Good cycling values

[CNY rider]

What products do you use that offer good or excellent value for the dollar spent?
I thought of two while out riding today:

1. Anything Giordana. I tried a pair of their shorts 3 or 4 years ago, after they were praised by jerk. First pair was excellent; very supportive, fit properly, and durable. I've since had the same experience with bibs, winter tights, and a jersey. The winter tights in particular have now been through 3 upstate NY winters and still functionally like new.
Prices are very reasonable for upscale, high quality cycling gear.
I will admit I have not tried Assos or Rapha, so they could be better, but I doubt they would be "better enough" to justify the extra expense.

2. Used Serotta Ti. I love riding Ti, and I don't think anyone can do it better than Serotta. The stuff lasts forever, and great values can be had if you watch the classifieds.
If I were looking for my first high end bicycle, and knew my fit well, I would stalk the classifieds for some used Serotta titanium.

[Pete Serotta]

any SEROTTA but especially the classique and the CDA :) :) :)

PETE

[dekindy]

I don't think you can go wrong if you select any product made by Specialized.

[93legendti]

Castelli shorts
DeFeet socks
Ibex arm warmers
Serotta Ti
Giro helmets
Bontrager bar tape
Selle Italia saddles
Performance base layers
Easton seat posts
Specialized BG gloves

[false_Aest]

smartwool.

i like my classique

[jblande]

assos knickers are the best and most versatile purchase i have ever made

[Ti Designs]

Two Serotta frames come to mind. The first was my own baby, the La Corsa. We asked Serotta to come up with something in custom to compete with Seven's Alaris. They blew the Alaris out of the water with the La Corsa, but discontinued it two seasons later.

The second great value was this purple Serotta Davis Phinney frame, sold at some shop in Vermont for $100.

[1centaur]

Craft baselayers - last and last and always wear like new.

[troymac]

My Brooks b17
well over 100 years in the making

[Alan]

Sidi shoes - one pair lasts a long time
PI shorts
smartwool socks
Zefal 1 liter water bottles
Cateye computers
any base layers - they last a very long time

Alan

[Elefantino]

AthleticWorks base layer from WM. $9.77 of value.

+1 on used Serotta ti. (Concours)

+1 on LaCorsa. With Reynolds stays. F3 SixFive fork. Wowsers.

Voler bib shorts. When they used to be about $59, they were THE shorts value.

Anything from any Pearl Izumi outlet store.

[gman]

Serotta HSG Ti
PI bib shorts
Sidi shoes
DeFeet Wooly Bully socks (for winter)
Oakley M-Frame Vault w/full range of lenses

[Peter B]

Boure clothing comes to mind.
Shorts, arm/knee warmers, leggings, wind vest. All excellent.

[old_school]

King Cage

[PacNW2Ford]

Serotta HSG Ti
PI bib shorts
Sidi shoes
DeFeet Wooly Bully socks (for winter)
Oakley M-Frame Vault w/full range of lenses

I just pulled my Sidi Genius 2's, the blue "Indurain" ones, out of the closet to ride with my road two-bolt SPD's. I've had them since 1992.

[ents]

smartwool baselayer!

[nahtnoj]

Agree on Giordana. It does 90% of what Assos does at about 60% of the cost.

I have one piece of cycling apparel that is priceless though - my Assos winter glove system. It lets me ride pain-free through the winter, and there is no way to put a dollar figure on that.

[znfdl]

Assos Shorts, for my rear end nothing is better
Custom Spectrum Ti
Campagnolo Components
Vredenstein Tires
Rock 'n Roll Gold

[dwightskin]

- Panaracer Pasela Tires

- Continental Ultra 2000 tires (don't think these are around anymore)

- Sunglasses with Multiple Lenses (e.g. Smith Sliders)

- Dual Pivot Road Brakes - they basically never wear out

- Used 1980's Japanese road frame (ujb - ubiquitous japanese bike) $100 for a versatile frame

- Used Ti from the top builders (litespeed, merlin, moots, serotta, etc)

[dnades]

+2 on used serotta ti(concours)
+2 on smartwool socks/baselayers
showerspass elite jacket.
king hubs
campy ut cranks
arundel cages
sidi shoes

[SamIAm]

Assos shorts: I was going out for a ride the other day and realized they were all in the wash. I have other shorts to choose from, but decided to bag the ride instead.

DeSalvo Anniversary Frame:Though I don't have it yet, I suspect it will be worth $800

[bfd]

- Used Ti from the top builders (litespeed, merlin, moots, serotta, etc)

Yes, ti frames are the best deal on the market right now. Two of my buddies got great deals. One got a fairly new Lemond ti (made in Wisconsin with Reynolds ti tubing) with carbon fork (not sure of brand) and king hs - $650.

Another just bought a Serotta legend ti with Reynolds fork and king hs - $600! Yes, it has a 1" fork, so what, the price is right!

Moreover, I recently saw an almost brand new Litespeed Vortex with Reynolds fork and king hs for either $800 or $900.

All great deals for easily under $1K!

[rnhood]

Shimano 7850 24CL wheels. Not inexpensive but, about half price mail ordering from the UK. And they are some kind of nice.

A quart of Duralube and a quart of mineral spirits = Two quarts of superb chain lube.

