The value of The Bike?

[Baron Blubba]

I recently saw a post where a user said something like, "I don't think any bike is worth $9000, let alone $15,000." This got me thinking, not for the first time, about the value of bikes, or maybe the value of The Bike.

In his story "Lady Windemere's Fan", Oscar Wilde wrote that "a cynic is someone who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing." I think there are many objects and purchasable experiences in the world for which this is true, which is to say that the value of the object far exceeds the object's price, from both a cost of goods and a cost at retail perspective.

Let's play a very hypothetical game and erase all road bikes from existence except for one. This road bike is The Bike. This bike has a basic aluminum frame and carbon fork, a Shimano Claris 2x8 drivetrain, and otherwise basic but quite functional components. An entry level Giant Contend or Specialized Allez or aluminum Emonda/Domane or something like that. This is the only road bike in existence. It was completely trademarked and patented, airtight, there are no competitors, there are no alternatives.

This bike will not provide the same ride feel or conveniences and luxuries of a modern $3000 bike, let alone a $9000 or $15000 one, but it is capable of providing the rider with the same exploratory experiences, and it will still be a joy to ride, especially since we haven't been spoiled by the alternatives which don't exist in this hypothetical world. It will climb and descend the same hills and cover the same terrain and traverse the same environments under the same sunshine and blue skies as our real-world superbikes. The wind will blow through our hair and the air will move across our skin all the same, albeit at perhaps a slightly slower speed. It's the same sublimity as riding the S-Works, so to speak, only marginally less so.

How much would you pay for this bike, if this bike was the only bike, and the only way to enjoy the experience of road bike riding?

Speaking for myself, the material sum-total value of the bike's components would be immaterial. The cost to manufacture the bike might be $500, but the only limitations on the value of the bike would be how much I can afford to pay for it, relative to my other values and priorities in life.

What I'm trying to say is, The Bike is invaluable. The experience of riding a bike is an irreplaceable and inimitable experiential commodity. Like the perfect slice of pizza, it's worth infinitely more than the sum of its parts.

It's only because we have options that bikes have a less esoteric, more defined value, because that value is relative from one bike to another. It's only because one can have such wonderful bike riding experiences with a $1200 bike that bikes with higher price tags seem so inordinately expensive (and increasingly inordinate as the prices rise).

On the flip side, if one is that enthusiastic, that in love with riding a bike, and wants to have their definition of the absolute best experience every single time they get out on their bike, however often that may be, and if they can afford it, then are those 5-digit bikes really that expensive? Overpriced, yeah, maybe. Worth it? Yeah, definitely.

***Disclaimer***
That last paragraph does not include such Baloney Sandwiches as $1000 oversized pulley wheels and similar pieces of bike bling. Those status symbol objects fall into the same category as other status symbol 'luxury' objects, where likewise they are worth it to the person who buys them, because it makes them feel good in some way. But I don't want to tarnish my point above by including components which, while they might do something for one's ego, do nothing for the quality of how one's bike rides.

Anyway, your thoughts?
If The Only Bike was a Specialized Allez Sport and cost $14,000, would you still be a cyclist?

[sparky33]

Originally Posted by Baron Blubba

How much would you pay for this bike, if this bike was the only bike, and the only way to enjoy the experience of road bike riding?

Speaking for myself, the material sum-total value of the bike's components would be immaterial. The cost to manufacture the bike might be $500, but the only limitations on the value of the bike would be how much I can afford to pay for it, relative to my other values and priorities in life.

If The Only Bike was a Specialized Allez Sport and cost $14,000, would you still be a cyclist?

What is the value per hour or per mile, something like that?
Or maybe it's more like the value of some (club or gym) memberships where the only value is the experience.
Would I pay $100 per month to be in The Bike club? Yes.

A $14,000 prepaid lifetime membership to The Bike club is an unappealing pricing model.

[Jcgill]

$2,000-$3,000.

I have realized that spending big money on a superbike is wasteful as things change so quickly in cycling it just isn’t worth it to ride a top tier bike.

I built a brand new Rim Brake Moots Vamoots CR in 2016. By 2018 it was already old business with disc road coming out. Then thru axles came along.

The past few years i have been happiest on average alloy or carbon bikes with 105 or maybe ultegra. Spend 2k-4k and ride it a few years and ditch it for the latest tech.

[jm714]

Who cares what someone thinks it’s worth or what its value is. All that matters is what value it gives you. I have a Pegoretti BLE that I custom ordered in 2008 and took delivery on in 2010, I dont know what the current replacement cost is, but if I had to I would pay it because it gives me that much pleasure when I ride it. Recently I blew the head gasket on my 1996 FZJ80 LC. I could have spent $5000 to just rebuild the top end, but I chose to spend $10K for a full engine rebuild because I plan to keep it and I will get another 250k miles out of it easy with proper care. Half my friends think I’m idiot and the other half think I did the right thing. It’s all in how you value/percieve something.

[Ken Robb]

Originally Posted by jm714

Who cares what someone thinks it’s worth or what its value is. All that matters is what value it gives you. I have a Pegoretti BLE that I custom ordered in 2008 and took delivery on in 2010, I dont know what the current replacement cost is, but if I had to I would pay it because it gives me that much pleasure when I ride it. Recently I blew the head gasket on my 1996 FZJ80 LC. I could have spent $5000 to just rebuild the top end, but I chose to spend $10K for a full engine rebuild because I plan to keep it and I will get another 250k miles out of it easy with proper care. Half my friends think I’m idiot and the other half think I did the right thing. It’s all in how you value/percieve something.

