Why Your Road Bike Is As Good As Something Costing 3x As Much

[@edwarding4355]

I can actually afford a lot, but I just don't want to be ripped off at 16,000$

[@ariffau]

But are you willing to go down the Jesse Coyle route? Chinese frame, Chinese wheels

[@zodgzod]

I could have bought a Madone SLR9, but bought an SL7, because I’m not going to get any value out of paying more than double, not being a pro and being over 50..

[@super8hell]

@@ariffau most of the time, buying 16k bike you're buying chinese frame and chinese wheels.

[@ariffau]

@@super8hell manufacturing, yes. But development (RnD), no.

[@super8hell]

@@ariffau that's very much debatable.

[@prestachuck2867]

Great video, and lots of solid points made! . I wanted to treat myself (with approval of the Mrs. of course) to a new endurance road bike for my 60th birthday. I like the Trek Gen 4 Domanes. I purchased a 2024/5 Domane SL5, a pair of Bontrager Aeolus Elite carbon wheels, and a pair of 700x32c Continental GP5000s for $2k less than the lowest priced model that comes with carbon wheels and actually weighs any measurable amount less. I also already had a spare Ritchey WCS handlebar in my size that I fitted to the new machine, and that is nearly half the weight of the stock Bontrager alloy bar, and a better fit to boot. . The bike is still not a feather weight, but I can’t tell the difference when riding it, not even on steep grades. Some people point to the mechanical shifting, but that is a point in the bikes’ favor, not against it in my book. Keep up the great work!

[@agrojim1975]

So a $4k bike is an 'affordable' bike now

[@AdamAnderson-y2q]

Apparently but I'd say affordable was 400

[@jessiewade9202]

Was gifted a 2016 Cervelo S3. It was used for five or six triathlons. I just slapped a used 12 speed di2 group set on it and I’ll be riding it until it break. It weighs a little or 16 pounds.

[@sbccbc7471]

One of my customers bought a second-hand S3 after he rode his Allez (last rim brake generation) for at least four years. Shortly after he got it, he let me fully service it, which fortunately, went well. No major issues with the frameset itself. If anything, the original aluminium sleeve that's to be epoxy-bonded to the steerer tube is losing any useful adhesion, which allowed me to use a regular expander plug (Cervélo permits it, though they personally don't recommend it) so that when he does want to have any excess steerer tube cut off, it can be done anytime instead of right there and then.

[@jessiewade9202]

@@sbccbc7471 Wow! I have a 2022 Allez. LOL

[@sbccbc7471]

@@jessiewade9202 Same generation as my customer's. I don't know if I want to buy a used one as a beater bike. I've worked on it a handful of times, not many headaches (if any), no proprietary parts, still relatively modern enough for today's components.

[@jessiewade9202]

@@sbccbc7471 I purchased mines on a friends and family discount from Specialized for $1700 the year it released. I’m not doing any upgrades on it. I upgraded the wheel set, but I’m leaving as it. 11 speed 105 mechanical isn’t bad.

[@sbccbc7471]

@@jessiewade9202 Wait, this is a second-generation Allez Sprint, right?

[@cycling-john]

I bought the EVO 3., switched the group set to Dura Ace, and put ENVE SES 4.5 wheels on it.

[@chrispig7748]

How are the wheels? Thinking of trying them

[@cycling-john]

@ worth the money! Smooth in the crosswinds. They roll really well.

[@Andy_ATB]

Unless you're a pro racer who is paid, then weight doesn't matter too much. And if it does, then you're taking it far too seriously.......

[@11robotics]

@@Andy_ATB nor does aero, nor do electronic groupsets, and nor do disc brakes. But since the industry forced all these "options" upon us, it's either overpriced pro racer level or second-hand bikes.

[@AdamAnderson-y2q]

Is could lose a few kilos myself never mind the bike

[@rmb_dev]

The sad part about the current bike market is that there are no frameset options! I can build a much better bike by putting the groupset I want, the right seat, crank, stem, bar, and wheels.

