mopeds and motorcyles require licenses and insurance. Walking...I'm not sure you're even serious. Not everything you disagree with is "virtue signalling". As a bike commuter (i.e. ride for transport not pleasure) the difference between a Walmart bike and a $300 Trek is night and day. And between that and a $700 bike is still good, if you can afford it. Quality costs money.
watwut 6y ago
Totally. And people who use cars to travel to work buy the cheapes cars available.
- olyjohn 6y ago
  It's insanity... Average sales price for new cars is like $37,000 right now. I'm a huge car nerd, and can't justify spending that kind of money on car. I can get a lot of car for $10k used.

by Noos 6y ago

secondcoming 6y ago

How is it different to people who buy, or custom build, high-end PCs when chasing high FPS? What home user actually needs a 16-core Ryzen CPU?

mlrtime 6y ago
Nobody can see your 16 core Ryzen

throwaway9191a 6y ago

> People who want a car-alternative for necessity either buy a wal-mart bike, a cheap electric/gas moped, maybe a motorcycle, or walk. This isn't true across the board. There are absolutely folks who have a $12k INEOS Pinarello because of status, but there is real value in more expensive bikes (more expensive than walmart). Going from steel to aluminum is a very recognizable weight difference. Your commute just became more manageable. A 105 groupset is way more reliable (ime) than lower grades. Your gears will shift better, not click, not skip, and not drop your chain during your commute. A bike shop (which sells more expensive bikes than walmart) is going to fit you properly. You may get lucky with the walmart bike, but a proper fit removes knee pain, lower back pain, shoulder pain and neck pain. If you are commuting, shopping, using your bike for real world things, the extra money is well worth it. Note: I'm talking about a $500 -> ~$2k. Not a $5k bike for a commute. By ditching your car, you more than make up for the $1500 difference in insurance payments, car payments, gas payments, it really adds up quick.

quicklime 6y ago
> A 105 groupset is way more reliable (ime) than lower grades. Your gears will shift better, not click, not skip, and not drop your chain during your commute. Really? I feel like my old 8-speed Sora bike needs far fewer derailleur adjustments than my newer 11-speed 105 bike. I guess this is because the higher-end groupsets are lighter-weight and have more gears (so, a thinner chain and finer mechanical tolerances).

triceratops 6y ago

Walmart bikes suck. Mopeds and motorcyles require licenses and insurance. Walking...I'm not sure you're even serious. Not everything you disagree with is "virtue signalling". As a bike commuter (i.e. ride for transport not pleasure) the difference between a Walmart bike and a $300 Trek is night and day. And between that and a $700 bike is still good, if you can afford it. Quality costs money.

watwut 6y ago

Totally. And people who use cars to travel to work buy the cheapes cars available.

olyjohn 6y ago
It's insanity... Average sales price for new cars is like $37,000 right now. I'm a huge car nerd, and can't justify spending that kind of money on car. I can get a lot of car for $10k used.