Is Cycle Equipment & clothing overpriced and too expensi

pastryboy

Wooliferkins wrote:

pastryboy wrote:

Considering you can get a whole bike for £80 the price of some components/clothing seems unjustifiably high. Like anything else though you need to shop around - cheap running kit is good.

As you can't buy the raw materials needed to manufacture a bike for less than £300ish what does that tell you bout BSOs

That tells me the manufacturers of components don't let us have the cheap stuff that bike manfucaturers use and we're forced to replace with more expensive bits. Definitely something I've found when I needed to replace a wheel - cheap one would have done me fine but had to spend £55 on Mavic/Shimano (I see there's some much better deals on now we're 'out of season' but I needed it then).

Whatever the quality of BSO's it can't be right that you can get a bike for less than the cost of a pair of shorts or less than the cost of one fancy pedal. There's a saddle on wiggle that's £410 - I can't see how that's justified no matter how well it performs.

il_principe

iPete wrote:

My full length hi vis bib tights

:shock:

iPete

Il Principe wrote:

iPete wrote:

My full length hi vis bib tights

:shock:

Haha, best clear that one up :oops:

I meant full length bib tights with hi vis patches... which I cover up with baggies so I don't scare people

davmaggs

iPete wrote:

Surely if the mark up is so big, in such a competitive market somebody is going to come along and drastically under-cut everyone?

A lot of technical clothing or gadgets that are multi-sport so they are cheaper, but I suspect that the small tweaks to clothing (like overhang of jacket) to make it cycling specific means that there are less suppliers. Same with lights

One thing I've often thought is that it is illegal to set prices, but somehow RRP is nearly always followed. There's a rare sale or two, but on the whole a lot of stuff is the same price.

An interesting article here, that probably applies to components too
http://www.futurelab.net/blogs/marketing-strategy-innovation/2008/07/anchor_pricing_strategies_1.html[/url]

biondino

Sailorchick wrote:

I'd agree cycling stuff is expensive. I sail and my sailing kit costs less than cycling clothing despite being very technical materials. I actually wear some of my sailing thermals (poly pro top) for cycling as they are warm, breathable and very stretchy http://www.roostersailing.com/merchant2 ... _Code=RPPT.

I very much like Rooster's detailed sizing guide (a click or two on from that link, and that they have a size called "giant" It's quite specific, though - if you're 5 foot tall and weigh over 8 stone there is nothing available for you

downfader

Il Principe wrote:

team south east wrote:

Well I bought one of those Altura fluorescent jackets and within a year the zip has busted along with breast zip so i basically had to take it to a taylor to get a new zip fitted, a proper one at that. I find the jackets flimsy. I think they are using cheap materials and ripping us off is you ask me.

Yeah well Altura is cheap, poorly made sh1te (IME).

I have an 8 year old Altura fleece cycling top... thats lasted well. I have a 2 year old Altura NV winter windproof jacket - thats still mint. Nightvision jacket was mint for 3 years until it got roadrash of its own... Altura cycling trousers (water resistant ones)... 6 years old... gloves.. only really have worn altura (and bontrager for the summer)

I dont know where half of the detractors get this from? :? I always check over my good fully before buying, stitching, lining, general build... the winter windproof is my fave bit of kit other than the bike.

MrChuck

It ain't cheap, but I'm not sure it's that out of line with other stuff in general, and other sports more particulary, depending of course on what you buy. Sure there are Rapha, Assos and the rest of them at the top end- just as there are with anything else, and there's plenty of stuff that does just as well for half the price.

Whatever you're looking at, there's always something else that can do the same thing (at first glance at least) for a lot less so I'm not sure cycling kit is special in that regard. And just because some stuff is really cheap doesn't necessarily mean that the spendier stuff is a rip off.

Sewinman

Some of the clothing is pricey but its a cheap sport in many ways. My other hobby is fly fishing and I can spend £400 a day just for the right to fish on a mile of river for trout and thousands for a days salmon fishing...the roads are free!

You don't actually need the specialist clothing - just adds more comfort.

andrewc3142

As above, depends what you compare it with. High end stuff for almost any activity is expensive and there are almost always cheaper alternatives, or waiting for sale time.

For my commute the alternative is SW Trains at £23.50 a day (season tickets don't work since location is unpredictable). If I work in the office all week and cycle in that's £117.50. So allowing a bit for tyres and other consumables I could get a bit of high end kit every couple of weeks or so if I wanted and still not be out of pocket.