[@joekawasaki]

You can buy the supersix as a frame set in the himod & lab71.

[@ariffau]

Then go after Factor, Orbea, Ribble and maybe Trek.

[@Durgenheim]

You can always buy all of the top range components and slap them on a crappy steel frame! (Just kidding. I did this and it was both terrible and somewhat amazing)

[@joekawasaki]

@@ariffau you can definitely by framesets from factor & trek. I don't know about the other two.

[@11robotics]

@@Durgenheim still a better call than buying some fancy ass carbon frame with poor manufacturing tolerances, virtually no QC, and a geometry that is far too aggressive for most riders.

[@ElrocStone]

I would prefer to buy an "allroad" bike with stock wide rims and gravel tyres, then buy some nice road wheels for it so I get the wheels I want and still have an offroad option.

[@junksmiles]

The SuperSix is just about an allroad bike. I run 38s on mine, which covers about 95% of the riding I'll ever do. It's not a gravel bike for sure, but it's very capable.

[@blackflamesolutions526]

I'm racing at a pretty high level on an alloy bike with 105 and the exact wheels on the 'affordable' bike in this video.

[@lewisgoodrum]

Great video for a Supersix evo 3 owner like myself!

[@benhardwick1970]

Just had a winspace T1550 gen 2 frameset with ultegra di2 and magene db508 wheelset for less than €5k that’s aero and 8kg with everything on. Much better

[@jimmynickelz]

Put some of those super light elite wheels on my supersix. Just...wow!

[@pouzivatellinuxu9262]

Thank you for the great video. Just recently I afforded myself to my approaching 50th birthday mentioned Cannondale SuperSix EVO 3 in a black version.

[@gregmorrison7320]

I own six bikes, fortunately all of them were bought before the prices went out of control. None of them had saddles, handlebars or cranks that I wanted to use. Most of them needed stem changes and wheel changes. I still came out on top compared to if I had to buy a bike today, which would still need parts changed, so don't see myself ever buying another new bike again.

[@Millicente]

The bike I want: Colnago C68 Ti The bike I can afford: 7 speed, down tube shifting, steel frame bike with rust

[@daxmotis27]

That’s the one.

[@pantani9886]

I am only a warehouse worker, but built up a Colnago C60 with full 11-speed SR EPS, Bora wheels, etc. I was told wrong size by 4x official dealers, so it was too big! I recently took my pension out, and bought a little used C64 disc with Campagnolo mechanical in right size. I have got loads of bargains on 12-speed SR EPS , and just ordered new near £800 Deda Alanera bars. I am just getting it custom-built!

[@Millicente]

@@pantani9886 My dream! I'm also working on getting a C68 Ti but will be putting "budget" parts from china or 105 for the time being

[@pantani9886]

@@Millicente Why would you buy a premium Italian bike, and put Chinese garbage on it? Either you can afford it, or you can't! Last year I built up a virtually unused Bianchi Specialissima in custom orange. I had the Shima(NO!) Dura-Ace, etc taken off & sold, then a new Campagnolo 12-speed Super Record EPS/WTO wheels, etc. when I ride my bikes, I always wear top-end, bright coloured Italian clothing, and not cheap black/fluro green kit!

[@Millicente]

@@pantani9886 Because a groupset is just a groupset. Whether it's chinese or japanese if the thing shifts well and doesn't break it can have Campag, Shimano, Sram, Panda Express, or my grandmother's name written on it I don't much care. Same goes for wheels. There are many good asian wheel makers, many of whom make the same wheels campag and others slaps their logo onto afterwards. The frame is what's special to me and that's what I'm aiming to get my hands on first. After that I'll get whatever I can get my hands on so I can ride the beauty and little by little I'll make the bike my own.

[@nerigarcia7116]

In a blind test your everyday rider won't be able to tell the difference on many things but they'll believe what they're told. If you're not racing, none of this stuff really matters. Just get on a bike you love to ride.

