The $16,250 bike

Climb01742 · #1 03-09-2004, 08:27 AM

pinerello has a model called the "dogma ego" that sells for (please sit down first) $16,250. oh my god. ok, i'm a bike nut, but oh my god. you can see it on competitivecyclist.com. who'd have thought an ottrott could ever look cheap?

#2 03-09-2004, 08:34 AM

"Unlike other types of paint that can be put into an oven to assist with the drying process, the Ego's paint must air dry. As such, it takes 2 complete days to get through its paint process."

(a bit like the fence in the back yard)

"The paint on the frame was designed to provide such mirror-like reflectivity that the rider could look down while riding and see himself, a la Narcissus peering into the river to admire his own image."

(and in the process probably crash...dead cool!)

I have never heard so much rot in all my life.....you still have to pedal the bu*ger.
A

bostondrunk · #3 03-09-2004, 08:50 AM

well, if you can afford an Ottrott, a Legend, A hors, and every other custom bike out there for your collection, then money probably isn;t an issue, so whats another 16k?
Yeah, I'm jealous, I only get to have one Legend and my nashbar bibs...
Anyone got any half eaten powerbars they want to donate to my race kit for this year?

saab2000 · #4 03-09-2004, 08:54 AM

... is getting out of control quickly and is one of the reasons I purchased a Strong. It is made in the US and it is well made and it is reasonably priced and it is not disposable.

Of course, Serottas all fit this description too, but they are a bit more spendy.

Anyway, when I got into cycling in the early '80s a top bike with the best stuff, Campagnolo Super Record, cost about $1,500-$1,800. The price of the top ride today easily exceeds $5,000. Yes, bikes are better than 20 years ago in many ways, but they are not 2.5 times better and this is the reason some people become retro-grouches.

flydhest · #5 03-09-2004, 09:23 AM

saab2000,

by and large, I agree with you, but if you use the CPI to compare prices (and there are reasons you might not want to, but let's not get into that here), $1500 in 1980 is about $3400 now.

c.f. http://www.bls.gov/

A lugged steel bike with Record could be had for about that. Then adjust for improvements in quality of components (not to mention steel).

$16K on the other hand. Well, it ain't my money.

Of course, is it so different from someone who has 20 bikes? You could have 10 bikes--with every riding style you'd want represented--plus this crazy $16K bikes for less than 20 bikes.

Just a point of reference for people who think it's crazy to pay that much for a bike.

Kevan · #6 03-09-2004, 09:38 AM

Buy your toys now boys, cuz in ten years you'll be looking into leasing agreements for your $20k rig.

bostondrunk · #7 03-09-2004, 09:39 AM

Lemme guess, that 16k 'rig' comes with what, a 3 year warranty?

Ray · #8 03-09-2004, 09:46 AM

above, what, 2,000 per year? Or is it excess hours charges?

-Ray

saab2000 · #9 03-09-2004, 09:50 AM

Flyhest,

I agree, inflation needs to be considered. Additionally, bikes really are in most ways better than they were 20 years ago. Even a sworn retro-grouch like myself will recognise that.

jpw · #10 03-09-2004, 09:52 AM

I just clicked on the "Purchase Dogma Ego" link below the picture and went throught the process of buying the bike, but for some reason my credit card wasn't accepted.

I wonder why?

Ozz · #11 03-09-2004, 10:18 AM

There does seem to be a "race" by manufacturers of both frames and components to build the most expensive products possible.

If there were incremental improvements in performance, I might buy into the spiraling costs...but most "improvements" are barely noticeable.

I think too many people get on board with the "if it is more expensive, it must be better" mindset. This just encourages manufacturers to s build more expensive items, and marketers to figure out ways to spin the "benefits" of such items.

I mean, do you really think your bikes rides better with a $700 carbon-ti stem/bar combo than the $200 alternative that weighs about 20 grams more? Gimme a break!

I'll admit, I jump on board occasionally, but luckily I have a non-cycling spouse that slaps me upside the head with reality when I show her the newest gee-whiz items in the Colorodo Cyclist catalog....

That's my rant, and now I have to go back to making widgets....

jpw · #12 03-09-2004, 11:16 AM

It's that whole 'loss leader' principle of marketing.

"Because we also make a Dogma Ego your Pinarello base line bike will most certainly have the same 'genetic' characteristics".

K'ching!

Russ · #13 03-09-2004, 11:19 AM

I thought the Colnago Ferrari carbon bike was about that much, wasn't it?

Bruce K · #14 03-09-2004, 11:25 AM

Maybe the limited edition Madone is Trek's way of funding it's commitment to the USPS team.

BK

davids · #15 03-09-2004, 12:34 PM

What's even more absurd about this particular exercise in conspicuous consumption is that, for the price of this Pinarello Dogma, you could buy three Chorus-equiped (wait for it...) Pinarello Dogmas!

I'm dismayed that 200 cyclists may actually fall for this. Maybe Robin Williams bought a few... Sorry, that was mean.