[Westy]

Trek did a demo day at some local trails. I managed to get my hands on he new Gary Fisher Chronos and gave it a solid hammering on a 10 mile road loop I am very familiar with. Holy crap that thing was awesome. Not sure I like the SRAM red shifters but everything else about the bike was amazing. Made me realize that I could ride with tires at 120psi if my bike didn't ride like crap. I'm not a big guy but that thing was so much stiffer than the few other carbon bikes I have ridden. If I had any job security I would have ordered one up today, not the top of the line $8200 model I rode but maybe a nice Ultegra build.

I always knew my roadie was kind of crappy, I just never realized how good it could get.

 

[loco-gringo]

Tarmac Experts are $3K with a 6700 group this year. I just built one tonight. It's sexy. Most big company carbon bikes are really nice. I can send you an 09 Tarmac Expert that is lightly used. Or should I say, with 600 or so miles on it. I rode it for a bit so you know they were easy miles.

Buy a new bike you cheap f*#ker.

 

[loco-gringo]

Oh yeah...if you don't like Sram you're a sucker.

 

[GravityFreakTJ]

SRAM is the bee's knees !

 

[CBJ]

Sure looks fancy

 

[James]

SRAM is the bee's knees !

I much prefer my 7800 hoods to the Red hoods. It might be what I'm more used to, but still, there it is, I said it.

 

[loco-gringo]

I much prefer my 7800 hoods to the Red hoods. It might be what I'm more used to, but still, there it is, I said it.

The hoods are fine, but turns out Shimano doesn't shift as well to me. Now that chains went up 20% I'm gonna go back to Sram for those too.

 

[James]

The hoods are fine, but turns out Shimano doesn't shift as well to me. Now that chains went up 20% I'm gonna go back to Sram for those too.

I don't trust SRAM road chains, plus they're super-noisy.
Interestingly I will only run SRAM chains on my MTBs...
I was lucky enough to stock up on some 7801 chains a while back, so I have a couple of spares...

 

[CBJ]

This is the beauty of my new found love of road - I have no preference and just love my 7800 group especially after the chain was shortened to the correct length. I am still amazed how powerful the breaks as I again tonight had to test them due to sudden unexpected turning biker.

 

[Westy]

After looking for specs on the bike it looks like the Trek guy didn't know what he was talking about. The bike I rode should retail for closer to $5K. I should be able to get a deal that will put it into my price range once I figure out this pesky job situation.

 

[loco-gringo]

I don't trust SRAM road chains, plus they're super-noisy.
Interestingly I will only run SRAM chains on my MTBs...
I was lucky enough to stock up on some 7801 chains a while back, so I have a couple of spares...

I was kidding. I'm not switching. I have 3 bikes with 7900 chains I service and they show no noticeable wear after 3000 miles.

 

[loco-gringo]

After looks for specs on the bike it looks like the Trek guy didn't know what he was talking about. The bike I rode should retail for closer to $5K. I should be able to get a deal that will put it into my price range once I figure out this pesky job situation.

Gary Fisher makes mountain bikes. Just sayin'.

 

[-dustin]

Fisher graphics are putrid.

 

[James]

After looks for specs on the bike it looks like the Trek guy didn't know what he was talking about. The bike I rode should retail for closer to $5K. I should be able to get a deal that will put it into my price range once I figure out this pesky job situation.

I was gonna say, $8,700 for that build kit is pretty spendy, especialy with alloy wheels. You can get a Di2 bike for that. With room left over for some spendy carbon wheels.

I was kidding. I'm not switching. I have 3 bikes with 7900 chains I service and they show no noticeable wear after 3000 miles.

I'm still not convinced about the 7900 chain. If I end up building the full 7900 kit I'll use it, but if I use the Vuma cranks I'll go 7800...

 

[-dustin]

I'm not convinced with 7900...New, the stuff is badass. After 1000mi-ish, it all seems to be coming apart. We've sold 4 or 5 bikes/ 7900 groups. First few months, all praises. Shortly after, frustrations. Especially in regards to rear shifting.

 

[loco-gringo]

I'm not convinced with 7900...New, the stuff is badass. After 1000mi-ish, it all seems to be coming apart. We've sold 4 or 5 bikes/ 7900 groups. First few months, all praises. Shortly after, frustrations. Especially in regards to rear shifting.

I only have one giving hell on the front, but the backs are all fine. The caveat is the shifting will get awful if it gets sticky on the cable guide. I just have people clean their drink stuff off regularly now.

 

[Westy]

I was gonna say, $8,700 for that build kit is pretty spendy, especialy with alloy wheels. You can get a Di2 bike for that. With room left over for some spendy carbon wheels.



I'm still not convinced about the 7900 chain. If I end up building the full 7900 kit I'll use it, but if I use the Vuma cranks I'll go 7800...

There was a Madone at the the demo day with Di2 and deep section carbon wheels. My guess is that was the $8200 bike.

 

[SuspectDevice]

I have a 6700 group coming for one of my CX bikes and another one coming for my winter road bike... I am pretty interested to see what happens as far as gumming up and cable routing....

 

[CBJ]

There was a Madone at the the demo day with Di2 and deep section carbon wheels. My guess is that was the $8200 bike.

I know its a lot of money but doesn't see as crazy as some other Di2 bikes. Still wayyyy to much money.

 

[Squeak]

Bikes (Higher end Road specifically, but mountain too) have become way too expensive. I am surprised they have not priced themselves into failure.

seriously

 

[James]

Bikes (Higher end Road specifically, but mountain too) have become way too expensive. I am surprised they have not priced themselves into failure.

seriously

That said, the amount of bike you can get at the most popular price points is pretty phenomenal. There will always be bikes pushing the envelope on price and technology, and then the next year that same technology drips down the line.

 

[Squeak]

That said, the amount of bike you can get at the most popular price points is pretty phenomenal. There will always be bikes pushing the envelope on price and technology, and then the next year that same technology drips down the line.

Now this is true as well!

I just see the high end bikes have doubled in price in the past 4 years (give or take). Seems like a big jump with the way the economy is and what not.

 

[James]

Now this is true as well!

I just see the high end bikes have doubled in price in the past 4 years (give or take). Seems like a big jump with the way the economy is and what not.

I think that maybe I'm "too close" to this to really see it though unvarnished eyes, but I suppose that's true. By the same token, the technology has jumped a large amount in that same time. 4 years ago those range-topper bikes didn't come with carbon wheels, electronic shifting, etc. Bikes now are coming stock with either high-end brand-name components such as bar/stem/post/fork, or the equivalent stuff made by/for the company. That's one reason why the aftermarket for those parts has shrank so drastically in the same timeframe. The bikes are coming with nicer/better stuff now.

But if you look at what you get for say $3,000 in a road bike, it's pretty stunning. That bike is arguably a much better bike than the best bike offered 4 years ago, or maybe even 2, such is the march of technology.

We're not going to sell very many $9,999 AR1 bikes with Di2. But we will sell a f***load of $3,499 AR4s, which has the same frame as the $6,299 AR2 last year.

I'm not saying that this is a hard rule, but in the past, the high-end bikes have tended to weather downturns better than the $500 comfort bikes. Boutique and custom brands especially.

 

[Westy]

As far as XC bikes go the only top end ones I see are from factory sponsored riders. Strangly the most expensive mtn bikes I see are custom rigid singlespeeds.