Justifying expensive bikes

Roostoids

I like the post, because it is interesting to consider what you spend on a hobby and how you justify it to yourself.

If you're drowning in cash enough to not give a 2nd thought to any purchase you make or item you want, great for you, most people I know have to at least consider the cost side of it, and generally we weigh it up against a few factors;

1 - Will it look fashizzle on my nizzle?

2 - Will it 100% make me three times faster immediately just by being near my bike?

3 - When I crash and break it, will I buy another one the same or a cheaper replacement?

4 - Will I get anywhere close to outperforming the kit at my level of skill?

5 - Do I really need it?

The answers are obviously;
1 - Yes

2 - Yes of course

3 - Yes. If not i might not ride 100% and what's the point of riding conservatively because you're afraid of damaging your stuff. Most of the fun on a bike comes when you're pushing the edge of your ability, that inevitably comes at a price of falling off now and then, which means you WILL damage your kit. If you're scared to damage your kit, you'll ride slower and not get the full enjoyment. Man that was deep :roll:

4 - No. I will never be as good a rider as my bike is capable of carrying. I have no doubt a pro could jump on my bike and do stuff that would make my eyes fall out but I'll never get anywhere near that level so spending oddles of money to make my bike 'better' is a moot point...I won't be able to really access that 'better-ness' because of my riding ability. If however, questions 1 and 2 apply, then it's probably worth getting anyway :P

5 - Do I need it, of course I do. It's bike shiny

Roostoids

Richie63 wrote:

Oh yes




Lovin' it every time i go out

Oh and Richie63...

N I C E !

Lagrange

I saw a flash blue porsche with a sticker on the back which said 'My other car is a Porsche'.

I thought that was funny!

adrenalinemunki

What is that lovely bike on the bikestand I can't read the side... Looks a bit zesty like?

Paulkingk

Ride a £1500 Hardtail for a week then go back to your £575 hardtail
You may not be able to afford it but I guarantee you the £1500 hardtail will have justified its self

bluechair84

Paulkingk wrote:

Ride a £4500 Hardtail for a week then go back to your £1500 hardtail
You may not be able to afford it but I guarantee you the £4500 hardtail will have justified its self

It's a manta that doesn't work across all price brackets though

Paulkingk

Thats true but for the sake of the original question I think it's a valid point

Burnside81

I'd say the scale is something like this

A £500 bike is 200% better than a £250 bike
A £1000 bike is 100% better than a £500 bike
A £2000 bike is 50% better than a £1000 bike
A £4000 bike is 25% better than a £2000 bike
A £8000 bike is 25% better than a £4000 bike

The better a bike gets the more it costs to improve it, even slightly.

bennett_346

Is that mathematically calculated is it?

cooldad

Every thread should include random made up numbers.

Burnside81

bennett_346 wrote:

Is that mathematically calculated is it?

No of course not. Its a opinion. I'm just pointing out that a bikes do not improve in a linear fasion in relation to pounds spent. If you have a different opinion then it would be nice to hear it rather than a one line sarcastic quip.

cooldad wrote:

Every thread should include random made up numbers.

Only if it also includes some pointless unhelpful sarcasm as well.

I was just using numbers to demonstrate an opinion, hence starting my post with the phrase "I'd say". I realise that my post count on this forum is not high enough for my opinion to count yet so I'm sorry, I'll go away for a while and post some pointless "cool bike" or similar posts for a while.

Chunkers1980

You could have just said the LAW of diminishing marginal returns applies, as it is not an opinion, it is fact.

bluechair84

But there is an addendum to the law of diminishing returns, it does not apply to anything made in your home country

Burnside81

Nor would it apply to how fcucking cool you look on an expensive bike. That must work the opposite way! 8)

cooldad

Burnside81 wrote:

bennett_346 wrote:

Is that mathematically calculated is it?

No of course not.... ....If you have a different opinion then it would be nice to hear it rather than a one line sarcastic quip.

cooldad wrote:

Every thread should include random made up numbers.

Only if it also includes some pointless unhelpful sarcasm as well.

...I'm sorry, I'll go away for a while and post some pointless "cool bike" or similar posts for a while.

Don't go away. Random made up numbers are just as useful as unhelpful sarcasm.

The Rookie

bluechair84 wrote:

But there is an addendum to the law of diminishing returns, it does not apply to anything made in your home country

Or that can be 'said' to be home grown even if it's nothing of the sort (Orange Crush).....

bluechair84

cooldad wrote:

Burnside81 wrote:

bennett_346 wrote:

Is that mathematically calculated is it?

No of course not.... ....If you have a different opinion then it would be nice to hear it rather than a one line sarcastic quip.

cooldad wrote:

Every thread should include random made up numbers.

Only if it also includes some pointless unhelpful sarcasm as well.

...I'm sorry, I'll go away for a while and post some pointless "cool bike" or similar posts for a while.