PBo

Christophe3967 wrote:

biondino wrote:

Technical equipment will always be expensive as you have to pay for a) the special materials, b) the design and c) the research and development.

The more popular cycling gets, the more economies of scale will come into play, so it should get (relatively) cheaper. However, we're in a period now where the crappy pound means imports of both finished goods and raw materials are much more expensive.

Finally, yes, you're probably looking in the wrong place, as there are bargains to be found, whether cheap, good value brands like DHB or Craft, or discounted goods from makers like Descente, Adidas, Castelli etc., especially out of season or when the retailer is looking to clear old stock.

+1 (although I do think that calling the pound 'crappy' is a little mean )

Some stuff may be expensive but this usually reflects the fact that it is well made, lasts for years, and is a pleasure to own. And compare the cost of, say, a skiing jacket with a cycling jacket, which I am currently doing, and the cycling jacket suddenly seems a bargain.

There is also plenty of stuff that is cheaper but still well made. Wiggle has a sale on right now btw.

OT - get yourself to TK Maxx for cheap but good ski gear....

shouldbeinbed

snellgrove wrote:

To answer the posters question - yes, cycling equipment is extremely expensive.

Until you look at other hobbies like photography (top of the range canon 400mm lens anyone? £5000+) same goes for their top camera - £4500+ (I don't own either but would love to - maybe in about 20 years)

Bike stuff aint tooo bad compared to some hobbies but it's certainly not cheap. I think the problem is, good kit is just about in grasp, so I tend to stretch myself to get it. I must be a snob or something... I do believe you get what you pay for.

Everything's gone up though due to the pound weakening against important other currencies like the euro, USD and the Yen. That covers Campagnolo, SRAM and Shimano really quite nicely

Hmm Apples and Oranges there thats pro gear rather than hobby cameras. How much does Lance's bike cost for a hobby ride?

Tech kit does tend to be more you get what you pay for.

Yes branded bike clothing is expensive and is better, potentiall longer lasting etc than bargain basement kit but is it sooooo much better.

My Decathlon rain jacket has lasted as long and worked just as well as my previous Altura one did at 1/3 of the price. My £12 Aldi bike top is the best one I've ever owned, comfy warm and flicks light rain off for fun - I'm going to buy half a dozen next time they come in.

If you want to look the part and are excited by brand labels then it's costly, if you don't mind 95% as good but sneered at by the snobby crew then you can ride well and comfortably for a lot less.

supersonic

The law of diminsihing returns...

Just think if a rider like peaty had a hand crafted saddle or part that was the lightest possible, cost loads, but saved him a tenth of a second over 3 minute run. Worth it? Was to him, he won the WC by 0.05 of a sec ;-)

dilemna

Gotta watch out for the cycling fashion police.

Another +1 for Decathlon and Altura.

The biggest rip off which cyclists seem to be happy to pay is for neckwarmers. You can get a motor bike tube for £4.99 or a neckfleece for £2.50 from Decathlon which keeps you snug and warm but yet many poseurs aren't happy unless they have spent £25 on an over priced cycling specific neck buff. There was a thread recently promoting some over priced "cycling neckbuff" that was basically a £3 neckwarmer that people were queuing up to pay £25 for :roll: .

posh_pedaller

pastryboy wrote:

Whatever the quality of BSO's it can't be right that you can get a bike for less than the cost of a pair of shorts or less than the cost of one fancy pedal. There's a saddle on wiggle that's £410 - I can't see how that's justified no matter how well it performs.

I feel you're being a bit misleading here in not comparing like with like. I mean I can buy a Canon flashgun for £200 but I can get a whole camera for under £50 (actually that's a bad example as that cheap camera will give you more miles than a BSO).

Your second point is valid though. The reasons people buy expensive things go far beyond the merit of the item in question.

team south east

I'm sorry but I feel we are getting ripped off by bike shops and their pricing of their products. I was checking on the prices of short sleeved jerseys as I thought that there may be an off season sale but to my astonishment the prices haven't dropped at all. You would think that as winter is coming then the price of short sleeve shirts would have dropped drastically. Also why aren't lights cheaper during the summer to entice us to get them before the winter darkness kicks in? Someone needs to seriously undercut the competition so it changes the market.

il_principe

team south east wrote:

I'm sorry but I feel we are getting ripped off by bike shops and their pricing of their products. I was checking on the prices of short sleeved jerseys as I thought that there may be an off season sale but to my astonishment the prices haven't dropped at all. You would think that as winter is coming then the price of short sleeve shirts would have dropped drastically. Also why aren't lights cheaper during the summer to entice us to get them before the winter darkness kicks in? Someone needs to seriously undercut the competition so it changes the market.

