Affordable Bikes and 2025 Predictions!

[@OwenSindler]

I like the way BikeSauce differentiated between bikes designed by cyclists with budget in mind.... and bikes designed to be sold cheaper.🚲💰

[@camt1818]

On the roadie subject, I recently got a deal on rim brake carbon aero wheels, and threw them on my 80s Trek road bike made of Reynolds 531c. I now understand what the rage is all about. The bike is a rocket now. I also put on gp5000s, and tpu tubes. Maxed out the tire size to 28mm. And it still weighs 22lbs. But I assure you, the 2lbs I dropped in the wheels/tires/tubes makes an insane difference. It's more comfortable, it's faster, it looks badass, and it even sounds cooler too. Feels like flying. Would highly recommend changing wheels on whatever bike you have. Keep in mind most new bikes up to like $3k all come with the same heavy wheels. Skip the new bike purchase and just buy wheels.

[@weatheranddarkness]

Well kept second hand good wheels can be had for good prices. But I'm building up a new set right now from new stuff, and damn, I didn't realize I would be spending this much on aluminum rim wheels.

[@wajidpoernomo4677]

I ended up going with the Kona Sutra (not the LTD), due to price and availability in my region. It's pretty on par with a lot of "road/gravel" geometry as well as having good tire clearance. "Classic" taiwanese framebuilder craftsmanship!

[@niceup1177]

marin instantly pops up in my head for affordable and v decent

[@LorSTApunk07]

I will say that I bought a Surly Preamble flat bar a few months ago. It’s a great bike! It compliments my two other 90s steel bikes nicely. Of course, right after I bought it the Shimano Cues version comes out. Wolftick have done reviews and mods on a few Ozark trail bikes.

[@slantedorbit]

the CUES version is a definite upgrade, I’ve ridden both… I built up a Preamble frame with parts from another bike and love it

[@stevebarnes9345]

The surly preamble is a "steal" !!!!!

[@aaronbehindbars]

I'm really looking forward to the full review videos of the Primos Dame. It looks promising. I noted the huge chainring, too, so it's at least good that it's a replaceable ring. I picked up a super budget steel "gravel" bike from Kent's sub-brand Giordano. It's kind of horrendous as a gravel bike in general, but also surprisingly decent for under $200. I threw a couple bucks at it to make it more gravelly, but it's a more of an all-road bike with big tire clearance and very heavy (30 lbs). I find it a better all around bike than the Ozark Trail G.1.

[@DrewPeabawls]

Salsa Journeyer should be mentioned as an affordable gravel bike

[@mrjack8849]

I have a Journeyman, the precursor to the Journeyer. Very solid and comfortable bike. I came from riding a road bike and mtb bike to just riding a Journeyman. Sort of best of both worlds for me.

[@justin4n6]

Agreed! I have nearly 3k miles on mine and enjoy it.

[@bradtowne2305]

It’s not just the budget, it’s the fact they are selling bikes that are difficult to maintain.

[@daniellarson3068]

Isn't that true of expensive bikes these days as well?

[@CountryB4Party]

I just picked up an REI Co-op ADV 2.2 gravel bike for under $1500 on sale. Great bike for my needs. Mostly GRX 400/600 with hydraulic brakes, all the mounts and 24.5 lbs in L with pedals. Rides great. Quite good on single track, which was a bit of a surprise, and decent on the road. I have 700x47 tires on it now. Could fit a 50 on the front for sure, and maybe on the rear if not too knobby. I wanted a steel frame, but didn’t like the weight and spec in my price range. REI appears to be moving out of the gravel space with the Co-op name, and carrying more name brands like Cannondale and, I was told, Canyon. Deals to be had on the 2.2 while inventory lasts.

[@armandovargas5434]

I think a lot of people use the clear map case for a cue sheet. Not everyone will have a garmin or other navigational aids. RidewithGPS would be great, but I could see for long rides battery drain being an issue

[@JohnPilling25]

An affordable bike is a used bike.

[@anthonykoleszar1779]

100% correct! I have 10 bikes of all styles & combined cost under $5000. ✌️

[@curtisbullock9739]

Totally. The value you can pull for $1500 is massivvveee right now.

[@stephenkohler3472]

I think alt drivetrains will take off over the next few years. The new stuff from Madrone and Growtac is pretty exciting.

[@weatheranddarkness]

I hope Growtac do eventually launch their hubs. They look great.

[@stephenkohler3472]

Yeah, those do look really good. I'm looking forward to their control levers.

[@weatheranddarkness]

@@stephenkohler3472 SAME! Though whether I actually buy them depends on how they feel in my own hands.

[@alindberg8001]

As long as they're not too expensive.. I think new Chinese brands will just be getting more traction.

[@weatheranddarkness]

@@stephenkohler3472 I really hope I find them comfortable because they would be Perfect for so many things, and are an idea I had on the backburner in my brain for well over a decade now. Thinking of running a 10s Saint or Zee derailleur with a 36t Campy cassette and chain.

[@ductrung3993]

Hmm weird no notification this time but will watch it now!

[@Josukegaming]

I used that same bike stand in a bike shop I worked in Portland, it was AMAZING!

[@imrevadasz1086]

I think many custom built bikes at a quality shop are actually cheaper than ones that were cheaply factory built. Because a custom built one at a quality shop will have all things properly adjusted, correctly torqued, and with correctly applied oil, grease, assembly grease. My 1000€ factory built Fuji Touring Ltd for example completely lacked any greasing against corrosion in screw holes, at the steerer, and the seatpost, and it had significantly too much preload at the hollowtech crank, and the hub bearings were not adjusted properly when I got the bike. If you had a shop look over all of that and fix the important things, you would easily pay another 100 Euro or more, I think. And then you still end up with bad component choices for tire and wheel hubs.