Don't go away. Random made up numbers are just as useful as unhelpful sarcasm.

+ potato

Richie63

adrenalinemunki wrote:

What is that lovely bike on the bikestand I can't read the side... Looks a bit zesty like?

Intense Carbine - see thread in your Mountain Bikes for full details and as for build prices I did spend the past year sourcing parts so got at best price possible.

naefearjustbeer

My first mountain bike cost a little under £50 brand new and lasted about 10 miles, Second one cost a little under 300 pounds and is still going strong with its second owner, 3rd one cost about £700 quid and it was a great purchase got me into proper mountain biking instead of just forestry fire roads, Next bike was a £250 second hand stumpjumper and was my first full suspension bike which triggered me to get a Orange 5 Pro with a couple of upgrades. My most recent purchase was a second hand argos special road bike for a winter hack costing a princely £5. Apart from my first £50 sterling house bike 15 years ago I do not regret any of my purchases. Every single one has been worth having and I enjoy my time on them. Oh and the fact I had to spend near £1500 on a big shed to store my stuff. Expensive hobby but the grin factor coming down from the summit of Ben Braggie is worth every pound 10 times over.

M Velo

http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/h ... ike-12570/

YIMan

Why does anyone have to "justify"expensive bikes? To who do they have to be justified? The sneering anti-snobs on the trails or sitting by their keyboards who claim people are "overbiked" and/or "underskilled"?

Some people have too much time on their hands concerning themselves far too much over what other people are choosing to do!

chez_m356

YIMan wrote:

Why does anyone have to "justify"expensive bikes? To who do they have to be justified? The sneering anti-snobs on the trails or sitting by their keyboards who claim people are "overbiked" and/or "underskilled"?

you must be single without kids, otherwise you wouldn't be asking that

Mojo_666

chez_m356 wrote:

YIMan wrote:

Why does anyone have to "justify"expensive bikes? To who do they have to be justified? The sneering anti-snobs on the trails or sitting by their keyboards who claim people are "overbiked" and/or "underskilled"?

you must be single without kids, otherwise you wouldn't be asking that

Or maybe, just maybe he is one of those rare blokes who wears the trousers?

Mojo_666

Dannyboy95 wrote:

This shall be interesting!

Can you really justify buying a bike worth thousands of pounds. I have a TREK and it was worth £575 and that to me is a perfectly good bike hydraulic brakes gear shift smooth so why would I buy a bike worth £1000 more?

I can no more justify that than anything else I buy really, I could wear primark clothes, but I dont, I could eat budget food, but I dont, I could live in a smaller house, but I dont...you could have bought a £250 bike, but you didn't

paulneenan76

Mojo_666 wrote:

Dannyboy95 wrote:

This shall be interesting!

Can you really justify buying a bike worth thousands of pounds. I have a TREK and it was worth £575 and that to me is a perfectly good bike hydraulic brakes gear shift smooth so why would I buy a bike worth £1000 more?

I can no more justify that than anything else I buy really, I could wear primark clothes, but I dont, I could eat budget food, but I dont, I could live in a smaller house, but I dont...you could have bought a £250 bike, but you didn't

But if you did shop at primark, live in a smaller house, buy budget food, sell your kids, trade the missus in for a cheaper version, think how expensive your next bike could be ;D

querhoch

I can justify spending almost 4k on bikes and gear in the last 6 months. If i hadnt and only spent 2.5k, i would be spending that same 2.5k again next year and the year after that.

but then I think of all those kids who've been murdered and feel the need to punish myself for not riding my DH bike in the rain.

YIMan

chez_m356 wrote:

YIMan wrote:

Why does anyone have to "justify"expensive bikes? To who do they have to be justified? The sneering anti-snobs on the trails or sitting by their keyboards who claim people are "overbiked" and/or "underskilled"?

you must be single without kids, otherwise you wouldn't be asking that

I just tell her I'm getting one and that nappies can wait.

querhoch

^

Hey honey, can I get a new bike? = Earful of grief and no bike.

Fail

Hey honey, I got a new bike. = Earful of grief and a new bike.

Win!

chez_m356

Mojo_666 wrote:

chez_m356 wrote:

you must be single with out kids

Or maybe, just maybe he is one of those rare blokes who wears the trousers?

is that what your mrs lets you think ?

Kirklet

njee20 wrote:

Why should it be interesting? It's a pointless discussion, if you have the money it it gives you pleasure why justify it?

I have a £6500 Trek MTB, plus a spare set of wheels, plus (quick mental tot up) £1000 of tyres, £900 of shoes, £700 of sunglasses, £500 of helmets and a couple of grands worth of clothing. There are folk on here with far more kit than that!

Can't really imagine riding a £1500 bike frankly. Didn't realise I was accountable for it though?

Three posts in and the cock waving has commenced already ! Thanks for the up to date info on your bike gear though !

Ha ha