I think I'm in the wrong shop

[skicat]

Had some time to kill today between appointments in the City (of London, that is).
Spotted a bike shop so went in to browse.

Now, I should have guessed what was coming when I saw the sign to press the buzzer and wait to be let in. While I was wondering whether to bother, a young lad opened the door and let me in. So, I wandered around a bit and soon realised there wasn't a frame in the entire shop that was NOT made of carbon fibre or titanium. Or unobtainium.

I commented to the lad that this was very specialised kit, and then he pointed out that this was not really a bike shop, more of a "bike fit" specialist that sold bikes too.

"You don't have to buy one of our £20,000 bikes to benefit from a bike fit."

"Well, that's a relief", I thought, "because I wasn't intending to".

I bet a bike fit session costs more than my £400 hybrid

[Heltor Chasca]

Yikes!

I'm a bit more naive than you: When I bought my Surly DT a couple of months ago I felt like royalty spending so much on a bike and getting bespoke bits and bobs ordered up to be fitted or to take home myself to sort out.

I felt like a bit of a plank when one of my "road cyclist" mates told me my spend was only a half to a third of what road racers' budgets would be.

I'm a wee bit less demanding when I go in my bike shop now

[DaveP]

Nothing to worry about - the key is in this word - racer
Its a different game to yours, they are trying to impress all the time

[easyroller]

What shop was this? I wouldn't mind a wander around to gaze at all the kit I can't afford!

[skicat]

http://www.bespokecycling.com/

Farringdon Road just north of Farringdon Station

[Mick F]

......one of our £20,000 bikes .........

HOW MUCH!!

What spec are these bikes, and what makes them so expensive?

[skicat]

......one of our £20,000 bikes .........

HOW MUCH!!

What spec are these bikes, and what makes them so expensive?

I had a look at their website. Hand-built Italian frames for professional racers would not come cheap I imagine.

It turns out I was wrong about the pricing of the bike fit. You can have £100, £200 or £300 sessions with the cost being credited towards the price of a new bike in some cases. I still don't think its for me though.

[al_yrpal]

......one of our £20,000 bikes .........

HOW MUCH!!

What spec are these bikes, and what makes them so expensive?

Exclusivity, like Rolex really, neolithic in that case. These things are exclusive badges that some like to display for effect in the mistaken belief they have something special.

Al

[Mark1978]

Are team issue bikes even that much? I get the impression the bikes ridden in the Tour de France are actually just 'off the peg' - albeit top of the range off the peg and are more like £10k than £20k

[Mick F]

Let's just say that the most expensive groupset will cost £3,000
The Campagnolo Super Record EPS 11 Spd Carbon Double Groupset (for instance) costs from £2,686.29
That leaves £17,000 ........... for a frame?????

Can anyone point me in the direction of one for sale at that price?
(not that I want one, but I can drool a bit)

[Mark1978]

Let's just say that the most expensive groupset will cost £3,000
The Campagnolo Super Record EPS 11 Spd Carbon Double Groupset (for instance) costs from £2,686.29
That leaves £17,000 ........... for a frame?????

Can anyone point me in the direction of one for sale at that price?
(not that I want one, but I can drool a bit)

AFAIK most of the Shimano equipped teams run stock Dura-Ace, which can be had for £1,000.

[Bonefishblues]

http://www.bespokecycling.com/

Farringdon Road just north of Farringdon Station

I knew before I scrolled that was where you'd been. I walk past that quite often, but it's funny, their shiny things hold little or no appeal for me.

[honesty]

Let's just say that the most expensive groupset will cost £3,000
The Campagnolo Super Record EPS 11 Spd Carbon Double Groupset (for instance) costs from £2,686.29
That leaves £17,000 ........... for a frame?????

Can anyone point me in the direction of one for sale at that price?
(not that I want one, but I can drool a bit)

You've got to remember wheels can be silly price as well, say £4000. Then there's all the carbon trickery everywhere - and they use ENVE so you could easily chalk up another grand to that. so only 12 grand for the frame. Bargain.

[easyroller]

Let's just say that the most expensive groupset will cost £3,000

You've got to remember wheels can be silly price as well, say £4000.

Shimano's top tier electronic groupset Dura Ace Di2 is "only" £2,000.

Then an SRM power meter is another £2k so it soon adds up, but yes even the highest level pros race on "off the shelf" bikes from particular brands that can be had for a lot less than a fully custom Parlee or similar (although I'd love a custom built Ti frame, not going to happen). I guess if you've earned the money you've got to spend it somewhere!

[honesty]

Custom built titanium Passioni frame only is around £6k after doing a bit of internet searching at lunchtime...