What is FZJ 80 LC? In what climate and conditions does it operate?

[jm714]

Originally Posted by Ken Robb

What is FZJ 80 LC? In what climate and conditions does it operate?

It’s a Toyota Land Cruiser, it’s used to trout fish in the west. When I get it back next week it will probably take me to Weaverville up in Trinity County for some fishing or maybe to Utah depending on what’s going on.

I’m also having a set of Schel-Mann seats installed too while its in the shop.

There’s a 97 for sale on Facebook right now with 4671 original miles up in NorCal for $199,999 if you’re interested. It looks mint.

[merckx]

Originally Posted by jm714

It’s a Toyota Land Cruiser, it’s used to trout fish in the west. When I get it back next week it will probably take me to Weaverville up in Trinity County for some fishing or maybe to Utah depending on what’s going on.

I’m also having a set of Schel-Mann seats installed too while its in the shop.

There’s a 97 for sale on Facebook right now with 4671 original miles up in NorCal for $199,999 if you’re interested. It looks mint.

If I could train my Datsun 720 to trout fish, I would probably treat it to new seats too, or maybe just replace the flannel blanket that covers them. I might even consider applying a fresh coat of Duct tape over the larger rust spots.

[Hilltopperny]

I like nice bikes, but tend to spend in the $2000-$4,000 range on new or insanely nice used bikes. Most of the current bikes I ride fall in that range and I don't feel I am missing anything with them and tend to enjoy the ride with less stress. IF my income level was higher then maybe a 15k bike would be appealing, but as it is I am completely happy with what I have.

[jm714]

Originally Posted by merckx

If I could train my Datsun 720 to trout fish, I would probably treat it to new seats too, or maybe just replace the flannel blanket that covers them. I might even consider applying a fresh coat of Duct tape over the larger rust spots.

I saw a yellow one the other day at UPS with plaid seat covers, took me back to the ‘72 Corolla wagon my dad bought. It was the first Toyota he bought and since then we have been pretty brand loyal.

[AngryScientist]

Originally Posted by jm714

Who cares what someone thinks it’s worth or what its value is. All that matters is what value it gives you. I have a Pegoretti BLE that I custom ordered in 2008 and took delivery on in 2010, I dont know what the current replacement cost is, but if I had to I would pay it because it gives me that much pleasure when I ride it. Recently I blew the head gasket on my 1996 FZJ80 LC. I could have spent $5000 to just rebuild the top end, but I chose to spend $10K for a full engine rebuild because I plan to keep it and I will get another 250k miles out of it easy with proper care. Half my friends think I’m idiot and the other half think I did the right thing. It’s all in how you value/percieve something.

This is spot on correct.

No matter what you pay or are willing to spend on your hobby you can find plenty of justification for either side of the coin.

Cycling, at the end of the day, even if you buy the very most expensive bicycle you can find, is a cheap sport to participate in and enjoy.

[benb]

I am assuming Baron means there is literally only that 1 bike? Not that Giant made a million Contends but that's the only road bike model?

I think the value people would put on that would depend on what else exists. Do motorcycles exist? Do cars exist, do mountain bikes exist?

If I think back to the first time I got on a road bike of the conjectured quality level some of the excitement was there because of anticipation of what it was going to be like compared to riding mountain bikes.

It's definitely worth more than $100/month for me. I just dropped a $100+/month gym membership (climbing) after a few years because I'd gotten bored of it and was just biking all the time again.

My most expensive bike is 8 years old and if I had to pay it off equally over that time it'd be about $60/month and maybe $70/month for TCO if I add up all the money I spent on maintenance but didn't count my time.

Very cheap indeed. When I had a motorcycle the insurance alone was more than that, even at the end when I was getting really excellent rates.

I mostly don't need anything super fancy. I've had 3 pretty fancy carbon bikes in the past 24 years plus my Ti Serotta which was right up there in price. But the majority of what I've rode has been aluminum, and my steel All City might be the bike I've put the most miles on. There is definitely still *something* about getting on a fancy bike though.

[Baron Blubba]

Originally Posted by benb

I am assuming Baron means there is literally only that 1 bike? Not that Giant made a million Contends but that's the only road bike model?

I mean that there is only one bike model available for the general public to purchase. Plenty enough to go around, although MAP is strictly enforced!

[benb]

OK, doesn't necessarily change my answer.

I think the other thing is the sense of pleasure you're talking about is still something that a lot (the majority?) of people can't even feel.

Maybe a majority of kids can get on a bike and have "the feeling" but an awful lot of adults probably can't.

My first road bike was a Trek 2200 (aluminum, 9-speed 105). It would be really, really interesting to get to ride one again and see if it still elicited that reaction after all the years of experience.

[reuben]

Originally Posted by Baron Blubba

I mean that there is only one bike model available for the general public to purchase. Plenty enough to go around, although MAP is strictly enforced!

Does it have lawyer tabs?

[bikinchris]

There is nothing in the world that a critic can't dismiss as worthless. Or worth less.
In my opinion, just getting on a steel framed comfort bike with well adjusted, decent components and good wheels will make anyone want to be a bike rider, but especially if they have previously tried to ride a junky department store bike. But some people just don't have the money to get a decent, much less nice bike.