The Chainlink

Does anyone else think that bicycle prices are just a little bit too high? (Insert Jimmy McMillan meme here) Several years ago, I bought a Gary Fisher MTB for almost $400 and thought at the time that that was a bit too much. Now that i'm interested in riding for exercise i've been looking at 'cross bikes and they average around $1000. Correct me if i'm wrong but in most of my research, most of the major brands manufacture their wares over  in Asia, do they not? I just don't get it. Maybe someone can explain what the hell is going on. Am i gonna have to buy a bike from Bikesdirect.com? Are they decent bikes? Sound off, people!!

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mike w. said:

>" Does anyone else think that bicycle prices are just a little bit too high?"

Hmm, well speaking for myself, it's more a question of having too long a memory...

When i first really got into cycling, an entry-level 10 speed ran about $120 -in July of '72 i was hanging around Turin waiting and waiting for a delivery fom Raleigh... i had my heart set on a Grand Prix. At the time that model was built by Gazelle of Holland- Steel rims, Weinman CP brakes, Simplex derailleurs, QR hubs, steel cottered crank, etc. The delivery was delayed and i wound up with a LaPierre for about $115- a young fortune at the time for a poor student. Pretty much the same layout equipment-wise. This was a typical basic tenspeed of the era. You could get a Raleigh Pro full Campag & 531 frame for about $415 (try finding one used nowadays for under a grand, but i digress...)

 

If you check an inflation calculator, that $120 in 1972 would be about $700 today.  It's about what an entry level would go for, maybe a bit low but not hugely different.   So, prices are about the same level.

Clearly he has come back. He has changed his screen name twice already from Rob Young to Rerb Yerng to R0b Young.

I think someone is playing games

kiltedcelt said:

And five pages in and the OP has yet to come back and comment.

Maybe it should be Rerp Deryp.

I bought a Specialized Globe a couple years ago for around $500, and it's still running fairly well. I am putting 50-75 miles a week on it. I've had to replace some of the components though – left shifter, tires, and rear wheel – and I do feel like I am at the bike shop once a month getting something or other fixed. My next bike will most likely be a Surly.

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