Do people enjoy their expensive bikes more than their cheap ones?

[froze]

I haven't had a low costing bike for a long time, all my bikes are mid level. But the last time I had a low end bike was back in the late 60's and that bike sucked big time, lots of issues with the low end Simplex system, it was the least enjoyable bike I have ever owned.

 

[marzjennings]

To answer the original question again, yes. I took my $6k carbon Specialized mtb out for a hack around the local trails again this evening and it is, hands down, the most fun bike I've ever owned. It's lighter than my old mtb, stiffer than my old mtb, tracks better than my old mtb and I'm going faster than I was 5 years ago even as I approach 50. In fact it's so much fun I'm thinking of getting back into racing again.

 

[TreeHuggery]

Malcom Gluck (a wine reviewer -is that the word) use to have an interesting way of looking at wines.....
a £50 bottle of wine should of course be much much nicer than a £5 bottle of wine...but is it TEN times nicer.....
I do like that way of comparing things.....pretty good way of not getting sucked in to brand marketing too

 

[Blue Hills]

Malcom Gluck (a wine reviewer -is that the word) use to have an interesting way of looking at wines.....
a £50 bottle of wine should of course be much much nicer than a £5 bottle of wine...but is it TEN times nicer.....
I do like that way of comparing things.....pretty good way of not getting sucked in to brand marketing too

And the pleasure of the wine, if you aren't too much of a gourmet, partly comes from the circumstances in which you drink it.

 

[SkipdiverJohn]

Well after visiting Condor Cycles in London today i can see why people buy new £2k+ bikes , but i still feel you can get the same quality for a lot less especially in the 2nd hand market

I think a lot of people buy new bikes in the way they buy new cars - because they're new/shiny, and haven't been used or abused by someone else first. However, you pay a hefty premium for the privilege of being the first person to put a scrape on your factory-fresh paintwork!
None of my bikes were really expensive new or exotic, but I do have to say my nicest-spec one (Reynolds 531 Hybrid) IS a nicer ride than any of the others, but geometry probably plays just as big a part as frame material quality and lightness
My least favourite is a cheapo Apollo rigid MTB that owes me the princely sum of £10 so far. It's perfectly useable and does the job of getting me around locally without worrying about it getting nicked, but for some reason it isn't an especially comfortable fit and the frame doesn't seem to soak up bumps as well as I'd like. After about an hour in the saddle, my arms and shoulders are telling me it's enough, whereas on my old 531 Raleigh, my upper half is fine and the limitation on distance is my legs getting tired not riding discomfort.
My conclusion is that you'll enjoy any bike that's a comfortable fit more than one that isn't, regardless of price/current value, but if all your bikes fit well then it's a question of horses for courses - the most suitable bike for the sort of ride you are going to do.

 

[gbb]

Definitely, but that's not to say a cheap road bike (in my case) is a bad buy.
Started seriously on a £250 when new 8 speed Raleigh Chimera..That bike did so well, covered thousands of miles on it, wheels never let me down...just a brilliant bike for the price.
Compare that to my £1200 Ribble sportive carbon with Fulcrum 5s....i hardly go any faster but the ride is supreme compared to the Chimera, which had steel straight forks that transmitted every bump through the handlebars

Chimera...dependable, cheap but heavy and somewhat uncomfortable on long rides.
Ribble.......dependable, relatively expensive, light, and a joy to ride.

An expensive bike won't make you go much if any faster IME, I had quite regular times for my old 50 milers on both bikes, both were about the same time. But one will make you grin and be more comfortable.

 

[SkipdiverJohn]

An expensive bike won't make you go much if any faster IME, I had quite regular times for my old 50 milers on both bikes, both were about the same time. But one will make you grin and be more comfortable.

A cheap, heavy bike can be good for improving general fitness IMHO. Riding a 30lb bike on slick-ish tyres feels effortless after doing the same ride on a 35lb MTB on 2" knobblys. If you train your body to propel the heavy, draggy tyred, bike around at a certain speed you're just cruising on anything lighter/easier rolling.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

My relatively inexpensive and on sale £700 2014 Giant Defy 1, mostly original 105 components with new 105 hubs and mavic open pro hand built wheels rides like a dream. I have ridden bikes with full dura-ace and ultegra group sets just to compare, suffice to say there's not much difference in ride quality, and measly improvements in weight.

I'll be happy riding my cheap road racer until it cops it, and I'll probably get another and put that money saved towards my investment portfolio instead so I can retire early from office drudgery and ride bikes more instead.

If a bike rides like a dream, then why sell it? I would be keeping it.

 

[Milzy]

If you go from a Boardman sport to a giant TCR your speed will go up. The frame makes you feel bionic, man and machine moulded together. When you sprint the bike is compliments you making the weekend warrior feel like a pro. So yeah there’s a big difference between cheap and expensive.

 

[SkipdiverJohn]

If you go from a Boardman sport to a giant TCR your speed will go up. The frame makes you feel bionic, man and machine moulded together. When you sprint the bike is compliments you making the weekend warrior feel like a pro. So yeah there’s a big difference between cheap and expensive.

That depends if you are bothered about speed. I'm not interested in sprinting, and the only time my backside leaves the saddle when in motion is if I'm going over a speed bump or other large obstacle and I want to take the sting out of the impact. There is a big difference between bikes that ride nice and bikes that don't, but the relationship to price is very blurred.

 

[Blue Hills]

If a bike rides like a dream, then why sell it? I would be keeping it.

agree. And keep those no doubt nice hubs regularly serviced. Some folks get satisfaction from buying a new wonder machine (which can involve a whole new load of bits and pointless compatibility issues to learn about) but I find it satisfying to gradually perfect what I have (admitedly rather a lot by now), learning how it works, simplifying stuff, laying in a stock of new or old as new bits as spares, and just get on riding an ever smoother machine. It helps of course that I prefer flat bars and am neither a racer or extreme downhill MTBer.

 

[Blue Hills]

I, man and machine moulded together. .

This phrase always makes me smile.

What if the man's a bit blobby?

 

[Blue Hills]

When you sprint the bike is compliments you making the weekend warrior feel like a pro.

PS - you sure you mean compliments you? Or is this the latest mamil-enticing feature - a bike that constantly whispers in your ear how ravishing you are?

 

[Johnno260]

My Merida Ride-400 is low/mid range, rides like a dream, I won't part with it anytime soon, only upgrades are wheels due to pothole damage on originals.

I tried a Aero Reacto looks stunning, price point way higher, but uncomfortable as anything.

This was a good debate.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HmVQCAjBE0

 

[Blue Hills]

My Merida Ride-400 is low/mid range, rides like a dream, I won't part with it anytime soon, only upgrades are wheels due to pothole damage on originals.

I tried a Aero Reacto looks stunning, price point way higher, but uncomfortable as anything.

This was a good debate.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HmVQCAjBE0

sounds like a find - if it suits you/rides like a dream I see no reason why you can't ride it until it breaks/if ever - just gradually replace stuff - the proverbial trigger's broom. If you want an easy life and the current componentry/gear distribution suits you I would start laying in bits - the "industry" will be hell bent on causing you problems.