[Dekonick]

Used Ti (Legends rock)

Brooks B-17 - it will outlast your frame (unless you bought a used Ti)

Open pro 32x to record hubs. Fantastic wheels... not alot of $$

Air (its free!)

AR leather wrap...

A good Zin after the ride... with dinner of course...

[CNY rider]

Used Ti (Legends rock)

Brooks B-17 - it will outlast your frame (unless you bought a used Ti)

Open pro 32x to record hubs. Fantastic wheels... not alot of $$

Air (its free!)

AR leather wrap...

A good Zin after the ride... with dinner of course...

Ditto on the Open Pros with Ultegra hubs.
Bomb proof, smooth and the price is right.

[Steve in SLO]

More here:

http://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=51268

[torquer]

I stopped in at Paragon's annual warehouse sale a few weeks back, just to see what bike stuff was available. I bought a Hincapie Windtex jacket for half-off ($100), not really sure I needed another jacket, but at that price I figured it was worth a try.

That jacket is awesome! We had a run of cooler and rainy weather, and I wore that jacket from the 30's to the mid-50's (degrees, not cross-streets). I almost regretted that the weather turned balmy this weekend.

[palincss]

- Used Ti from the top builders (litespeed, merlin, moots, serotta, etc)

These are such a good value used because they don't hold their resale value very well: in other words, a very poor value as a new purchase. I've never understood why that is.

[fiamme red]

Used 1980's Japanese road frame (ujb - ubiquitous japanese bike) $100 for a versatile frameI agree with that. I've ridden most of my miles in the past half year on two 1980's Japanese frames, a Fuji and Univega. The Fuji frame & fork cost me $50 on eBay, the Univega $70.

Also, my Romulus, which I bought new from Rivendell, fully-equipped (minus pedals and saddle), for $1,400.

[keno]

Look 565 Origin on eBay for $700.

keno

[Ahneida Ride]

Used Legend Ti
King Ti cages
HandleBra

[fiamme red]

King Ti cagesAt Excel Sports, the King Stainless Steel Cage is $14.95, the Ti Cage is $44.95. So how are King Ti cages a good value? :confused:

[sevencyclist]

Bridgestone MB 3 from 1991 at $700.

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/bridgestone/1991/pages/bridgestone-1991-15.htm

My first high end bike that got me into mountainbiking and eventually road riding.

[fourflys]

Used Legend Ti
King Ti cages
HandleBra

Nice! :D

[Gseiler]

Best cycling buys fit like they were made for you, perform better than you expect, are reliable, are rebuildable, and/or last considerably longer than alternatives. Sometimes they are even inexpensive.

1. Sidi shoes
2. Pegoretti Frames
3. White Industries Hubs
4. Assos bibs
5. Campagnolo Jerseys
6. SRAM Red Cassette
7. Shimano Dura Ace 7800 brake calipers
8. SRAM Rival OCT cranks
9. Fizik ICS Saddle Bags
10. PRO Vibe 7s Aluminum Bar (round)
11. Deda Newton Stems
12. Sapim Spokes & Nipples
13. King Ti Cages
14. Chris King Headset (duh!)
15. Thompson Seatposts
16. Speedplay stainless steel pedals

[fiamme red]

Best cycling buys fit like they were made for you, perform better than you expect, are reliable, are rebuildable, and/or last considerably longer than alternatives. Sometimes they are even inexpensive.

1. Sidi shoes
2. Pegoretti Frames
3. White Industries Hubs
4. Assos bibs
5. Campagnolo Jerseys
6. SRAM Red Cassette
7. Shimano Dura Ace 7800 brake calipers
8. SRAM Rival OCT cranks
9. Fizik ICS Saddle Bags
10. PRO Vibe 7s Aluminum Bar (round)
11. Deda Newton Stems
12. Sapim Spokes & Nipples
13. King Ti Cages
14. Chris King Headset (duh!)
15. Thompson Seatposts
16. Speedplay stainless steel pedalsIf that list were mine, it would be called, "16 things that I can't afford." :p

How exactly are King Ti Cages a good value when they cost $30 more than the stainless steel version, and weigh only 20 grams less? :confused:

[palincss]

Well, let's see. "fit like they were made for you, perform better than you expect, are reliable, are rebuildable, and/or last considerably longer than alternatives. Sometimes they are even inexpensive."

SRAM RED cassettes certainly aren't rebuildable. I imagine they fit every bit as well as all other cassettes. Reliable? I bet they are, just like all other cassettes. Last longer? I don't know, but I'll bet that has as much to do with chain maintenance as anything else.

Inexpensive? You've got to be kidding!

By those standards, it's probably the Nashbar cassettes that are the best buys...

[fiamme red]

Well, let's see. "fit like they were made for you, perform better than you expect, are reliable, are rebuildable, and/or last considerably longer than alternatives. Sometimes they are even inexpensive."

SRAM RED cassettes certainly aren't rebuildable. I imagine they fit every bit as well as all other cassettes. Reliable? I bet they are, just like all other cassettes. Last longer? I don't know, but I'll bet that has as much to do with chain maintenance as anything else.

Inexpensive? You've got to be kidding!Compared to Campagnolo Super Record 11-speed cassettes, they're a bargain! ;)

[palincss]

Compared to the Meivici, the Ottrott is a bargain, too.