[@universe-juice]

I love this video! This is what i need to hear. Couldnt agree more. If i have $16k to spend on a bike, im not going to blow it all on one bike. Instead, i would buy a nice race bike (felt ar) , a nice comfy endurance bike ( Damone) , and a nice gravel bike ( revolt ), and still have lots of money left over.

[@charleswooley2090]

I can’t afford a 4k bike. Idk how 4k is inexpensive or “realistic.”

[@elizabethpoley6882]

@charleswooley Exactly what I was thinking! How would anyone w/2 or 3 kids be able to get them bikes?! They want new blood in the sport, but price those people out of it!

[@simonr7097]

I guess that's the point of 10k bikes. They make spending 4k sound like a reasonable idea.

[@swazi5]

Right?! 4 Grand for 105? Forget it, I'll wait and buy used

[@BurndTire]

@@swazi5to be fair, it’s Di2, not just mechanical. So much more expensive. It’s overpriced nonetheless, as is with most of high-end bike components.

[@TheKizersoze13]

I think it really depends on how much you use the item and how much $$$ you make. I can afford a more expensive bike but with my kid and job taking most of my time, I don’t see the point of having an expensive bike just sitting in the garage most of the week! I just have a cheaper endurance bike with weather kit installed so I can always go when I do get extra time to ride!

[@M3GRSD]

I bought an older, new stock Trek Madone SLR frame, and built up picking all my parts and finishing kit. It still came out to 12.5k with Red AXS and Campy Bora WTO wheels, but it's my dream bike, it's custom, and it's less than what it would've cost had I gotten it pre-built.

[@greggreasley]

Imagine being so out of touch that you pitch 4k as the "affordable/value " bike. This is just an advert for Cannodale. I suppose you've gotta earn a living somehow.

[@terry.hudson]

Loved that final point, so true 🙌

[@edwarding4355]

First thing you should change is the seat.

[@TimHuber-v8j]

So my question is evo 3 with upgrades or go mid-range (compared to lab71) with evo 1 or hi-mod 2

[@nellyboot]

£4000 is crazy money for a bike!

[@eechaze12]

If you are not putting it to use yes. If you are logging 100 miles a week then it's a bargain. You are getting a good return on your investment

[@nellyboot]

@@eechaze12 Good point. I should've said it would be crazy money for ME to spend :-) My Giant TCR cost me £1,400 (discounted) in 2018 and my average weekly mileage is only about 36 over the 6 years.

[@Elonpocalyps420]

Geez. My rim brake 2013 cannondale is 6.2kg and I spend no more than 1£ per gram when I make upgrades

[@ItsJakeTheBrake]

4000 is still 4x more than I'd be willing to spend, even if I can afford it. Just bought a 2nd hand bike for under 400€ and I'm still having loads of fun.

[@ariffau]

Great content and I agree with everything you said! 👍

[@kayk2148]

I always explain the fact to my customers that, if you have an supercar that you dream of,it probably never gets yours in 99% of it, but when you have a dream bike it is even in the most expensive cases really realistic to reach out to. Even as a „normal“ worker. But 1.2 Million for a collecting Porsche, Ferrari or Mercedes is unrealistic.

[@lazzaboyman8003]

I bought to my budget 2 years ago but if I was buying again now I’d need to spend 20% more for the same bike!

[@craigcycles]

Cannondale SuperSix EVO 3 Disc Road Bike 2024, in sale at sigma sport for 3000 GBP....., 1k wheel set. 4k ... great deal if your looking

[@doctorscoot]

To your point about ‘those that need marginal gains are being paid to ride the expensive one’ - it’s also my observation that for the serious amateurs or privateers (who don’t get paid to ride a supplied bike) they’re _building_ the bike. The really serious ones build from a frame set, not even a mid-price complete model

[@Jaredstthomas]

My bike was $280…

[@Jaredstthomas]

Canadian

[@therocket130]

what size bikes are these? helps in comparison :)

[@the.real.bogdan]

How is 4k affordable??? I sort of get the 16k is race spec, highest end, bla bla bla but the 4k afforable?! no way. we are being ripped off. it should be 4k the highest end bike and a 500 affordable bike, but i guess we are ok with these prices and no one bats an eye when being asked for eye watering prices for a bicycle....