I think the fact that no one really has speaks volumes...

There are always bargains to be found though, and the likes of Wiggle and PBK are always selling off quality kit on the cheap(ish).

Tonymufc

Its like anything I suppose. The good stuff will always be expensive. As someone else has already said, if you shop around you should be able to find some decent bargains.

itboffin

Il Principe wrote:

iPete wrote:

My full length hi vis bib tights

:shock:

Take two tabs and come back and see me in the morning if the pain continues

:shock: :roll:

trev k

Decathlon opened their new store in Reading today, so I wandered in to see what they had. Well as everyone knows they are somewhat cheaper than the main cycle stores, but I think you will have to buy and assess cost effectiveness of the products. Base layers and jerseys/running tops are no brainers really, so I will happily buy these as nesc. Still to get a light waterproof (ish) jacket, so they may get my money if I can't find another at the right money. Oh and they have the Oxford Ultratorch9 for £5 from £20, ok not as powerfull as others,but for a fiver,an easy choice even if you keep it in the car

Yes, the big brands do cost, so its just a case of shopping around, try before you buy if possible. If the more expensive item suits you then go for it.

itboffin

On the way home last night I thought to myself and not for the first time, bloody hell this is one expensive hobby, okay so I commute a good distance by bike but even so I'm still spending every week as well as £5000+ a year on trains. if I had a cheap run around car it would be cheaper FACT!

Still not going to stop cycle commuting and spending money on kit

brucebanner

we should go on strike, i'm not kidding.

iPete

itboffin wrote:

On the way home last night I thought to myself and not for the first time, bloody hell this is one expensive hobby, okay so I commute a good distance by bike but even so I'm still spending every week as well as £5000+ a year on trains. if I had a cheap run around car it would be cheaper FACT!

Still not going to stop cycle commuting and spending money on kit

Occured to me as I layered up earlier that I was wearing £435 of kit :shock:

SamWise72

Of course, you can commute for a lot less. I did home to the station, then 8 miles across town to Newham on a £20 Raleigh 20 folding bike, and wearing work clothes plus a base layer for a long time.

White Horse

team south east wrote:

I'm sorry but I feel we are getting ripped off by bike shops and their pricing of their products. I was checking on the prices of short sleeved jerseys as I thought that there may be an off season sale but to my astonishment the prices haven't dropped at all. You would think that as winter is coming then the price of short sleeve shirts would have dropped drastically. Also why aren't lights cheaper during the summer to entice us to get them before the winter darkness kicks in? Someone needs to seriously undercut the competition so it changes the market.

Wiggle and Evans had lights sales earlier in the year. Wiggle had separate clothing and base layer sales recently. These things do occur. If you're not already registered, sign up to Evans, Wiggle and Chain Reaction and they'll all send you emails highlighting the sales.

biondino

II reckon that out of everything I've bought for my bikes, I must average 40-45% off. What this means in practise is that I end up buying good quality items at the price of bottom-of-the-range stuff.

There are several brands who seem to always be available on sale - my favourite of these is Descente, who make attractive, well-designed gear and I've without doubt saved over 50% on all their kit that I've bought. My best pair of bib shorts? Descente, £130 down to £65. My favourite mitts? Descente, £24 down to £11 and, thanks eBay, £6.

Another brand which does a roaring trade in discounted gear is Castelli, who seem to have achieved the trick of seeming like a hig-end retailer who just happen to be always discounted. I reckon they're basically the DFS of the bike world - the stuff is actually worth the sale pirce, but they imply exclusivity by setting the RRP high

As for the question as to why no-one's undercut the market, I think it comes down to the fact that below a certain level of quality, you may sell a lot of gear but no-one will like it, your brand will get negative kudos and your margins will be tiny. Bike gear is usually made of technical materials and these materials cost a certain amount; and it has to be designed, cut and updated for its specific market - you can't just sell t-shirts or whatever as bike gear. I imagine the brands who do sell decent stuff relatively cheaply, like Craft or DHB, are well aware of how the market will treat undercutters and price accordingly.