[@michaelpayne8337]

I think you are correct. In our shop when we do builds we focus on the wheels being the primary performance spot. Everything flows from that. We often do sub 3k builds with better wheels, etc than off the rack stuff from major brands.

[@jrother]

Over the last year, I have definitely noticed a movement within my own watch history, where I care much less about the top racing bikes and moving more to the regular people riding/fixing regular stuff material. You all are more likely to give me ideas that I may be able to afford. If it is about high-end stuff, my interest really only goes so far as to Cade where they will make fun of it being too expensive.

[@peterbedford2610]

I noticed GCN just did a retro road bike re build. Perhaps lower priced options are gaining traction?

[@escgoogle3865]

Very sage talking about the price point difference between hydrolic and mechanical. A while ago it was disc vs no disc. I'd shy away from the Ozark Trail unless you are under 6ft, have reasonable bike workings knowledge and a tool lib you can use.

[@gravelcasualbikepacking5475]

Breezer is a great option

[@camt1818]

The Primos seems like a good entry level bike to get into touring or bikepacking. Their website says 26lbs, and that's pretty light for a steel bike with mounts galore and chonky tires. 30lbs is pretty common. I would be changing that chainring though! I currently run 36t with Sword 11-48t on 26" tires (on a 30lb bike). I can climb walls!

[@OutThere42]

1:08:09 Russ just listed my subscription list 😂

[@sagehiker]

Kona Sutra out of the box touring bike at $1500. Kona Splice hybrid less the $900 that will run 700c x42 with standard rims.

[@Cyclismoe]

Forgot to mention .. 32T chainring .. 0.94 low gearing .. wish it had a 42/26 2x8 ... but for a 1x8 it works!

[@al-du6lb]

Used bikes for the win

[@markroberts6971]

Certainly would seem like there would be an opportunity for a business model based on consulting, training, and hands on wrenching. Either for building a bike with new parts, or building up with used and new parts.

[@Martinez_Photos]

Great channel! Affordable is $599. Ozark Trail has a gravel bike for $250 and a mountain bike for $398 that will keep people happy for years. Plus, how is it that an electric bike with fat tires and a range of 60-80 miles cost only $750? The bike industry is ramming bikes down our throats that are three to four times the price they should be. I am very thrifty, some say cheap, and I love and buy aluminum bikes. Weight is important for my bikes, yet the weight on my body is what would make more of a difference in being able to hit 60-100 miles.

[@OutThere42]

The big three offer good bikes in the lower price range as well. You can get a Cannondale Topstone or a trek Domane or a specialized diverge in alloy in that price.

[@daniellarson3068]

Quite a number of videos popped up about the inexpensive Ozark Trail gravel bike. I was surprised that it even got mention by you folks. I kind of felt that you guys were slumming. Maybe Walmart is stepping up its game.

[@Cyclismoe]

Check out the Univega Rover Flex 27.5, 8sp 1x8 11-34, added a riserbar .. Sweet! $148 Walmart Special. Univega bought out by Kent. Nice quality. CrMo fork, alloy frame. Disc brakes.

[@RobertDrake-p7b]

Surly salsa. Come on guys

[@Cyclismoe]

Ozark G.1 Explorer .. $248 .. good quality drop bar bike .. BUT the largest frame too small for a 6' biker .. Smooth 2x7 shifting L-TWOO .. Kenda good 42c tires. 30# bike .. Get what u pay for!

[@michaelavich]

The Primos looks great :) Are the rims tubeless compatible?

[@bigmack405565]

Yes

[@michaelavich]

Amazing. 26lbs for a steel forked, big tired, budget bike is really not bad at all! A stock MS is not going to be any less…

[@JayS-z7b]

You should do this by picking a city and scrolling through FB marketplace and or craigslist and finding deals. Then just discuss why you think it's a deal what you'd do to it, etc.

[@OutThere42]

1:06:24 @yangmg To Russ’s point, there are content providers, who are are getting money from people watching them on Twitch. Would you live stream yourself working in the bike shop or designing your bikes?

[@Handoresmya]

Canyon Grizl AL can be pretty affordable and comes with very decent spec

[@terrymtbnurse4760]

Surly straggler just barely over 1500. Best bike for that price IMO.

[@ThePragmaticCyclist]

The Kona Sutra has just recently come down to $1499. I paid more for mine and I still feel like it was a good value. Though it stings a little :-D

[@Metalgearlee1]

Practically stole a Niner RLT on Black Friday sale for $1099 shipped on Cycle Limited.

[@ThriftyFramebuilder]

Consider me for the “alt cycling” channel list??? Bike nerd category?

[@stvaldr]

Poseidon Bikes

[@RobertDrake-p7b]

Kona

[@realvaughnfelix]

I attest to the [ierrli cint gravel m 45 They’re awesome

[@slantedorbit]

Don’t sleep on the Norco Search

[@CountryB4Party]

The Search was on my short list. Ended up going with the Co-op ADV 2.2. GRX 2x crankset and GRX hydraulic brakes for basically the same price (at the time). Though I see Jensen now has the Search for just over a grand.

[@automat8]

Relateable!

[@mididoctors]

Lack of good 1000 quid bikes

[@Gpas7144]

GT Grade Pro Gravel Bike under 1500

[@PrimosCycles]

🙌🚲

[@Testbug-dy6tj]

👍

[@OutThere42]

The big three offer good bikes in the lower price range as well. You can get a Cannondale Topstone or a trek Domane or a specialized diverge in alloy in that price. Same for surly and salsa.