[@joekawasaki]

The himod can be bought for $8k less than the lab71 which was the last generations top carbon. I think it was 7.5-ish kg with Ultegra. Great 1/2 way point money wise but most of the performance!

[@lazzaboyman8003]

I also have aluminium wheels which I upgraded to carbon ones and whilst the carbon ones are definitely superior the alu ones are great winter wheels.

[@ulrimi30]

hi-mod evo 2 is the sweet spot.

[@youarevictoria4981]

R470 are box section?

[@sativagirl1885]

1) date a bicycle mechanic, 2) trust him to keep your matching bikes tuned up 3) ride on!

[@garyspencer8598]

ebay, your next dream bike at the price you can afford

[@hawtdudes]

Def not worth the money for me but that lab 71 is such a beautiful bike

[@doublecheese1]

6.95kg in what size ?

[@babyrabies]

i can afford them but still dont want em. At that price, ill go all out bespoke and boutique. I dont need pros and associated brands to dictate what i should ride.

[@andras.89]

1000EUR what I can "afford" :D

[@SilverOilman]

Yeah, I came to say “$4k isn’t what I can afford either”

[@Jamescraigjohnson]

The bike industry is a joke now. 90+% of ppl will not notice 1.5km of weight or need to spend 2500+ for wheels.

[@eteokles3]

How are the DTs „box section rims“? 😂

[@Alimukz]

At this point the main difference is the rider 🤣

[@spookyshark632]

Idk why I'm looking at aero bikes when I don't even wear lycra

[@SaffronHorizon]

I'm actually fortunate enough to own my dream bike. It's around $500

[@tomasdikinis3489]

Just buy a CUBE. for 3700 eur you get carbon wheels, handlebars, saddle, seatpost, Ultegra di2 And you WILL be disappointed by dt swiss alloy wheels.

[@eteokles3]

Do you really think that quality was a factor when coming up with that price?

[@tomasdikinis3489]

You mean to tell me, that cannondale make quality bikes? From creaking bb30 fiasco, to creaking in the modern seat posts?

[@AnderGdeT]

If they were I dunno, from the 1400 or 1600 range, I'd understand. Those are fantastic alloy wheels. But for a 4000+ pound bike to have the MOST BASIC Dt wheels (470 range) is incredible. What were they thinking...

[@tomasdikinis3489]

These same wheels came stock with my specialized crux comp. I couldnt believe how slow they were. And the bike retailed for 4000 eur, with mechanical grx 1x12

[@eteokles3]

@@tomasdikinis3489 Ever owned a Cube?

[@jlhinsk]

I can't afford either one.

[@francescovalenti8183]

just pay 2k euros for a 6.5kg top bike with rims and mechanical 11 durace/red

[@ishowspeedshorts8664]

Where?

[@seraph4581]

How the hell is $4k affordable lmao

[@garylynch3897]

FARSPORTS 2025 New EVO wheelset with EXS carbon bar and CYBREI Carbon Crankset and it will be a serious bike.

[@dominicbritt]

But the 105 bike… change the wheels - job done. Those DT Swiss wheels are 2kg…

[@bagman-69]

lol, who can afford a 4k bike?

[@palpatine1975]

$4k is no longer affordable for most let alone ridiculous $16k.

[@Chimy1423]

Nop!! You don't need to buy the top of the line super bike. I even found unfair to compare a bike at the top level used by pros with an entry bike. What could be a fair compare for example? EVO with the EVO 2 and Lab71. Take a look at the Cannondale Super Six EVO 2 with Ultegra Di2, 45 carbon wheels and carbon handlebar. A race bike for the average racer. If you want to start in the cycling world, then buy the EVO.

[@pantani9886]

Why would I be interested in these bland bikes? I want the parts, I want, with 12-speed Campagnolo Super Record EPS/Bora Ultra wheels, etc! It must be Italian-made, so Colnago, but C68 is too expensive, so a little used C64 disc would be fine! Campagnolo parts are really cheap online, as no one want's them for some reason? I ordered the new Deda Alanera RS carbon bars in June, but they have only just arrived! Adaptor was not available in UK, so got a free one, although I had to pay for nest day delivery! It is now being custom-built, and will be stand-out unlike the boring "All bikes look the same", even paying stupid money! It is also saving me loads of money!!!

[@HarishChouhan]

Chinese companies need to up their marketing game and work with local shops in Western countries.

[@BrianJohnson-bq9tr]

$4000 is too much fir ny budget....$2500 is the absolute max for me....abd thats a ztretch.

[@MTBScotland]

since when was 4k realistic and WTF are alu rims doing on a 4k bike.

[@Alistarc1969]

Better value bike !

[@hrisko100able]

The bike i can afford is in the range of 1000$😂😂

[@Everton4109]

Doesn’t matter. Saw a guy place riding a 80s steel 10speed … just have to have that dog inside you. Bike is just a tool.

[@roland4507]

I bought a full carbon bike with Ultegra DI2 for 4k this Year. Not from Cannondale of course. Cannondale is a joke. They were once my favorite brand. Now you just pay for the name. They have the worst value for money now.

[@luisgarcia22]

Those spam comments tho.

[@ericmasson8376]

After watching far too many of these pointless “cheap bike vs expensive bike” videos my conclusion is build your own. Seems obvious, rather than whining about wheels and handlebars.

[@theundead1600]

2200 will still get you a good bike.even on a medics budget mmmmm nope 4 k is not “affordable “. Used and abused is better after a few hundred you can get you into a nice aluminum frame 105 group set and some decent rims. Then just get some muscle and endurance and bit of a fat storage. Health of the bank account and your spouse abusing you saved.

[@stephenjhughes64stephenjhu26]

Best off buying secondhand 10k bike off the posers for less half price they payed.sure they will be wanted next new thing on block within a year.They cannot help themselves with new toy.

[@JFomo]

Always get the top model

[@Alimukz]

If you want to get ripped off

[@littlevo9]

The top or nothing

[@LegSpinna]

You're a mug if you're buying a carbon bike. End of.

[@11robotics]

4.000 pounds, euros or dollars will get you a relatively recent second-hand rim brake bike that is far better in any single way than that porky, overpriced Cannondale. You could easily get carbon frameset, an Ultegra R8000 (or equivalent) groupset and some top-end aluminium wheels (if not some carbon ones) for that money, and a total weight of under 7.5 kg. But sure, telemarketers will try to convince you otherwise.

[@Shadowboost]

Second hand? 4000 pounds (2500 actually is what I paid) gets you a top of the line Supersix Evo Black at under 6.2 kg with dura ace 9150

[@cochise6345]

@@ShadowboostWhere you buy that

[@_Tp___]

I got all those things for less than 1000

[@Shadowboost]

@@cochise6345 second hand. I got two other regular Supersix Evo Hi Mods with dura ace 9000 for under 500 pounds

[@11robotics]

You are all proving the same point - I did say "easily get", so of course you could get even better options, also depending on who you are buying them from and how much wear & tear they endured over time. Either way, A LOT more bike than whatever new options one may have nowadays.

[@charliesalazar3119]

I recently purchased the "cheap" one from this video and I thought it was expensive... 🤡

[@govermentsoundsystemrootik8887]

Build your own damm custom bike that's custom built to your very own body geometry for a fraction of these absurd prices with all top tier components...!!

[@benhardwick1970]

Just had a winspace T1550 gen 2 frameset with ultegra di2 and magene db508 wheelset for less than €5k that’s aero and 8kg with everything on. Much better